Small tractor advice

[bdog]

I have no experience with the subcompacts. I have a full size farm tractor and a skid steer that I do virtually everything on my acreage with. I am doing a lot of stuff around my house in areas with a nice lawn. I have 6 gates so I can fit a lot back there but am worried about tearing up the grass, rutting, etc. I really need no implements other than a FEL to move materials. Rock for landscaping, sand for leveling the lawn, etc. Virtually all I envision using it for is moving materials into sensitive areas. I mow these areas with a reel mower and have a zero turn for other areas. No need for a mower on it. Any recommendations? I assume I need something with turf tires?

I contemplated renting but many of things are drug out over a period of time due to my work schedule so buying seems to make more sense. The subcompacts seem cheap enough.

 

[dodge man]

I personally would look at smaller compacts, like 25 hp Kubota or JD. The small bucket on the Kubota BX frustrated me at times. I now own a JD 2025R and am much happier with it.

 

[i7win7]

Have a BX with MMM and FEL. Air filled R4 tires. 4wd harder on lawn than 2wd. Ballast makes FEL work safer but harder on lawn. A landscaping tool may be better if you only need loader capability. Maybe one of these.
Compact Utility Loaders, Dingo Compact Utility Vehicles | Toro

 

[ultrarunner]

What kind of payload are you anticipating for the loader?

I have a BX 23 and Deere 110 plus L3800 in the family...

The BX continues to amaze me but it is limited.

My friend has a gator with dump bed and turf tires... it is his hauling machine and easy on the turf.

 

[MossRoad]

Our little PowerTrac PT425 is very gentle on lawns. Fits through a 4' gate. Great for moving material like mulch, sand, rock, etc... from point A to point B. Much faster than a traditional tractor.

PowerTrac makes smaller HP models as well as larger. Might be worth a look.

Power Trac

 

[Diggin It]

I really need no implements other than a FEL to move materials. Rock for landscaping, sand for leveling the lawn, etc. Virtually all I envision using it for is moving materials into sensitive areas.

Sounds like all you need is a dump trailer.

 

[bdog]

Me and manual labor don’t get along real well. I have to spread around 30 tons of sand and probably 5 tons of landscaping rock. I don’t really care how much I can move at a time as long as it isn’t ridiculously small and a machine is doing the work. I was thinking something along the lines of a BX18 or 23. I also need to set some landscaping boulders all under 500 lbs.

 

[bdog]

We rented a dingo when prepping the lawn for the sod. They work well but cost twice what a small tractor would and I bet the tracks will tear up the grass when turning.

 

[MossRoad]

Are you interested in resale value, as in, are you gonna sell it once the small tasks are completed?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Over in Tx, you have a really great selection of the subcompact tractors. JD, Kubota, Branson, LS, Kioti, TYM.... the choice is yours. They will all do want you want. There are a few lightly used ones at dealers now. For example, an LS MT125 w/ loader at RCO tractor near Austin, 2019, about 50 hours for $10K. Simply a lightly used trade in. New can be had at around $12k. Shop around

 

[bdog]

Are you interested in resale value, as in, are you gonna sell it once the small tasks are completed?

Not really. Probably just keep it for future projects. Heck I bought a bulldozer for a project and haven’t used it in over a year. I start it up and move it around every month or so but haven’t used it.

 

[bdog]

Our little PowerTrac PT425 is very gentle on lawns. Fits through a 4' gate. Great for moving material like mulch, sand, rock, etc... from point A to point B. Much faster than a traditional tractor.

PowerTrac makes smaller HP models as well as larger. Might be worth a look.

Power Trac

Those are pretty neat. From the looks of it they ship them direct from factory with no dealer network?

 

[/pine]

Other than the physical size and space maneuverability...and the weight on lawns etc...the only difference between big machines and little machines is the time it takes to complete a task...Some peeps that are used to using commercial sized machines and getting things done smartly...may get frustrated with smaller, lighter machines...

...Using bigger/heavier implements designed for full sized tractors do not always work well on smaller CUTS etc. even if they do attach OK...

I've said many times...the only difference between a big tractor and big heavy attachments and a small tractor with small, light attachments is the time it takes to do the job...in most cases either is capable...it's just a matter of time...!

 

[bdog]

I understand that completely and am normally in the bigger is better camp but we are trying to make our backyard look like a putting green. I have plenty of big stuff I just need something that will tread lightly on the lawn, can safely cross sidewalks in the backyard, etc. Anything is better than a shovel and a wheelbarrow. I have a disease similar to arthritis and that type of stuff is too hard on me. I am sure I will be missing scooping nearly a yard at a time as I do with my skid steer but there is no way I am taking it across the lawn.

 

[MossRoad]

Those are pretty neat. From the looks of it they ship them direct from factory with no dealer network?

Yep. Not everyone's cup of tea. Great phone support and overnight of parts. They work great at the tasks you mentioned. Buckets, pallet forks, tillers, mowers, brush cutters, stump grinders, etc... They aren't good at pulling, like plowing dirt or pulling stumps. Conventional tractors are better at that kind of thing due to gearing.

 

[bdog]

I’m not afraid of working on things. Does it take a long time to get one? I am off work the next three weeks and hope to get this stuff done during that time frame.

 

[MossRoad]

I’m not afraid of working on things. Does it take a long time to get one? I am off work the next three weeks and hope to get this stuff done during that time frame.

That I do not know. I ordered mine on a Friday in 2001 and it was in my garage 3 days later.

You'd have to call them and ask. 1-800-the-yard

 

[bdog]

Sounds like all you need is a dump trailer.

Possibly but I am not sure how I would load it. I was hoping to get the sand in my dump trailer and scoop it directly out of the back. I do have five RTVs two of which have hydraulic dump beds but loading a four foot bed with a seven foot bucket won’t work too well.

 

[Diggin It]

I guess I'm missing something. Why would you need a bucket to unload a dump bed? Isn't the purpose of a dump bed to be able to unload it by dumping?


Load it with your big bucket, use the ATV to move it where you want it, raise the bed and dump as you go to spread. Then use a pull behind rake on the ATV to further spread and level.

 

[Diggin It]

The little bucket on mt SCUT holds about the same as my large contractor style wheelbarrow, maybe a little more. It takes quite a few trips/loads to move any quantity of dirt. It's a lot better than pushing a loaded wheelbarrow uphill though.

For what you're talking about, consider the number of trips you'll make with a 2,000 pound or more (1,500 tractor, plus bucket, plus load, plus operator) load over the same areas and how much that might compact or rut.

If your dump beds aren't big enough, maybe a larger one? Something you could sell later.