Small FEL question

[Will]

I'm thinking about getting a FEL for my B2100, and I'm dreaming about trading in my B2100 towards a B2410 with a FEL. I took a trip to the dealer, and when you see a B2410 parked next to an M9000 (or whatever the number was, it was too high to read), the FEL on the B2410 looks like a toy. The specifications say the bucket weighs just 137lbs.

How tough is it? I assume you can drive it into a pile of sand and pick up a load, but how about a pile of gravel?

It's going to take some work to convince my wife that a front end loader is something we've got to have. For now I'm trying to explain to her that the kids don't really need braces all that badly.

 

[Bird]

Whew, Will, I don't think I'd want to get into the middle of that disagreement. If the kids need braces, tough decision./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif But I don't know how anyone gets along without a front end loader. The small ones just pick up and carry less at a time than the big ones, but they get the job done. I don't know what the capacity of the B2410 loader is, but I used to have a B7100 with a 4' wide loader that was rated for 510 pounds and got a lot of work done with it before trading up to the B2710 with a 54" loader rated for 882 pounds.

Bird

 

[mdbarb]

As
I recall my B21 could lift around 900#, I added a 4 in 1 which lowered the capacity by a couple hundred, so it takes a few more trips than those big boys but I still have some coin in my pocket, it fits in tighter places and the few more trips with the loader is a good excuse to stay in the saddle longer. If your going pro get the biggest one made, otherwise get what you can almost afford.

 

[Thomas]

Will,
I don't think they have made a compact tractor yet that can drive right into a pile of gravel and get a bucket full, not unless you get running start. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
You will have to work the bucket couple of times to fill up.

I'll say this much,once you get a FEL you wonder why you didn't get one before nor will you part w/ it.

Money well spent on a tractor for just about any type of work.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Dale Binkley]

Will, I have a B2100 with an LA301 FEL. I have used it to move dirt, crushed stone (for a driveway), sand, mulch, compost and snow. You will find it very adequate for any of the tasks an average homeowner has to do. It took very little time for me to spread and grade 20 tons of crushed stone with the FEL and a back blade. When I was finished I was wishing I had ordered more stone.

My wife has, on occasion, gotten behind the wheel and done some of the work. Occasionally it is nice to lean on the business end of a shovel and watch someone else have as much fun working as you do.

 

[PaulB]

Will - I have a B1700 with FEL, and it is a real tool not a toy. Yes, an L4310 could pick up my tractor, FEL and all, but compared to doing it by hand there really is no comparison. I couldn't lift 600 pounds of whatever in whatever amount of time you gave me, but my FEL can, easily. I have spent 3 hours digging out rotten fence posts by hand, then doing the same thing with my tractor and a chain in about 10 minutes, and I don't ever want to go back to the bad old days again. If a bigger tractor can do it easier or faster, who cares, I have my tractor and that is enough for me. Don't daydream about this thing being a big CAT construction bulldozer - it isn't, but it is much, much, much stronger and faster than you and all of your strongest friends could ever be using hand tools (with all due respect to the legend of John Henry)