Machine advice for maintanence of 5 acre woodland

[ChuckinNH]

Thanks for uploading the pictures. It's what you don't see in them that can be the problem. It looks like there are some pretty good holes where root balls were pulled from the soil, and a fair amount of "hazards" hiding in the grass here, and there. The sub-cuts (Kubota BX series, JD 2305, Massey GC23xx, etc.) are stable machines when used without a loader, but tend to have things that can be damaged underneath. Actually, some of the larger garden tractors like the Simplicity Legacy, and JD X700 series have less exposed, but are just as expensive. It looks like a smaller CUT with a rotary cutter would be the best thing to start with. Later on, once things are under control, and smoothed out a bit ( which the CUT can help with) you might be able to move to something smaller. In current models, anything in the 20/25 hp range would probably work fine with a 42", or 48" rotary cutter. All those tractors will take a rear finish mower as well, but the solid spindles are subject to more damage if you hit a hidden log, etc. New models might include the Kubota 7xxx series, the JD 2000 series, the Mahindra 15 series, the Kioti CK20, the Massey 1523 (though those are seldom seen) the New Holland TC23, and TC26, and other makes of tractors that size. They are tough underneath, reasonably easy to care for, and have enough clearance, and power to do the work you are looking at. Older versions of those tractors are certainly fine too, but often command near new prices if in very good condition. New prices will range from 11k up. Ouch!!

 

[BTDT]

Welcome to TBN. Nice looking place, you must stay in pretty good shape if you mow all that with a push mower. Would some goats or sheep be a possibility? I would see if any of the dealers there would let you try out their machines at your place. Will you have to transport your tractor, or do you see a need to take it off site?

 

[DmansPadge]

I'm with BTDT... you are tougher than me if you've been using a push mower and string trimmer on that!! It really depends on what your budget is.... tell us that and then we can go from there. I will say that a small tractor is in order.... or you will need to hire somebody to get things cleaned up to the point that a lawn tractor or something similar could maintain it.

 

[MissLynda]

ChuckinNH

“It's what you don't see in them that can be the problem. It looks like there are some pretty good holes where root balls were pulled from the soil, and a fair amount of "hazards" hiding in the grass here, and there.”

You couldn’t be closer to the truth. The ground is quite uneven, new cypress knees, roots and old stumps just seem to jump up when least expected. In fact my biggest fear with any machine is how well it will be able to handle the unmovable obstacles that I am sure to encounter until I have managed to get the area tamed. I am leaning towards a mowing attachment for my brother’s tractor. I haven’t had any trouble driving his tractor but all I have done with it so far is drive it back his house after he used it to move some root balls for me. I have found a couple local dealerships but they don’t seem to carry the machines that you have suggested. I will look a little further out but I don’t want to go to far from home, I live five miles out on a dirt road and it is very difficult and costly to get anyone to come out to make repairs.

 

[MissLynda]

I'm with BTDT... you are tougher than me if you've been using a push mower and string trimmer on that!! It really depends on what your budget is.... tell us that and then we can go from there. I will say that a small tractor is in order.... or you will need to hire somebody to get things cleaned up to the point that a lawn tractor or something similar could maintain it.

