IslandTractor
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2005
- Messages
- 15,802
- Location
- Prudence Island, RI
- Tractor
- 2007 Kioti DK40se HST, Woods BH
I agree the CK20 is great at general landscaping, especially with a BH. I'd choose the Kubota BX series if finish mowing was a primary consideration but otherwise the Kioti rules for about the same $$$. Much bigger machine than the BX and more capable FEL than the BX or even the B7510/7610. I don't know enough about the TYMs to compare. JD offerings are much more $$. Mahindra and NH make nice tractors but again I don't have any direct experience.
I have added a quick attach grapple (Millonzi) to my FEL and love it. I've been clearing land for about the past three years starting off with small power hand tools, graduating to a DR mower then the tractor TLB then toothbar and finally the grapple. I've done roughly the same amount of brush clearing and moving in the 15 engine hours I've used the grapple as I accomplished in the two years before with other tools. Much better than a plain FEL and substantial improvement over adding a toothbar too. Of course you could add the grapple to any tractor, just make sure it has a good lift capacity and reach. My grapple weighs just a little more than the original bucket so lift capacity is very good. The BH is also a key tool and much better for digging out the bigger stumps than trying to do that with an FEL.
I have found that 20hp is just fine for land clearing. If I were plowing I might feel otherwise but don't fall into the trap of assuming that 20hp isn't enough tractor for big jobs. In fact I'd say you can work much faster for landscaping with the same $$$ outlay by getting a 20hp tractor and using extra funds to by implements like the grapple compared to the cost of a bigger tractor.
I have added a quick attach grapple (Millonzi) to my FEL and love it. I've been clearing land for about the past three years starting off with small power hand tools, graduating to a DR mower then the tractor TLB then toothbar and finally the grapple. I've done roughly the same amount of brush clearing and moving in the 15 engine hours I've used the grapple as I accomplished in the two years before with other tools. Much better than a plain FEL and substantial improvement over adding a toothbar too. Of course you could add the grapple to any tractor, just make sure it has a good lift capacity and reach. My grapple weighs just a little more than the original bucket so lift capacity is very good. The BH is also a key tool and much better for digging out the bigger stumps than trying to do that with an FEL.
I have found that 20hp is just fine for land clearing. If I were plowing I might feel otherwise but don't fall into the trap of assuming that 20hp isn't enough tractor for big jobs. In fact I'd say you can work much faster for landscaping with the same $$$ outlay by getting a 20hp tractor and using extra funds to by implements like the grapple compared to the cost of a bigger tractor.
