Boozle,Thanks! So as update, I found a well used Ventrac with Tough Cut with a few attachments that will be a starting point for the basic property mowing/maintenance. After that, I'm going to take my time to find the right deal on a more general purpose machine for some of the other projects that involve loader and heavy duty implements. This way I'll feel safe and can begin work on the most urgent projects of maintenance while learning more about what my actual needs are in the forest.
Every bullet point here has been engrained from this post has stuck with me (Widest stance, Weights, Filled tires with Beet juice, no turning up hill, slow everything, up and down inclines, CoG low, loader low, higher HP, etc).
I never expected a 9 page thread on my questions, but it is a statement to how great this forum is. Thank you all sincerely for taking the time to help. It's a great community.
B
I bought the HF diesel fuel pump on a special deal for ~ $80 and my wired together shoulder thanks me when i pump in diesel fuel from 5 gal. jugs to the top tank. Get one-they are actually very well made. Put some thought into the suction set-up, I use a right angle plastic pipe and an SAE plug off the battery, same as my Battery Tender uses. Keep the wire gauge heavy enough for that pump. It takes about 60 seconds to suck out 5 gallons! I've read reviews on HF of pro users who sucked a 55 gallon drum in 6-7 minutes.I have a Kioti CK30 in IL 11 acres mostly flat but the ditch by the road is really steep. It is no fun when the rear of the tractor starts to slide sideways and the uphill front wheel gets really light. I’ve given up on mowing it both with the tractor and 2 different ferris zero turns. I let the county road guys do it with their ditch mowing tractors. The zero turn I had going across and it seemed one lever was full forward and the other was in reverse just to keep it pointed uphill enough to mow across the hill. There is a culvert at the bottom you don’t want to get into and that prevents you from going up and down. So I don’t have any experience in the mountains but have been in the o crap situations enough. I do think that for your property I would not consider anything under 35 hp and as others have said go big, heavy, and ballasted. Someone mentioned a tracked skidsteer as an option and I really think that you should take a look at those. I have not used them but have hired 2 pros for projects on my property and that is what they used. They are incredible machines. I saw one pick up an oak log about 15 ft long that would barely fit in the grapple. The back end was coming off the ground but after a few tries they got it up and moved. I think they excel at construction and destruction type of work which sounds like what you need. Someone mentioned the option of a manual trans tractor which seems like a really bad idea for a newbie on hills. I have borrowed a buddies huge old JD to move some equipment my loader wouldn’t pick up. It was a manual. I felt like spider man with both arms and legs going at the same time and nothing but your rear holding you onto the seat. (I have owned manual trans cars and trucks for 30 years) The CK30 is HST so you have one foot firmly planted in addition to your rear on the seat. So whatever you buy test it out and make sure you like the pedal placement and controls. There are a lot of options. My CK has the forward/reverse AND left/right brake pedals all on the right foot with nothing on the left side (except the rear diff lock which is handy even with 4x4 to get you un-stuck) Seems like a dumb setup but my brakes should last forever because they only get used for parking. I think nearly every tractor implement has an equivalent skidsteer attachment. I swear I saw a brand new DEERE tracked machine on a trailer with a backhoe attachment on the rear (engine) end!?! the other day. Back when the CK was purchased, the main task for it was mowing about 7 acres a week and pushing some snow in the winter. since then the mowing has been reduced and I purchased a farm property with 6 acre hay field, put up fences for horses, and have done a lot of construction. It has been able to handle everything so far but the steep ditch mowing and being able to lift really heavy stuff with the loader (turned up the PSI but it still struggles at times) So as others have said you might make a list of tasks and try to imagine over time how that list might evolve. If I had to choose tractor vs tracked skidsteer all over again now I believe I would have gone with the skidsteer. Look up all of the attachments you might need too because you can get a used pto post hole auger for $300 for a tractor but the skidsteer hydraulic version will be triple that price plus. (rentals are available though) A rear blade is light years ahead of a front loader bucket for snow removal. A quick attach front end along with a set of forks and some spare pallets are required. You will also need fuel storage. Lugging 5 gallon cans from the station is horrible. 200 gallons is minimum for my diesel delivery. I have a raised 300 gallon tank I got used for $300. Rest of my gear includes: box blade, disc harrow, 2” receiver 3 point adapter, 6 bale square bale grapple, backhoe attachment with subframe (thumb for it but not welded on yet) cheap front grapple that I have nearly destroyed (buy HD!), fence post hydraulic driver, 3pt finish mower (gets used as a brush hog sometimes). I also have a steel barrel concrete filled 3pt counter weight that is under construction. Hope some of this helps you out.
After that, I'm going to take my time to find the right deal on a more general purpose machine for some of the other projects that involve loader and heavy duty implements. This way I'll feel safe and can begin work on the most urgent projects of maintenance while learning more about what my actual needs are in the forest.
Every bullet point here has been engrained from this post has stuck with me (Widest stance, Weights, Filled tires with Beet juic
picked her up today. Not the best condition, but it'll do the job and give something to clean up!
View attachment 705160
e, no turning up hill, slow everything, up and down inclines, CoG low, loader low, higher HP, etc).
I never expected a 9 page thread on my questions, but it is a statement to how great this forum is. Thank you all sincerely for taking the time to help. It's a great community.
Sounds like the right machine for your situation. Would be great to hear more about it when you've had a chance to use it.I bought a pt1430.
It is set to be delivered next week, but after playing with it during the demo, I’m sure I’ll be more than pleased at what I can do with it, in areas my tractor could never access.