1026R large enough ?

[Robertquirion]

I have a 1026r which I have used on my existing 1 acre property for about 6 months. I have purchased 5 acres of multi terrain wooded lot with about an acre of clearing. I plan on using the tractor to work my way through the wooded lot making trails etc. It will require some lifting, driving over uneven terrain, and some ground levelling. I also have an orchard on the grounds which I plan on grooming and eventually harvesting. 200 foot driveway will require sniw clearing. I also have an x520 for mowing so I will not be using the 1026r for mowing grass. Is the 1026r large enough for all these chores?

 

[murphy1244]

:welcome:

 

[Robertquirion]

Thank you. Great resource of information. Looking forward to participating.

 

[murphy1244]

What work you plan on doing with your 1026?

 

[Robertquirion]

have a 1026r which I have used on my existing 1 acre property for about 6 months. I have purchased 5 acres of multi terrain wooded lot with about an acre of clearing. I plan on using the tractor to work my way through the wooded lot making trails etc. It will require some lifting, driving over uneven terrain, and some ground levelling. I also have an orchard on the grounds which I plan on grooming and eventually harvesting. 200 foot driveway will require sniw clearing. I also have an x520 for mowing so I will not be using the 1026r for mowing grass. Is the 1026r large enough for all these chores?

 

[tractchores]

I think ground clearance would be your main concern in the woods. The next series up is a lot taller.

 

[Robertquirion]

I never thought of ground clearance. So the 2 or 3 series ?

 

[TripleR]

You "can" do it with the 1026R, but in my opinion is marginal for that type of work. We have two BX's and a John Deere 2305 but use a bigger tractor for the work you are describing. We did it for a couple of years or so with the smaller machines, but it just wasn't worth the aggravation in the long run.

We are setting up our BX2200 with belly armor and wheels spacers for use in tight spaces in our woods, but have other tractors as backup.

 

[meburdick]

Welcome!

I tell everyone the same thing that asks questions like yours... You need to make a list of the "work" that you need to do. Include the details of what's involved in doing those jobs (lifting capacity, ground clearance, max width, etc.) and also be realistic with how many hours you believe you will put on DOING those tasks. Let that be your guide.

For example: if you have two acres of land that are clear and flat, and you're going to spend half of your hours mowing and the other half moving mulch, the 1026r is more than capable. I have a single acre but bought a 2520 because I lift and move firewood a pallet at a time. My lift capacity needed to be over 1,000 lbs, and I wasn't going to get that from the smaller tractor. So, while my machine is oversized for mowing my lawn and clearing the snow, it's the right size to move 1,100 lb pallets of wood around the property and into the garage during heating season.

When it comes to things like pulling stumps, you may need a backhoe. Or, you may not. Again - how MANY stumps are you going to pull, and over what period of time? You may be better off to NOT buy a hoe and rent a mini-ex for a few weekends to pull the six stumps that you want out.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a 1026r which I have used on my existing 1 acre property for about 6 months. I have purchased 5 acres of multi terrain wooded lot with about an acre of clearing. I plan on using the tractor to work my way through the wooded lot making trails etc. It will require some lifting, driving over uneven terrain, and some ground levelling. I also have an orchard on the grounds which I plan on grooming and eventually harvesting. 200 foot driveway will require sniw clearing. I also have an x520 for mowing so I will not be using the 1026r for mowing grass. Is the 1026r large enough for all these chores?

I think something like my Deere 110tlb and 4520 would be about right to clean up five acres. But, you would only need them for less than a month. I think you are better off planning your improvements then either rent a larger tractor or contract the larger jobs out. Keep the 1026R for maintaining the property afterwards. I do alot of this work in my business and depending on what has to be done you can do alot of cleanup and smoothing in a days time with a 50hp tractor.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Contracting out some of the larger work, like the land leveling, should be a serious consideration. It's more fun to DIY, that's why we're all here, but one guy with a full-sized bulldozer may be able to do in four hours what it would take you four months to do with your 1026. You have to ask yourself whether you would rather be making trails and cutting grass, or whether you would like to be slogging through a leveling project every weekend for half the year. Also, a SCUT like a 1026r or a BX Kubota can be pressed into service to do much larger jobs (much slower), but I think that the wear on the machine and the chances of having to make a repair go way up when they're used in that way, versus when they are used more in the "weight class" they were intended for. I don't have any scientific data to back that up, it's just my hunch. Whenever I try to do "too much" with a tool, I eventually get the job done, but it's stressful the whole time instead of being fun, the results are usually nowhere near as good as if I had the right tool, and that's always when I end up breaking something or burning something out.

 

[TripleR]

Agree, with jenkisph and joshbardwell, my sons and I once decided to save some money by doing a job with our tractors as opposed to paying for a dozer to come in. When we paid for the diesel after a LOT of wear and tear on our equipment, our cost was higher than the rent for the dozer.

I am a firm believer in renting or hiring someone when appropriate.

 

[tractchores]

I never thought of ground clearance. So the 2 or 3 series ?

I use my kubota b in the woods a lot and think the jd 2 series has similar clearance, so think that would be good. If you go too big it gets hard to move around in the trees

 

[Robertquirion]

Thank you all for your input. The big jobs I will contract out and then trade up to a 2520 for maintaining the property. Will need the ground clearance for sure.

 

[PBettis]

I borrowed a friends TL140 tracksteer with cab and root rake/grapple for cutting horse trails on about 20 acres. That is the perfect trail machine if it's small trees and under growth. I tried my 110 TLB at first but a tractor with a FEL is a real challenge as far as actually cutting the trails and manuverability in between trees. As far as maintaining the trails they're great. I cut some killer trails in a few days and you don't have to worry about hitting a tree or the weather or bees or poison ivy etc. Check the rental companies and see what the rates are. I would look for that exact machine or similar. Has joystick controls and tracks. Amazing trail cutter. May cost a little less than hiring and is way more fun plus you can design the trails how you want them as you go. Take your tractor and chainsaw back out later and cut any big stuff up and use for firewood or just line the edges of trails with it. I made several big trails and connected them all with a branch trail. Lots of ways to ride the trails that way. I would push through the woods for a few hundred feet, open the cab and spot a new line and go again. Instant trails!! Just my thoughts...

 

[nuclearsteel]

I have 5 acres and started looked looking at 1026R as well...my dealer was great. He let me drive a 1026R, 2320, and 2520 on property just like mine. After doing that I bought the 2520. It honestly was only a few grand more, the 2520 was actually the same price as the 2320...with the 0% financing it's worth it.
To me, the 2520 just seemed more like a machine and less like a garden tractor (1026R).

 

[meburdick]

I'd love to have a physically smaller machine, but the 2305 was no longer made, and the incentives on the 2520 made it LESS expensive than buying a 2320 with the same implements. I liked the higher capacity hydraulics, and with the way I use it - I don't regret having the 2520 at all.