Tractor for land clearing and preparation

[mboncalo]

Good day everybody,

I'm looking to buy a tractor which will be mainly used for land clearing and preparation in the beginning. Land is full of small 1-2 inch thick trees which need to be cleared.
Short story, I bought recently 300 acres of virgin land which needs to be cleared, leveled, prepared from scratch.
Initially I was thinking to start with an 80 hp tractor with a front and loader , grapple and leveler but afterwards I had second thoughts that it might be cheaper fuel wise to start with an 50-60 hp tractor which might reduce my costs for clearing the land but I will have to buy a bigger tractor afterwards for land preparation, tilling, planting.
Though these are just thoughts, I have no experience with tractors beside all the reading
I'm not living in USA , in case you are thinking of recommending some tractor models
To be honest, I'm stuck a bit and I would appreciate some advice

Thank you.

 

[dodge man]

You’re a little vague on what you are going to do with the land. Farm it, if so what crops? Build a house on it?

 

[crashz]

Big dozer with a root rake? 300 acres is a lot of land to reclaim.

 

[old and tired]

Tractors are great for many things, like farming... Land clearing, not so great. It can be done but it would take lots of time. Do you have lots of time on your hands? Are you thinking of just mowing down the 1" to 2" stuff? or digging them out?

A Big Mulcher would make short work of it.

 

[2manyrocks]

Dozer.

 

[Richard]

I'm with these guys. I've got a 100+ HP tractor and (if I recall) a 90 HP industrial backhoe/loader.

Wife has a CORNER of the woods that she wants cleaned up for a detached garage. Tractor is idle. I'm using the backhoe to get the trees down (saplings up to 30" diameter) Dragging the fallen trees to burn pile, good sections cutting into logs and stacking those.

MUCH slower than antiicpated and I'm doing something less than 100 feet x 100 feet!

The saplings are what are taking the longest. Easy to push a tree over. Those sapings....there are TONS of them and I'm trying to pluck each one out. I might just get the trees down, then take the rotary mower and mow the saplings down other than.... the tractor (ESPECIALLY with mower attached) is WAY too big for the area....no room to turn around.

Plan B might be to take a 4' box off the 444 International (which is dead needing engine rebuilt) and putting the tiny 4' box blade behind the 1066 International. it BARELY fits but can work in a pinch.

Meanwhile, since we're on a slope, probably use the backhoe & loader bucket to try to dig most of it down to grade, then maybe try to fine-tune with boxblade.

Either way, I'd say that both of these are not the ideal tools however, that said, I'm getting more done with the backhoe/loader than the tractor.

 

[2manyrocks]

I'm with these guys. I've got a 100+ HP tractor and (if I recall) a 90 HP industrial backhoe/loader.

Wife has a CORNER of the woods that she wants cleaned up for a detached garage. Tractor is idle. I'm using the backhoe to get the trees down (saplings up to 30" diameter) Dragging the fallen trees to burn pile, good sections cutting into logs and stacking those.

MUCH slower than antiicpated and I'm doing something less than 100 feet x 100 feet!

The saplings are what are taking the longest. Easy to push a tree over. Those sapings....there are TONS of them and I'm trying to pluck each one out. I might just get the trees down, then take the rotary mower and mow the saplings down other than.... the tractor (ESPECIALLY with mower attached) is WAY too big for the area....no room to turn around.

Plan B might be to take a 4' box off the 444 International (which is dead needing engine rebuilt) and putting the tiny 4' box blade behind the 1066 International. it BARELY fits but can work in a pinch.

Meanwhile, since we're on a slope, probably use the backhoe & loader bucket to try to dig most of it down to grade, then maybe try to fine-tune with boxblade.

Either way, I'd say that both of these are not the ideal tools however, that said, I'm getting more done with the backhoe/loader than the tractor.

