Buying Advice GC1700 for landscaping/yard work

[jenkinsph]

The GC will do everything you want, just takes a while. The cost of the backhoe is almost equivalent to a box blade, rear snowblower and tiller combined. Box blade will not work well in a lot of sod. Tilling the sod off the top helps a lot. Trying to scrape the sod off with the loader is time consuming, and the sod clumps never grade well with the box blade. Contour the ditches into swales, much easier to mow, and less likely to get stuck.
Landscaping is a long term project, You'll never get it perfect quickly. I prefer to grade in spring and fall when the grass seed germinates quickly. If you find a spot where the mower scalps the lawn, re-contour it.
Scrape up some dirt to use as fill, it comes in handy.
Start a small garden right away, just keep expanding it every year.
What type of tires? I would get turfs if I had to choose again.

Dennis

You bring up some good points imo about landscaping. It does take a little time to make improvements to a lawn but it is worth the effort. Having the correct implements makes it much easier. I would much prefer to have a tiller, box blade and snow blower (if needed) than a small backhoe attachment.

 

[srpape]

The GC will do everything you want, just takes a while. The cost of the backhoe is almost equivalent to a box blade, rear snowblower and tiller combined. Box blade will not work well in a lot of sod. Tilling the sod off the top helps a lot. Trying to scrape the sod off with the loader is time consuming, and the sod clumps never grade well with the box blade. Contour the ditches into swales, much easier to mow, and less likely to get stuck.
Landscaping is a long term project, You'll never get it perfect quickly. I prefer to grade in spring and fall when the grass seed germinates quickly. If you find a spot where the mower scalps the lawn, re-contour it.
Scrape up some dirt to use as fill, it comes in handy.
Start a small garden right away, just keep expanding it every year.
What type of tires? I would get turfs if I had to choose again.

Dennis

They all come with the industrial R4s from the dealer here, unless I made a special request.

Someone else had mentioned getting a tooth bar to scrape up the sod. Other people have said not to use a tiller, as it'll bury the sod and cause fungus or something. Others say to use a disc harrow. My dealer says a box blade itself will be fine. I feel like I see a lot of conflicting information about what to do... so I'll probably start with the loader and box blade and see how it goes. I'll likely end up purchasing some extra implements as I learn what I'm up against, probably a tiller next since I want to make a garden anyway.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[jeff9366]

A Disc Harrow is one form of soil mixing TILLER. A PTO powered roto-tiller is a second form of soil mixing TILLER.

A GC1700 cannot pull a Disc Harrow heavy enough to mix soil. If you decide you need a TILLER, purchase a PTO powered roto-tiller. Roto-tillers are preferred for garden applications.


LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=

 

[AxleHub]

They all come with the industrial R4s from the dealer here, unless I made a special request.

Someone else had mentioned getting a tooth bar to scrape up the sod. Other people have said not to use a tiller, as it'll bury the sod and cause fungus or something. Others say to use a disc harrow. My dealer says a box blade itself will be fine. I feel like I see a lot of conflicting information about what to do... so I'll probably start with the loader and box blade and see how it goes. I'll likely end up purchasing some extra implements as I learn what I'm up against, probably a tiller next since I want to make a garden anyway.

Thanks for the advice!

Greetings srpape,

As you can see . . Tbn posters are both helpful but also quite opinionated lol.

A GC1700 series is a good fit for much of your plans it would appear. I know I'm glad I chose the GC1715 because a little added horsepower, a little more hydrauluc flow and a preferred seat were a good value choice for my needs.

Also Ive been quite surprised at how very well my turf tires have done in snow and ice. I really never believed I could go on the yard in winter and especially on my back slope with 7 ir 8 inches of snow on the ground. It really comes in handy if you are plowing sidewalks if you can come at them straight by going on the lawn to get a straight shot.

My unit came with Titan turfs (per my list of needs). Recently I've become aware that there are numerous turf thread patterns . . while I thought there was only 1. There are both more aggressive turf tires and more blah or mild turf tire patterns (that probably would not have worked well for me).

You are fortunate that its 1 year later regarding tbn and GC1700 series. In April and May of 2015 there was not nearly the same amount of information and activity on the GC1700s as there is today. A year ago much of the info came from prior model gc owners or from Kubota forum input. It seems ownership of GC1700s has increased greatly as have the dealer network really expanded greatly. And of course the GC1700s got the added benefit of a 5 year warranty vs. The prior warranty of prior gc models.

Good luck to you

 

[srpape]

A Disc Harrow is one form of soil mixing TILLER. A PTO powered roto-tiller is a second form of soil mixing TILLER.

A GC1700 cannot pull a Disc Harrow heavy enough to mix soil. If you decide you need a TILLER, purchase a PTO powered roto-tiller. Roto-tillers are preferred for garden applications.


LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=

Thanks, but is that what I'd want to remove the sod? Would it be a good idea to lightly till and then try to scoop it out with the FEL?

 

[jeff9366]

Are you interested in saving the sod for re-use?

If not, mow the grass as short as possible then try the Box Blade when the soil is moist. If it works, it works.

If you get a Box Blade with rippers, they will tear up the grass but probably will not be necessary if you acquire a Box Blade with at least 100 pounds per foot of width. Rippers are mostly used to get to the bottom of road pot holes and feathering in the pot hole to the road surface, before filling in.

Ratchet Rake, described in Post #26, will tear out the sod easily but sod will be destroyed in the process. Ratchet Rake can pull debris out of your clogged ditch and grade the ditch banks too.

 

[jenkinsph]

Other people have said not to use a tiller, as it'll bury the sod and cause fungus or something.

Never heard of this. You might check with your local agriculture office, county agent or similar to get good advice. If fungus is a problem you can usually add the proper amendments to correct the soil imbalance.

 

[nikerret]

I have a BX25D and would not be hesitant to tackle the tasks you list. The beauty of a GC17xx/BX/1-Series is it is small. When you get done with the one time or once every few years projects, you're looking at mowing and landscaping. The smaller machines will do that better while offering big machine capabilities, for the more rare tasks.

I can drive my BX around a my wet yard, with the FEL on and within a day, or two, the tracks are gone. By day three, there is no evidence I was there.

As was stated, acreage mowing will take up most of the hours, on your machine. Get the one that will do that best, and cheapest.

 

[plowhog]

I bought a GC1710 about six months ago and I am extremely pleased with it. I have similar needs as yours and the tractor has already done some very good work. I have used the loader for all kinds of jobs and the backhoe has torn out a lot of old vegetation (junipers.) I just purchased a box scraper for the same reason as you need one, but I haven't put it into use yet.

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks, but is that what I'd want to remove the sod? Would it be a good idea to lightly till and then try to scoop it out with the FEL?

Make a reasoned decisions about your tractor-loader and Box Blade. Put in some hours with the tractor-loader and Box Blade. Then consider what your next equipment purchase should be.

Respondents have different conditions from you. Respondents experience will vary from yours.

In Florida, I am always trying to increase the organic content of my sand based soil.