Front loader essential?

[vvanders]

Spend the money on the FEL that you might have spent on a tractor mounted backhoe. Most of them are underpowered pieces of crap. When you need to dig a hole, rent a real backhoe, or better still, a small excavator. The FEL will be 10 times more useful than the backhoe unit.

Yup, rent the backhoe and pick up a FEL. If a new/used BX/1-series isn't out of your budget I'd look that direction for the amount of acreage you have. Based on your tasks a 20HP SCUT is fine and anything larger/heavier will just tear up your turf.

Will echo a set of 3pt forks is handy. We've got a SSQA set of swappable pallet forks and they see almost as much usage as the loader bucket.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

TLB is definitely the way to go. With manufacturer financing at 0 down/0 interest deals; quit looking for used and get a new one. Don't buy someone elses problems unless you really get a killer deal an just want to spend your cash. It is very difficult if not impossible to finance used except at personal loan rates (12-28%). 1500 hours later my BX has paid for its self twice over in not having rental and hiring out costs. Even small trees up to 10" are a piece of cake except slow. Implements: get what you have to get started and make the financing deal work. Then buy used ones. Not much risk there especially if you are mechanically inclined like I am. Rear forks are no replacement for a FEL. You cannot raise enough for much of anything even though they lift more weight. If I buy anything heavy or bulky I have them load it on a pallet and then I can lift from the PU and wove to where I want it. 4 forks on a FEL make a good poor man's brush handler. Better than a pitchfork.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

For 1.5 acres (what I have) I consider my BX25D perfect for landscaping and maintenance. Fits in tight spaces, easy on the grass, life long companion... yes I am in love. Got to have a bucket, that is a no brainer.

The backhoe is a luxury for some, but I have done quite a bit that I wouldn't have done (on a rental basis). That just depends on how much digging, trenching, planting, etc. you will do. If you are starting from 'scratch' then the BH will easily pay for itself. Two hour hand digging jobs (with breaks) are done in 10 minutes with no sweat.

I don't mow with my BX as I need the ground clearance. I have a small zero turn for my modest grassy areas and I buzz over my elderly neighbors place with pleasure as well.

 

[finnercy]

Thanks and that is pretty clear, I am def getting tractor with a FEL. Been looking at a used Kubota B2400 although not sure a machine that light will be able to tow a box blade, I plan on making some shallow ditches with a box blade?

 

[TnAndy]

These are good for shallow ditches. Open part faces the rear of the tractor. Adjust your top link to increase or decrease the 'angle of attack' into the ground. Bucket pivots inside the frame, piece of rope to the trip lever on the back, and you can dump without leaving the tractor seat.

Pond Scoop:

 

[Diggin It]

All my shovels are rusting down now that I have my TLB with hydraulic thumb.

Mine still will get a lot of use for detail work where the buckets won't fit. And for cleaning the stuck mud out of the buckets.

 

[TnAndy]

Will echo a set of 3pt forks is handy. We've got a SSQA set of swappable pallet forks and they see almost as much usage as the loader bucket.

Amen to forks. You'll be amazed how much stuff you'll move on pallets with a set of forks. Mine stay on the FEL 90% of the time. I move everything from the weekly trash cart pickup at the road to firewood logs out of the woods to pallets of plants in containers to work pallet with all the tools/generator on it and so on.

 

[Diggin It]

I'd almost like to see a 'pond scoop' set up for the BH. I'd imagine I could make some use of that in ditch clearing.

 

[TnAndy]

3-Point Dirt Scoop, Dirt Scoop, Dirt Scoop For Tractor | Agri Supply 671

These scoops aren't big. Recommended for 15-35hp tractor. Empty weight 225lbs. Hold 4.5 to 6 cuft of material....so only about a contractor type wheelbarrow load....but one you don't have to shovel in

 

[rScotty]

These are good for shallow ditches. Open part faces the rear of the tractor. Adjust your top link to increase or decrease the 'angle of attack' into the ground. Bucket pivots inside the frame, piece of rope to the trip lever on the back, and you can dump without leaving the tractor seat.

Pond Scoop:

The only real problem with a scoop like that is that it works just barely good enough that a person could start to think they could get by without a front end loader. One of my neighbors fell into that trap - About 20 years ago he found the nicest, cleanest, and just beautiful compact 40 HP IH tractor I've ever seen for $1800 with a scoop so he grabbed it. It's been a beauty for 20 years now, and my buddy still doesn't quite understand all the extra work he's been doing or the fun he has been missing.

Regardless of the tractor, get a FEL with 4WD and power steering if there is any way you can swing it.
Luck, rScotty

 

[fried1765]

Hi
I just finished building a house, now I have a 1.5 acre area to transform into a garden, a garage to build, drive way to put in and drainage ditches to put in on a sloping site. I have big piles of dirt that need to be used to contour the place as well. I was thinking of getting a used older 30hp tractor , however I am struggling to find one with a front loader and seems to be difficult/expensive to add one after. Got me thinking maybe I could manage without the front loader and the following rear mounted implements would cover my requirements:
1. Backhoe for general digging
2. Rear dirt scoop/transport box for moving piles of dirt/stones
3. Rear forks - general lifting
4. Box scraper

Maybe a trailer as well.

So can I manage without a front loader?

For the work you are planning, do not buy ANY tractor without a loader!

 

[Tractor Seabee]

My experience: I struggled with a box blade for several years. Spend a lot of time messing with the spoils after making a bunch small piles. Fabricated an aggressive tooth bar for the FEL. What a difference especially on hard ground and sod. Then I got a six way rear blade (manual). After getting the sod up it was the cat's meow for moving dirt, leveling, and angle cuts like your shallow ditches; cast the spoils in a windrow then pickup with the FEL. Both small BB and a RBs need weight added to keep them from skipping with the no down pressure of a 3P. They want to follow the existing contour w/o the added weight.

Ron

 

[chim]

I still have one of those scoops. Back in '92 when I bought the Ford 1210 (without a loader) I picked up a scoop and it served me for years. It was THE tool for making a swale along the one side of our property, about 300 feet long. One problem was keeping the front wheels on the ground when there was a good-sized load of wet dirt in it. The little Ford has a pair of suitcase weights in the front and it still lifted off the ground sometimes.

Ten years later, our B7500 had a loader, so the scoop mostly sat after that. Wifey is the one who seemed set on getting a loader on the B7500. Her folks had a farm just around the corner, and on the odd occasion there was a need for a loader, we could grab the Massey.

I did press the scoop into service perhaps two or three times since getting tractors with loaders when I had a good bit of material to move. I could use it plus the loader to save a few trips.

 

[grm61]

Fel and a hoe:thumbsup:, might cost a little more up front...but if you have things to do, and like being self sufficient, and don't want to rent every time you have to dig a hole or ditch....I would recommend them both.

 

[mikester]

Regardless of the tractor, get a FEL with 4WD and power steering if there is any way you can swing it.
Luck, rScotty

Loader AND power steering AND only $1500!?

Ah the good old days of $0.10 bag of chips and bottled pop.

 

[guitarman]

Definately again what ever size tractor you get an fel will make it much more versatile, as for the back hoe all depends on how much trenching and digging you think your going to do. If post holes and planting trees a pto post hole digger is a lot cheaper than the BH and can be easily removed for what ever other implements you might get.

 

[wdchyd]

A tractor without a FEL is just a slow ride to the mailbox

 

[freedomlives]

For several years I got by with just two wheel / walk behind tractors. Lots you can do with one, but you can't lift loads of dirt/gravel, haybales, or anything else needing lifting.