New/Used Tractor Purchase---What Size?

[finn1]

Sounds like you need a skid steer. Better visibility for unloading trucks, and better lift capacity.

Get a mid sized unit. New will cost more than a large compact tractor, though.

For loading and unloading trucks, a vertical lift design will be better than a radial lift.

As others have said, tractors excellent at tasks utilizing rear, three point hitch mounted implements. They are clumsy and inefficient compared to other machines for use with front mounted equipment

 

[monteu]

Sounds like you need a skid steer. Better visibility for unloading trucks, and better lift capacity.

Get a mid sized unit. New will cost more than a large compact tractor, though.

For loading and unloading trucks, a vertical lift design will be better than a radial lift.

As others have said, tractors excellent at tasks utilizing rear, three point hitch mounted implements. They are clumsy and inefficient compared to other machines for use with front mounted equipment

I have thought about a skid steer quite a bit. One thing to remember is that I only needed to unload trucks approx 5-6 times in the last 6 years. Usually my forklift works just fine. I just want that option. Mainly it will be used for tractor duties on the farm. I want to do drive way maintence, bushhogging and so on and so forth. I appreciate all the input here.

 

[Diggin It]

Since you're talking about limited instances, I'd suggest using the tractor/loader to clear a path through the snow to the truck so the HiLo can unload. Or a walk behind snowblower, or workers with shovels if there is no other option.

 

[MossRoad]

I have thought about a skid steer quite a bit. One thing to remember is that I only needed to unload trucks approx 5-6 times in the last 6 years. Usually my forklift works just fine. I just want that option. Mainly it will be used for tractor duties on the farm. I want to do drive way maintence, bushhogging and so on and so forth. I appreciate all the input here.

If it's only 5-6 times in 6 years, that's less than 1 time per year. You already have a forklift that does the job. How many times has snow prevented you from operating the forklift 1 time per year??? That was your concern in your first post.

As others have suggested, get a compact tractor to take care of the snow, lawn, driveway maintenance, brush hogging, etc... and keep the forklift for unloading 1 time per year.

If, on the other hand, you want to get rid of the forklift and only have 1 machine to maintain, that's another story. Then you need a machine that'll handle that weight on the forks safely, and that's probably going to be a large compact or a utility type tractor.

 

[monteu]

If it's only 5-6 times in 6 years, that's less than 1 time per year. You already have a forklift that does the job. How many times has snow prevented you from operating the forklift 1 time per year??? That was your concern in your first post.

As others have suggested, get a compact tractor to take care of the snow, lawn, driveway maintenance, brush hogging, etc... and keep the forklift for unloading 1 time per year.

If, on the other hand, you want to get rid of the forklift and only have 1 machine to maintain, that's another story. Then you need a machine that'll handle that weight on the forks safely, and that's probably going to be a large compact or a utility type tractor.

Actually keeping forklift, the tractor would help unload just the odd time that there was ice on the driveway.

 

[MossRoad]

So you unload once a week, but have had snow problems 5-6 times in the past 6 years? I'd still just get something to deal with the ice and snow and keep using the forklift to unload.

 

[Diggin It]

Reiterating ... use the tractor (or whatever) to deal with the ice/snow so you can use the forklift to deal with the load. Use tools and machines for their intended purposes. Forks on tractors were an after thought to help farmers and homeowners lift small loads occasionally. Forklifts were designed to lift and move heavy industrial loads.

 

[dnw64]

I would agree that, especially considering your low usage, get a blade for the tractor rather than forks.

I know, even on plowed surfaces forklifts are worse than a 2WD pickup with bald summer tires. We put these on one of our forklifts and the results are amazing.

Traction | Chinook Forklift Snow Plow

 

[monteu]

I would agree that, especially considering your low usage, get a blade for the tractor rather than forks.

I know, even on plowed surfaces forklifts are worse than a 2WD pickup with bald summer tires. We put these on one of our forklifts and the results are amazing.

Traction | Chinook Forklift Snow Plow

Thank you for that link