Help in choosing implements correctly

[swmich42]

Thanks for the feedback, and please keep them coming. The Markham tooth-bar attachment appears to be a very appropriate bucket accessory. The skid steer attachment was something I have only read about, and appeared to increase the usability of your FEL. Here are some stat's that might help:
His/her skill set: 12 hours on CUT with FEL and BH
size of land 12 acres
location Southwest Michigan
terrain Sand, loam, swamp, flat, hills.

The following is what I have in project plans: log skidding and general brush clean-up, (after having # 60+ trees logged) landscaping (lawn dressing/smoothing/planting, hill terracing, rock placement, sprinker intall, tree moving/digging/planting, fence install,), soil improvement, planting (grass', corn, beans, clover), drive-way/trail grading, bush hogging.

The Markhum FEL teeth appear to be a valuable accessory to the FEL bucket. The 3pt fork lift attachment is to skid the logs, from a member post here, where he modified a Northern Tool pallet fork assembly, which allowed log skidding, and utilizing the forks (by re-attaching). Building the trails means encountering 1-5" trees, and clearing them. Renting the skid loader with the tree shredder attachment would make sense, given very high GPH requirement this implement demands, to create initial path-ways.

Owning this tractor, without one implement, is difficult, but getting the right tools, at the right time for the projects that have the highest priority is my goal. The 3Pt fork-lift assembly is the first implement I am leaning towards. (It is currently the cheapest, and can drag most weight. {brush, logs, etc, safely})

Would also like any of your recommendations on proper diesel fuel storage methods. Although I only have this one tractor, with a 12 gal tank, I know what contaminated fuel can do to an engine.

I am still searching for any type of training video's, and or literature on safe tractor AND implement use. I have been to library, internet, etc., however cannot find anything. There are a few "Youtube" video's, but I want more in depth information/guidance. If anyone knows whether JD dealers offer CD's on tractor and or implement use, please let me know. I plan on visiting the local dealer in Union soon.

Thanks again for all of your help. And again, I have to tell you , this website is great.

Here are some of the items mentioned above:



Forestry Cutter Attachment - Bobcat Company

 

[RWolf]

Great now we got something to go on and maybe help stear you in the right direction. I'm assuming that the picture in your avatar is your tractor.

I think your primary attachments would be FEL with toothbar and maybe grapple, rotary cutter and your lift to skid logs and also a HD box blade. Along with a good chainsaw and plenty of time you should be able to do the majority of your tasks. I don't know how much experience you have with felling trees but be careful. It all looks good on TV but those guys do it day in and day out for years. Later down the line you can get a rake (insert name brand)

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree with RWolf's assessment of desirable implements. Bush hog and grapple would be first on my list too. I've done a fair amount of the type of work you are describing with both a 20hp and 40hp CUT equipped with grapple and bush hog or flail.

I doubt you'll be able to rent a skidsteer with a shredder. The shredder implement is very expensive and dangerous and I doubt rental places even carry them and if they did would likely not let it go out to a novice. My advice would be to see what you can get done with your chain saw, grapple, bush hog first and then if necessary hire someone with the appropriate equipment (shredder equipped skidsteer or excavator) to come in and clear the trails if your own equipment (or available time) is not up to the task. Recall that people used to do this sort of work with horses and axes so your CUT is capable it is just a matter of your timeline, interest and budget.

Regarding the log skidder. I don't like how the chain is up so high. If the log jammed on something while you were pulling it uphill you could flip your tractor over backwards. Unless you are specifically skidding out logs for commercial purposes (in which case get a proper log winch) then why not just push the downed trees out of the way and let them rot or wait until you get around to cutting them up and removing with grapple and/or trailer.

 

[Storm56]

Lots of good advice here. I also have a JD 4700 and I have 345 acres of mostly woods. I have the JD backhoe and find it invaluable when clearing food plots. Even though I have an older JD 450 dozer, it is much easier on the old girl if I snap a few roots when clearing stumps with the backhoe. I also have a Farmi winch which comes in mighty handy.

These are just a few thoughts to add to the previous posts. If you have much land clearing and stump removal to do, the backhoe could well be your best tool for the job. In addition I find many uses for the hoe, once you have one you never want to be without it.

 

[dangerdoc]

I think it is a bad idea to rig a CUT to perform like a skidsteer. Putting a hydraulic powered bush hog on the front of a CUT is like putting wings on a tank....it can be done but why do it? If you need a skidsteer get a skidsteer. The OP's tasks do not require a skidsteer however. Many many CUT owners do those same tasks with a standard CUT and a bush hog mounted on the tail where it should be. Me thinks the OP has naively opened a can of worms (unintentionally of course) and that the most appropriate advice is to have him educate himself. If driving forwards through the forest is absolutely necessary and a skidsteer plus shredder is not in the budget, then PowerTrac, not a Rube Goldberg device on a CUT, would be the way to go.

Skidsteer adapters on a CUT FEL can be very useful for changing buckets, 4n1, forks, tree booms and grapples and there are even a few 3PT implements that can reasonably be used on a FEL (e.g. rake), but it makes little sense to put implements that are heavy (box blade, bush hog) or require high volume hydraulics (bush hog, shredder) on an FEL that is engineered primarily as a light duty loader. No CUT can match a skidsteer when discussing loader power or loader mounted hydraulics. Not even close.

I don't know how big his tractor is and it may not apply to his situation but running a 4 or 5 ft brush hog off the front end loader would be a very handy tool and is on my to do list. It would also allow running a post hole digger off the front loader with the ability to reverse if stuck, another feature that is very desirable.

No, a tractor is not a skid loader but it is a flexible tool.

