Implements, what do I need.

[sanmigmike]

Looks like I have to make up my mind tomorrow. Right now it looks as if it will be a L3830 HST. FEL, box scraper and rotary cutter, both medium duty, bigger loader and the cheapest post hole digger. Outside chance that Deere might come up with a price I can go for on a 4410. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

But, the question today is what else do I need? Rear blade? Rake? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Not sure what I have in my profile, a little under eight acres, not level, was wooded, now stumped /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Replanting, possible pole barn, some trees left (so my wife tells me) so some skidding in time. But mostly cleaning up the logging mess (big mess!!), and about 900 ft. of gravel road plus some parking areas, at least they were gravel in poor shape until the logging. Now they are just pretty much mud! I do see a rock now and then. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

So what else do I need, beside time and energy, oh and hats?! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ronjhall]

A Landscape rake with gage wheels would be a good tool for cleaning up the debris.
There are times that I use my rear blade. But do not use it as much as the rake and box blade.
Unless you intend to bring in a large piece of equipment to remove the stumps. You may want to consider a Backhoe.

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So what else do I need, beside time and energy, oh and hats?! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

I know you were being funny about the hats but if you are going to be working in the woods please buy yourself a hard hat and wear it.

After reading many stories of people being injured or killed by falling limbs I bought a hard hat. I hate hard hats, but I wear one when riding my tractor. It won't save my life if a 70' pine tree falls on me, but it has already saved me from some scrapes and cuts when dead branches fall out of trees or a limb springs back and grazes my head.

It has also saved me from banging my head while hooking up implements. There is a lot of stuff sticking out around the rear of a tractor and when you are trying to hook up a PTO shaft it is very easy to get your head up against some of the "stuff".

I bought one at Lowe's for less than $7.

And wear your seat belt at all times. If you buckle up every time you get on the tractor, even if you are going to be on level ground, it will become automatic. Without the seatbelt buckled the roll bar can kill you if the tractor rolls over.

Bill Tolle

 

[EddieWalker]

I'll add goggles to the hard hat advise. I'm adding to pasture land by shredding sapplings around bigger trees, and you'd be suprised how often a branch will come out of nowhere and try to take your head off.

The box blade is either something you love or hate. I hate them. I've heard rumors you can learn how to get a smooth road out of one with skill and practice. It just hasn't hapened with me. It might be like learning a second language, some do and I don't.

If you got lots of driveway to maintain, look at a grade all instead of a box blade. Price will be about double, but the results are incredible and its extremely easy to use.

Also make sure you get the best shredder you can afford. Go for the one with the best warentee on the gear box. I bought a Landpride for that reason, and in one year I've replaced the gear box, the u-joints and drive shaft. I've busted dozens of sheer pins and replaced the blades. I'm also extremely tough on it and probably not your average abuser of equipment.

I was told to get a shredder wider than my tires, and I think that was good advice.

Get the biggest auger you can on the post hole digger. Mine is 12 inches, and I wish I had 15 inches or even 18 inches. You'd be suprised how little wiggle room a 4X4 post has in a 12 inch hole.

 

[sanmigmike]

Will look at rakes, had been thinking about one but with the gage wheels wheels make a lot of sense. We have a lot of slash to clean up. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Oh, and do plan to get a toothed edge for the bucket.

Hard Hat! Thanks for the reminder, I have one (and use it) but not a bad idea to get another and to WEAR it. I try to remain aware of safety issues, wear a seat belt and that kind of thing. I am careful about my hearing, since I have lost so much due to....flying, shooting and they say some sort of anti-malaria drug. I bet chainsawing, log splitting, and a few other things cannot be too good for my tired ears. And to be honest I wear gloves most of the time since I get tired of having my hands beat up and it is is cold now!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Back hoe, as much as they say they would love to sell one all the dealers say that for the size and number of stumps we have we should either pay someone else to remove or grind them. The size of back hoe we could put on these tractors would be marginal to remove them. What we plan to do is to buy a used stump grinder, like a Vermeer 232, use it and then sell it, should work out cheaper than paying $2.50 an inch. We got some big stumps and a lot of them! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Yes, I would love to have one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Others have already mentioned toothbar, but it's a really great asset for your loader bucket.
Not really necessary, but a good 1000# minimum rated boom pole (hangs on the 3pt and extends back with hooks on it) comes in awfully handy when you need one, and they don't cost much.
A set of bucket pallet forks is handy not only for pallets, but for moving large brush piles, boards and other materials, and also are not terribly expensive. Many posters state they wasted money on back blades, but I understand they are very handy for snow work, but buy one that has all the position changes available. Box blade for sure. John

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hard Hat! Thanks for the reminder, I have one (and use it) but not a bad idea to get another and to WEAR it......

And to be honest I wear gloves most of the time since I get tired of having my hands beat up and it is is cold now!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)</font>

I store my tractor key and gloves in the hardhat, that way I don't forget it when I go "out there". You can toss your ear protection in the hardhat too.

Bill Tolle

 

[Soundguy]

Well. between the FEL and the Box blade.. I think you have two of the most widely used implements used on tractors today.. throw in a mower and PHD, and you have two very usefull implements.
I guess if you have money to burn right now, or good creative financing.. a rake and drag might be ok... and a can of wasp spray...

Soundguy

 

[eee]

Get a 4 in 1 bucket,very handy indeed.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

If you have a rake, and a loader, you probably need the blade.