Buying Advice Need experienced user advice

[Martingouin]

I was just wondering if a L3901 would still do the job? With a backoe, it's the same price as the MX5200 with no backhoe... For the woods, should I take HST or Gear?

Thanks!

 

[jeff9366]

HST - No brainer. HST will not allow tractor to slip back while clutching and has 'automatic' braking built into the design. Also, other family members can use the tractor without lengthy instruction.

I am new to this forum. I have zero experience with tractors.

Unlike road vehicles, tractors only have brakes on the rear wheels. When going downhill, weight transfers to the small front wheels, so the rear wheels are unloaded, yielding practically no braking. Therefore you must always have 4-WD engaged when going downhill. Most of us keep 4-WD engaged at all times over dirt, shifting to 2-WD only when proceeding on a hard surface.

 

[The Deerslayer]

I was just wondering if a L3901 would still do the job? With a backoe, it's the same price as the MX5200 with no backhoe... For the woods, should I take HST or Gear?

Thanks!

Coming in on this late, but let me say :welcome: You will find a great deal of good people here on this site as well as good advice. It appears as though you have already gotten a bunch on this topic. I highly recommend you go with HST over gear. My first tractor that I had for 12 years or so was gear and it served me very well for similar tasks that you are talking about. However, I eventually decided to upgrade to a bit more horse power and wanted the HST. So I now have the L3901. HUGE difference and I would not even consider going back. Again, this is best for my applications and other applications will find that a gear is better. My only regret is I did not get one sooner.

As has been mentioned already, there are certain jobs that are well worth paying some one to do. I try to limit when I do this, but because I am limited to available time, I recently paid a guy to come out with his excavator to clear a large area. It would have taken me twice as long to do so and cost me substantially less than if I bought the back hoe that was under consideration.

I also went through the the dilemma of Ag or R4 tires, and decided to stick with the Ag tires as I had them on my old tractor and they served me well. I lose a bit of stability but they are great for the snow and mud. And the tractor itself is perfect size for when I head into the woods to clear trails and get firewood.

The L3901 you are considering is worth a close look, especially if you are adding a back hoe. Not sure if you have already gone and tried any out yet, but it is important to do. See what you like. Can't go wrong with Kubota in my opinion, but there are other excellent brands out there.

 

[hunt4570]

I was just wondering if a L3901 would still do the job? With a backoe, it's the same price as the MX5200 with no backhoe... For the woods, should I take HST or Gear?

Thanks!

Again, look at the footprint, the L3901 is 10 inches shorter and about 15 inches narrower than that MX5200.. I personally don't like the narrower tractor, especially if the ground is pitched much.. not nearly as stable!

And yes, HST for sure...

 

[mbohuntr]

Make the land work for you... plan on getting a forester to set you up with a plan to clear a pasture plot and hay fields using the lumber harvest to pay for the work from a contractor.

Then if you insist on doing the firewood harvest yourself, take a season or two and learn from a knowledgeable person on safe operation of chain saws, tree felling, and skidding using your tractor. This is NOT a hold my beer and watch this operation... Many have died trying it. My father was a logger and taught me from the time I was old enough to swing an axe. I still have occasional close calls from unexpected dead limbs, and spring poles.

Have the forester explain sustainable harvesting of logs and firewood from your property, taking junk trees for firewood and proper thinning of forest to improve the future timber harvest.

A tractor is NOT the tool for clearing forest for pasture, A good man on an excavator will make quick work of it and keep you from turning a nice tractor into a pile of junk quick.

Some loggers are honest, but I have met a pile of the other kind. A forester only gets paid a set amount, and has no interest in overharvesting or undercounting board feet of logs to increase his profit.

Enjoy the process, and be safe!

 

[AxleHub]

Just curious if your woods offers any trees of interest to a logging company? A friend recently had 20 acres logged and you couldn't even tell it other than cleaner brushing. And what he got paid was enough to buy a compact NEW tractor.

Also - - - there is a type of branch overhead hanging that's called "a widow maker" . . . its called it for a reason. You always want to be aware what's above you in an older woods area.

 

[arrow]

I think the MX5200 you're looking at is the right size for your property and chores you've mentioned already. I had the L3800 (the predecessor of the L3901) and it would do everything you mentioned, but if you will be dealing with round bales, I think the MX5200 to be a better size for loader strength. For trail creation and maintenance, I'd recommend that you buy a tooth bar for your loader and buy a box blade (6 or 7') for the tractor. This will add ballast when using the FEL and will be a great help for trail creation and maintenance. With a tooth bar on your loader, you'll be amazed at how much you can dig/shape/contour with it too. You will need ballast to get the most lift out of your loader, so along with the box blade, I'd also make sure your rear wheels are filled with antifreeze or whatever is used in your climate. It will make a huge difference in stability and lift capacity.

With that size tractor, you can probably run a 7' bush hog (maybe even 8). This will be a stout toy and exactly what I would buy if I were in your shoes.

I'm partial to Kubota, but that said, I would also look at the same size tractor in Kioti, JD (but they suck in my area with pricing), NH, and Yanmar. I'd be comfortable buying any of them. See what fits you best and what ergonomics you prefer amongst them.

Happy tractoring!

x3. I would consider no other tire than R1's for your intent. Will you sink with the M Kubota?, Probably but R1's will pull you out. 90 acres is a lot of land to start to hall wood from. I once had a 100 acre lot and still would not consider more than a quarter mile turn when skidding logs with a utility tractor.
I also tried the horse trail thing. I do not know how dense your woods are but here in Southern New England, there is a lot of ground obstructions, rocks, tree roots, crevices, etc. It was simply too dangerous to bring horses into this type of trail in these type woods. I would want a small dozer such as a JD 450 to make bona fide and safe horse trails through woods.

 

[arrow]

Make the land work for you... plan on getting a forester to set you up with a plan to clear a pasture plot and hay fields using the lumber harvest to pay for the work from a contractor.

Then if you insist on doing the firewood harvest yourself, take a season or two and learn from a knowledgeable person on safe operation of chain saws, tree felling, and skidding using your tractor. This is NOT a hold my beer and watch this operation... Many have died trying it. My father was a logger and taught me from the time I was old enough to swing an axe. I still have occasional close calls from unexpected dead limbs, and spring poles.

Have the forester explain sustainable harvesting of logs and firewood from your property, taking junk trees for firewood and proper thinning of forest to improve the future timber harvest.

A tractor is NOT the tool for clearing forest for pasture, A good man on an excavator will make quick work of it and keep you from turning a nice tractor into a pile of junk quick.

Some loggers are honest, but I have met a pile of the other kind. A forester only gets paid a set amount, and has no interest in overharvesting or undercounting board feet of logs to increase his profit.

Enjoy the process, and be safe!

All salient points. Good post.

 

[DieselnHooters]

All salient points. Good post.

X2

Martin the forresters in your area are these guys Groupement forestier du Haut-Yamaska | Forêt privées Aménagement forestier Sylviculture Reboisement Boisés

They are in Cowansville just down the road from you, they will evaluate your land and draw up a plan. If its worth their while they will log your land themselves, building logging roads complete with ditches and drainage, if not they will recommend an honest independent logger for you.

 

[DieselnHooters]

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