 

[MarkV]

I don't know how big his tractor is and it may not apply to his situation but running a 4 or 5 ft brush hog off the front end loader would be a very handy tool and is on my to do list. It would also allow running a post hole digger off the front loader with the ability to reverse if stuck, another feature that is very desirable.

No, a tractor is not a skid loader but it is a flexible tool.

Well I guess you can do it, most anything can be done. With the hydraulic flow available on tractors, of the size most talked about here, you will need a separate PTO powered hydraulic pump. Skid steer (Bobcat) type mowers require a lot of hydraulics. Between the high cost of a hydraulic mower and a PTO powered pump I would have to have a special need. Post hole augers are hydraulically much more forgiving and work well off a tractor. Reverse would be very valuable at times.

MarkV

 

[dangerdoc]

Well I guess you can do it, most anything can be done. With the hydraulic flow available on tractors, of the size most talked about here, you will need a separate PTO powered hydraulic pump. Skid steer (Bobcat) type mowers require a lot of hydraulics. Between the high cost of a hydraulic mower and a PTO powered pump I would have to have a special need. Post hole augers are hydraulically much more forgiving and work well off a tractor. Reverse would be very valuable at times.

MarkV

Some things are more fun than practical. I have most of the practical things already so I am more focused on the fun.

 

[swmich42]

I would like to review all my options, and get suggestions from those that have done this before. I will be doing the following: log skidding, soil ripping, (general clearing for planting); I will also be hauling and moving various materials. (chips, earth, rocks, brush) Lastly, I will be digging, trees, near a wet pond area.

Here are the implements I would like to aquire, to accomplish as many different projects:

Box Blade, 3pt (removable) pallet forks with sheild, sub-soiler, loader with materials bucket & grapple, and back hoe. (possibly a york rake)

Since I was also planning on making trails, I wanted to know about a skid steer attachment called a "shredder", to mow down trees, brush, etc. while making the trail.

Any help would be appreciated.

Love this site by the way!

My first Implement.....Hvy Duty Bar between 3pt draft arms, with clevis to pass chain through. Cost = $44.95 I am now, most likely, the cheapest tractor newbie with an implement; but it got the job done. Just took 4 days.

I used this all last week to clear, drag, and position approx. 50 logs, which are now part of our firewood supply, neatly stacked for drying.

 

[foggy1111]

It sounds like trail/land clearing is one of the major tasks you have coming up.

I have just finished clearing considerable land with small trees and "buck brush" on it as you are going to encounter. Here is what I think you need in this regard.

As previously stated a chain saw is needed for trees over about 3" diameter. However trees up to 3 inches (maybe a bit more) can be shredded with a good HEAVY DUTY 3 point shredder....also called a brush hog, rotary cutter, and a few other names. I would think a brush hog for your tractor should be about 6 feet wide. If you want to shred up to 3" brush make certain you are buying a HEAVY DUTY RC.

Now, with the loader you a going to purchase and the bucket positioned about 6" off the ground you can drive your tractor with the RC slowly forward into the brush and it will shred it to smithereens. Just about any brush you can push forward and drive over with the loader bucket (without the tractor climbing up the brush) will be shredded by the RC. The bucket will also stop you from running into stumps and rocks and too large of timber or brush. The bigger stuff needs to be chain sawed and picked up with your new loader with grapple. I dont have a grapple.....and it takes me a bit longer....but I dont feel a huge need to own one either......as I like the brush piles for wildlife attraction. Works for me.

Talk w/ your John Deere Dealer and get a good Model xxxx JD loader mounted on that tractor....if you want a grapple this would be the time to get it. Maybe those QA front forks at the same time....if you think you need 'em....but you can always add those later(?). I would think a QA bucket with Markham tooth bar...as previouly suggested would get you on the right path. Then get an MX6 RC from your dealer at the same time (package deal).....and you will have the right stuff. Oh...and as long as were talking "package deal"....this may be a good time to add a 6foot box blade for the rear of your tractor. You can grade with it....but more importantly you will need some ballast to offest the front end loader when you dont have that RC mounted on your tractor (the RC is kinda bulky for general purpose work)....and the box blade serves this purpose well (it's fairly compact).

As far as more information goes.....the look-up (SEARCH) feature here will provide hours and hours of reading and pictures.

 

[swmich42]

I would like to review all my options, and get suggestions from those that have done this before. I will be doing the following: log skidding, soil ripping, (general clearing for planting); I will also be hauling and moving various materials. (chips, earth, rocks, brush) Lastly, I will be digging, trees, near a wet pond area.

Here are the implements I would like to aquire, to accomplish as many different projects:

Box Blade, 3pt (removable) pallet forks with sheild, sub-soiler, loader with materials bucket & grapple, and back hoe. (possibly a york rake)

Since I was also planning on making trails, I wanted to know about a skid steer attachment called a "shredder", to mow down trees, brush, etc. while making the trail.

Any help would be appreciated.

Love this site by the way!

I am finally getting near the point of purchase. FEL JD 400CX, Heavy Duty Brush Hog, and possibly a Heavy Duty Box Blade. I would like your advice on what brush hog would be best. My plans are either used JD 606, or new Woods BB72X.

The other advice is whether to hire someone to pull the stumps with a dozer. I am finding this is lots of work. I have spent all summer, felling trees, and dragging and stacking for a major burn. I am no where near being as completed as I want. A dozer could finish clearing the food plot I am working on, complete the other two I had planned creating, clear the path's I planned to create, and do this most likely in one or two days. (the food plots are minimal work. The first is approx 30 stumps, each 15" or under in diameter. The size of the other plots is 2-3 acres. The paths may push me into second day) Might it be more economical to rent a dozer, if anyone offers such a service?