Another Newbie Tractor Needs Question

[kasch_hunter]

This is my first post but I have been lurking and reading quite a bit here for about two months. I respect the experience reflected in much of the responses to us newbie types and am hoping you can help me out.

My wife and I live in Montana and recently bought 3.3 acres of undeveloped property in a small Montana mountainous community. The property has previously been logged but there are still quite a few trees on the lot. Also many stumps from 2-3 feet across but mostly smaller. Trees are mostly pine with some fir, aspen, and cottonwood. The property previously had at least 2large irrigation ditches through it (or so it appears) but the land is otherwise relatively flat. We intend to build a recreational cabin on the lot about 100 yards from a road.

Our initial needs are to clear the lot of slash and other debris of which there is quite a bit. Need to remove about 10 trees of various sizes that are either dead or otherwise need to be trimmed out. Wood unsuitable for firewood will either be burned with fun campfires or stacked and burned in the winter when fire danger is low. Also need to level at least two ditch crossings about 20 feet wide and 3-4 feet deep. And, generally mark off and create a road to what will be the cabin site--probably having gravel hauled in. Also, once the heavier debris is removed there will be alot of brush hog work to be done-at least 2 acres worth which we will continue to mow 2-3 times a year thereafter. I will need some meaningful ground clearance and 4x4.

I would expect to use a FEL for moving dirt, hauling wood and later hauling pine needles (lage quantities) to be burned every year to keep the property as free from unnecessary fire fuel as possible. We get several feet of snow every year and will either need to hire or use a tractor to keep the 100 yard road passable. There are people in the area who would clear the road for a fee. I am probably missing other needs a tractor will meet.

I want my wife and 3 kids (ages 13 to 20) to learn to use the tractor so it will need to have an HST tranny and power steering. I am thinking a FEL for many general purposes including snow removal, a brush hog for what will be many hours at least initially taking care of underbrush, and a box blade for road maintenence. Am I missing anything? There are probably 30 -50 stumps on the property many of which do not need to be removed immediately.

First, do I really need a tractor? The wife of course sees this as an excuse to buy another man toy. My initial inclination is to think I will use it enough to justify the expense. Because of the number and size of many of the stumps I expect I will hire someone to use equipment that will take care of the stump problem in a day or two--like a cat or excavator. I do not think I can justify the expense of a backhoe given that the cost of removal by someone else will likely cost less. The community where the tractor will be used is located equidistant from 3 of Montana's larger cities and basically about every major brand of tractor has a dealership in one or more of the cities.

Assuming you agree that I need a tractor I am wondering what you would recommend. I hope to buy a used tractor but the market here in Montana is surprisingly thin of compact tractors so a new tractor may be the end result unless I travel to the Seattle area where there seems to be a good sized market for used compact tractors. Any suggestions for both new and used tractors? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Carykong]

welcome aboard. I think you have the right approach getting your lot cleaned up. Rent a big operator to push the stumps and slash into a couple of piles for burning,grinding, or hauling away. Make sure the dozer leaves you with a rough final grade. To maintain your 3.3 acres and put the finishing touches after the bull dozer leaves is a perfect job for a compact or sub compact with FEL,box blade,slasher. get that tractor and have fun.

 

[MKMM]

I am a newbie also (joined yesterday).We have a weekend place in Texas about 120ac (20 to 25 field 15 wooded and the rest hevily wooded) which we purchased about 3 years ago.I own a construction Co so every time we get a little slow I have the guys come up and help with a project, this get expensive real quick.I also have neighbors that move move or load hay and I give them a few bails or cash hear and there.I also cut several ac for the kids to play with a 42" Cadet, this gets old.My point I should have got a tractor a long time ago there is a big diff in maintaining a city lot and acreage and when my neighbors come over to level dirt or pull a fallen tree out so it can be cut up it takes minutes and not me and 3 or 4 guys several hours.I have several friends that have anywhere from 5ac to 20ac and they seem very happy with tractors ranging from 25hp to 35hp again I do not have a lot of experience and will be purchasing my first tractor this week.Hope this helps with the wife,I have looked so long and showed so many deals to Her She just wants me to get it over with until the next "MAN TOY"

 

[KU Gator]

Kasch Hunter

From what you describe, I think you need to look at a Compact tractor. As it sounds like your property is pretty rough at this time, I think the greater ground clearance and weight of the compact vs the sub will be needed. I have had a Kubota B2920 for about 16 months. We live on three acres with normal yard, but also have 12 acres I trailer it to to work on clearing mowing, etc. If you hire some of the heavy work as described, the rest you can probably handle without going to the full sized which would become overkill for that size of property eventually.

The attachment I would suggest adding to your list is a back blade with angle and tilt capability. The box blade is good for moving dirt and filling low spots, but the back blade is easier for snow, finish grading, and the tilt capability makes light ditch work easier. The box blade is also good for when you use the loader, it makes a good counter weight as they are eavier than the rear blade. Another thing is a utility frame from tractor supply type store. I found it handy to load brush on it to haul to a burn pile. Given that it doesn't sound like you have much of a yard situation, you could probably skip the MMM or finish mower for now and just get the rotary rough cut mower. Eventually you will probably want the finish mower, but it may be something you could put off for now. Another tool you could add is a "brush grubber". I have been using that to pull out smaller stuff, up to 2" instead of cutting it off and leaving stumps. With a compact tractor, the regular duty version is enough. With the exception of the carry all frame, I have stuck to buying what I perceive to be quality attachments and have not had any problems with them. Mine are all Land Pride or Bush Hog brand.

