Buying Advice Need help purchasing a small tractor

[Pokeboater]

I have a tree farm scattered across multiple properties and spend a lot of time maintaining trails and keeping the property lines cleared. I have a John Deere 4520 for the larger stuff but it's got a cab and is too heavy and large for a lot of the trails. I've been using ATV's, UTV's and lots of chainsaws. It seems like a small tractor with a grapple on the front would save a lot of time and maybe a small bush hog on the back. Any suggestions as to a small tractor that isn't too delicate for woods use? BTW, I'm color blind as to tractors, but Kubota and John Deere have the largest dealerships by far around here. I'm not familiar at all with small tractors but on paper the Kubota B2601 and B2650 look about right. I don't think anything larger would work.

 

[jeff9366]

I have a tree farm scattered across multiple properties. I spend a lot of time maintaining trails and keeping property lines cleared. I'm not familiar at all with small tractors but on paper the Kubota B2601 and B2650 look about right. I don't think anything larger would work.

VIDEO: Kubota B26�1 VS Kubota B265� - YouTube


Greater diameter/breadth wheels/tires, create larger tire tread "patch" in contact with the soil. Rear tires are often ballasted internally with liquid, placing weight directly over the tire tread. Larger wheels and tires and a longer wheelbase permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, burrows, ruts and tree debris, increasing tractor traction and reducing operator perturbation. Therefore, tractors with large diameter wheels/tires have more tractive power pulling ground contact implements and tree trunks, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires increase ground clearance, lengthening the period which row crops may be implement cultivated.

 

[Pokeboater]

Thanks! the video had a lot of good information

 

[Ricn]

Kubota makes great tractors and the ones you mention are fine for trails and such. The 2650 is better for the rough stuff IMO - You mention having Kubota dealerships so I'd start there. A good dealer is paramount so look for a salesman who knows his stuff, been employed in Kubota business for some time not needing to impress you with BS stuff. No matter the brand, I have run into guys who were selling cars a few weeks ago but switched to trying their hand and selling tractors. Also not impressed with the small JD offering.

Ricn