Buying my 1st tractor this weekend and need advise BIG TIME - quotes included

[ultrarunner]

Many happy years ahead...

 

[Fallon]

The HF Quick Hitch is cheap, but works. I have a couple & every implement gets modified to be QH compatible if it's not. Search around on here & you'll find info on the hook lengthening mod most of us do, along with replacing the top hook bolts with pins for faster adjustment.

 

[bevis28]

The HF Quick Hitch is cheap, but works. I have a couple & every implement gets modified to be QH compatible if it's not. Search around on here & you'll find info on the hook lengthening mod most of us do, along with replacing the top hook bolts with pins for faster adjustment.

Thanks for the heads up. the HF needs some modifying as you said. I have to get out and stand on the bottom arm
sometimes because the top hook is too high. I will do a search and see if i can find the mod you are speaking of.

 

[bevis28]

After spending about an hour and a half on the tractor today, i wish i had pushed the dealer to find me a 61" bucket.
I almost found out the hard way 2 times today why , especially when you are a rookie like i am, you need a bucket
and box blade the same width. I have a 53" bucket and a 60" box blade. Guess what happens if you go in somewhere
with the bucket thats kinda close and forgot that the ***** end is wider ? Yup rookie mistake. Man i guess i might
have to buy a 61" bucket. Im afraid to ask what that cost. That 53 looks small on there with that 60" box blade.
After running it for a while today, i have no doubt that the tractor can handle the 61 with no problems.
Expensive learning curve.

 

[TomSeller]

NAILED IT !!!!!!!! My thoughts EXACTLY... I told the wife, i need to fab up a shield / cover for that. KUB does such a nice job routing those hoses and keeping them out of the way.
Not to mention they are an eye sore like that. I think its ridiculous that they let that slide. I will figure out something to cover / protect them.

A good coat of mud and you will hardly notice them

Great looking tractor and weld job on the hooks.

 

[jenkinsph]

After spending about an hour and a half on the tractor today, i wish i had pushed the dealer to find me a 61" bucket.
I almost found out the hard way 2 times today why , especially when you are a rookie like i am, you need a bucket
and box blade the same width. I have a 53" bucket and a 60" box blade. Guess what happens if you go in somewhere
with the bucket thats kinda close and forgot that the ***** end is wider ? Yup rookie mistake. Man i guess i might
have to buy a 61" bucket. Im afraid to ask what that cost. That 53 looks small on there with that 60" box blade.
After running it for a while today, i have no doubt that the tractor can handle the 61 with no problems.
Expensive learning curve.

Give yourself a chance to get use to it. I use a 72" front bucket and an 84" box blade. There will often be times where the widths front and rear will be different.

 

[s219]

I think if you get a 61" bucket, you'll discover that you now also have a big clumsy thing sticking out the front of the tractor too. It will make maneuvering in tight quarters even worse. And knowing a little bit about that tractor, I wouldn't want a bigger bucket unless you only handle light materials -- if you take a healthy scoop of gravel/etc, it's probably going to be too much.

If anything, the box blade might be too big, although it is probably only sticking out about 4-5" on each side. A 54" might have been a better match, but if the 60" box is really only sticking out 4-5" each side, that should not be a big problem. If you're getting close enough to something to hook the box, then you may have already risked damaging tire sidewalls by that point.

Any advantage of a wider box -- letting you get close in to stuff on the side, is going to be outweighed if you go with a wider bucket. At that point I think you now have multiple disadvantages.

 

[bevis28]

I think if you get a 61" bucket, you'll discover that you now also have a big clumsy thing sticking out the front of the tractor too. It will make maneuvering in tight quarters even worse. And knowing a little bit about that tractor, I wouldn't want a bigger bucket unless you only handle light materials -- if you take a healthy scoop of gravel/etc, it's probably going to be too much.

If anything, the box blade might be too big, although it is probably only sticking out about 4-5" on each side. A 54" might have been a better match, but if the 60" box is really only sticking out 4-5" each side, that should not be a big problem. If you're getting close enough to something to hook the box, then you may have already risked damaging tire sidewalls by that point.

Any advantage of a wider box -- letting you get close in to stuff on the side, is going to be outweighed if you go with a wider bucket. At that point I think you now have multiple disadvantages.

all good points. i wanted the 60" box because the 48 would not cover the rear tire tracks. I just need more experience

 

[TripleR]

I have a similar setup to jenkinsph and prefer it that way as well.

 

[bevis28]

I have a similar setup to jenkinsph and prefer it that way as well.

I just need more experience.
I found out real quick what a PITA the ROPS are if you don't keep it constantly in your head that there is something
taller than you are right above your head. when the dealer gets my brackets to me and i get the canopy on
i suspect it won't take long to screw it up.