Tractor Sizing Need advice on the size of tractor to look for

[hcforde]

A lot to think about.

In response to all of your great comments I found a Bobcat 331 mini-excavator for $3500 asking price. With the HP 40 and weight at 7500 lbs that would do what I need. I also found a comparable Kubota that rents for $250/day and $800 week. It will cost me $3000 to dig the hole for a basement. So after clearing my land I should have a pretty good education on how to use it and rent myself and the excavator out for the next couple of years till I am ready to build my main house.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, if you're having a hole dug for your basement, ask him for a price to pop the trees out! The equipment will already be on site. Its worth asking for a quote.

 

[IslandTractor]

Hey, if you're having a hole dug for your basement, ask him for a price to pop the trees out! The equipment will already be on site. Its worth asking for a quote.

Yep. And if he takes out the big ones, you can easily deal with the saplings. Numerous cheap devices for uprooting saplings with small tractors.

 

[TJP89]

However you decide to clear your land now, buy the largest amount of Tractor HP you cam afford. Greater HP means greater lift capacity, greater digging capacity, greater implement size. As they say with cars, there's no replacement for displacement!!
It might be difficult now, but envision what you will want / need the tractor for in the future, buy a tractor with that criteria in mind.

That's good advice, to a point. But by that logic I might have a 80HP+ cab tractor, as I can see myself sometime in the distant future doing some haying or something. Don't get too carried away, luckily most of us have budget concerns that bring us down to earth.

 

[TJP89]

A lot to think about.

In response to all of your great comments I found a Bobcat 331 mini-excavator for $3500 asking price. With the HP 40 and weight at 7500 lbs that would do what I need. I also found a comparable Kubota that rents for $250/day and $800 week. It will cost me $3000 to dig the hole for a basement. So after clearing my land I should have a pretty good education on how to use it and rent myself and the excavator out for the next couple of years till I am ready to build my main house.

That's good, but an excavator isn't a tractor, and isn't as versatile as a good 40HP CUT.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

A lot to think about.

In response to all of your great comments I found a Bobcat 331 mini-excavator for $3500 asking price. . . .

That price sounds way too good to be true. Was this something you found on Craigslist? Proceed with extreme caution.

Check the prices for Bobcat 331 on Machinery Trader, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[MHarryE]

That price sounds way too good to be true. Was this something you found on Craigslist? Proceed with extreme caution. Check the prices for Bobcat 331 on Machinery Trader, and you'll see what I mean.

I agree - if that is really a 331 and it doesn't have a blown engine or some other disaster, let me at it. The rental prices quoted are what my wife's brother was quoted for a 331 to do some cleanup work at our farm in Missouri. If we could buy one for $3,500 we would snap it right up.

 

[hcforde]

OK, it seems I have not been clear.In the excitement of all this new information I have inadvertently misled some of you. The house build will come at least 2-3 years down the road. My main concern is clearing the land, thew bobcat is in addition to a tractor, not in place of. If I can get this bobcat at $3500 I will do it now and hold on to it when that time comes and in the mean time use it to assist me in clearing the land, especially the trees and roots. BUT, I would definitely need a tractor. Yes I know that price is too good to be true and I am not holding my breath for it but deals do happen every once and a while. Like the guy here that had a 8N with a shredder on CL for $950. Both of the items worked well and also looked good. The combo sold in the first hour on CL. I saw it the 3rd hour. There is also the bait & switch, "Oh I just sold that one, but I have another one for 3 times as much , it is a much better..............."

If I do the "clearing the land" myself, I should have a pretty good education on how to use a piece of equipment and rent myself and the excavator out for the next couple of years till I am ready to build my main house. Right now I am not averse to doing a lot of physical labor, I actually need it.

 

[hcforde]

I had numerous heart-in-mouth moments learning to operate a tractor. Clearing 1-1/2 acres of woods is not an entry level task. I still favor having it cleared by professionals then the OP can go from there. Plenty of work left.

It only takes one major injury to ruin your life. Too many tractor injuries occur when folks are too ambitious, too early.

No plan to rush, I am aware of the power of tractors and used a Farmall 3 wheeler back in the day. HOWEVER, I just finished looking at some youtube videos and I get your point. Trying to do too much with too little power can land you in trouble especially if you get behind in a self imposed deadline for the day or get tired, etc. An under-powered tool can lead to a disaster. Also, a root rake is definitely required for what I want to do. Having someone come in and doing the bulk of the work is the right thing to do with someone that has the right tools.

 

[bspeedy]

Get a pro with a track loader to do the tree removal and rough grading - couple of days at approx $1K per day. Buy a 30 hp CUT with backhoe attachment to do the final work and to burn and move debris and do the final grading and prep for seeding a lawn. Pay a pro to do the big heavy stuff and do the other work yourself so that it is done to your satisfaction. Even the 'pros' can mess up drainage when they grade so you may have to make changes yourself even if you hire the whole thing out.