Looks Like I Need a Tractor

[Mike058]

I just bought five acres on Key Peninsula in Washington state. If you want to look it up on a map, look for Home, Washington. It straddles a ridge and runs east to west. The east end (about 2.5 acres) has a slope of 12'/100' and is thick with huckleberry and silal bushes. Based on the size of the firs, it was probably logged about 50-60 years ago. On top of the ridge we've cleared out a little over 1/2 acre for a barn and triple wide manufactured home. The west end is mostly grass, trees and blackberry's where the sun shines. Plan on putting some goats over there eventually.

The septic drain field is going on the east end where the huckleberry's are. I want to clear the brush before I have someone dig to put in the field and tank. It's going to take a long time, and time's money. I have to roughly level the area for the barn. It's mostly level, but I've learned over the years that there's a heck of a lot of dirt in a "little" pile.

We don't want a lot of steps up into the house, so the pad's going to have to be a foot or two below grade. That sounds like something I could do myself. After the house is in, it has to back filled.

The clearing process left me with a small fortune in lumber (well a small fortune for me-about 15 logs plus some older ones that I found on the property) The excavator operator bucked the trees into 20' lengths. I didn't actually measure, but that's what they look like. It's probably whatever a standard length to fit on a truck is. Anyway, I'm not looking to pick the monsters up and move them around, just lift them up enough so I can cut them into more manageable lengths that I can move around.

I want to cut some trails, make some clearings and just generally clean up that eastern side. Everything is trying to choke everything else to death and I'm looking to be the new sheriff in town.

The property lines are choked up with the silal and huckleberrys so I want to mow a path before I have it surveyed. They charge like $1200 a day if they have to do it themselves.

I know the guys that have HST think it's the best thing since sliced bread, but I'm leaning towards something with a shuttle type reverse. But I could lean back at any time.

I was thinking 25-30 HP, 4WD, FEL with a grapple on a budget of 15,600 (17,000 after tax around here). If I have to, I can wait on the mower until later. (Give me something to look forward to). It'd be a big plus if it could fit into a 7 x 14 enclosed cargo trailer, then I could save on shipping.

I'd like suggestions as to brands to check out, and things to mull over while I decide. I've really been impressed by the helpfulness of the group, but then I think shiny new pennies are impressive too.

 

[BTDT]

Welcome to TBN. Maybe rent a backhoe for the weekend, you could level some ground, clear around the perimeter of your property, and decide if the tractor you want to buy should come with a backhoe, loader or not. Good luck with your search.

 

[Kendall69]

I agree, either rent out or contract out the hard stuff, and then buy something sized for every day work.

 

[VABlue]

Everyday work includes the loader - don't buy anything without one. The excavator suggestion is a good one. You'll get more done in a weekend with that than a tractor could do in two weekends. Remember, it's only 5 acres so don't go too big...

As for brand, start with whatever dealers you have in a reasonable driving distance. If the dealer is good and reputable, check out his machines. Otherwise, drive away. The color isn't so important as the service will be down the road...

 

[flusher]

I was thinking 25-30 HP, 4WD, FEL with a grapple on a budget of 15,600 (17,000 after tax around here). If I have to, I can wait on the mower until later. (Give me something to look forward to). It'd be a big plus if it could fit into a 7 x 14 enclosed cargo trailer, then I could save on shipping.

I'd like suggestions as to brands to check out, and things to mull over while I decide. I've really been impressed by the helpfulness of the group, but then I think shiny new pennies are impressive too.

With your budget you have a lot of choices. The constaint I'd be concerned about is the length of your trailer, especially with an FEL/bucket on your tractor.

My little Kubota B7510HST with the LA302 FEL would fit OK in that trailer, but it's only 21 hp engine/17 hp pto. I paid $12600 for it in May05. I have 10 acres of flat pasture land and the 7510 is OK for mowing and hauling chores.

For more hp you'd need to step up to one of the larger B-series tractors if you went with Kubota.

But Botas are fairly lightweight machines so you might want to check out other brands. Mahindra and Branson have heavier modes in the 25hp range that would fit into your budget. Also check out JD and New Holland.

