Buying Advice Seeking advice on a first tractor

Emerson76 · Jul 20, 2017

This is pretty amazing to me. It's hard for me to even imagine cutting a 5 foot wide swath through the brush while remaining seated.

My current solution is me and my Redmax BC4401DW brush cutter, which has been a pretty awesome machine. However, it does leave me pretty exposed to the copperheads, yellow jackets, and poison ivy in that mess down there, and it does also leave me pretty wiped out after some hours operating it.

It does sound like folks are satisfied with the L2501's PTO strength for a 5' rotary cutter (5 FEET!?!?). Truth be told, I could drop it back to a 4' rotary cutter, and I reckon it would still take a lot to wipe the grin off my face. Even if I had to cut it three times, I'd still be ahead.

I really appreciate the advice I've gotten here so far, and I can use all I can get. This is just what I've needed. Thanks, guys.

Grandad4 · Jul 20, 2017

I think Jeff has you pointed in the right direction here. Your description mentions moving rocks of various sizes and bringing logs out of the woods for firewood and general cleanup. That's heavy work and you want something large and heavy enough to stand up to rugged work like that, so it's really more than a BX or B is ideally suited for. Moreover, the greater weight, larger tires and larger overall dimensions will lend a measure of safety in handling heavy or bulky objects on uneven terrain.

Tractorable · Jul 20, 2017

Emerson76 said:
This is pretty amazing to me. It's hard for me to even imagine cutting a 5 foot wide swath through the brush while remaining seated.

My current solution is me and my Redmax BC4401DW brush cutter, which has been a pretty awesome machine. However, it does leave me pretty exposed to the copperheads, yellow jackets, and poison ivy in that mess down there, and it does also leave me pretty wiped out after some hours operating it.

It does sound like folks are satisfied with the L2501's PTO strength for a 5' rotary cutter (5 FEET!?!?). Truth be told, I could drop it back to a 4' rotary cutter, and I reckon it would still take a lot to wipe the grin off my face. Even if I had to cut it three times, I'd still be ahead.

I really appreciate the advice I've gotten here so far, and I can use all I can get. This is just what I've needed. Thanks, guys.

A light to medium duty 5ft rotary cutter would be a good fit for the L2501 and would cover your wheel tracks. Just be sure to get the HST for infinite speed control and ease of use.

airbiscuit · Jul 20, 2017

I had a John Deere 850 - 25hp, 19 PTO hp, and could cut any brush and high grass that I wanted to with it.

Brazos by Nemo · Jul 20, 2017

I have a L2501DT and it handles a 5' mower fine. Never occurred to me it would be an issue.

Michael Aos · Jul 20, 2017

The B2650 FEL can lift more than the L2501.

AxleHub · Jul 20, 2017

Emerson76,

I read your opening post 3 times before responding because others are hearing things you said that I didn't read. . . so I read it and read it and read it again

I own a SCUT (a Massey gc1715 and I love it). I have steep slopes and sidehills. But I see your pro and cons on a what you think of SCUTs. Personally it seems a bX2680 would offer many things for you . . . But not the ground clearance I think you would benefit from.

At the same token an L model doesn't seem like it fits your long term needs - it fits more your very short term needs and then ?????? Adding a 1000 pounds more tractor doesn't help your slope issues . . . But a better "footprint per pound" does. So a B size frame with modest wheel spacers added gives you both a nimbleness but better ground clearance and better footprint per pound. Ask youself - do you want an engine to give you useful power with implements or one you require to lug that extra 1,000 pounds up the hill ?

Now in reading your post several times I didn't see you say you wanted to take logs - you said take out parts of trees that are bad or for modest firewood. . . But let's be honest. . . 2 or 3 cords of firewood per year is not some big undertaking for any of the tractor sizes you are considering. My 82 year old dad did 10 cords each and every year with far less equipment.

My point is that no tractor size does everything. So I think you want something that does the highest percentage of your goals well, efficiently and without barriers.

Most will suggest you get an L model, and I'd suggest you consider a B model because of its combined strengths for your stated needs.

Here's an example. Sheetrockers come in all shapes and sizes but big bulky guys aren't the favored choices even though the idea of "big is always better" might be "assumed". Small little Hercules built guys aren't either. You want a "reasonably" tall lanky tawny guy for sheetrocking because they have both leverage and maneuverability in equal combination.

