40 Acres, Steep!, 1 Mile Road; Need Advice

[Tractor Seabee]

Have you thought about a front blade for your pickup? What do all you experts on this subject think? Those are used a lot around Puget Sound and the Portland areas. More power there plus the speed; with skid shoes to protect your gravel. When I had 21 acres of hilly forest I never did master a box blade for any thing, always having to git rid of the material accumulation. Best use of it was the scarfiers for me. When I bought a 6 way back blade, that solved my trail building and maintaining and grading flat areas. In your case a hydraulic operated blade adjustments I think would be a plus. Mount a camera or mirror to minimize looking backwards. Snow was not a real problem here so did not give it much thought. I have a lot of friends that live on gravel roads. Pot holes are a problem due to no crown and/or never really compacting the base well. Soft spots in the sub-grade guarantee pot holes. Filling the holes w/o repairing the cause gains nothing. Keep a big supply of gravel on hand or recover it from the edges.

No expert just brainstorming. Amazing what I was able to do with my little BX, just a lot slower.

Ron

 

[jeff9366]

Anyone know a rough cost on an Antonio Carraro TTR 7600? Is there an Antonio Carraro tractor at about 50 hp w/ hydrostatic?

LINK: Products | Antonio Carraro | Tractor People

Antonio Carraro | Tractors | TTR Ergit 1

 

[rScotty]

Good to know hydraulic blowers are best suited to larger, ag tractors. Will stick with PTO driven unless I end up buying something like an m62, I'll reconsider. Thank for the flow requirements, very helpful. I have a co-worker with a wheat farm plus some recreational acreage. He's been farming and using tractors and so forth all his life. He will definitely be coming with me if I look at used. Soil is indeed decomposed granite with some larger cobbles.

Anyone know a rough cost on an Antonio Carraro TTR 7600? Is there an Antonio Carraro tractor at about 50 hp w/ hydrostatic?

Most tractors don't have enough hydraulic flow or cooling to run hydraulic motors, so it's not uncommon to use the PTO to run an accessory hydraulic pump along with it's own remote reservoir and remote cooling. That's always a possible work-around. In fact, many three point mounted backhoes are powered that way. BTW, I'd stay away from 3pt backhoes on sloping ground. You can make it work...I did. But there are hazards. The fact is that most tractors you'll look at don't do well on slopes. Most machines are built for flatland. We are lucky to have so much flatland here in the USA.

Isn't that Antonio Carraro line beautiful!! WOW!! For years now, a lot of European farm machinery is light years ahead of ours. It's in a whole different league. Reading their spec sheet is like a sci-fi novel.... so futuristic it seems impossible.
Products | Antonio Carraro | Tractor People

Does anyone know if it is even legal to import such advanced machinery into the USA? Perhaps not; there might be a fear it would be unfair competition for our own domestic brands. After all, our own tractor manufacturers haven't changed much or modernized since about 1960. And we tend to import machinery that is similarly less advanced as well. Maybe it is to to keep the tractor market competitive? I'm guessing; I don't know the answer here.

I hope that I'm wrong about AC dealerships in the US, although where I live we don't have the technical base to service advanced tractors like those Antonios. Our trades and mechanical support system is just not oriented to that level of technical sophistication. That's probably deliberate, and it does have it's own strengths - there are very few tractors in the USA that our average home-schooled mechanic cannot diagnose and fix.
I actually prefer it that way....the simpler way.... our way.....
Good luck
Simple rScotty

 

[jeff9366]

Does anyone know if it is even legal to import such advanced machinery into the USA?

After all, tractor manufacturers haven't changed tractor designs much or modernized since about 1960. And we tend to import machinery that is similarly less advanced as well.

Iowa Farm Equipment is an Antonio Carraro dealer. I have purchased implements from IFE several times and in my experience IFE is ready to ship immediately.
LINK: Iowa Farm Equipment

We frequently read vehement complaints about the cost and complexity of Tier IV emission technology, particularly the DPF component. We also read comments on the expense of tractor service and how imprecise some dealer mechanics are. Tier IV and DPF is nothing, NOTHING compared to the cost and complexity of an AC.

