I am looking into buying a Bigger Machine

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You can't really "get a lot more power" without getting significantly larger. More power needs more size and weight to stabilize it or the backhoe will just be dragging it around Likewise, with the FEL, more power will just spin the tires if you don't have enough size and weight to get traction....or stability. Well designed equipment is a balance of power and size.

It is, of course, more economical to rent or contract for just an occasional job. But I understand the fun of doing it yourself. Again, renting is cheaper.

If you want to dig with the front end loader, make sure you get a tooth bar for the bucket, and a bucket that is heavy enough for a toothbar.

As for digging out stumps, so much depends on the tree species. Some trees do not have tap roots and are easy to dig out with smaller equipment. OTOH, some species have big tap roots and will take big equipment to break them loose. I've seen hickories with tap roots almost the same size as the trunk!

I have a KX-121 mini excavator and I've easily dug out 24" stumps (no tap root) but have had more challenges getting out an 8" stump with a tap root.

Ken

I thought I'd try out my BH on my BX25 after I first got it. I had cut a small tree down a couple of years ago. I found the stump which was maybe 8" around. I dug a hole about 6 feet around and probably 3 feet deep. It would not budge and kept lifting my tractor when I'd pull at one of the side roots, could never get totally under the center root.
I had a man with a track loader cut some paths back and forth on a steep hillside and I told him while he was over there to take care of the root. He just grinned because he's always grinned at my small tractors. He probably didn't notice when he ran over removing it with his machine. He did later ask to try my BH and of course I let him. He was impressed with how accurate the bucket would scrape back and lift as he dug a small perfect little ditch.

 

[Ken45101]

It would not budge and kept lifting my tractor when I'd pull at one of the side roots

And more power without more weight would have only lifted the tractor faster

Ken

 

[bikerdib]

I can agree with Ken about the root structure of different species of trees. Like I said in my previous post, I'm clearing out some trees in an old creek bed where I plan on making a pond. I've removed some Live Oak; a tree that has a very hard wood, which I thought were going to be the worst but they didn't have much of a tap root so they came out fairly easy. I've removed some White Oak which were a little harder to do than the Live Oak even though White Oak are a softer wood than Live Oak. However, there are still standing some Chinese Tallow trees which I thought would be easy to get down. Chinese Tallow are a trash tree with a soft wood that break very easily in the wind. Those Tallow trees have major tap roots so even though I used a subsoiler to break all the feeder roots going out from the tree, the Tallows are still standing on their tap roots.

 

[lzicc]

Yes, but I am financing and the interest rates are high on used right now. Kubota is offering 0 percent.

Does it have to be new?

I've found quite a few L39's used in the 20-25k range.

 

[jdonovan]

Yes, but I am financing and the interest rates are high on used right now. Kubota is offering 0 percent.

I understand. The need to finance, and the 0% the KCC is offering makes for a more attractive offer for some buyers.

 

[lzicc]

The renting of a bigger machine is a good idea, but I like the ease of being able to do what I want when I want. Very convenient. I also get the occasional people stopping by and asking, "are you for hire" question when I am on my BX22. I turn those offers down, but started thinking if I had a bigger machine to dig ditches, water lines, etc, I could make a little extra cash on the weekends. I wouldn't want to use a BX22 for that type of work.

I did consider the size and weight difference compared to my BX pretty much fitting anywhere I need it too, but I don't see that as being an issue I don't think, but it is a good thought.

You guys are giving me some really good things to think about though and it is very appreciated.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

The renting of a bigger machine is a good idea, but I like the ease of being able to do what I want when I want. Very convenient. I also get the occasional people stopping by and asking, "are you for hire" question when I am on my BX22. I turn those offers down, but started thinking if I had a bigger machine to dig ditches, water lines, etc, I could make a little extra cash on the weekends. I wouldn't want to use a BX22 for that type of work.

I did consider the size and weight difference compared to my BX pretty much fitting anywhere I need it too, but I don't see that as being an issue I don't think, but it is a good thought.

You guys are giving me some really good things to think about though and it is very appreciated.

If your going to do work for others and transport your machine just remember the bigger and heavier the tractor the bigger and stronger the trailer. Some additional cost if you don't already have a big enough trailer. I use a 16' dual axle which does BX easy and B fairly easy but my L3240HST with FEL and implements had the trailer at or past it's max after I figured out I had to also count the weight of the trailer in the total.

 

[bp fick]

We help each other around here, in our "neighborhood", in that broad, rural sense. I'd also help out family, of course.

But permit me just a quiet word of caution about "being for hire". That's a category of liability that you'd need to consider with proper insurance/bonding coverage. Best regards on your future decision making.

 

[LBrown59]

lzicc, I'd pretty much support the recommendations you've already received and just wanted to add a couple of points. Your BX22 is a 2,000 lb tractor, give or take. A large L with FEL and backhoe will be pushing 8,000 lbs. So, even though the horsepower is double, the weight will be four times the little BX. It will do things you wouldn't dream of trying with the BX. But the flip side is true as well. The BX can get into tight places and up close to things where the L is just too big and heavy.
1* So, consider keeping the BX, if you can afford to. It will continue to be very handy.

You've had some recommendations about buying an industrial TLB like the L39/L45. The industrial models are unquestionably excellent, but they are costly, and there are plenty of guys here on TBN, including me, who can represent that the conventional L tractor with FEL and backhoe ain't no slouch either. We decided our work schedule was not going to allow us to rent or hire equipment for digging and stumping, so we bought the tractor/FEL/backhoe package, and it has done everything we needed and more over the past 8 years. Hundreds of trees and stumps (including some whoppers), hundreds of yards of digging and moving, not a single hitch or problem. Don't know if that's anything like your circumstances, but I didn't want you to think your only options were bringing in the big iron or buying your own industrial TLB.

1* I agree : No way would i ever consider getting rid of the BX.

 

[CrestonNC]

The L3800 is about $800 more than the L3700.