Good luck on your projects.

 

[dodge man]

Oh, you need a tractor all right! And yes, it's another man toy, so what. I own about 3 acres, and I wonder how I got by without it. I own a Kubota BX series tractor. If you were planning on doing alot of mowing, I'd recomend a BX. It sounds like it won't be used as a mower so much so I'd recomend a B series Kubota. Get a front end loader, either a mid mount mower or a rear finish mower, and a rear blade for it. You won't need to pay anybody to clear your driveway, you'll have a tractor.

Your budget is a key thing also, it would be real easy to spend $20,000 for what you want or even more. If you get used and shop carefully, I would still look at spending at least $10,000 or a little more. You can get by for less, but it may take more maintance on your part.

I know a little bit about Kubota tractors so thats what I recommended, but there are several other great makers, Deere, New Holland, Massey, which are maybe the "premire makers". Then there are several other makers which alot of people on this board swear by, such as Kioti, Montana, Yanmar-Cub Cadet, which may get you a little more bang for the buck. Either way enjoy the experience. Tell your wife it will be the best money you ever spent, it will make your weekend retreat that much more ejoyable.

 

[MarkV]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I pretty much agree with the advice given so far. What I would suggest is to let the big boys get your stumps, fill your ditches, rough in your road, your cabin site and don't forget to clear an area for your septic system. It will cost a few thousand but will save that much when you have to pick a tractor size for the on going maintenance issues.

Oh, and if you are going to send time here you just have to educate your wife that tractors are not "man toys" they are absolutely necessary country "tools".

MarkV

 

[dodge man]

Yes I agree, someone with a large machine and/or stump grinder can take care of your site in a day probably.

 

[KU Gator]

I forgot to mention about your wife operating the tractor. 1st I would advise to not allow that as you will end up doing the crap work and she will be on your tractor (voice of experience). But if you feel you must, then take her to one of the dealers. The one where we bought ours was very open to letting us spend as much time as we wanted on different machines getting the feel of them. We were originally looking at a BX24 with a MMM which was about $17K and would have given us the BH, but ended up spending about the same for the B2920 without the backhoe feeling it was better to get the right size tractor for what we were trying to do. But anyway, driving them in the dealer's lot gave us a comfort level with that size tractor and my wife is very comfortable operating our. She operates it with the MMM and the rough cut mower without problems. I did have to put my foot down when she suggested I ride in the bucket with the chain saw to cut branches while she mowed.

You might want to look at the Kubota Operating folder. Someone posted a thread called My Bucket List which has some good info on using a tractor with a bucket. When the bucket is in the air very high, the tractor gets unstable if you make any turns or are on uneven ground. Anyone caught driving with the bucket raised should be assigned to the wheel barrow for a week and they won't forget that rule again.

 

[Soundguy]

imho. 30ish hp, 4wd, hst trans and a loader, will need a box blade.. might even want a rear dirt scoop.. but if you get creative with digging with the box blade.. then you can scoop with the loader.. toothbar might be a nice addition.

big timber? if you know how to do it yourself safely? do it.. otherwise.. hire it done.. them stumps.. unless you plan on leaving them.. will be an issue.. will take an excavator to dig them out.. or just make them your burn piles and eventually burn them out.. cut's are great for lot maintenance and chores like you mention all the way up but not including full scal land clearing and timber maintenance.

get a machine that will do 80% of your known tasks.. then hire out any big 1-time jobs.. vs buying equipment for that 1-time job..

set in alot of seats.. as alot of questions.. and take alot of test drives.. and remember.. in the end.. a few hundred dollars.. even 1000$ cheaper price ain't worth the difference in a bad dealer vs a good dealer... IE.. I'd pay a few hundred more from a dealer that made me feel good and I believed would be there for me when needed, vs a slightly cheaper one that was just turning sales with little evidence of support after the sale..

soundguy

 

[taborekle]

I would agree completely with kugator. A 2920 with a FEL and some attachments. The B series would be better then the BX, as the B series has a high ground clearance.

One thing not mentioned is snow. I grew up in Great Falls, and if you're in the mountains (or even the foot hills) then you're bound to get some significent snow. I would consider besides the box blade, a tilt angle straight blade. It can help you do the ditches and help with snow removal. After that a front end snow blower would be terrific.

You could easily be the favorite of you're neighboors with such equipment.

If you're going to build a cabin, the FEL on a 2920 can lift about 1000lbs up to 8 feet high (not that I would recommend such a lift). You might want to consider what size logs you intend to lift, and size you're tractor and loader accordingly. (A 1000 lb log is pretty big IMHO).

I've seen some interesting links here on tbn for log dragging winches and also for small PTO driven portable lumber cutters. Be you're own portable lumber yard.