Similar ongoing experience here about removing saplings with the backhoe. I have found that I can snag them between the teeth on my backhole bucket if I push them away, then move the bucket sideways while pulling the bucket back. Anyway, there's a particular set of motions that let me pull the small ones out, but it is still slow as blazes to pull them out, pile them, and them move them.

Mowing saplings only leaves behind stubs to get their revenge by causing flat tires later.

 

[Richard]

Similar ongoing experience here about removing saplings with the backhoe. I have found that I can snag them between the teeth on my backhole bucket if I push them away, then move the bucket sideways while pulling the bucket back. Anyway, there's a particular set of motions that let me pull the small ones out, but it is still slow as blazes to pull them out, pile them, and them move them.

Mowing saplings only leaves behind stubs to get their revenge by causing flat tires later.

Yeah, agree 100%. I try to 'weave' the saplings in the teeth of the bucket so I can "simply" pluck them out. I do that.... try to grind them with a tooth directly where I think the roots are...A couple ways I try to attack them.

If I cut them, I'd probably cut them around knee height so I can just drive over them and push them over with machinery.....or allow them to go under the belly. My real concern right now is getting the big trees down. If I could get those out, it opens up options for the smaller punji-sticks.

Knocking on wood....I've never impaled a tire with something but I always try to leave them a bit long (verses mowing them down) so they might push over if driven over.

 

[edgarrian]

300 acres. You need a dozer. Tractor will take to long.

 

[cathy liebchen]

Tractors are not land clearing machines. Mulcher or dozer. Dozer cheaper but erosion issues

 

[nybirdman]

Tried a dozer,fail.It did the job but removed the top soil and then you still have piles of brush to deal with.Hire a Skid Steer and a Mulcher type head.Use your tractor to "maintain".

 

[2manyrocks]

Another factor to consider is the end use of the land. Drum mulching may indeed grind the saplings right down to the top few inches of topsoil, but the roots will still be present if you intend to plow it later.

 

[paulsharvey]

Retracted after actually reading the OPs situation.

 

[4570Man]

Get a d8 with a rake. A tractor will be way too slow and be destroyed before you’re done.

 

[paulsharvey]

"Good day everybody,

I'm looking to buy a tractor which will be mainly used for land clearing and preparation in the beginning. Land is full of small 1-2 inch thick trees which need to be cleared.
Short story, I bought recently 300 acres of virgin land which needs to be cleared, leveled, prepared from scratch.
Initially I was thinking to start with an 80 hp tractor with a front and loader , grapple and leveler but afterwards I had second thoughts that it might be cheaper fuel wise to start with an 50-60 hp tractor which might reduce my costs for clearing the land but I will have to buy a bigger tractor afterwards for land preparation, tilling, planting."



Based on the 1-2" thick trees (and assuming probably so 3-4" stuff muxed in); what I would do:
Bush hog everything with a good heavy-extreme duty 6 or 7 ft bush hog. That's going to smash that stuff up pretty good.
Then get a heavy duty disk; not the 5 or 6 ft ones from Countyline; a heavy disk or chopper; disc/chop the heck out of that roots/stubble; probably work it once, then come at it from 45 degrees or so; and go over it again (this is gonna be your heavy HP work); something in the 1200 lbs plus weight range
Then run a ripper-rake style attachment.
Absolutely wear the area out; and pile and burn the roots.

All of this is based on what your described; not trees; and assumes your not dealing with rocks bigger then basket balls.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Tractor will be fine. Cut all them little trees down. Never had a cut off tree hurt a tire. I would go to town on it. I've cleared a lot of land, contracting the jobs. A good bush hog and some of them mud grippy tires, you'll be unstoppable. If in any way I think I can do with a tractor, I will use the tractor. If some trees are a little big for the tractor, get a couple of chains and pull them up.

 

[mboncalo]

Tried a dozer,fail.It did the job but removed the top soil and then you still have piles of brush to deal with.Hire a Skid Steer and a Mulcher type head.Use your tractor to "maintain".

