Horribilis
New member
I've been debating the 15 and 20 series machines now for a year - I think either will serve my needs.
I currently have a ~3000 lb (including loader) John Deere 33hp machine - it is fine for most things, but its lightweight and low loader capacity often limit certain tasks. My initial inclination was to go with a beefier Branson with 30-48 hp, but I keep looking at the 2515H for its value. However, I worry about running out of HP. My main uses will be:
1) moving/spreading dirt for preparation of lawn/landscaping and grading a spot for a future shop - several lawn prep areas are sloped
2) moving and spreading gravel for driveway and landscaping (my current machine isn't great at this due to FEL capacity) - also sloped areas
3) snow clearing in the winter for sloped pavement driveways (my current machine often loses traction on the slopes even with tires filled)
4) moving large boulders for retaining walls and landscaping (my current machine can only lift the smallest of boulders due to FEL capacity)
5) skidding downed trees and/or moving with forks
6) splitting wood with either a 3 pt PTO drive screw type splitter or a 3 pt hydraulic splitter
7) moving and stacking cut wood
8) creating and maintaining bike/ATV trails, which at some point may include a brush cutter
9) augering postholes for garden fence and future shop
So those of you in the know...do these tasks sound like things the 2515H can tackle with ease or would I be wise to go with a 30/35/48hp machine?
Will the low HP bite me in the loader/snow work going up slope? In the PTO department running an auger or brush cutter? I'm not too worried about wood splitter.
And then what are the whispers I've heard about "tuning up" the 25hp to make 30-35hp? How precisely is this achieved? Injectors?
I currently have a ~3000 lb (including loader) John Deere 33hp machine - it is fine for most things, but its lightweight and low loader capacity often limit certain tasks. My initial inclination was to go with a beefier Branson with 30-48 hp, but I keep looking at the 2515H for its value. However, I worry about running out of HP. My main uses will be:
1) moving/spreading dirt for preparation of lawn/landscaping and grading a spot for a future shop - several lawn prep areas are sloped
2) moving and spreading gravel for driveway and landscaping (my current machine isn't great at this due to FEL capacity) - also sloped areas
3) snow clearing in the winter for sloped pavement driveways (my current machine often loses traction on the slopes even with tires filled)
4) moving large boulders for retaining walls and landscaping (my current machine can only lift the smallest of boulders due to FEL capacity)
5) skidding downed trees and/or moving with forks
6) splitting wood with either a 3 pt PTO drive screw type splitter or a 3 pt hydraulic splitter
7) moving and stacking cut wood
8) creating and maintaining bike/ATV trails, which at some point may include a brush cutter
9) augering postholes for garden fence and future shop
So those of you in the know...do these tasks sound like things the 2515H can tackle with ease or would I be wise to go with a 30/35/48hp machine?
Will the low HP bite me in the loader/snow work going up slope? In the PTO department running an auger or brush cutter? I'm not too worried about wood splitter.
And then what are the whispers I've heard about "tuning up" the 25hp to make 30-35hp? How precisely is this achieved? Injectors?
Last edited: