Front-End Loader FEL capability/limitations

[jeffgreef]

Hi folks-
My little CC 2550 2wd gas burner is getting too small for my 5 acres, or always was. Researching my step up. Big question- to get FEL or not. I don't have horses, and plan to hire out major excavating like septic, foundation, etc. Probably will end up with a 20-24hp 4wd. So, aside from the convenience of having a FEL, the only major task I could imagine using it for would be to cut a short road in a steep but short hillside to access part of the lot. I envision keeping the tractor level (ALWAYS) on the portion of road already cut, and pecking away at the hillside in front of the tractor at the end of the road with the corner of the loader, gradually extending the road. Only need to go about 100 feet before the slope levels out. I'll have to burn out stumps ahead of time because an FEL won't dislodge them like a Cat. Soil is loamy, not hard compacted and loosens reasonably well, with some rocks.

I guess that an FEL on a smaller tractor can't be considered an excavation tool, but for a small job like this where I can take my time (and diesel fuel...) maybe it can work.

Is this realistic or a foolish pipe dream?

Would this require a heavy duty FEL?

FYI- 5 acres of sloping terrain in the California Sierra mountains, will use the tractor to skid logs up to 12" diameter, 24 feet long, as well as grading, post hole digging, and snow throwing.

Thanks for your advice

JG

 

[taborekle]

I think that a FEL is a wonderful tool to have on a small tractor. If you're soil is loose and loamy, then the FEL should be able to disloge it and carry it away, and you should be able to continue to develop you're road.

Tree stumps can be removed by persistent FEL work. Dig dig dig around the sides to break the roots, or expose them so that they can be cut. I recently removed a 30 foot tree with my chain saw and FEL, first by felling the tree and cutting it up, and then on the stump by exposing the below ground roots and breaking and cutting them. It takes persistence, but it can be done and is faster and more complete they burning them out.

A small tractor would also give you access to a 3 point hitch, and a box blade or just a simple rear blade could also help with you're proposed road.

FEL's have lots of other uses then you're road, and you will quickly find new benefits to having one.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I'd be about the last one to try to discourage anybody from getting a new tractor, and I consider a FEL essential equipment on mine. However, unless you consider tractor time to be recreation, the job you describe is really much better suited to a dozer (ie, hire somebody for a couple of hours). If you do dicide to go ahead with a DIY job, I suggest getting a toothbar on your FEL bucket. This will help with digging in harder or rocky ground and will also be a big help in breaking roots around stumps. The bolt-on tooth bars also help stiffen the leading edge of the bucket a bit and are removable if you want to use the bucket edge later for finer scraping/smoothing operations.
My $.02 worth.
BOB

 

[Donkey Shade Farm]

I guess that an FEL on a smaller tractor can't be considered an excavation tool, but for a small job like this where I can take my time (and diesel fuel...) maybe it can work.

Is this realistic or a foolish pipe dream?

Would this require a heavy duty FEL?

Thanks for your advice

JG

A FEL on a compact tractor would be perfect, especially with your soil. Just remember to get a toothbar on it. Here's what I did with mine on an overgrown drainage ditch.

 

[gasbag]

I have a small tractor a JD2305tlb and I have pushed several roads on very steep rough terrain, often digging in shale, digging out rocks, stumps ect. Although I have a backhoe I use the loader with the toothbar most and could probably get by without the backhoe if I had to. It is simply amazing to me what these small machines can do if you take your time. Mark

 

[jeffgreef]

thanks, great advice. I'll look for one with a tooth bar, or one that can have a toothbar bolted on.

What about the stoutness of the FEL overall? Seems like some of them are really light, just for mucking horse stalls and moving light materials. How do I know I'm getting one sturdy enough to withstand a bit of hard digging?

JG

 

[easygo]

Three years ago I was searching for a tractor for 10 acres and thought of getting one without the loader. The fine folks on this site talked me into getting one and I think it was the best advice I got since my parents told me not eat sand.

I had no idea how much I would use the loader for just odd jobs. The following list is far from complete: haul wood pellets to garage, haul rocks of various sizes, make improvements to woods roads, push brush into piles, improved drainage in my driveway, loosen rocky soil before tilling for 25'x90' garden. I even used it to remove the soil 5-6" deep when I was making a 5'x5' sandbox for my son.
My most regular job for it is to turn my compost pile. I used to turn compost by hand and it took me almost 2 hrs to turn about 1-1.5 yards. Now that compost pile is about 2-6 yards depending on the time of the year. It takes 10-30 minutes to take care of and I don't break a sweat.
Even the smallest sub-CUT tractors will have a useful loader that will pick up 450-500 lbs and will do it all day long. The tooth bar is an aftermarket add-on that you can install very easily. It helps a great deal when digging into unbroken ground.
Good luck.

 

[easygo]

Here are a couple of shots.

 

[Ken45101]

I guess I'm in the minority here. Of course it depends on your soil type, but I've not found small front end loaders to be very effective in excavating. But then the soil here is hard packed clay.

I have built a lot of hillside trails with the B21 TLB (tractor, loader, backhoe) which is a 21 hp unit. BUT all the digging has been with the backhoe. I'm sure a tooth bar would help but these units aren't really heavy duty diggers.

For your short road across the hillside, complete with stumps, I'd suggest renting a mini excavator for a day and you can have a blast doing that road in a half day including digging out the stumps (or entire trees).

Ken

 

[easygo]

I was listing those things to underline how useful the loader can be even for someone (like me) who is not doing major landscaping or land clearing projects.

I do however agree with Ken that the best machine to do the road in the hillside would be a mini-excavator preferably with a push blade.

The answer to the question lies behind a few more questions.

How soon do you want to complete that road?
How wide does it have to be in the end?
What do you plan on driving on it?
How many and how big are the trees?