Yes, I can appreciate that. I just need to balance cost vs value to me. I also don't want to increase the overall size of the tractor, maneuverability and parking in my shed are considerations for me.
Good points, I haven't spent much time researching attachments, but it looks like the grab hooks are obviously a lot less expensive than a grapple and may be suitable for no more than I'd need them. For stumps a bucket spade seems like something to check into. I wouldn't buy a three point splitter just to be able to use it in the woods, I would only buy it if it is cost effective compared to self contained units.
Ergonomics are important. I sat in every tractor on my spreadsheet last Saturday and drove several of them - I definitely formed some opinions on ease of getting on and off and control use. As I narrow down my choices I will probably go back and pay closer attention to these areas.
Yes there is a missus that has input - although she is leaving it pretty much up to me, but I know she would appreciate the simplicity of HST and I'm pretty sure that's where we are headed anyway.
I don't know about the other brands, but the Kubota
L3800 is the exact same size as the
L3200 - but has 20% more HP. And in the Mahindras the 35 series (like a 4035) is only 2 inches longer and about 10 inches wider than either of the 16 series tractors you are looking at. Again, 20% more HP in the same basic size package.
I don't have a 3PT splitter, but I do have a 3PT PTO
chipper. I really like it. But - you can't use the tractor to bring things to the
chipper when you have the
chipper attached! If I had it to do over I may very well have bought a gas powered
chipper. And when I buy a splitter that will certainly be what a buy (gas not PTO).
When I went looking a year ago, it came down to the Mahindra 4035 and the Kubota
L3800. Drove them both. Liked them both. I thought the Mahindra was a little 'nicer'. Liked the extra weight. But the #1 reason I would not get the Kubota was the 'treadle' for the HST instead of separate pedals on the Mahindra. So especially once you narrow down your field, spend some time driving them around the dealers lot.
On my property in SE Oklahoma, I do a lot of the same 'tree' work that you describe. I bought a bolt-on tooth bar for my bucket. Makes digging a little easier. For some minor lifting I can just fit a chain on to some of the extra holes on the FEL. But I would be a little leery myself of trying to do too heavy a lift with those bolt-on hooks. I have found that a chain attached to the draw bar on the rear is the best way to pull logs out of the woods. Take a look at the Timber Tuff products. I use one of their grabber chains and their skidding plate to move downed trees out of the woods so that I can then dispatch them with the chain saw.
My wife was 100% in favor of buying the tractor. And I had her get up on it and drive it around, dig with the FEL, etc., the very first weekend we had it. Now she hasn't been on it since, but she could certainly operate it!
