Novice with 36 acres

[tdamico]

Hi.

I just purchased a 36 acre tract of land in Colorado. It is at 8,000 feet. What I need is a tractor to do some digging for paths, clearing of brush, hauling cut logs, and a snow blower attachment to clear snow from the road that I will have put in about 300 yards long. No grass cutting needed. I was thinking of a Bobcat, Toolcat or compact tractor. Any suggestions on the right choice and right horsepower would be appreciated.

 

[ByronBob]

How much do you want to spend?
How much snow are we talking about?
Is there a road there already your improving?
Are you making trails where there are none?

I'm already thinking something in the 30hp range like a Kubota L39. You might loose up to 8hp with that elevation.

 

[tdamico]

I have a budget of around $30K. Average snow fall yearly is around 180". The road will be maintained by the owner's association, we need to do the road/driveway that leads to the house. This will be put in place, will be a gravel drive, about 300 yards, gently sloping. Yes we will be making trails were none exist.

 

[bam747]

I live in the front range of Colorado and have lots and lots of experience and information for you on handling snow as well as extensive experience with utility tractors.

I'm currently an unemployed high tech refuge, so I've got a lot of time on my hands right now. I've been composing several pages of thoughts and suggestions for you already that is way to long to post. If you're up for PM, I'd be happy to send it to you that way.

I also saw that you posted a budget amount of $30K and that you mentioned a Toolcat. I've looked into the Toolcat myself. That $30k might be barely enough for a Toolcat with a bucket and a snow blade or maybe even a snow blower, but only if you forgo the turbo model (with high flow hydraulics) and the heated and air conditioned cab enclosure.

I'd highly recommend the turbo at your altitude as well as the high flow option (which isn't all that "high flow" compared to the larger Bobcat skid steers). And the heated cab would be really nice in the winter, especially with the snow blower.

My very long winded PM message has a section on what I've seen regarding the Toolcat, which may be a very viable alternative to a utility tractor. I also remember seeing a post mentioning that Bobcat was offering the heated and air conditioned cab enclosure option for free right now. Don't know it that is still true or not.

 

[tdamico]

I would appreciate any advice you have. PM works fine for me.

Tom /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[BillG_in_TX]

tdamico,

Just fyi - you may have to turn on the Private Message (PM) capability. I know for sure that you have to turn on the notification feature, so that you'll get an e-mail notifying you that you have received a PM.

While you're there (in My Home - look for the link toward the top of the page) you might fill in your profile.

 

[tdamico]

Private messaging is turned on in my profile but thanks for the head's up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bam747]

I'll send you the PM. Get a cup of coffee! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

To the rest of the TBN community, I'm not trying to hide anything, it's just that I ended up slapping together about 5 pages of, hopefully useful, general non brand specific rambling on my 30+ years of Colorado snow removal and utility tractor experience. I'll let tdamico decide if any of it might be useful to other people.

 

[Soundguy]

30-40 hp is my guess. 36 ac is alot of land.. don't want to have too small a tractor.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[BrianSouthernMD]

tdamico,
It will break your $30K budget with attachments. But after testing the Toolcat on my farm for three days last week, it met every challenge. Now it's hard to consider anything that doesn't have all implements mounted up front or have 4/wheel steering!

See my thread in this forum comparing Bobcat Toolcat and Power Trac 1850 for details.