Most useful implements?

[mwemaxxowner]

So far for me, the box blade, loader forks, ratchet rake, and 3 point landscaping rake have proven most valuable. I really like having the bucket and box blade together as a pair when I'm doing some dirt work. Being business at both ends can be really valuable.

I haven't needed the boom pole at all, but I bought it for a very specific purpose, which is lifting my 8x8 leveling drag for backing and turning tight and whatnot. It was only $40 or something like that, so I was cool with picking it up knowing I'd rarely use it.

I have a Wicked Grapple ordered, which I suspect I'll get a lot of use out of. After that I'll get a tiller, and I suspect that will be most of what I need.

I'll pick up a PHD if I see one second hand at a good deal, or if and when I get a paying job that justifies it. I have a fencing job coming up requiring 20 post holes that will profit about $1000, and I would have purchased one for that, except I just pulled the trigger on a grapple. So I'll just dig those post holes with my 2 stroke auger.


The FitRite top link is really nice with the box blade and the rake. Especially with a small tractor and limited 3 point lift height.

 

[IndyJay]

"So I'll just dig those post holes with my 2 stroke auger."

Please post videos...

 

[mwemaxxowner]

"So I'll just dig those post holes with my 2 stroke auger."

Please post videos...

I don't understand. I have a two stroke auger I've used plenty of times to dig post holes for a fence. It works well. Little more labor intensive than using a tractor, but a lot better than a clamshell digger by hand.

I used to work for a landscaping and fencing company and that was all we ever used.


View attachment 736572

 

[IndyJay]

I don't understand. I have a two stroke auger I've used plenty of times to dig post holes for a fence. It works well. Little more labor intensive than using a tractor, but a lot better than a clamshell digger by hand.

I used to work for a landscaping and fencing company and that was all we ever used.

Just kidding, I hear horror stories of broken arms and people flying around in circles around these contraptions. I set a few dozen or so with the clamshells but moved to 3ph when I had to do a bunch of them.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

They're not "easy" to run, but I've dug hundreds of holes with them. Stories are exaggerated by people who are afraid of hard manual labor I think. I still much prefer it to using a shovel or clam shell. Yes if it hits a rock or a root you need to be braced for it. If we were in known rocky ground (and we usually knew from prior work on the lot doing maintenance grade and whatnot) we'd put two men on the auger.

Sort of like you said you did, I'll purchase one when there are enough holes to justify it.

If I get a small job that will pay enough to purchase one, if all my profit goes to paying for the PHD for my tractor I'll be all over it. I keep doing side work, and keep spending all of it on more implements.

 

[IndyJay]

The 3ph post hole digger helped a lot, now if I can figure out a better way to tamp around the posts...

 

[RoyJackson]

Some call them landscape rakes. But for the cost, those spring tooth grader-blade like rakes can't be beat for a variety of tasks. Make sure you get trailing wheels.

Yep, but boy! Do those wheels add a lot of $$$$ to the purchase price!

I have two additions:
A flail mower, if you have a field
A 3PH chipper with as much capacity as your tractor's PTO HP can handle

Oh yeah, one more...a 3PH snow blower if you're in an area that gets snow...

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I want to try to diy a set of gauge wheels for my rake.

If they turn out "meh", I will absolutely be buying a set for it!

As to snow, we don't get any of that. I don't have any need for a chipper, and I don't own any land to bush hog. Stuff I trim and prune at home I pile at the road and the town hauls it off. That's a very easy way to deal with it!

I do occasionally bush hog for other people, in which case I borrow a 4' rotary cutter from a neighbor. I'd like to have a flail though, but without needing one on property of my own, I hesitate to spend that much on it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

The 3ph post hole digger helped a lot, now if I can figure out a better way to tamp around the posts...

View attachment 736578

Just pick up some gravel or crushed rock. Dump some around the post and wiggle it a bit. The rock/gravel is self tightening. The more you wiggle the post the tighter it gets. I learned this from the power companies in our area. They only set power posts with crushed rock.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Two thumbs way up for the boom pole in conjunction with the drag. Now I can use it in forward and reverse, and at the end of a run if I lift it it would sweep back and up and feather any material piled under it nicely.