Buying Advice Narrowing the tractor selection pool

jeff9366 · Jul 4, 2014

I own and operate a Kubota L3560 with LA805 FEL. Kubota provided the manuals "free" with the tractor-loader.

My retiree avocation is maintaining/improving woodland trails and wooded common areas in a rural residential community. Quite a lot of tree work, some food plot work, some ag work.

jeff9366 · Jul 4, 2014

biodegraded said:
Not much of a definition, maybe grab and drag a downed 6" diameter doug fir tree? In any case, I'd be interested to hear about the lighter grapples for research.

Here are pictures of my former 2,000 pound Kubota B3300SU, with LA504 FEL, carrying Oak tree trunks on Payne's Aluminum Debris Forks.

(Always with rear ballast on the 3-Pt.)

Kubota L3560 with LA805 FEL and L2296 HD Bucket is much more capable.

k0ua · Jul 4, 2014

Biodegraded the LA805 is a pretty healthy loader, I would recommend something like this Everything attachment's grapple for it. the 54 inch one is 349 lbs and the 60 incher is 382 lbs. These grapple's are made with 90,000 lb yield strength steel instead of the usual A36 steel with a 36,000 lb strength. They are lightweight yet tough. I have one of the smaller ones the 50 inch single lid made for tractors up to 35 horsepower and it is a good tough grapple. A grapple does not have to weigh a half a ton to be strong if it is made out of good steel. You are correct in you thinking that a 900 lb grapple is going to eat up a significant amount of your lift capacity. No I don't get any money for selling these things, I am just a satisfied customer.

Everything Attachments Wicked Root Grapple for Compact Tractors

varmint · Jul 4, 2014

These posts are getting good! Jeff9366 and kOua are giving some good advice, IMHO, and although I don't have need for a grapple, I would agree with the comments, based on my readings on TBN. I just wish I had gone for 3 point weight rather than filled tires, for the lawn issues. Oh well, everything has trade-offs, eh?

biodegraded · Jul 4, 2014

I'm certainly thankful for the content in this thread. It's helped a lot already.

@varmint, though new here, I already know the recommendation for your dilemma: you clearly need TWO tractors.

varmint · Jul 9, 2014

Bio... actually, I only need one, and even then, rarely. But when we get 24" of snow, it's up to me to clear our lane- about a quarter mile if you count the 95 year old guy who lives at the end of the lane, past us. I am now thinking of selling the bigger L3130 and looking at something mid-sized (I know, it's all relative!) like a L3400. I don't want my wife knowing when I have used the tractor, and now, she just notices the ruts across the grass, and I am in trouble.