JOHNTHOMAS
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2008
- Messages
- 7,719
- Location
- Somerset, Ky
- Tractor
- F2690 4WD RTV X1140 MX5400 HST ZD1211
John;
You make some interesting points, but the area I am going to level is not so much digging as it is dirt moving. I have a raised area of about 30' x 20' that is about 8" to 18" higher then my driveway.
My property is mostly hillside so that's what I've been working with for 11 years and it's red clay with limestone rocks.
I hav used just the bucket to move some of this material in the past. It was not to my liking. The area is topsoil and clay. As for rear weight, I have loaded tires (Beet Juice) and a Back Blade, so ballast is not a big issue. The ballast was a side product of the tool best suited (other than BH) for the job of DIGGING which is what the teeth on the boxblade will do along with level probably better than you rear blade
I am fairly new to the loader operations, but with the tooth bar, I can already see ways I could clean areas of scrub brush and areas of potholes I could fill.
The best tool made for this is the RatchetRake
When done with the leveling, I would use the bar as a leveler for the gravel on clay driveway.
A great implement for this is the RatchetRake and boxblade
As I stated before, the 3200 is one I maintain, not own and would not be able to borrow.
You could do the service work/maintain it one day at your house/property
All of the suggestions are greatly appreciated
I bought my first tractor, a BX2200 MMM FEL 11 years ago to tame the hillside where I planned to build my home myself. Over the years I made lots of changes in tractors and implements. The good thing is with decent shopping skills one can buy tractors and implements at decent prices and when one realizes that tractor has become to big or to small for current needs then it can be traded and then trade again as major projects taper into medium size projects and hopefully taper into smaller and maintaining projects which is where I am now.
I've bought toothbars, landscape rakes, post hole digger, Pats quick hitch, Ferguson overseeder, funnel fertilizer spreader, ebay quick hitches, tiller (same one twice but now sold) rotary mower, BH, FEL, rear finish mowing decks (two different ones) 17 Kubotas, boxblade (two different ones) single bottom plow, 2 bottom plow, rear blade, RatchetRake (two different sizes), BH thumb (just got and not installed yet), 2 16' dual axle trailers, and probably other stuff I can't remember. I appreciate other peoples reviews and opinions.......but....I like trying it myself for my needs and uses.
I currently own a FEL, BH, Front bucket attaching forks (just remembered them), RatchetRake, one set of ebay $90 quick hitches (never use any more but very useful with rear implements), and a F2680e, F3080, RTV1140 and B2620. All Kubotas.
Each of the implements did some work for me or helped me do work. The least helpful for my jobs and needs were the toothbar and rear blade. Just my experience. Maybe can see where they are more usable on a bigger, stronger tractor than I was using but probably not.
Go forth and buy and always remember there are new people buying tractors every day and they will one day be looking/pondering/considering just like you and maybe they will buy the implement that didn't quite do the job for you.
Tractor Harley Rakes, Power Box Rakes, 3 Point Hitch, PTO