 

[IslandTractor]

I cleared a lot of land similar to what you are describing with a 21 hp tractor with bush hog and grapple. Mine was a Kioti CK20 and you could get the tractor, loader, grapple, QA adapter and bush hog for less than 15K. Shop around you'll see there are quite a few very good tractors that will meet your needs.

 

[IXLR8]

You also need to see if your trailer will handle the weight of a tractor. Having just rented a tractor to do some work, and looking at cost of new tractor. I can get all the work done that I need to renting for about $2k vs $20k buying new. Granted it won't be convenient, but for $18K, I can put up with the need for a little planning. Also, I was considering a 25hp tractor, the tractor I rented was rated at 32hp, I thought it was underpowered for what I was trying to do. Unless you have some experiance, I would try to rent a tractor to get an idea on what size you might actually need, maybe even make a point to rent different machines/different sizes. None of the dealers will let me take home a tractor to try out, so renting is my only option to try out different tractors, before plunking down my hard earned cash.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd look to the lower end of your size if you want it to fit into an enclosed 14' cargo trailer.. many of us with the CUT's have 16 to 20' trailers.

A 20-25 hp tractor should suit your acerage needs fine. If you plan on doing lots of loader work.. I agree that shuttle or HST will be better than gear.

If you can swing the extra 700-800$.. go ahead and get a mower with the tractor.. sounds like mowing will be a prime need when you clear for surveying or for dirtwork.. etc. If you hit 25hp.. you should be able to handle a light to medium duty 5' mower.. In the tall stuff just go slower or take 3/4 width bites. or.. get a 4' mower and go at it full speed. Me personally.. i'd try to stay with a 5' mower.. etc..

Also.. you'll want foldable rops for that enclosed trailer.... and may have to upgrade the cargo ramps that normally come with an enclosed trailer to make sure it and the floor will handle a large SCUT/smaller CUT's weight.. etc.

good luck.

Soundguy

I just bought five acres on Key Peninsula in Washington state. If you want to look it up on a map, look for Home, Washington. It straddles a ridge and runs east to west. The east end (about 2.5 acres) has a slope of 12'/100' and is thick with huckleberry and silal bushes. Based on the size of the firs, it was probably logged about 50-60 years ago. On top of the ridge we've cleared out a little over 1/2 acre for a barn and triple wide manufactured home. The west end is mostly grass, trees and blackberry's where the sun shines. Plan on putting some goats over there eventually.

The septic drain field is going on the east end where the huckleberry's are. I want to clear the brush before I have someone dig to put in the field and tank. It's going to take a long time, and time's money. I have to roughly level the area for the barn. It's mostly level, but I've learned over the years that there's a heck of a lot of dirt in a "little" pile.

We don't want a lot of steps up into the house, so the pad's going to have to be a foot or two below grade. That sounds like something I could do myself. After the house is in, it has to back filled.

The clearing process left me with a small fortune in lumber (well a small fortune for me-about 15 logs plus some older ones that I found on the property) The excavator operator bucked the trees into 20' lengths. I didn't actually measure, but that's what they look like. It's probably whatever a standard length to fit on a truck is. Anyway, I'm not looking to pick the monsters up and move them around, just lift them up enough so I can cut them into more manageable lengths that I can move around.

I want to cut some trails, make some clearings and just generally clean up that eastern side. Everything is trying to choke everything else to death and I'm looking to be the new sheriff in town.

The property lines are choked up with the silal and huckleberrys so I want to mow a path before I have it surveyed. They charge like $1200 a day if they have to do it themselves.

I know the guys that have HST think it's the best thing since sliced bread, but I'm leaning towards something with a shuttle type reverse. But I could lean back at any time.

I was thinking 25-30 HP, 4WD, FEL with a grapple on a budget of 15,600 (17,000 after tax around here). If I have to, I can wait on the mower until later. (Give me something to look forward to). It'd be a big plus if it could fit into a 7 x 14 enclosed cargo trailer, then I could save on shipping.

I'd like suggestions as to brands to check out, and things to mull over while I decide. I've really been impressed by the helpfulness of the group, but then I think shiny new pennies are impressive too.

 

[sandman2234]

Mike058 ,
Welcome to TBN, the home of the best people in the world for helping you spend your hard earned money.
David from jax

 

[Mike058]

Thanks everybody. Lots of good advice that I can use.

