Big lot, little tractor??

[JP11]

Contrary to the way the tide is running on most of these threads...

I am starting to think a smaller and smaller for a tractor of choice.

DONT THROW ME OUT YET!! Hear me out.

Looking for a "play" tractor. Getting a lot done in a short amount of time is not a factor.

Hope it's a done deal... just shy of 70 acres. almost all flat. some wet spots.

Land has, or will have a descent network of skidder roads thru it, and a old county road along one side, and a power transmission line along another side.

SO.. if my tractor purposes are:

1. Bushog to cut some small stuff here and there (lot is all wooded, and would stay that way. Maybe cut a couple paths along the 1/2 mile along power line.

2. FEL and small box blade work building and smoothing trails. Most major clearing would already be done by loggers. Lots of land = lots of dog walking.

3. Snow removal. Undecided if rear mount snowblower, or maybe a front mount snowplow. Looking for ease of use for when my wife is home alone.

4. "Farting around" gathering wood to burn. May cut and split in the woods. Or may drag 8 foot lenths back nearer the house. "efficent, commercially viable" are not necessary.. Getting my butt out in the woods and getting some exercise is just fine. Maybe need 8 cords a year. Cant be more than 40 feet of elevation change in whole 1/2 mile length of lot.

I had thought that 10k would be best spent on a older 40HP 4wd with a loader. Maybe that price is a little low for that.

Looking at something like a TC24D, B7800. Looks like the same money.

Big benefit to new and simple HST is for my wife. I think she would be a bit intimidated by gear drive, and something old and greasy... Used to be hell riding with her in her last car... a manual.. She never learned right how to drive a stick.

Something smaller than a TC24? I don't think I want a BX. I like the idea of ground clearance with a larger, small CUT. Now isn't this market segment getting broken up. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks for all ideas.

JP

 

[GregJ]

JP,
Personally I think you are looking at this from the right perspective. I think you have to analyze the tasks you want to accomplish and buy the machine that will do those tasks. I have somewhat the opposite situation as you, but still do many of the same tasks. I only have 2.5 acres and have a B7500. I really like the B7800 and knowing what I know now, I may have stepped up to it. It wasn't offered when I bought my B7500.

When I am working on firewood, it doesn't matter if I have 70 acres around me or .5 acres. That log is just as heavy. When I am hauling a pallet of firewood, I am more interested in lift capacity of the 3pt. than acreage. I also like the smaller footprint of the B series tractors because it allows me to get into some very tight spaces around the house and in the woods.

If you are planning on doing firewood with your tractor, I would seriously consider a backhoe. I have really enjoyed mine when working with logs. I'll attach a pic.

Greg

 

[garbageman]

Greg, nice to have the extra "hands" while cutting up wood. I just got a Woods 6500BH for my 7500 and some trees are going down this weekend. Great Photo
Ray

 

[GregJ]

Ray,
In that picture, that is the top half of one of 14 trees that I dropped in a cluster. It was actually about 50 feet away from that pile. With the BH I was able to lift it at a balance point, raise my stablizers about 6 inches and slowly move back so I was directly over my row of rounds. That way I was able to cut the rounds and they would drop neatly into a row. Then I just worked my way down the row with my splitter and palletized as I went. It turned weeks of backbreaking labor into a couple of days of fun.

Greg

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I think you are going at things the right way!! You might want to add the Deere 4115 or 4210 and Kioti CK20 to your list. All are fine machines!

.

 

[JP11]

You know.. I was thinking of a way to cut the trees safely.

I was thinking lift them with the FEL. Your way looks good though. Like I said... I'm not as concerned with speed. Looks like your way would keep all the mess in one spot.

But.. something like a B7800 or a TC24 with a FEL and backhoe. Your talking what.. 15k??

Do you use a tractor mount splitter? I would think that removing the backhoe would be a chore you wouldn't want to do often.

That's the hard part I guess.. realizing when it's better to use one engine, or two. even though it's POSSIBLE to use just the tractor.. is it smart?

Could you just RENT a splitter. I don't like the sound of that on the surface.. cause then you HAVE to do all the work at once.

I guess that my horsepower needs are in the 22 to 30 range by the sounds of things on this site. Plenty of guys doing a good amount of work with little tractors.

JP

 

[gone]

I don't know were you live but around here the little CUT's used bring big bucks3/4 new price,and usualy beat up. heck you can buy a 50-70 hp. tractor with loader for the same money,i know i'll hear it for this But a real tractor man. you definitly have the room,just have to leave wife home. out west theirs dealers in gray market though cheap prices, or consider a Jinma.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I like my little tractor better than I like my big tractor, but I like my antique tractors best of all (but I don't use an antique for work, just for fun and my wife won't even sit on them).

I think you are on the right track. I am one of the voices out there that often recommends smaller tractors over larger ones. If you are looking at getting a Front End Loader, then I would strongly recommend the TC24D over most any brand. I have a Kubota B2910 which I have been using a lot this past week to clear out an industrail field behind my office & warehouse. The Kubota tractors have long rectangular hoods and square loader arms. The combination of these things really limits the view in front of you when you are working with the FEL. I didn't realize it before because it was the first tractor I bought with a FEL on it so I just got used to it. But I now also own a TC24D and have really grown to appreciate the rounded sloping front hoood of the NH design becuase you have excellent visibility in front of you. The curved New Holland 12LA loader arms, combined with the sloping curved hood of the tractor cannot be beat for forward visibility.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Bob, you are right on about the visibility, I was leaning heavily to NH for that reason, but I found that the Deere and I see the the Kiotis are no slouches there, too.

 

[JP11]

Boy.. that CK 25 with HST looks nice too.

I COULD leave the wife at home.. and get a big 'ol beast.

But.. I fly for a living.. and I am gone for 7 days at a time. So.. When I'm away.. I would prefer that my wife has something that she could use to at least half azzed plow herself out. I just don't think an old gear drive tractor is going to do that for us.

Just trying to get something that will do what I want, for a price I can stomach, and will allow my wife to not be intimidated by it too much.

Looks like the 24 horsepower class, with 4 to 5 foot box blade, bushog. Throw in a loader and backhoe.

What.. I spent about 17k in that sentence didn't I. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JP