Camp property found, now updates.

[shooterdon]

We transferred lots of $$$ for the camp yesterday and are packing to head that way late this afternoon. So do we really own it now? Will continue to clear the road in/out over the weekend.

As far as tractors go, we are still debating how it will be used for snow removal.. Might just use it with a snow bucket which would negate the need for a cab. The camp is on the edge of the lake snow belt.

Arly,

I sold my Western V plow and inverted blower this year and purchased a snow pusher. My buddy loves his pusher and I like the idea of having something simple and easy to connect. As long as there is a place to push the snow, I think it is a viable option.

In my case, I live here full time and if a big snow event is in the forecast I can go out after 6-8", clear it and be ready for the next 6-8'. That might happen once or twice a year so not a big deal. I have a lot of space to push snow and piling it up 8' is not a problem.

My concern is your camp is in an area that gets more snow than I get here in upper Michigan. If you get a big dump, you cannot tackle it in stages as you live remotely. You could have 18" to deal with. At least you will not have huge drifts in the woods so that is a plus. Drifts at the camp can be handled with the loader bucket.

One option to consider is hiring a local guy with a blower to deal with clearing the drive after big snow events. $200-250 per event sounds like a lot of money, but if you only need to have it done 2-3 times a year, you can get a machine better suited for the other jobs. Adding a cab is not cheap and it will be a pain in the woods. It cost me $800+ to replace the door on my cab a few years ago when I busted it.

BTW, I have lined up a guy to bail me out if the pusher does not work well enough for a major snow fall. I have just over a 1/4 mile to deal with, and he will do it for $100. My 7' pusher is a Land Pride. It cost $1700 new. I netted $7600 for the blower and V-Plow. I can contract a lot of snow blowing for the difference and I have a trouble-free piece of equipment for most of my snow removal needs.

If the pusher works, my next tractor will not have a cab. The cold does not bother me that much and I rarely need to do tractor work when it is over 85.

My goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible, but it is not always cost effective.

 

[ArlyA]

We just picked up this used ABI trailer locally. Has a battery to operate the lift actuator.

 

[shooterdon]

Congrats Don. The little two-range T25's front loader lifts less than half of what your LS does.... I would imagine that could get quite frustrating. But having a 60" belly mower for the yard could be handy.

Yea, the lower lift capacity is a concern, and I will need to alter how I handle firewood, but it is not a deal breaker. That is one reason I would keep the LS until I know the T25 can do what needs doing.

The TYM dealer brought a T25 over for us to play with and it would not handle our firewood totes safely. But reducing the amount in the totes is easy and I have started using bulk bags and they are lighter.

I would never put a belly mower on a tractor. Had one for the JD855 and it was a pain. What I might do is get a flail mower with hydraulic offset. I live in the woods and do not need a golf course quality finish. I use a ZT now, so it is hard to justify using a tractor to cut grass. Nice to not have to connect anything up to get the job done and I cut two acres is less than an hour.

 

[EddieWalker]

Since I live in Texas, I don't know what it's like to deal with lots of snow. When it snows here, we stay indoors and wait for it to go away. The entire part of the state just shuts down.

Since this is a remote cabin and not a primary residence, there is no need to be there when it's snowing really bad. Clearing the road of snow can happen when the weather gets better. I'm sure a cab would be nice for this, but if it's too cold, too miserable, why even go to the cabin?

Since this is a remote cabin, getting the tractor there, and then hauling it to get repaired is a big concern. Cab tractors are significantly heavier the open station tractors. All tractors break down. The more complicated the tractor, the more things there are to break. Cab tractors are more complex than open station tractors.

A lot of what the tractor will be used for is clearing the land. Opening it up for trails. I think this is where an open station tractor shines. Cab tractors are great for maintaining the land, spending hours in the seat. Open station tractors are so much nicer for getting on and off of it all day long. Visibility is a lot better in an open station tractor.

In my opinion, everyone needs at least two tractors. Start with the open station one now, and in ten years from now, or whenever you feel the time is right, then look at the cab tractor. Having both options is the best feeling in the tractor world.

I've been on vacation this week and I've been doing a bunch of projects around my farm. I've driven my cab tractor once to mow around my pond for 2 hours before dinner. The rest of the time I've been on my open station tractors. I don't see any need for the cab tractor the rest of the week, and I will be using the open station tractor today, and all weekend. It's just easier to get around in, easier to get in and off of, and with the temps in the low to high 80s, it's just very pleasant to be out in the open air.

 

[Rustyiron]

Who here who says "you don't need NO stink'n cab" blows snow over the winter?

I get Arly, but you might consider removing the mirrors and beacon when the conditions warrant that little bit of work.
Those items seem to attract limbs and JD is very proud of them at the parts counter.
Another thing is whatever tractor you end up with, lay under it and look for potentially vulnerable filters, hydraulic lines, wiring etc. That "stuff" is not designed to fold back like a mirror and will cost a bunch more.
I'm sure you've seen the stories here of someone loosing all of the coolant, oil or trans/hyd juice.
Your cabin looks wonderful!

 

[Runner]

If I had that place, I would have the distinct urge to get one of these:

 

[ArlyA]

If I had that place, I would have the distinct urge to get one of these:
View attachment 4174103

Without a forestry mulcher??!!?!

 

[Runner]

Without a forestry mulcher??!!?!

I like the way you're thinking.

 

[ArlyA]

We just picked up this used ABI trailer locally. Has a battery to operate the lift actuator.View attachment 4171543

Maybe I'll start another thread about revamping this trailer. Make the sides quickly removable and replace them with log stakes. Cover the bottom with 1/4 black HDPE so materials side out more readily etc, etc,

 

[Torvy]

Congrats, Arly! If I didn't have to negotiate with my wife, I have a small place in the Black Hills, or, failing that, the UP of Wisconsin. I don't think I could handle MI. Love the thread.

I saw the previous owner was 8-9 hours away. How far is it for you?

Ultimately, you may want a summer tractor with no cab and a smaller footprint to go along with the bigger cabbed one. Easy for me to spend your money.

Can your ATVs help move snow?