Earth work

[desertdog71]

Since I am leaning towards buying Branson, I will ask you folks.

If I buy a larger tractor, I need to justify the purchase by being able to do some earth moving with it, without tearing up.

I need to level a 56x100 area to build a house, and there is probably about a foot or two at most of variations in the area I want to build. The soil has some packed clay in it and probably some shale and small rocks, nobody knows for sure because it was an area that was strip mined back in the early 1900's. I will also need to cut in a 600 foot driveway. Time is not a factor for me, I have nothing better to do for 14 days every month than play on a tractor. If these are viable tasks for a tractor to do, then I get the green light on going for a 15 or 20 series instead of 2510.

I figure a box blade with scarifiers and a tooth bar on the bucket will be needed. Not sure what other attachments would help me do the job. I have 7 hours total of tractor time and that was bush hogging.

The larger tractor will come in handy as well for the construction process, moving materials around, standing up walls, lifting trusses (with a rig of some sort), moving gravel around for concrete base, etc etc.

What do you all think?

 

[4570Man]

As long as there’s no stumps it’s doable. You’re on the right track with the BB. If you had a hydraulic top link and hydraulic tilt you’d be even better off.

 

[desertdog71]

no stumps that I have found. I hogged about 4-5 acres of it a couple weeks ago and found nothing, much to my surprise. There's maybe 3 smallish cedars that I need to remove. I think a chain and hooks will do the trick on those.

My only worry with any of this is damaging the loader.

 

[4570Man]

Loaders are built for scooping not dozing. Let the rippers on the box blade break up the dirt. And you can break up dirt with the loader it’s ramming and prying things like stumps that will cause damage. Take a few minutes to learn the proper way to back drag. Dragging with the bucket rolled all the way down like it’s tempting to do is a sure fire way to bend the cylinders.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

no stumps that I have found. I hogged about 4-5 acres of it a couple weeks ago and found nothing, much to my surprise. There's maybe 3 smallish cedars that I need to remove. I think a chain and hooks will do the trick on those.

My only worry with any of this is damaging the loader.

Use the 3pt to pull up with, not the loader.:thumbsup:

Keep in mind that the heavier the box blade, the better that it will work. If you are going to get a tractor that is roughly 6' wide (uses 6' implements) see if you can find a 1000lb used unit, probably a Gannon. These will work far better than an lighter weight unit. If used is a no go in your area, then probably need to go with something a little lighter, get as heavy as you can afford.

Probably need to do some contouring of the driveway? Get a 7'-8' rear blade with offset and tilt. Everything Attachments has a few different units that are worth considering IMO.
Might also consider a LPGS These make general road maintenance a breeze and in about half the time of a box blade.

Good luck with any and all of your choices.

 

[4570Man]

Use the 3pt to pull up with, not the loader.:thumbsup:

Keep in mind that the heavier the box blade, the better that it will work. If you are going to get a tractor that is roughly 6' wide (uses 6' implements) see if you can find a 1000lb used unit, probably a Gannon. These will work far better than an lighter weight unit. If used is a no go in your area, then probably need to go with something a little lighter, get as heavy as you can afford.

Probably need to do some contouring of the driveway? Get a 7'-8' rear blade with offset and tilt. Everything Attachments has a few different units that are worth considering IMO.
Might also consider a LPGS These make general road maintenance a breeze and in about half the time of a box blade.

Good luck with any and all of your choices.

A 1000 pound BB will go wasted behind a tractor of that class. Those belong behind much bigger tractors. I’ve got a 5 or 6’ blade of medium duty construction. It’s better than the tractor supply junk but no Gannon either. It would easily take enough bite to spin out my 6,000 pound L3240. Pulling it behind the lighter L3800 with the rippers down is a lost cause. You can put 2 of them on the second notch and even then you have to be light on the controls.

 

[desertdog71]

I was thinking just a chain and an old car rim, would pop most of the small trees out of the ground, use the draw bar or 3pt to pull with?

 

[Cougsfan]

You never stated which Branson you are looking at. What your doing is quite feasible. The more horsepower you get and the heavier the tractor, the more pleasurable the job will be. Clay can be weather dependent to work. Gets too wet it is slippery and messy. Too dry and can harden to rock like condition. A box blade with scarifiers will about as good as anything. Just use the FEL on loose stuff. A tooth bar on the bucket would be nice but not absolutely necessary. Patience will be your biggest ally. A transiet to chek levelness would be handy if you don't already have one.

 

[desertdog71]

3015, 3515, 3520? Not sure 3520 is more than I want to spend honestly.

Branson website says the 15 series is only 2 speed HST? Is that correct? Seems pretty lame for that size tractor.

 

[ptsg]

15 Series and up, all have 3 Range HST.

I Believe only the 00 Series comes with a 2 range.