I was thinking about that as well...I could use a dozer but afterwards I will have to clean the land again with a tractor

 

[mboncalo]

Sorry for the lack of details
The land will be used for crops

I was thinking about clearing the land with a tractor because of the costs but I'm still not sure of that, it's a viable idea only if I will use less than 23 liters ( 6 gallons ) of diesel per acre
That's why I asked if it would be cheaper, per acre, to start with an 50 HP tractor or 80 HP
Clearing the land with a dozer would cost me the equivalent of 50 liters of fuel per acre (13.2 gallons ) plus cleaning the mess afterwards

Time is not an issue , only money unfortunately. I had the opportunity to buy this piece of land and now I must find ways to work on it with limited resources so if I clear most of it in half year or more, I'm ok with it. At beginning, the farming will be a side job, until it will grow. I must continue working, remotely from home, in order to support all the costs and slowly build the farm. It's not great but this is the situation I have but I'm ok with it and happy as long as my dream of getting a farm comes true.

I suppose everybody is thinking about this situation considering their environment but in my case I can't get a loan at the moment to clear the land and get a tractor at the same time, so it's one or another. If I clear the land with a dozer then I will have to wait for a tractor so I wouldn't be able to start to prepare the land for crops
Loans are a lot more expensive here as well so I'm trying to be as effective as possible.
Also the options here are very limited, there are only 3 options: clear with tractor, by hand or with a dozer.

 

[rScotty]

I was thinking about that as well...I could use a dozer but afterwards I will have to clean the land again with a tractor

That's right. Hire a dozer to do the rough work. Even a big tractor wouldl take you forever and tear itself up trying. Tractors are for maintaining the ground, not for the heavy work you are facing. Yes, the dozer will leave piles to burn as well as huge ruts and the topsoil all chewed up.

That's OK because when the dozer is done is when you bring in your tractor to smooth things out. Even so, it needs to be a full size tractor for that amount of work. While the dozer is working, you can be looking for a tractor in the 75 to 100 hp range with a loader and some implements.

rScotty

 

[jeff9366]

I was thinking about clearing the land with a tractor because of the costs but I'm still not sure of that, it's a viable idea only if I will use less than 23 liters ( 6 gallons ) of diesel per acre
That's why I asked if it would be cheaper, per acre, to start with an 50 HP tractor or 80 HP
Clearing the land with a dozer would cost me the equivalent of 50 liters of fuel per acre (13.2 gallons ) plus cleaning the mess afterwards

TELL YOUR READERS WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED.

The cost of fuel is not the main cost of running tractors or bulldozers. The cost is depreciation on the tractor/implements and repairs. Plus operator's time, if someone else is operating the equipment.

What does your Tractor cost you per hour of operation.

Hi all, I'm putting a video together for my you tube channel and the title is "Can you make money selling firewood" only reason I'm wasting my time doing so is because someone told me you can't make money selling firewood, and I'm going to prove a point lol. Anyway I have been videoing my...

www.tractorbynet.com

Hourly cost to own/operate tractor?

Hello, I purchased a used L3940 with 800 hours this past spring for $20,000. Such an awesome tractor! I would like to loan this tractor to a good friend of mine from time to time and I want to find out what the tractor costs to run so he can borrow the tractor, keep track of hours, and...

www.tractorbynet.com

Running costs of a CUT

What do you all figure are the hourly running costs for a CUT? Not for commercial use, just average CUT user. I'm probably missing something but I know a service costs roughly $500 every 100 hours for $5 an hour. Fuel maybe about 2 gallons an hour for another $5. Depreciation? My tractor...

www.tractorbynet.com

Operating costs

Oh great brain trust..... We own a NH Boomer 24. We are building a horse barn. My wife trains horses. So we will have at most 10 horses on our property. I am trying to figure out what we should charge for board. One variable I cannot find a cost on is the cost per hour to operate the...

www.tractorbynet.com