Buying advice for small land-owner in New Hampshire

[rademamj1]

I just researched the new crossover R14 tires from Titan-Goodyear, and they appear awesome. They have the benefits of turf tires on lawns and snow, with the 8-ply sidewall strength of Industrial tires for loader work.

 

[Carl_NH]

"I left the backhoe on as ballast. Having it on is annoying. It has quite a swing and clanks around a lot when doing loader work. I see a ballast box in my future"

The BH sits off the back of the machine by like 20" - its not a direct/close attachment type to the tractor frame so yes its a big cantilever which will tend to bounce around.

 

[nhbubba]

I just researched the new crossover R14 tires from Titan-Goodyear, and they appear awesome. They have the benefits of turf tires on lawns and snow, with the 8-ply sidewall strength of Industrial tires for loader work.

Unfortunately they are not available for the Kioti yet. My options are limited to R4's or the turf tires I have. I'm leaning towards keeping the turf tires right now.

 

[nhbubba]

"I left the backhoe on as ballast. Having it on is annoying. It has quite a swing and clanks around a lot when doing loader work. I see a ballast box in my future"

The BH sits off the back of the machine by like 20" - its not a direct/close attachment type to the tractor frame so yes its a big cantilever which will tend to bounce around.

Yup. And that reminds me of another mark against the Kioti backhoe. It extends a LONG way back there! Makes it something you have to think about when swinging around a tree or something. And creates a problem with departure angle when dealing with gullies and such. Cuts ground clearance as well.

 

[rademamj1]

I have never used my Kioti backhoe for just a ballast purpose. Its just far too cumbersome as a ballast. The backhoe is only mounted on my tractor for specific excavation, trenching and culvert work. If you need rear weight for loader or grapple work, grab any 3pt implement and it will work much better than a backhoe. Even a simple 500lb boxblade works great as ballast for 90% of your needs, even better when using the standard Quick Hitch.

 

[Carl_NH]

Yup. And that reminds me of another mark against the Kioti backhoe. It extends a LONG way back there! Makes it something you have to think about when swinging around a tree or something. And creates a problem with departure angle when dealing with gullies and such. Cuts ground clearance as well.

In posts # 31-34-44, I mentioned the BH subframe losing ground clearance, extends the BH off the back, vs the 4Point direct connect of the Kubota BH77 being tighter to the back of the tractor is better - that was speaking from experience having my old 3PT Kubota BH vs the B21 TLB and tractor adapted BH's in general. There is a world of difference in the TLB's to the subframe adapted BH's IMO.

Buying a 4 Point close connected BH77 on a Kubota B2650 for example is pretty close to a TLB series, but the Kubota TLB series are another step up. I regularly pull up rocks weighing 800# or more with the thumb and carry them with my BH to a new resting place without concern of bottoming out or breaking anything.

The BH stays on all season for me now, on in April off in November, but in the early days when I was doing clearing, grading and raking it was on/of a few times a season. Point being, is once you get the majority of your work done, you will likely change implements less often.

 

[fried1765]

Congrats on your new machine! Where did you find this one?

Also get a BH thumb if you havent already!

On the ratchet rake, I've had mine for 8 years and it hasn't been used much other than some grading. What I found in around here with all the rocks and ledge it doesn't work that well bouncing off the rocks .

What it will do well is leveling soil, and clearing branches, sticks and roots bare soil for land reclaiming as long as you don't have embedded rocks.

Ditto on the ratchet rake!
I bought one 3 years ago, and it is still sitting in the barn corner.
I have NO rocks, but have never found a use for it.

 

[fried1765]

I have never used my Kioti backhoe for just a ballast purpose. Its just far too cumbersome as a ballast. The backhoe is only mounted on my tractor for specific excavation, trenching and culvert work. If you need rear weight for loader or grapple work, grab any 3pt implement and it will work much better than a backhoe. Even a simple 500lb boxblade works great as ballast for 90% of your needs, even better when using the standard Quick Hitch.

Different strokes for different folks!
I NEVER remove my BH from my L48 TLB.
I do have a Ford 1920 for other implement use.

 

[gdacey]

Hi,

I am also a rookie to be in Southern NH (Monadnock region). I have 17 acres with 3ish sloped, cleared fields and 14ish of wooded. There is a fair amount of rock in the wooded acreage, it being the Granite State and all. We are in the planning stage to build so I am at least 11+ months out so costing and such is not yet prominent. I am more interested in current dealer service. I am open to all brands but service is key to me more than a 'good' deal.

Basic needs: FEL, skid quick attach, 3rd function hydraulics for grapple, forks, brush hog and possible wood chipper.

 

[rScotty]

Hi,

I am also a rookie to be in Southern NH (Monadnock region). I have 17 acres with 3ish sloped, cleared fields and 14ish of wooded. There is a fair amount of rock in the wooded acreage, it being the Granite State and all. We are in the planning stage to build so I am at least 11+ months out so costing and such is not yet prominent. I am more interested in current dealer service. I am open to all brands but service is key to me more than a 'good' deal.

Basic needs: FEL, skid quick attach, 3rd function hydraulics for grapple, forks, brush hog and possible wood chipper.

Welcome to TBN. It's nice that you have some time to look and plan.

If you expect to be pulling implements over a cleared area there isn't anything better than a basic tractor. If your work is more of landscaping or tree & rock moving you might also want to consider the Kubota TLBs as well.
There's good discussion of both in this thread.

Don't be shy to ask basic questions. For example, you mentioned sloping land.... well, it turns out that there aren't many tractors or TLBs that have brakes on the front wheels, and carrying a load in the FEL bucket always causes the rear end to get lighter. So working on a slope requires special care. That alone is worth some questions and thought.
Good luck,
rScotty