How many of your friends do NOT have tractors?

[ovrszd]

Do you guys ever think, how doesn't everyone with acreage not own a tractor? I understand why, I couldn't afford one for years starting out. But man, the people who can afford them and don't own one is staggering. I guess it comes down to priority.

Actually, I think it comes down to the level of property maintenance the owner is content with.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Actually, I think it comes down to the level of property maintenance the owner is content with.

Or what he can afford to pay for.

 

[ovrszd]

Or what he can afford to pay for.

Yep. And if that's part of the equation, it was accepted before the property purchase. Making them content with a lower level of property maintenance.

Owning land is expensive if properly maintained.

 

[ponytug]

I knew I wanted one for ages, but I "couldn't afford one".

In retrospect, I should've gotten one ASAP when moving here as I'm still getting caught up on stuff now that I *do* have a tractor. I tell new land owners this whenever I can, and everyone so far has been appreciative.

Boy does that describe my childhood!

My folks bought a 160 acre former farm, with a mix of woodland, pasture, and cropland. They tried to buy a used tractor a couple of times, but never managed it, so we did everything by hand. I mean everything. We had an amazing two man buck saw and used it to cut down and process 100' elms for firewood. Splitting elm was... well, a great way to build muscles in a teenager. Elm just doesn't want to split. We used wheelbarrows to haul fence posts and wire for new fences all over the hilly property. After a number of years, they did get a Troy-built rototiller for the vegetable patch, and wow was that an improvement.

When I bought land, I bought the tractor within months, and it has paid for itself so many times. I just shake my head at my neighbors hiring out work, or doing it by hand, or more often, not doing it. I remember one time, my neighbors wanted to remove a small elevated deck, and spent all day pulling two posts before they asked for help. I pulled eight more with the tractor in about fifteen minutes. Tractors are such force multipliers.

All the best,

Peter

 

[cqaigy2]

Wow, Peter! Sounds like my parents, but on a much larger scale. My dad had a blue homelite chainsaw, so cut wood with that.


I started thinking about friends with tractors and i'd hate to think i stick my nose up at people that don't own a tractor, but close by i have two friends, and they both have tractors, the other three people close by don't own tractors and i think of them as acquaintances. That is i know them and have interacted with them, but don't really consider them as friends.

 

[Oaktree]

Splitting elm was... well, a great way to build muscles in a teenager. Elm just doesn't want to split.

Well that could go down as the understatement of the week. Actually, the trunks aren't too bad, but the branches tend to twist as they grow and the wood is very stringy. Split my share of it too. Burns nice if you get a hot enough fire.

 

[ponytug]

Well that could go down as the understatement of the week. Actually, the trunks aren't too bad, but the branches tend to twist as they grow and the wood is very stringy. Split my share of it too. Burns nice if you get a hot enough fire.

It burned great! I really like it as a wood and firewood. As an addendum, I was back home around Christmas one year after being gone a couple of years, and went to split some wood for the fireplace. I grabbed the maul and swung, prepared for the inevitable fight with the elm branch, and sent the pieces flying fifteen feet or so. Ooops! My folks had switched to oak, it was dark, and I had not been paying attention.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ovrszd]

Boy does that describe my childhood!

My folks bought a 160 acre former farm, with a mix of woodland, pasture, and cropland. They tried to buy a used tractor a couple of times, but never managed it, so we did everything by hand. I mean everything. We had an amazing two man buck saw and used it to cut down and process 100' elms for firewood. Splitting elm was... well, a great way to build muscles in a teenager. Elm just doesn't want to split. We used wheelbarrows to haul fence posts and wire for new fences all over the hilly property. After a number of years, they did get a Troy-built rototiller for the vegetable patch, and wow was that an improvement.

When I bought land, I bought the tractor within months, and it has paid for itself so many times. I just shake my head at my neighbors hiring out work, or doing it by hand, or more often, not doing it. I remember one time, my neighbors wanted to remove a small elevated deck, and spent all day pulling two posts before they asked for help. I pulled eight more with the tractor in about fifteen minutes. Tractors are such force multipliers.

All the best,

Peter

Managed 160 acres by hand. Impressive!!!

 

[ponytug]

Managed 160 acres by hand. Impressive!!!

Well, not the 35 acres of corn, but yes everything else.

 

[two_bit_score]

I was thinking about this while having a conversation with my insurance agent today, when she asked if I would be using my sawmill off premises. I said that the only time that would happen is if I was doing something for a friend... then realized there are very few people I know who don't own or have direct access to some type of tractor, 2500 lbs or bigger.

At least 50% or more of my close friends do not own a tractor. But of the ones who do own a tractor at least 50% f those own more than one. Probaly 25% of those own more than 2.