You don't need big bulk muscles for sheetrocking or for completing the list of goals in your first post for a tractor . . and an L model is big bulk muscles that could come in handy in the very beginning and soon are too short on maneuverability or efficiency to handle hills and slopes. My Massey scut goes places compact owners have told me they wouldn't feel real comfortable on with their units. But a BX or my Massey are a little short on the ground clearance you likely will regularly desire.

Finally is the issue of money. Don't buy a tractor and then have no money for implements which is what you stated would be an issue with an L. And don't buy too small and constantly "make do" with it. My Scut is a little dynamo of power for my uses - its not weak and I do alot of things with it in all seasons - that would be compromised if I had a bigger size. In other words get a units that fits your needs and you can "hold your head high" using it ALMOST ALL THE TIME.

I'd suggest a B sized frame and a 25 HP engine (whatever size doesn't need tier 4 Issues so 25.9999 HP or whatever lol. Make it convenient and comfortable to own.

Just my 2 cents.

Also as an aside. Many kubota dealers in our area added Massey when they got the chance lol. My dealer used to be just Kubota and now he carries the full line of each.

jeff9366 · Jul 21, 2017

Emerson76 said:
Just looked at the Ratchet Rake. That looks HANDY!

Ratchet Rake LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/375397-ratchet-rake-today.html

You can order a Ratchet Rake from the T-B-N STORE, button at top of this page. TSC sells the Ratchet Rake too but the stores are erratic with inventory.

As you are in North Carolina, you should become familiar with everytfhingattachments.com, a T-B-N advertiser. ETA's videos are the best. I have purchased fire implements from them. You can pick up at the factory if desired, with advance notice. They will credit you a few $$ for saving them freight.
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Emerson76 · Jul 21, 2017

AxleHub,

Thanks for the comments. I think you make some good points. I do tend to think of the work I need to do in two phases: the first phase being to reestablish the property, fix the road, and rid myself of a lot of accumulated deadfall; the second phase being to maintain the property. Running the rotary cutter, keeping the road maintained, removing fallen or dead trees, etc. Phase 2 will require less of a machine than phase 1 might benefit from.

My father-in-law did his best with the property, but he didn't have a tractor, he was a full-time college professor, and he weighs about 125 pounds or so. Even hiring help, things got away from him. He and my mother-in-law were also content with more woods and a smaller yard, especially as they got older. I want to beat the forest back in every direction, plant more long-term food crops, like apple trees and blueberry bushes, have a larger garden, and give those snakes a lot less cover than they currently have (I killed 6 copperheads in my yard last summer).

You're right about the trees and firewood. I didn't say that I aim to remove entire logs. I can take them in smaller pieces than, say, a 12' log. That said, I do dream of someday building a wood shop/small barn, and timber framing it with some of the many poplar trees on the property. A good friend of mine found a used set of Gransfors Bruks log construction tools (broad axes, adzes, and a froe), and gave them to me for my birthday this year. That just about requires me to do something with them, right? A tractor would be necessary to skid the logs, but the log building is a far-off dream that I may never get around to, which is why I didn't even mention it in my initial post.

Any size tractor would be more than adequate for my firewood work. It's hardly a chore anymore. Moving and lifting the larger rounds up onto my log splitter is the extent of my tractor needs there, and I only need that help because of my back injury.

I see you have a Massey GC 1715. I actually went and looked at the Massey GC1720. Even drove one around the parking lot. I really liked it. I actually preferred it to the Kubota BX23S. But my Massey dealer is really small, his price was more than the Kubota, and Kubota's 0% financing is pretty attractive. At the beginning of my search, I was dead set on having a backhoe with my tractor, to help me dig out the drainage ditches and culvert entrances on the road, but backhoes are really expensive attachments. I've made my peace with just saving up digging jobs and renting a mini excavator occasionally instead. The ground clearance on the SCUTs worries me for my applications. Otherwise, I like them.

I'll go back to the Kubota dealer tomorrow morning and look closely at the B's and L's again, after getting all this advice from this forum. I'm sure I'll see things I haven't seen before, just because I didn't know to look.

Thanks for the input. I'll keep you posted.