Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
80 acres here in central Texas would demand a 60 hp or more, four wheel drive machine, if you care to groom any of it (besides your close in zero turn area).
First SCUT or CUT for approx 80 Acres
- Thread starter Mavrick2
- Start date
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oosik
Epic Contributor
I have 80 acres, pine forests, two lakes and a mile long gravel driveway to maintain. I started out with a brand new Ford 1710 4WD (25 hp) when we first moved here in 1982. It was just enough to maintain the driveway in the winter (snow removal) and tackle some of the smaller jobs around the property.
Eight years ago I upgraded to my current Kubota M6040. Now with a much larger rear blade, land plane grading scraper and roll over box blade I'm able to do driveway maintenance both summer and winter. My driveway turns to concrete in the summer and made any maintenance attempts with the smaller Ford next to impossible.
My decision to upgrade in 2009 was also based upon the upcoming tier 4 requirements. My 2009 M6040 is just about the last year this tractor was still tier 3.
I agree with the statements in RSKY's post #10 - you will VERY SELDOM regret getting a larger tractor. Many projects on my property were held off until I got the larger tractor simply because I did not have that amount of time to spend on the project OR the project could only be accomplished with the larger tractor.
Eight years ago I upgraded to my current Kubota M6040. Now with a much larger rear blade, land plane grading scraper and roll over box blade I'm able to do driveway maintenance both summer and winter. My driveway turns to concrete in the summer and made any maintenance attempts with the smaller Ford next to impossible.
My decision to upgrade in 2009 was also based upon the upcoming tier 4 requirements. My 2009 M6040 is just about the last year this tractor was still tier 3.
I agree with the statements in RSKY's post #10 - you will VERY SELDOM regret getting a larger tractor. Many projects on my property were held off until I got the larger tractor simply because I did not have that amount of time to spend on the project OR the project could only be accomplished with the larger tractor.
TheMadOne
Platinum Member
At 80 acres you're better off looking at least at large premium CUTs like the grand L6060, and should probably be looking at dedicated TLBs if you are serious about the drainage being a concern. I'm not saying you should combine the two. TLBs are not great utility tractors, they'll work but the small tires leave something to be desired.
If you have a smaller area you would like to start with I'd suggest getting something like a B26/L47(or even a L39 if you go used) and starting to save for a real "tractor" sized tractor, either used or new.
If you plan on farming/shredding everything then you'd be best served by something with some serious grunt. Since I'm spending your money and not mine I'd go for something above 100HP, as that gets you into the bottom tier(size wise) of the real commercial class implements. This is assuming you're going to hobby farm and do some row crops. Another direction you could go into is berries, in which case you could happily get away with a larger CUT like the L6060, or even smaller. Much more hand labor involved there, though. If you have a neighbor who farms in the area I'd ask him for a meeting and go over what you plan to do with the land and how he would approach it.
If you have a smaller area you would like to start with I'd suggest getting something like a B26/L47(or even a L39 if you go used) and starting to save for a real "tractor" sized tractor, either used or new.
If you plan on farming/shredding everything then you'd be best served by something with some serious grunt. Since I'm spending your money and not mine I'd go for something above 100HP, as that gets you into the bottom tier(size wise) of the real commercial class implements. This is assuming you're going to hobby farm and do some row crops. Another direction you could go into is berries, in which case you could happily get away with a larger CUT like the L6060, or even smaller. Much more hand labor involved there, though. If you have a neighbor who farms in the area I'd ask him for a meeting and go over what you plan to do with the land and how he would approach it.
boggen
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,829
- Location
- Trivoli, IL
- Tractor
- SSTT (Sideways Snake Tain Tractor) and STB (sideways train box) tractor, dirt harvester
75 acres here, 2 lakes, gravel driveway, dirt lanes, mowed lanes, other trails on property, up to 5 foot snow drifts when it does snow. 30 plus acres of pasture with half approx wooded. lots and lots of hills all over the place.
a SCUT (sub compact utility tractor) you might as well forget about. they are for city slickers, with small size acreage. 80 acres is not small by no means.
stay away from "skid steers" they simply have to low of a top MPH to move across the property. for me one corner of property to other end of property is about 2 miles, of curves and hills and tight spots going through gates and like. it does take some descent time to get from one end to other end. and i doubt a skid steer would ever be able to deal with time constraints just traveling.
i would say min 30HP tractor. this puts you in CUT (compact utility tractor) range. this will be maintenance tractor. that should get you through most jobs. the areas you would have issues, would be pulling trees to different areas per say, to FEL lift capacity and/or 3pt hitch lift capacity. all other maintenance stuff should be good enough. and only a bigger tractor to get things done quicker.
to note it. i had choice of getting smaller tractor with all the frills, or going with a large used 80HP TLB (tractor loader backhoe), i needed more tractor to get some stuff done, so for now property looks like a mess. due to limited to only FEL bucket and backhoe bucket, and the old allis chalmers tractor 20HP is more mowing tractor than anything else.
a SCUT (sub compact utility tractor) you might as well forget about. they are for city slickers, with small size acreage. 80 acres is not small by no means.
stay away from "skid steers" they simply have to low of a top MPH to move across the property. for me one corner of property to other end of property is about 2 miles, of curves and hills and tight spots going through gates and like. it does take some descent time to get from one end to other end. and i doubt a skid steer would ever be able to deal with time constraints just traveling.
i would say min 30HP tractor. this puts you in CUT (compact utility tractor) range. this will be maintenance tractor. that should get you through most jobs. the areas you would have issues, would be pulling trees to different areas per say, to FEL lift capacity and/or 3pt hitch lift capacity. all other maintenance stuff should be good enough. and only a bigger tractor to get things done quicker.
to note it. i had choice of getting smaller tractor with all the frills, or going with a large used 80HP TLB (tractor loader backhoe), i needed more tractor to get some stuff done, so for now property looks like a mess. due to limited to only FEL bucket and backhoe bucket, and the old allis chalmers tractor 20HP is more mowing tractor than anything else.
not2old
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,517
- Location
- Scotch Creek, British Columbia
- Tractor
- 2010 Massey GC2610TLB
I was looking for an old construction size hoe but couldn't find one at a realistic price and bought my GC2610TLB, most due to affordability of anything larger. I'm on one acre and very quickly discovered that I dodged a bullet. A full size machine would have been way too big for most of my work with it. On 80 acres, I would expect something larger to be a lot more useful and a near necessity.
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
I guess Maverick2 and Elvis have left the building....
clevalley
Bronze Member
I just moved into 65 acres - 40 open with rolling hills, two ponds and 2/3 mile long gravel driveway. I have a Mahindra 2555 and it does what I need with a 7' HD Rotary Cutter.
