Tractors in the suburbs vs acreage

[davesl708]

I live on 1 1/4 acres in the city. I tried to get by with my JD D130 but to much work. Bought a used BX2200 with FEL, rear blade, 5ft tiller.
Moves snow much faster than the JD. Cleared 1/4 acre of brush trees and hauled tons of firewood. Use it to clear my neighbors 100ft. drive of snow.
I will be using it to back fill the small dam on our silt pond for our lake.

Could not imagine giving it up. Considering getting rid of the JD since it only cuts grass and pulls a very small trailer.
The BX tilled and leveled the front lawn in short order. Would have spent all day with a walk behind tiller. JD would never have finished moving the 10" snows we have had the last two years.

 

[BrokenAxle46]

I live on 1/2 acre inside a small city limit. Retired 4 years ago and bought a JD2320 (24hp) compact tractor 3 years ago. It is equipped with a Front End Loader, (FEL), 62" drive over mower deck and I added a 6 foot Woods rear blade, 48" 3 point tiller, 6 foot 3 point aerator and built a cultivator/hiller. I help the kids on their 16 acres and maintain my garden and theirs. Use it for landscaping moving dirt, compost, rocks and the like. I tilled 10 acres for the kids to plant alfalfa, move concrete instead of using a wheel barrow. I grew up on a farm operating various old tractors and I can't explain properly in words how much of a pleasure this little tractor is to work with. It does everything I ask of it and more. Like anything that works really well, there always seems to be projects you do that otherwise would not be possible to complete. First, there was bread, then someone figured how to slice it, (how did we ever do without that before), then came the tractor, (now comes the compact size powerful do it all tractor, how on earth did we get by before). If this continues on that same path, I will have to make a very tough decision, which do I keep to the last, the pickup truck or the tractor?

 

[Mudfarmer]

I live in a development on a 1/3 acre lot. I also have 120 acres in three other properties, mostly tree farm. I have three tractors because of the acreages, but I always have at least one of them at home in the 'burbs. I am the community go to guy when the work days come up. I am the one with the big generator when the power goes out. I am the one maintaining the trails through the community green belt. I am a common sight driving the roads in my neighborhood on my tractor (I don't have a wheel barrow). Everyone thinks I do so much that I have never been asked to be on the community board. The board even reimburses my diesel.

Mf

 

[tractchores]

I live in a development on a 1/3 acre lot. I also have 120 acres in three other properties, mostly tree farm. I have three tractors because of the acreages, but I always have at least one of them at home in the 'burbs. I am the community go to guy when the work days come up. I am the one with the big generator when the power goes out. I am the one maintaining the trails through the community green belt. I am a common sight driving the roads in my neighborhood on my tractor (I don't have a wheel barrow). Everyone thinks I do so much that I have never been asked to be on the community board. The board even reimburses my diesel.

Mf

Little do they know you're having fun! I do the same for my shared drive, but never bill my time or fuel. If someone has a tree down I'm usually there to help move / chip it up and if they don't burn the wood I'll take it, if they do I'll help them get it to the wood pile. You definitely get popular quick with a tractor.

 

[Sprinklerman]

About 2 years ago the community association wanted volunteers to clear out vines , stickers and brush near the playground . I was one of the volunteers. They said to bring tools and be there at 9 am , I told them thats too late for me I will get an early start at 6 am . They were fine with that . I brought my Bx with the rotary cutter and york rake . Nobody around to get in my way . When 9 am hits , its cut raked out , debris in a pile and ready to be fine raked . The president of the community figured it was going to take all day with 7 people maybe a day and a half . One guy said "you did all that in 3 hours alone" , No , I am not that slow , I was done at 8 am , I went out and got breakfast .

 

[dragoneggs]

About 2 years ago the community association wanted volunteers to clear out vines , stickers and brush near the playground . I was one of the volunteers. They said to bring tools and be there at 9 am , I told them thats too late for me I will get an early start at 6 am . They were fine with that . I brought my Bx with the rotary cutter and york rake . Nobody around to get in my way . When 9 am hits , its cut raked out , debris in a pile and ready to be fine raked . The president of the community figured it was going to take all day with 7 people maybe a day and a half . One guy said "you did all that in 3 hours alone" , No , I am not that slow , I was done at 8 am , I went out and got breakfast .

Great story! Got to puff the chest out a bit, eh?

 

[Sprinklerman]

Great story! Got to puff the chest out a bit, eh?

Just a bit . Basically , I am a contractor , irrigation , some landscaping etc , I am use to working around guys that have a clue what they are doing , and they are use to being around machines. My neighbors well , I dont trust them around me while I am running a machine. There was a incident around here where a community association rented a bobcat , a guy that worked in construction was operating it , a bunch of neighbors were out there working and some how a guy got injured by the machine and lost part of a foot . he tried to sue the operator .

 

[MossRoad]

I used to do volunteer work at a local little league park with my tractor. And, yes, on park cleanup day, you had to be especially careful with all the people running around. I did much better working with just one other father that I trusted and worked well with. He was the supervisor and brains, and I was managed labor. Worked great. Got a lot done by ourselves.

 

[dragoneggs]

Just a bit . Basically , I am a contractor , irrigation , some landscaping etc , I am use to working around guys that have a clue what they are doing , and they are use to being around machines. My neighbors well , I dont trust them around me while I am running a machine. There was a incident around here where a community association rented a bobcat , a guy that worked in construction was operating it , a bunch of neighbors were out there working and some how a guy got injured by the machine and lost part of a foot . he tried to sue the operator .

I hear you... I had a brother in law who killed himself accidentally with a rented bobcat. Story is a bit unclear but he got trapped under the bucket due to supposed hydraulic failure. Not sure the outcome of case but he was where he should not have been. Makes me think every time I start to get myself in a position (usually a steep slope) that is a bit dicey. Some people just don't have a sense of awareness and things that can go wrong.

 

[MossRoad]

I hear you... I had a brother in law who killed himself accidentally with a rented bobcat. Story is a bit unclear but he got trapped under the bucket due to supposed hydraulic failure. Not sure the outcome of case but he was where he should not have been. Makes me think every time I start to get myself in a position (usually a steep slope) that is a bit dicey. Some people just don't have a sense of awareness and things that can go wrong.

My best friend growing up had a brother-in-law killed in a skid steer incident. Apparently he got out of it, left it running, parking brake failed and it crept up on him from behind and pinned him to a dirt pile. He died in a helicopter on way to hospital. Left a wife and 4 little ones.