First home. Time for my first tractor.

Wellarmedlamb · Jun 8, 2017

So my wife and I purchased our first home. It's a log home on 2.18 square wooded acres.

I have a lot of work to do over the next 5+ years.

Briefly:
--The driveway is, imho, in the wrong place. I need to develop a 150ft driveway through forest. This will require both cutting the ground down and adding fill in different places.

--I want to replace the existing carport with an attached 2 car garage.

--I want to drastically expand the existing detached workshop.

--I want to develop a yard in what is currently forest.

--I want to clear brush, leaves, debris and smaller trees and plants grass amongst the older trees in front of the house.

--Snow removal

--Firewood transport

There are other jobs but those are the current main priorities.

There are many stumps to remove, much debris to clear and a lot of ground to level.

Other consideration: I'm self employed multiple directions. One such direction is as a "Certified Water Operator" for a couple smaller rural drinking water distribution systems. I want to be able to use the tractor backhoe to repair water lines in areas to tight for the system's full size backhoe. This is important for two reasons... The tractor needs to be capable of good quality light backhoe work... And I'll be writing-off the depreciation.

Speaking in John Deere terms since I know the numbers, I'm looking at 2025r, 2017 2032r, 2017 2038r, 3025e, 3032e, 3033r.

These tractors are all of similar size but drastically varying prices.

Must have a loader and backhoe. I believe I want a 4 in 1 bucket instead of a standard bucket.

I'm not set on John Deere.

Sorry for the lengthy post and thanks in advance for any advice given.

Jesse

GuiltySpark · Jun 8, 2017

Close to your new home which dealers do you have that you can build a long term relationship with?

Thomas · Jun 8, 2017

:welcome: to TBN Jesse.
Congrats on your new homestead. :thumbsup:
Get to know your JD dealer and any questions,don't forget to post pics of your new long time investment.

jeff9366 · Jun 8, 2017

My wife and I purchased a log home on 2.18 wooded acres.

Briefly:
--The driveway is in the wrong place. I need to develop a 150ft driveway through forest.

1) This will require both cutting the ground down and adding fill in different places.
2) I want to replace the existing carport with an attached 2 car garage.
3) I want to drastically expand the existing detached workshop.
4)I want to develop a yard in what is currently forest.

1) - 4) are tasks for a Box Blade. Box Blades come in two configurations: Standard and Rollover Box Blades. As you will be doing some commercial work, get two rear remotes and hydraulic Top Link and Lifting Rod adjustments, referred to as T&T.

My experience is with a 60" Rollover Box Blade (ROBB) by Bush Hog. If you have rigid Three Point Hitch Lower Link stabilizers a ROBB can be used to push SOFT dirt in moderate amounts re: filling trenches and holes.

--I want to clear brush, leaves, debris and smaller trees and plants grass amongst the older trees in front of the house.
Ratchet Rake attachment for your FEL bucket.
VIDEO: ratchet rake brush clearing - YouTube

--Firewood transport. FEL bucket.

There are many stumps to remove. Not work for a small tractor with Backhoe.

Other consideration: I'm self employed multiple directions. One such direction is as a "Certified Water Operator" for a couple smaller rural drinking water distribution systems. I want to be able to use the tractor backhoe to repair water lines in areas to tight for the system's full size backhoe. This is important for two reasons... The tractor needs to be capable of good quality light backhoe work... And I'll be writing-off the depreciation.

Speaking in John Deere terms since I know the numbers, I'm looking at 2025r, 2017 2032r, 2017 2038r, 3025e, 3032e, 3033r.

These tractors are all of similar size but drastically varying prices.
Only consider tractors with a bare weight of 3,000 pounds and up.

Must have a loader and backhoe. I believe I want a 4 in 1 bucket instead of a standard bucket.
4 in 1 bucket too heavy for a small tractor. Most regret this option. Backhoe and Box Blade should fulfill your needs.

