New user looking for advice

[JakeG]

I own 20 acres that I'll be building a home on in the next year. Much of the terrain is hilly, some of it a 30 degree pitch. I'd like to put some narrow "roads" on the land so I can cut and haul hundreds of dying pinon trees. I've got a pond that I'd like to clean out in the spring. Once my house is built I want build a cabin on the top of the land -- need a way to haul materials up there. I've got 2 acres of fields that need some irrigation ditches and another 2 acres I hope to clear -- currently loaded with saplings about 1-2 inch diameter.

I'm wondering what I need: a small tractor, the Bobcat Toolcat, a Pug? I like to Toolcat the best, but haven't gotten a reliable estimate on the price. I also saw some realatively inexpensive tractors advertised from China "$6,000, but don't know if that's for real or what I need. Is it likely I can do what I want with one, affordable piece of equipment, or do I need to rent some equipment for one time jobs and own something else for the maintenance? I kind of think of working on the land as my hobby and can see spending years putting in small trails and building outbuilding in different locations.

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Welcome Jake. I don't know what you "need," but I highly recommend the Kioti CK20, LK3054 with not less than a loader, and probably a backhoe if you'r going to be building and trenching irrigation. I know the CK is small, but it does BIG jobs without complaint. I've cleared plenty of trees and shrubs, stumps, brush cut tons of stuff, landscape raked and leveled, boxblade scraped and leveled and the CK has not let me down at all. For it's size, the CK has plenty of weight to help you use the HP efficiently, has good 3 point hitch capacity and good loader capacity. The backhoe has been a real saviour in some of these jobs. I have had no warranty issues with the Kioti after 4 months and 168 hours. Of course there are lots of great tractors out there, but the Kioti fit my needs and my budget. John
CK20 Albums

 

[Casimir]

Jake:

Welcome to TBN! You didn't say where you are from, but from your mention of Pinon trees, my bet is you are somewhere south of Central Nevada or Utah. You might go to "My Home" and fill out your profile, so we know a little more about your needs.

If you're sure about those 30 degree slopes, they will be a little dicey with any CUT /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. Most are rated for no more than 15 degree sidehills. You may be able to go straight up or down in 4WD, but you won't be able to do much sidehilling unless you go to a tracked vehicle. Something like the Power Trac may handle the slopes a little better than a standard wheeled tractor. I don't know much about the Toolcat - it may handle sidehills better.

I am sure some other folks will chime in. There are a lot of folks on this forum with experience in hilly country. I'm lucky, and most of my place is relatively flat.

Welcome, again.
Kip

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Check out a Steiner or a Ventrac because of those hills. I would stay away from a CUT (Compact Tractor). The Tool Cat would work, but is crazy expensive.