Need advice on the best equipment for my job.

[Boatskipper]

I was in you same situation 25 years ago on my 20 acres. Here's what I learned:
1) Good people give bad advice. I was told by someone I trusted, to just "rent a dozer, push it all in a pile and burn it" I ended up having it logged, rented a dozer to clean up, having the stumps ground (500), and still had money in my pocket when it was all over.
2) Limit selective clearing. Running equipment in a forest, taking out underbrush and only leaving select trees will usually kill the very trees you want to save. Better to create areas that are 100% clear and other areas that are 100% natural. Selective "hand clearing" is of course allowed.
3) When choosing trees to "save" mature trees that were part of a forest canopy did not have sunlight on the lower trunk. All the limbs are up high. You come in and remove the surrounding canopy, the lower trunk will now start sprouting limbs with the new found sunlight. That tree will never develop a normal canopy. Never might sound like an exaggeration, 25 years from now, the tree will look like a tree that used to be surrounded by other trees. Choose less mature trees to save. Trees that will develop a natural canopy.
4) Have your stumps ground. You can rent a grinder yourself if you must. The pro has a better machine and can possibly do it for the same money. Much better than digging, burning, filling holes. As I said, I had nearly 500 done from 8" to 48". I never had a problem with holes forming as the stump under the ground rotted. (people warned me I would) Yes, they will rot eventually. Meanwhile you are hitting them with a mower or mowing around them. weeds/trees growing next to them...
5) If you are running fence, plan a fence that will last 40+ years. Heavy wire, galvanized metal corners and braces. Weigh the costs of redoing the entire fence in 20 years in time, materials and energy...
6) Buy a "pro" chainsaw. Whatever brand runs in your veins, get the best. The difference in box store saw 60 cc saw and a 562XP is double. In cost and productivity.

Good luck! Have fun!

Thanks for all of the advice, I shall take it.

As for your last point... I actually got real lucky on that. I started clearing the place about 6 months ago and bought a cheap Poulan saw and never realized how much more straining I was doing than I needed to, until my brother in law came over with his pro series Stihl. I decided I was going to get a better saw and started shopping and looking at $600+ saws. Not three days later I just happened to find an Echo saw in a bar ditch, I guess it rolled out of someone's truck on the highway. It turned out to be a professional grade $800 saw. I spent $120 on a new bar and two chains and a new clutch and the thing cuts wood like a hot knife through butter.

I can't believe how much difference a high quality saw makes. I can cut for an hour with this new one and be less tired than cutting for 15 minutes of the old one.

 

[Boatskipper]

Makes sense. Was just curious is all.

A small tractor like you are looking at for mowing is not the right tool for the trees.

If I were in your shoes I would probably buy a small tractor for mowing and ongoing maintenance but I would rent a big excavator or dozer to take out the trees. I will admit I am far from an expert on trees as we don't have many here but whenever I do have to take one out I am amazed at their strength. I had to clear a 1/4 mile long path through some mesquite trees to be able to drive a pickup though there and the trees were not over 15' tall and none over 6" in diameter and it was a workout for my full sized 310 SJ backhoe.

Mesquite... I see you're a Texan.

My family's ranch is in SW Oklahoma, so depending on the part of Texas you're from you may know the terrain. Flat endless land that goes for miles with no trees and no natural water sources anywhere.

But yes, I think I do need to rent an excavator. I'll get as many trees as I can with my trusty old Echo and drag them to a burn pile then rent an excavator for a weekend to take out stumps.

I'm not really in a hurry, I can take my time. Something about doing the job myself gives me a little satisfaction and will give me something to annoy my wife by reminding her all of the time when we are two old coots sitting on the porch in our rocking chairs.