I like simple.


Power Trac is an advanced tractor design with many of AC's attributes. Power Trac is manufactured in Tazewell, Virginia with mostly USA components. Power Trac has about as many viable, single brand dealers as Antonio Carraro, which is ONE (+/-). Power Trac is competitively priced. As Power Trac is an iteration of mining equipment, Power Trac is not as pretty as Antonio Carraro. I SPECULATE the quantity of Power Trac tractors sold in the USA is multiples of the volume enjoyed by Antonio Carraro.
LINK: Power Trac

Both brands have avid supporters. Neither brand is burning up the tractor market.

I admire Antonio Carraro. I admire Power Trac. I own Kubota.

 

[woolyAcres]

Anyone know a rough cost on an Antonio Carraro TTR 7600? Is there an Antonio Carraro tractor at about 50 hp w/ hydrostatic?

I think a brand new TTR7600 Infinity runs about $70k. But in your area, PNW, you may have some luck finding something used. I know Washington Tractor carries AC and supports the orchard/vineyard market which these machines are geared toward.

I've got the TTR4400 (38HP) which is hydro and reversible (meaning a front mount snow blower on this machine is really just a rear mount on any conventional machine = less $; no twisting around in the seat). For snow removal (either blowing or plowing) I think it would be fine for your application but I don't think it'd be heavy enough for most of the road maintenance on a mile long drive. And of course no loader. I don't think this could/would be your only machine.

As a side note, if you're about 30 years old I highly doubt you're buying your last tractor so I'm not sure I'd get too hung up in buying the right tractor the first time. I think I'd find something affordable (used) that seems like a good option, figure out what it does well and what it does not do well, with the expectation that you'll learn along the way and sell it or add to the stable. If you buy quality used equipment and don't abuse it you can almost always get your money back or at least use it for far, far less than renting.

You'll see 'buy once, cry once' advise on here and I think that's valid for someone who knows all their tasks and exactly what's needed and has a particular machine in mind that just costs more than they want to spend. There may be folks on here who still have the same tractor they bought new 40 years ago but I'd be very surprised if that's the only machine that have today or have had for the last 40 years.

There's lots of good advice here and there are more than one machine(s) that will help you get the job done. Enjoy the ride.

 

[rScotty]

I think a brand new TTR7600 Infinity runs about $70k. But in your area, PNW, you may have some luck finding something used. I know Washington Tractor carries AC and supports the orchard/vineyard market which these machines are geared toward.

I've got the TTR4400 (38HP) which is hydro and reversible (meaning a front mount snow blower on this machine is really just a rear mount on any conventional machine = less $; no twisting around in the seat). For snow removal (either blowing or plowing) I think it would be fine for your application but I don't think it'd be heavy enough for most of the road maintenance on a mile long drive. And of course no loader. I don't think this could/would be your only machine.

As a side note, if you're about 30 years old I highly doubt you're buying your last tractor so I'm not sure I'd get too hung up in buying the right tractor the first time. I think I'd find something affordable (used) that seems like a good option, figure out what it does well and what it does not do well, with the expectation that you'll learn along the way and sell it or add to the stable. If you buy quality used equipment and don't abuse it you can almost always get your money back or at least use it for far, far less than renting.

You'll see 'buy once, cry once' advise on here and I think that's valid for someone who knows all their tasks and exactly what's needed and has a particular machine in mind that just costs more than they want to spend. There may be folks on here who still have the same tractor they bought new 40 years ago but I'd be very surprised if that's the only machine that have today or have had for the last 40 years.

There's lots of good advice here and there are more than one machine(s) that will help you get the job done. Enjoy the ride.

That's all good advice and definitely worth repeating. I'm going to remember it myself. Particularly the part about not getting hung up on getting the perfect tractor the first time. You can't....you just won't know enough until you get something and try it. I wish someone had told that to me when I was 30 years old....and that I had listened (not likely!).

