'Bout to get a new 'Bota

[CptTrog]

I'm a newbie to the forums and need advice from all you "old timers". Just bought a piece of dirt in SW VA covered in trees and rocks. BIG trees and even bigger rocks. Some of the terrain is STEEEEP. Some of that rock is covered by anywhere from 6 inches to 20 feet of dirt mixed with gravel to boulders and all of it covered with slick moss and leaves. I'll need to cut some small roads through the property [read hanging from cliffs in some parts] just to move around, much less take any timber out of it. My plan is to remove anything gnarly-looking that's 18" to 24" dia. or less to let the truly big stuff take off. I hope. There's some 36" Maples and Black Walnut that have earned their right to stay. For now.

So, I've been looking at an `08 L4400 HST with FEL, Grapple, Gill boxblade and a 3PH backhoe.

My question to you folks is this: would this little machine -slowly but surely- do what I need to do yet keep my inexperienced butt in a single piece provided I do plenty of practice in the meadows first? (first time tractor owner, in case I failed to mention that) Or am I gonna end up wearing this beast as a butt plug? A good friend and fellow HOG rider reminded me of a simple rule: "you got the horses, you're gonna use 'em." Thus my enjoyment of a GeezerGlide in my old age and a feeling that a 60HP or better machine will just get me dead.

Thanks in advance for the advice, folks.
Much respect,
Cpt Trog

 

[CptTrog]

Failed to mention most of that rock is shale and peels apart fairly easy. I'll have a small skid-steer with a jack hammer to break up the bigger stuff.
Thx again.

 

[have_blue]

When you talk about large trees and rock and steep terrain, you're talking heavy duty construction equipment and experienced operators.. The L4400 is a great little tractor, but not really commercial duty. Nor is it heavy enough to move anything really heavy. 3PH backhoes are another source of grief. They're relitavely light duty, and if care is not taken, can break your tractor.

Some pictures would help clarify whether the job is do-able with an L4400.

Not trying to discourage you at all, just pointing out some realities in taking on a sticky project, which yours sounds like.

 

[LBrown59]

3PH backhoe.



Thanks in advance for the advice, folks.
Much respect,
Cpt Trog

stay awaw from these.

 

[N80]

I've got an L4400 and love it. Have done a lot of heavy duty type jobs which were really better done with larger equipment, but it gets it done and there have been no problems.

My property is also rocky and hilly.

However, you might want to consider renting equipment to do the big stuff, or even hiring it out, and then use the 4400 for upkeep and lighter duty stuff.

Or, look at an M5040 or 6040 with a heavy duty bucket with teeth and/or grapple.

Problem is, once you get much bigger than a 4400, getting around in the woods and tight places can be pretty tuff. Mine does great in the woods and on the jeep trails but anything bigger would not.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

checkout the MX5100

 

[Matt_Jr]

checkout the MX5100

What's Nebraska got against the MX5100?

Yes, I read the small print.

 

[CptTrog]

Thanks for all your replies so far. Guess the 3PHBH is out. Besides, the $5 to $8K one would cost would go far toward renting a small track hoe (skid steer maybe) that I could also put that jackhammer on.

Here are links to a few pics.

Pic1:The walnut you see in the foreground and trees on the south-facing hillside are 12" diameter or less. I plan to take 90% of them down to make room for an fruit tree orchard and will cut a road (no larger than about 8') across the face and around the back up to the top.

Pics 2,3 & 4: Typical of the 4-wheeler trails that exist now. The hills they wind through are fairly shallow. Lots of boulders, roots and small to large stumps that will have to go.

Pic 5: A small pond with shallow mud/gravel bottom and 12' levee in the foreground with a blown out levee corner ajoining the hill on the far end. (that oughta be fun to repair, eh?) A ridgeline in the background that is actually almost a quarter mile away. The terrain leading up to its crest (and the 3' diameter oaks and black walnuts) goes from tough to walk steep to gotta have a rope steep.

Finally Pic 6: The old homestead built in 1850 that is actually livable! About 650 sq. ft of living space. Will put up a steel barn (to be ultimately replaced with stone and timber) in the hollow behind it.

One other question: Spoke briefly with a dealer in TN requesting a quote on all the equipment above and he stated, "Be aware that if you buy your tractor down there in MS and have it up here, and have to have major warranty work done, Kubota may require you to take it back to the dealer of purchase."
Have any of you ever heard this??? In my mind, warranty work is warranty work and the check from Kubota for their shop spends the same wherever. True?

Thanks again, everyone.

Respect,
Cpt Trog

 

[Gator6x4]

From the photos it looks like you have some steep hills. Removing trees will cause erosion problems.

 

[bx1860]

What part of SW Va is that? I live in sw Va.