DmansPadge,

It takes four days if I have no interruptions. I do two shifts. I start around 8 am work to about 11. Get wash, dressed, off to work. Back around 4 pm and will go out again until it is too dark to continue. This is okay in the winter beacuse I can get away with doing it only about once a month. In the summer with all the rain it is a completly different story. I do just around the house and get what I can when I can of the rest. Right now it is a little over grown but the bobcats, rabbits and fox like it. Drives my dogs crazy though.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I am leaning towards a mowing attachment for my brother’s tractor. I haven’t had any trouble driving his tractor but all I have done with it so far is drive it back his house after he used it to move some root balls for me. I have found a couple local dealerships but they don’t seem to carry the machines that you have suggested. I will look a little further out but I don’t want to go to far from home, I live five miles out on a dirt road and it is very difficult and costly to get anyone to come out to make repairs. [/FONT]
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The rotary cutter that has been suggested mounts on the rear of the tractor, and has (usually) two knives that are free to pivot, or swing if they endcounter something that their mass, and rotational speed won't cut/break. They are usually about the width of the tractor, and a general rule is about 5 horsepower for each foot of width. One of these could be used on your brother's tractor. They can be found used, but are sometimes pretty beat up. New they run about $1000, more, or less for smaller tractors.
The "CUT" that has been mentioned stands for "compact utility tractor", and usually means tractors under 50hp or so. Some dealers are very good about transporting the tractor to, and from their dealerships for repairs, but certainly that is something to check on. Perhaps your brother could give you some input on local dealers, and brands.
I have "tamed" some of my land by first using a weedwhacker, or line trimmer with a metal blade, and then following carefully with a large garden tractor mounted mower raised all the way up. Areas that started out having chest high brambles are now clover, and grass by just keeping it mowed. I still have to go very carefully since there are many rocks, etc. but it sure is an improvement, and the deer like it too! Some of the area in the attached picture was done that way. (the area in the distance where the dirt piles can be seen) It doesn't have to be done all at once, and once the area is tamed a bit it's easier to keep it that way.

 

[IslandTractor]

MissLynda,

Rereading your posts and the responses makes me think that a 20ish HP compact utility tractor with a 48" brush cutter would be the way to go. As others have pointed out, there are half a dozen reasonable brands and you could also potentially find a decent used one locally. Getting a tractor with a front end loader would be very helpful for two reasons: 1) the loader will be helpful moving debris and 2) you can use the loader as a "probe" by lowering it to near ground level as you mow in dense areas so that you bump into obstructions with the loader bucket rather than with your tractor's vulnerable underbelly. Once you have successfully tamed your mowed areas, you might consider adding or switching the brush cutter for a 60 inch finish mower which will be faster and give a nicer cut.

None of this equipment is cheap and you'd want someone experienced to help buy any used equipment. If you could give an idea of your realistic budget, we could make more specific recommendations. Just to give you an idea of the cost range, if you bought the equipment I mentioned above new, a 20hp diesel CUT with front end loader would cost about $12000, the brush cutter about $600-800 and a finish mower $1200-1800. This type of equipment holds it value pretty well so buying 4 year old used equivalents would cost about 75% or so of new.

Someone earlier mentioned PowerTrac as an alternative to a CUT and I would agree. You would be well served by a PowerTrac 180 which is an 18hp gas engine powered tractor like tool that costs about $7000 new including a brush cutter and shipping H Class. The tricky part with the Powertracs is that there are no local dealers and while any lawn mower company could help with engine maintenance, you'd need to do most of the service yourself. Good news is that there is a very supportive group of PowerTrac owners on TBN who would be delighted to provide guidance and troubleshooting as needed. Powertraks can also be easily transported in the back of a pickup truck so you could take it to get serviced if needed.

 

[Egon]

It would almost sound like some leveling and cultivation would make life simpler for the mowing procedure.

If you have access to the brothers tractor I'd suggest leveling and smoothing should be first on the list. Then move on to deciding about a grass cutting attachment.

 

[RoyJackson]

Would your brother be OK with you using his Kubota on a temporary basis?
Which model does he have?
Does he have a loader with his tractor?
Do you feel it's a good fit for your usages?

If he's OK with you operating the machine, you can determine if it's a good fit. Then, just buy a rotary cutter initially and use his tractor to clear and fill in some of those holes (if he has a loader).
If that goes well (using his tractor), you could then plan on buying your own machine.

One thing that's going to be a pain is the close proximaty of some of those trees. Unless you're willing to thin them out somewhat, operating a tractor between them is going to be tough. You'd still have a considerable amount of mower and weed wacker work...

 

[john_bud]

I would think that you could get a grey market tractor with a 48" or 60" finish mower. 25hp or so would be good. Check out the Yanmar, Satoh and Iseki forums. Don't be too afraid of them. Roy's 790 Deere is a 100% yanmar. I think 90's fords were Iseki and Cub Cadets were Mitsubitshi. If you don't want a front end loader, you can use a 2wd machine and they are much cheaper.

jb