But if I had, I'd have probably bought a decent USED farm tractor with 3000 hours, a front end loader, cat. II 3pt hitch, power steering, and the nicest, heaviest, most adjustable 3 pt back blade I could find (made by Servis Rhino at the time).
By doing that I'd be all set up to work and learn for a few years for an outlay of about $12 to $15K.
rScotty

 

[woolyAcres]

What about something like this? Bigger, heavier, less complicated AC?
1989 FORD 276 BI-DIRECTIONAL TRACTOR - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Not sure if that loader can be removed to give access to a 'normal' rear end with PTO and lift arms. Don't know anything about it to be honest but looks interesting.

 

[LouNY]

A couple of questions for Pugemasta;

Is your driveway going to require sanding in the winter?
My driveway does not face into the sun so the snow pack does not melt off.
So it requires sanding.
Are you going to be leaving a driveway vehicle at the foot of it?

My 1/4 mile steep driveway is impassable after a 6-8 inch snow storm;
unless your vehicle is 4wd with good dedicated snow tires or chains.

If it will need sanding are you going to utilize a pickup mounted sander?
or a trailer mount behind a tractor.

I did my driveway with a plow truck and two wheel drive tractor for many years.
Now I use the tractor to plow with and load the sander and the truck to sand with.

For general information after maintaining a steep driveway for more then 25 years.
I started out with a 2wd Oliver 1550, 55hp almost 9000 pound tractor and then added a second 2wd
a few years later.
If I was doing it all over and knowing what I know now,
I would not be afraid of a larger 2wd farm tractor with excellent chains ($$$$) such as the OFA Tapio 11's
or the heavy duty AquilineTalon.
A 100-125+ 2wd ag tractor with good chains and a heavy duty back blade will do your snow and driveway maintenance.
I would also seriously consider a 10 ft adjustable V plow for the front. This would give you a good basic unit.

You will likely find out that no matter what you plow with, that you will plow downhill,
drive back up and plow down.
My 55 hp 2wd with chains and my 4wd pickups with chains could not plow up the hill.
My 80 hp 4wd 10,000# chained all the way around can till the snow gets over 8 inches,
but it is chewing and digging a lot so I don't abuse it by doing so.

A large ag tractor with chains can drive thru 18-20 inches of snow with a back blade behind it, especially going down hill.
Add a front snow plow blade, preferably an adjustable V or at least a hydraulic angle blade and you would have a good driveway clearing machine.

In your situation I do believe you would be better served with 2-3 units then one mid or small sized one

Good luck enjoy your new place
Idaho and Eastern Washington and Oregon are nice country.
I lived in Southwest Idaho for a few years, Nampa area.

 

[rScotty]

What about something like this? Bigger, heavier, less complicated AC?
1989 FORD 276 BI-DIRECTIONAL TRACTOR - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Not sure if that loader can be removed to give access to a 'normal' rear end with PTO and lift arms. Don't know anything about it to be honest but looks interesting.

I like that Ford. ..... It would require a person to be their own mechanic, but wonderfully versatile for the right person.

Here's another possibility. This one is less capable but more modern. Has both remotes & a blade. No 4x4, so it would need chains plus a front end loader - but is for sale at a price that allows for both - even an OEM JD loader installed at the dealer. With enough $$ left for trucking cross country. There's probably similar things closer to Wash.
John Deere 5 HP Tractor w/ Enclosed Cab with Heat and Rear Hydraulics - farm & garden - by owner - sale

My point is like WollyAcres's. It's not this particular tractor....or the bi-directional Ford....but just that such things may be worth considering as long as you have someone experienced to go along on some trips to look.
rScotty

 

[LouNY]

The bi-directional Ford or Versatile is/was a very nice and handy unit.
The rear mounted loader could be lifted and the rear 2 point used without removing the loader,
or the loader removed. They could also be equipped with a front pto and 3 point.
They are a hydrostatic transmission, so expensive to repair when they get several thousand hours on them.