Tractor Sizing Kioti RX7320 or PX9020 for 25 acres?

[ForestFriend]

Looking for advice for a decision on purchase of a new Kioti RX7320 or PX9020 (CORRECTION: PX9530), either with cab & shuttle. Going to purchase in spring 2020. My projects aren't too big, but I don't mind the power of a bigger machine. I just wonder if I'm way-overshooting with PX9020 instead of a RX7320.

I'll give some background. It's an Oregon zoned forest lot, 400 wide 1/2 mile long. Elevation between 700 & 900 feet. 7 acres of 8 year old trees and brush, then about 15 acres are in 2 year old seedlings.

A 3 acre firebreak, ahem, "yard," on the south end of the lot has been cleared of heavy brush with a mulcher I hired. New mfg'd home in center of firebreak. The lot has some contours: About 50% of the lot is fairly flat in the mid-section. Other parts are sloped or terraced with steepest in 10-15% grade range. My CAT 977 with tracks can go up any slope I have.

I plan to get rid of the CAT, which I used to clear 15 acres of brush for planting seedlings. It breaks down every 2 days of use.

I plan to get a tractor for these purposes:

Majority of work:
* Brush hogging of robust blackberries and scotch broom throughout the property & maintaining the firebreak (mow firebreak every 2-4 weeks during growing season)
* Improve fire road access to the back half of the property and creating paths
* Smoothing over some of the lumps in the contour of the firebreak--make it nicer to look at (a finite project)
* Spraying herbicide

Occasional work:
* Take care of downed trees after windstorms, including on very rural local public road.
* Piling up a few stumps. Maybe digging a few out--maybe. Don't want to abuse the machine.
* Smoothing out my long gravel driveway
* Garden tilling (small garden)
* Clearing snow - Snow is not a major problem, but can get a couple of feet in a bad winter storm.
* Unanticipated projects
* Help out neighbors

Reasons why I do want a big tractor:
* Ample power to take on bigger jobs that come up
* Mow brush more quickly
* 9530 is not too much more expensive than a 7320

Reasons I have doubts about getting a big tractor:
* Getting into tight places in a few instances
* Fuel usage
* More expensive to maintain

Let me know what you guys think!

 

[Bigpuddie]

7320 will do what you want. The 90 will be heavier and weight is good. Maintenance wont be any more expensive on either. Fuel consumption might not be very different as the 90 wont be working as hard. If price is close, get the one with the best cab comfort.

 

[ForestFriend]

7320 will do what you want. The 90 will be heavier and weight is good. Maintenance wont be any more expensive on either. Fuel consumption might not be very different as the 90 wont be working as hard. If price is close, get the one with the best cab comfort.

Thanks, Bigpuddie. I'll consider that regarding the fuel, maintenance, & cab.

 

[Tinstafl]

I was going thru the same thing and got the px9020 and love it. Any cabbed tractor it tougher to use in the woods and they were about the same. The bigger machine works better when engaging the ground and it will pick up bigger logs. My fuel usage is pretty good. I can mow lol day and fill up for the next day and I pull 15 FOOT batwing

 

[ForestFriend]

I was going thru the same thing and got the px9020 and love it. Any cabbed tractor it tougher to use in the woods and they were about the same. The bigger machine works better when engaging the ground and it will pick up bigger logs. My fuel usage is pretty good. I can mow lol day and fill up for the next day and I pull 15 FOOT batwing

Thanks for posting, Tinstafl. That's impressive if you can get about two days on one tank of fuel! I think one big advantage of a cab in a wooded area may be keeping some branches from whacking my noggin. When I was clearing brush and slash with my CAT 977 track loader with ROPs/roof, I learned how slash logs and branches are out to get me! I guess a glass cab is not impenetrable, but may give me a first line of defense if I get a little too close.

It's a big utility tractor and I'm curious if you've been able to use it in tight, non-field circumstances, like near the home or garden. Can you maneuver well with it? Is it too large and lumbering for tight space work?

Thanks & I appreciate your feedback!

 

[Tinstafl]

Thanks for posting, Tinstafl. That's impressive if you can get about two days on one tank of fuel! I think one big advantage of a cab in a wooded area may be keeping some branches from whacking my noggin. When I was clearing brush and slash with my CAT 977 track loader with ROPs/roof, I learned how slash logs and branches are out to get me! I guess a glass cab is not impenetrable, but may give me a first line of defense if I get a little too close.

It's a big utility tractor and I'm curious if you've been able to use it in tight, non-field circumstances, like near the home or garden. Can you maneuver well with it? Is it too large and lumbering for tight space work?

Thanks & I appreciate your feedback!

I fill every day. It is big and I might back and fill a bit to get into position. It is my only tractor so it does everything. I use my zero turn to cut close to the house but thinking I might get a flail mower for that too. It is hot humid and ugly in the summer. In the woods I have to go slow to prevent the glass from braking but no problem so far. There is not much difference in size between the two you are looking at. If I was going to be in the woods ski thetime or wanted more nimble a unit I would have gone down two sizes of frame.

 

[ForestFriend]

I fill every day. It is big and I might back and fill a bit to get into position. It is my only tractor so it does everything. I use my zero turn to cut close to the house but thinking I might get a flail mower for that too. It is hot humid and ugly in the summer. In the woods I have to go slow to prevent the glass from braking but no problem so far. There is not much difference in size between the two you are looking at. If I was going to be in the woods ski thetime or wanted more nimble a unit I would have gone down two sizes of frame.

Thanks, Tinstafl. Good info.

 

[tradosaurus]

If you didn't get the CAT stuck you are probably going to be good with the PX9530. However, if you are trying to get in between trees the size might cause you problems. I have 40 acres of trees and chose the L3301 because the size allowed me to get in between trees to make trails and clean out brush. I also chose no cab as I didn't want to risk breaking glass. I tried a skid steer and stuck up to the top of the tracks so weight was an issue also.

If you plan to go smaller in tractor size just make sure you have plenty of PTO hp to run the biggest implement you plan to use.

 

[ForestFriend]

If you didn't get the CAT stuck you are probably going to be good with the PX9530. However, if you are trying to get in between trees the size might cause you problems. I have 40 acres of trees and chose the L3301 because the size allowed me to get in between trees to make trails and clean out brush. I also chose no cab as I didn't want to risk breaking glass. I tried a skid steer and stuck up to the top of the tracks so weight was an issue also.

If you plan to go smaller in tractor size just make sure you have plenty of PTO hp to run the biggest implement you plan to use.

So I guess you’re saying that larger size could be prohibitive for making trails and getting at some of the brush. I’ll have to think about that. Or, I guess, turning it on its head, I would be making a wider trail, in other words. Thanks for your input, Tradosaurus.

 

[tradosaurus]

A larger tractor wouldn't be prohibitive but might mean you are off of your tractor more with the chainsaw taking out trees you can't get around.

My L3301 with 6 ft rotary cutter makes a trail wide enough for me. I did finally break down and buy a Sawhaul to tote my chainsaw instead of putting the chainsaw in the bucket.