Tractor Sizing Some rocks some hills and an orchard - best size?

vegasguzzi · Apr 2, 2006

Hello all! I am new and I have searched the forum extensively. However I will still solicit some opinions. I just built a house in an orange orchard in San Diego County. I have about 3.5 acres and about 75 trees. I have to cleanup the property from years of irrigation pipe and the such. The ground is at times rocky, sandy and sometimes compacted clay. Finish mowing is not an issue because I have a nice little rider that can handle the lawn. I will have to cut some brush and clean between the trees. I need to build a couple retaining walls and the ground is pretty tough. I will probably rent a backhoe for that work.

My decision revolves around the sub vs cut. Will a sub be up to the challenge of working around some rough hills? I think the low center of gravity would be a plus over a cut while on the hills, but there are some areas that I think ground clearance will be needed.

Yesterday, the builder was putting a finish grade on the pad and was using a 7510. I was pretty impressed with the ease that the tractor had moving large amounts of dirt. So, began thinking that I should just go bigger.

flusher · Apr 3, 2006

I have a 21HP Kubota B7510HST with the LA302 front end loader (FEL) that I use on my 10-acre parcel (flat, weeds, 30 large almond trees remaining from an old orchard). It's small enough and has the maneuverability to work in the orchard with a King Kutter 48" rotary mower. Bought it last May for $12,600 plus tax. It's probably a tad undersized for 10-acres but given time it'll handle what I need done.

The FEL is indispensible for toting building materials (sand, gravel, lumber, sacks of concrete mix) around my place for sheds, trellises, etc. and for removing debris that accumulated for decades in the weeded areas.

Like you I use a lawn tractor to handle about 3/4 acre of landscaped area (a cheap 18HP Huskee from TSC with a 42" mower). And I rent things like trenchers and backhoes when I need that type of work done. Can't justify implements costing thousands of $$ that spend 99% of the time in the garage.

pat32rf · Apr 3, 2006

8 years back I bought a used 17hp KubotaHST with FEL. Our property is rocks, hills and hardwoods. The hardwoods were ok but the little beast couldn't take the hills and rock. It would always grab ahold of more than it should and soon I found myself spending more time trying to find metric bolts than I was spending in the seat. Thanks to a can of spraypaint I got my money back when I traded up to a JD4300HST with FEL. 3000hrs latter I'm still impressed. Small enough for bush work, with all the power I need for moving rocks and hill climbing. Also it doesn't want to role onto its side as easy as the Kub.(at least it hasn't yet /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mavrik02 · Apr 3, 2006

Tough one.

A larger frame 25-35hp tractor like a Kubota B2630 or Kioti CK25/30 might work great for now but might also be a little big for 3.5 acres in a year or so. They will work great on the hills (my land is up and down and up and down and my CK30 handles everything).

The Kubota B7410 family is nice but they are a very narrow tractor and that might not be good for stability on sloping ground.

Another other option is the Kioti CK20. It is bigger than a typical SCUT, has a nice wide stance and I have only heard great things about it.

Of course the Kubota BX series is a very nice tractor. I'm not real familiar with the JD or other brands.

I would say that a lot depends on what all you will do with the tractor during the first year, after three years, after five, etc.