I currently am in the process of building a house on 5.5 acres. My land is 100% flat. It's an old bean field that is mostly sandy soil. I have 500 ft of gravel driveway (300 of which I need to install) and a ton of landscaping/grading left to do. I purchased a MF GC2300 w/loader and 60" mm mower last year. I have come to the conclusion that I need something bigger or a used skidsteer. I am looking for opinions as to if I should trade in my GC2300 on a bigger tractor or a used bobcat. I can't afford both at this time. If I get a bobcat, I may sell it in the summer and buy another tractor for cutting grass and typical property maintenance. Any and all opinions will be helpful!
Equipment Choices
- Thread starter CoolMF
- Start date
- Views: 1614
billbill1
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2004
- Messages
- 1,207
- Location
- Lecompton, Kansas
- Tractor
- 2016 Mahindra 1533 Shuttle AgKing 2840 shuttle shift
Nice house, are you living in it now? Can you rent a skid steer for a week or two and keep your tractor? I mow with a 6' rear finish mower 3.26 acres and my tractor is 25 hp. It's all I need but wish I had more lift on the FEL and 3ph. The little tractor would be nice to have in the future, easy to mow up close with.
Bill,
I am not yet living in the house. I am building it myself, so progress is slow! The problem with renting is, I work on the house only a couple day a week. I think the rental rates would eat up my already empty pocket! I agree that the GC2300 would be perfect when the construction is done (if ever!). It is just not up to the tasks that I have for the next few(3-6) months. I was thinking of trading for a used skid steer or a tractor w/ 25-35 hp.
I am not yet living in the house. I am building it myself, so progress is slow! The problem with renting is, I work on the house only a couple day a week. I think the rental rates would eat up my already empty pocket! I agree that the GC2300 would be perfect when the construction is done (if ever!). It is just not up to the tasks that I have for the next few(3-6) months. I was thinking of trading for a used skid steer or a tractor w/ 25-35 hp.
Big_Cajun
Silver Member
Heya CoolMF:
If it were me, I'd trade the smaller tractor on a larger tractor, one that you would be able to use during and after construction. If for some reason, you find the new unit is too big for your needs post-construction, you could trade down to something more manageable.
Just my two cents.
BC
If it were me, I'd trade the smaller tractor on a larger tractor, one that you would be able to use during and after construction. If for some reason, you find the new unit is too big for your needs post-construction, you could trade down to something more manageable.
Just my two cents.
BC
billbill1
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2004
- Messages
- 1,207
- Location
- Lecompton, Kansas
- Tractor
- 2016 Mahindra 1533 Shuttle AgKing 2840 shuttle shift
We built our place a little over 5 years ago, we love it now but I won't go through that again. Do you get to inspect your own construction? I don't know where you are located but in the Kansas area, the skid steers usually bring around $10,000 in very used condition. A bigger tractor would do most of the same things but they are pricey too. Building does have a way of using up all spare funds. Good luck however you go.
DrewL
Gold Member
why do you need a skid steer (Bobcat)?
They are quick if the ground will allow it to be quick. Gooey or wet and they are useless. As others have said, get done what you need a Bobcat for by either renting or paying a contractor and keep your machine. If you find that your machine is still to small that is another story. I hope I understood your needs correctly /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
They are quick if the ground will allow it to be quick. Gooey or wet and they are useless. As others have said, get done what you need a Bobcat for by either renting or paying a contractor and keep your machine. If you find that your machine is still to small that is another story. I hope I understood your needs correctly /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
kozak
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2004
- Messages
- 639
- Location
- Forest, Ontario Canada
- Tractor
- New Holland TC35D c/w FEL, ACCO Allis 1614
CoolMF,
I also looked at the GC2300 when I was first looking but immediately dismissed it as I thought it was too small for what I wanted to do. (Mainly landscaping....also have two horses so you know what that means.)
From your post it would seem you need all the help you can get. Although a bobcat is handy in some situations (mainly FEL) it is not anywhere as useful for adding other implements. Believe me, once you get the house done there will be other things a tractor will come incredibly handy for. Also, (I believe) a tractor will be less prone to get stuck because of the larger & wider back tires.
Get a tractor, 29 to 35 HP range, you won't regret it. I only have 2.3 acres & would not be without my Dynamo Hummm !! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Good Luck With The House !!
Vic
I also looked at the GC2300 when I was first looking but immediately dismissed it as I thought it was too small for what I wanted to do. (Mainly landscaping....also have two horses so you know what that means.)
From your post it would seem you need all the help you can get. Although a bobcat is handy in some situations (mainly FEL) it is not anywhere as useful for adding other implements. Believe me, once you get the house done there will be other things a tractor will come incredibly handy for. Also, (I believe) a tractor will be less prone to get stuck because of the larger & wider back tires.
Get a tractor, 29 to 35 HP range, you won't regret it. I only have 2.3 acres & would not be without my Dynamo Hummm !! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Good Luck With The House !!
Vic
flusher
Super Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
- Messages
- 7,572
- Location
- Sacramento
- Tractor
- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
Looks like you have a lot of backfilling/grading work to do around your foundation. My contractor used a fairly large Bobcat to backfill and grade around the foundation of my new house last August. House measures 66x28 ft. It was hot, dry and dusty the day he did that work (wonder what his air filters looked like. He looked like one of the mud people after he was finished).
I've been touching up the grading with my B7510HST/LA302 FEL (21 HP). No problem using the tractor for this chore.
I have 10 acres of flat grazing land with 30 almond trees and 260 feet of 20-foot wide gravel driveway. The B7510 is enough tractor for brush hogging, box blading and general toting work, provided I'm not in a big hurry.
I'm landscaping about an acre around the house. I've decided to splurge on a Husqvarna riding mower (48" deck) to handle the finish mowing. The ag tires on the B7510HST will tear up the lawn and I figure that I'll put the money for turf tires for the Kubota into the Husqvarna.
Unless you have the tractor-buyin' itch that won't go away, I don't see why your present rig can't handle all the chores on your 5.5 acres.
I've been touching up the grading with my B7510HST/LA302 FEL (21 HP). No problem using the tractor for this chore.
I have 10 acres of flat grazing land with 30 almond trees and 260 feet of 20-foot wide gravel driveway. The B7510 is enough tractor for brush hogging, box blading and general toting work, provided I'm not in a big hurry.
I'm landscaping about an acre around the house. I've decided to splurge on a Husqvarna riding mower (48" deck) to handle the finish mowing. The ag tires on the B7510HST will tear up the lawn and I figure that I'll put the money for turf tires for the Kubota into the Husqvarna.
Unless you have the tractor-buyin' itch that won't go away, I don't see why your present rig can't handle all the chores on your 5.5 acres.
Here are some similar links:
