Hi everyone, I've lurked here for a few weeks but am now looking for some advice from all you knowledgeable folks.
We purchased 7.5 acres of land and plan to build a house. The area where the house and garage will go has tall softwood and hardwood trees that are over 12 in diameter, so I plan to cut out the trees I want and then bring in some heavy equipment to knock the remaining trees down and remove the stumps. I have access to a logging winch, so I was planning to use a tractor to skid out the trees I want before the heavy equipment comes in.
I plan to clear out a section of our back 5 acres to build a large vegetable garden, greenhouse, a chicken coup and some space for the dog once the house is finished. The back area I plan to clear is about 1.5 acres and is all softwood trees (less than 6 diameter).
In the winter, I want a tractor for keeping the driveway clear using a plow and then eventually a snow blower. The rest of the year, I want the tractor for developing the land and then maintaining the vegetable garden, field and the driveway. I'd like to use the tractor during construction of the house to do some of the landscaping.
I'd appreciate some opinions on the following:
-How much tractor do I need? Kubota, Kioti, John Deere and Mahindra are all sold close to me. There is also an LS dealer about an hour away. Could I get by with something like a Kubota B series, or can I justify going up to the L Series? Would 25 HP be enough, or should I go up in HP? I plan to buy a hydrostatic transmission.
- I'd considering getting a tractor backhoe when I buy the tractor. Would a tractor backhoe be enough to remove the stumps on the back area I wish to clear (6-8" diameter)? Would it be worth the additional cost?
Thanks.
We purchased 7.5 acres of land and plan to build a house. The area where the house and garage will go has tall softwood and hardwood trees that are over 12 in diameter, so I plan to cut out the trees I want and then bring in some heavy equipment to knock the remaining trees down and remove the stumps. I have access to a logging winch, so I was planning to use a tractor to skid out the trees I want before the heavy equipment comes in.
I plan to clear out a section of our back 5 acres to build a large vegetable garden, greenhouse, a chicken coup and some space for the dog once the house is finished. The back area I plan to clear is about 1.5 acres and is all softwood trees (less than 6 diameter).
In the winter, I want a tractor for keeping the driveway clear using a plow and then eventually a snow blower. The rest of the year, I want the tractor for developing the land and then maintaining the vegetable garden, field and the driveway. I'd like to use the tractor during construction of the house to do some of the landscaping.
I'd appreciate some opinions on the following:
-How much tractor do I need? Kubota, Kioti, John Deere and Mahindra are all sold close to me. There is also an LS dealer about an hour away. Could I get by with something like a Kubota B series, or can I justify going up to the L Series? Would 25 HP be enough, or should I go up in HP? I plan to buy a hydrostatic transmission.
- I'd considering getting a tractor backhoe when I buy the tractor. Would a tractor backhoe be enough to remove the stumps on the back area I wish to clear (6-8" diameter)? Would it be worth the additional cost?
Thanks.