 

[Highbeam]

Hmmm, near Home eh? I also own some land near home that I've been clearing, I spent 9 hours brush hogging there this last Sunday before picking a half gallon of those wonderful huckleberries. I own a 4500 lb Kioti of 30 HP that I regularly trailer to Home from across the south sound in Buckley. I grew up in Silverdale which is north of Home on the Kitsap Penninsula. Your most local dealers sell Kubota and Kioti with a JD dealer in Sumner if you sway green. Jenning's Equipment in Puyallup is a good high volume dealership with both Kioti and Kubota tractors on site of all sizes. I would start there.

Home is a healthy 30 minute drive from anywhere, and an hour from any tractor dealer. Nice and quiet, but very rural, the lonesome kind of rural. I've cleared off several of my 15 acres and had real surveyors do work for me there. PM me for more info, I can haul a 30HP tractor of your choice so you don't need to sweat the 14'.

 

[Bob_Young]

Mike,
How rough is your ground? How good is your back? I've found that the smaller CUTs, like my Kub. B7610, can really throw you around on rough ground. Even if you've got the power & conditions to make good time on a job, the jostling & discomfort from the rough ride will limit your speed. This also applies to the simple act of covering ground to get to your work site. Slowing for comfort can waste a lot of time over the long run.

The reason for this, obviously, is the small tires and short wheelbase on a small CUT. If you think this may be an issue, you might be wise to look at a basic tractor in the light utility class. Something like a Kub. L2800 or L3400 or a TC30 or T1520; something with good sized tires. To stay within budget, you'd probably have to go straight gear; though HST is available on these models. In my mind, the soon-to-be-announced L4400HST would be ideal for your work, but it would blow your budget big time.

Since I have a larger machine on hand, I've now relegated my B7610 to lawn work and work where it's size gives an advantage over the larger tractor. No more bush-hogging or other field work for it...too uncomfortable and/or slow. An acre sized plot that seemed like endless torture to bushhog with the B7610 is comfortable & quick to finish on the L4300.
Bob

 

[Mike058]

Good points, Bob. We think alike. I was figuring I wanted something with a large tire, but I was seeing it from the point of a bigger tire crossing rougher ground easier than a smaller tire-not so much as it would be easier on me-it would, now that I think about it-but easier for the tractor. And I can see the advantage of some extra weight too. Up on top, where it was cleared, it's nice, level and smooth. But head on down the hill and it's a jungle out there and my back's been better too.

Mike,
How rough is your ground? How good is your back? I've found that the smaller CUTs, like my Kub. B7610, can really throw you around on rough ground. Even if you've got the power & conditions to make good time on a job, the jostling & discomfort from the rough ride will limit your speed. This also applies to the simple act of covering ground to get to your work site. Slowing for comfort can waste a lot of time over the long run.

The reason for this, obviously, is the small tires and short wheelbase on a small CUT. If you think this may be an issue, you might be wise to look at a basic tractor in the light utility class. Something like a Kub. L2800 or L3400 or a TC30 or T1520; something with good sized tires. To stay within budget, you'd probably have to go straight gear; though HST is available on these models. In my mind, the soon-to-be-announced L4400HST would be ideal for your work, but it would blow your budget big time.

Since I have a larger machine on hand, I've now relegated my B7610 to lawn work and work where it's size gives an advantage over the larger tractor. No more bush-hogging or other field work for it...too uncomfortable and/or slow. An acre sized plot that seemed like endless torture to bushhog with the B7610 is comfortable & quick to finish on the L4300.
Bob

 

[jbrumberg]

Good points, Bob. We think alike. I was figuring I wanted something with a large tire, but I was seeing it from the point of a bigger tire crossing rougher ground easier than a smaller tire-not so much as it would be easier on me-it would, now that I think about it-but easier for the tractor. And I can see the advantage of some extra weight too. Up on top, where it was cleared, it's nice, level and smooth. But head on down the hill and it's a jungle out there and my back's been better too.

Welcome to TBN ! I agree with Bob about frame and tire size and think a heavier, midsize CUT with 4WD/MFWD and FEL with weighted tires in the upper 20HP range would meet your needs for your 5A's. Just a reminder all CUT's seem "tippy" . Jay