DieselBound
Elite Member
My vote would be for an "L" series: there's one model, though, that is known to have some issues (research). If you have trees you're going to have to navigate around them: I have quite a few trees, and my B7800 (which for a small tractor has done a LOT of work) works really well around them (now that things are somewhat opened up my NX can navigate reasonably well).
While my B7800 isn't able to lift what larger tractors can lift I've been able to move some VERY large tree trunks with it: it just takes a good sense of how to leverage stuff; a tooth bar is an essential aid here! I did not/do not have a lot of this kind of situation in which case the need for a larger machine wasn't there: my firewood handling scheme now, however, requires moving around cages of wood, and this is something that the B7800 just cannot do (barely do it but then cannot lift up on to my front deck). I have 40 acres, though most is in heavy, wet brush: I'm pushing close to 10 acres of semi-pastured land now.
Of course, it really comes down to the PRIMARY job you're expecting to do with your machine. It's nearly impossible to meet all requirements, fully. Sometimes you have to compromise. My thinking has always been that I go with what is able to do the majority of the work needed done and then to rent for the rest.
Bigger tractors are more expensive to operate. Parts are more expensive (though you might be less likely to break something that is over-sized) and you're going to burn more fuel (not likely a lot more, but it's something to consider). General maintenance will also cost more (larger fluid capacities; filters are more expensive). AND, you can do a lot more damage to things that you might not want to damage (if you're not careful).
I'd gotten my B7800 stuck numerous times before I became more savvy about how to avoid getting stuck. I did get it stuck after getting my NX and it was nice to be able to just easily yank the B7800 out with the NX. And in a slight twist of things, I once had to use the B7800 to free up my NX: NX was boxed in behind a dump trailer- had to use the B7800 to get the dump trailer unstuck and out of the way (from behind- couldn't go forward with the NX).
I've mowed a lot of acreage with a mere 5' rotary cutter. The 6' cutter on my NX makes a significant difference (so too does being able to be inside in a cab!): it's also a heck of a lot tougher; used to run through brush that I'd never consider doing with the 5' off the B7800. As has been noted, stay away from any single spindle 7' cutters (they're huge- a 6' single projects out far enough). Lots depends on what you're needing to cut, whether you're faced with having to cut really tall grass (I can't get to mine early enough to tackle shorter grass because it's too wet) or really dense grass: larger cutters are going to be harder to run (unless going very slow) in taller and or denser grasses.
While my B7800 isn't able to lift what larger tractors can lift I've been able to move some VERY large tree trunks with it: it just takes a good sense of how to leverage stuff; a tooth bar is an essential aid here! I did not/do not have a lot of this kind of situation in which case the need for a larger machine wasn't there: my firewood handling scheme now, however, requires moving around cages of wood, and this is something that the B7800 just cannot do (barely do it but then cannot lift up on to my front deck). I have 40 acres, though most is in heavy, wet brush: I'm pushing close to 10 acres of semi-pastured land now.
Of course, it really comes down to the PRIMARY job you're expecting to do with your machine. It's nearly impossible to meet all requirements, fully. Sometimes you have to compromise. My thinking has always been that I go with what is able to do the majority of the work needed done and then to rent for the rest.
Bigger tractors are more expensive to operate. Parts are more expensive (though you might be less likely to break something that is over-sized) and you're going to burn more fuel (not likely a lot more, but it's something to consider). General maintenance will also cost more (larger fluid capacities; filters are more expensive). AND, you can do a lot more damage to things that you might not want to damage (if you're not careful).
I'd gotten my B7800 stuck numerous times before I became more savvy about how to avoid getting stuck. I did get it stuck after getting my NX and it was nice to be able to just easily yank the B7800 out with the NX. And in a slight twist of things, I once had to use the B7800 to free up my NX: NX was boxed in behind a dump trailer- had to use the B7800 to get the dump trailer unstuck and out of the way (from behind- couldn't go forward with the NX).
I've mowed a lot of acreage with a mere 5' rotary cutter. The 6' cutter on my NX makes a significant difference (so too does being able to be inside in a cab!): it's also a heck of a lot tougher; used to run through brush that I'd never consider doing with the 5' off the B7800. As has been noted, stay away from any single spindle 7' cutters (they're huge- a 6' single projects out far enough). Lots depends on what you're needing to cut, whether you're faced with having to cut really tall grass (I can't get to mine early enough to tackle shorter grass because it's too wet) or really dense grass: larger cutters are going to be harder to run (unless going very slow) in taller and or denser grasses.
