Help me decide!!!

[dave1949]

Sub-compact tractors, such as Kubtoa BX series, are basically for mowing and have nine inches of ground clearance. You cannot readily get over fallen timber or deep ruts. Maintaining a high crowned gravel road would be iffy.

Compact tractors and Utility tractors usually have 12" - 14" ground clearance.

Sub-compact tractors have a Category '0' three point hitch for which implements are limited.
Compact tractors have a Category '1' three point hitch to which every implement maker caters. This is the "big" category for tractors.

Trust me, you WILL be skidding logs, which is not crazy in the least, with proper equipment.

Plan to include a Front End Loader, (FEL) the single most useful tractor option.

Move up an increment in the size tractor you will consider.

TractorData.com - Three-Point Hitch

???? What in the OP's requirements leads you to believe he will, or has to, skid logs?

If I understand him, he is trying to get the job done with a minimum of equipment. There is nothing wrong with that, it's admirable actually, and he sure doesn't need to skid logs from anything he has stated so far.

For some reason, most people on TBN are in love with the idea of skidding logs--even if they could save time and lots of money by NOT skidding logs. If you want to drag your firewood logs around between dropping them and bucking them, fine, but don't tell others they need to buy a bigger machine, dirty-up their logs and dull their saw chains when they buck them up because you like the idea of skidding logs whether it is necessary or not. If you have to skid, you have to skid, but if you don't then why do it if it means buying machinery you aren't really interested in owning?

Sorry to rant on you, but this advice just seems off and costly.

I noticed the OP said he "has access to" 15 acres of woodlot. If that were my 15 acres, I would want him to tread as lightly as possible in them while removing the wood.

 

[Tjc50]

???? What in the OP's requirements leads you to believe he will, or has to, skid logs?

If I understand him, he is trying to get the job done with a minimum of equipment. There is nothing wrong with that, it's admirable actually, and he sure doesn't need to skid logs from anything he has stated so far.

For some reason, most people on TBN are in love with the idea of skidding logs--even if they could save time and lots of money by NOT skidding logs. If you want to drag your firewood logs around between dropping them and bucking them, fine, but don't tell others they need to buy a bigger machine, dirty-up their logs and dull their saw chains when they buck them up because you like the idea of skidding logs whether it is necessary or not. If you have to skid, you have to skid, but if you don't then why do it if it means buying machinery you aren't really interested in owning?

Sorry to rant on you, but this advice just seems off and costly.

I noticed the OP said he "has access to" 15 acres of woodlot. If that were my 15 acres, I would want him to tread as lightly as possible in them while removing the wood.

Precisely. It is a farmer who owns and he let me have dibs on fallen trees. I just want to drag a cart splitter saw and fuel back to a site and do most by hand! I think the smartest decision is a rancher 420 with a snow plow for 4700$ keep my cheapie d120 I got for 500$ and run the snot out of her. When she croaks a garden tractor will be purchased. But like all of us the idea of bigger and badder is intriguing !

 

[Gary Fowler]

Precisely. It is a farmer who owns and he let me have dibs on fallen trees. I just want to drag a cart splitter saw and fuel back to a site and do most by hand! I think the smartest decision is a rancher 420 with a snow plow for 4700$ keep my cheapie d120 I got for 500$ and run the snot out of her. When she croaks a garden tractor will be purchased. But like all of us the idea of bigger and badder is intriguing !

It sounds like you have the right idea with an ATV rather than a tractor but don't give up on a side by side ATV with a dump bed (hydraulic). They are very handy for all kinds of chores, can also be fitted with a snow plow and have the luxury of a top and windshield available.

 

[farmer2009]

Precisely. It is a farmer who owns and he let me have dibs on fallen trees. I just want to drag a cart splitter saw and fuel back to a site and do most by hand! I think the smartest decision is a rancher 420 with a snow plow for 4700$ keep my cheapie d120 I got for 500$ and run the snot out of her. When she croaks a garden tractor will be purchased. But like all of us the idea of bigger and badder is intriguing !

While reading through this thread I was thinking a 500 series UTV would fit you really well. You state you already have a mower, so that it taken care of. And a UTV of any size would plow snow (might need chains) and haul wood and you could pull the splinter in and put wood in bed then bring splinter back out with you cutting down on trips in and out of woods. It would skid small logs in you got in a pinch. They have factory cabs too. A little more money than the ATV you listed but not much I don't think(could be wrong).
Good luck. Keep us posted.