ProjectKing · Jun 8, 2017

Look at Kubota's TLB line. B26, L39, etc etc.

bferg · Jun 8, 2017

I have been turning 5 acres into a home site for the last two years. I have wooded areas that have been cleared similar to what you are describing. I think for the work on your site you really need a larger TLB (tractor loader backhoe) than you are currently considering. Backhoe is best for stump removal and even tree removal. But IMO if you have large stumps/trees you really need something bigger than a Kubota B or any of those JD's you mentioned. To do that type of work safely, and efficiently you will want a larger machine as was previously mentioned.

Also, instead of a 4 in 1 bucket you probably need a regular bucket (with cutter on front like the ratchet rake) AND a grapple bucket. After you knock those trees over you are gonna need to move them and a grapple is very helpful here. Can be done with a regular bucket and forks but grapple is far superior.

Wellarmedlamb · Jun 8, 2017

GuiltySpark said:
Close to your new home which dealers do you have that you can build a long term relationship with?

In order of biggest to smallest (inventory).

John Deere(5min), Mahindra(15min), Kabota(10min), New Holland(3 min), Kioti(5min)

Wellarmedlamb · Jun 8, 2017

Thank you for the quick responses and great advice! It's disappointing to hear that the 4 in 1 bucket isn't a good option. Between the moldplate dozing and the brush & tree grappling it seemed like a nice way to have fewer items to purchase.

I'm not sure I want to or can get into quite the size machine being suggested. A number of the machines I listed have a bare weight of over 2200# and a 1200-1500# FEL lift at max height. The backhoe and loader are quite heavy and I would fill the tires if necessary. I'll take a look into the larger tractors as suggested.

Most of the stumps are on the smaller side. Most of the large stumps can be flush cut and filled over.

My thinking was: TLB, 4 in 1 bucket, box blade, landscape 3pt rake, front blade and/or rear snow blower, toothbar for loader, and possibly a ripper claw and thumb for the backhoe.

Sounds like the consensus is regular loader bucket and grapple...and a considerably bigger tractor.

The other note is I'm 6'5, 290# and don't seem to fit well on some tractors.

boggen · Jun 8, 2017

your heavy on the backhoe work.

a mini ex (mini excavator) more likely do you better for business, they are simply more maneuverable, and able to cross a trench if you really need to. and just work faster than a TLB.

on the TLB side of things. heavy work on backhoe. so you are most likely going to want a machine that has a seat that does a 180 to operator backhoe or tractor. vs hoping off tractor seat, climbing off tractor and then climbing on backhoe seat. the 180 seat option alone is going to limit your tractor options as far as what models out there offer a backhoe with 180 twist seat.

2.18 acres is not a lot of space. and you might be better served with a "skid steer" all the implements tend to be a little bit more costly than a tractor 3pt hitch version. but more likely work good for both business and home. a skid steer does not have a top MPH say 24MPH on road. but 2.18 acres you go a little bit and you are already there. and they are more maneuverable than a tractor to get in tight spots. with say a front mount backhoe on them. i think you would be good to go being able to turn on a dime, and get in those awkward spots in an odd angle with a backhoe and go at it. swap out to a general duty bucket to back drag and fill in trenches. toss on a boom pull if needed for trusses or like.

for buisness, there is a "ditch witch" chain saw like chain on one end to cut ditches, and then a backhoe on opposite end, with a small little push blade to push dirt back in. more directly geared for trenching and not much else but... *shrugs*

overall
mini ex = 1st choice, (then skid steer or tractor for additional machine)
skid steer = 2nd choice.
TLB (tractor loader backhoe) = 3rd choice

==========
google
forestry roads

there is about 5 descent sites out there, that go over slops, crowns, ditches, grades, etc... for roads, and for most folks can directly apply to there driveway.

Wellarmedlamb · Jun 8, 2017

Great comments boggen! And you pretty much described the exact thoughts I've been having. There won't be much water line digging. When the digging happens it will be in all soft ground and never deeper than 3 feet. For that reason the mini ex just doesn't fit the bill due to the lost versatility compared to tlb or skid steer.

I leaned away from the skid steer option for mostly four reasons: limited ground clearance, limited traction due to short wheel base, loss of PTO or rear implementation and inability to have fel and bh (or other implement) attached during transit and ready to go upon arrival.