Buying Advice Tractor For Tree Work

DrCornwallis · Aug 28, 2017

Hi everyone, I've been lurking here for quite some time now, doing a lot of research, and this forum really has been extremely helpful in obtaining first hand user experience.

I am a career firefighter down here in Florida and I do tree trimming and removal as a side business. It's hard to call it part time as I do quite a bit of work. I mostly work alone, or with a helper for a ground guy. I've recently decided it's time to get a CUT/SCUT tractor to help with loading brush and logs and maybe doing some occasional brush hogging and loader work. For the most part, however, the tractor will live with a root grapple on the front.

So far I'm considering:

- Mahindra Max26XL
- LS XJ2025H
- John Deer 2025R
- Kubota B2601

The Mahindra has my attention because of its lift capacity, the LS because it has the second best lift capacity and best price, the Deer because I have an absolutely phenomenal Deer dealer down the street and the Kubota because I know Kubota makes a great product, however, the loader capacity appears to be the lowest by far, same with the Deer. I'm looking at these as a cheaper alternative to a mini track loader, I realize they won't go through a lbs small a gate like a mini, and that's fine, I think it'd also a more versatile machine for me than a mini. My primary concern is durability and reliability. Of the options listed, does any manufacturer/model stand out as more durable or reliable in the long term?

Tractorable · Aug 28, 2017

My initial thought is that you'll want a heavier machine than what you're considering. Do you need to trailer this tractor? If so, do you have a truck and trailer to haul it?

For moving logs, lifting them, and cutting them you'll need something with a good amount of weight to counterbalance what you pick up with your grapple.

A 5ft Bush Hog will require minimum 25hp at the PTO. For commercial duty like you're consid ring you'll want a medium or heavy duty bush hog. They weigh more so again more weight in a tractor will help you with this.

However, you'll need something small enough to be maneuverable in the woods. Definitely you'll want an open cab configuration with a roll over protection system (ROPS).

DrCornwallis · Aug 28, 2017

Tractorable said:
My initial thought is that you'll want a heavier machine than what you're considering. Do you need to trailer this tractor? If so, do you have a truck and trailer to haul it?

For moving logs, lifting them, and cutting them you'll need something with a good amount of weight to counterbalance what you pick up with your grapple.

A 5ft Bush Hog will require minimum 25hp at the PTO. For commercial duty like you're consid ring you'll want a medium or heavy duty bush hog. They weigh more so again more weight in a tractor will help you with this.

However, you'll need something small enough to be maneuverable in the woods. Definitely you'll want an open cab configuration with a roll over protection system (ROPS).

Bush hogging will only account for a very small amount of what it will do, and I was actually looking at some of the smaller 48" bush hogs from EA, if that makes a difference. I only bring up bush hogging as often get asked by clients in semi rural areas while I'm working on their property if I also clear land, and 90% of the time it's a small acre or less plot of land with brush only just a little too thick to mow over with a ZTR.

I also should have specified, this isn't for logging or tree care in the woods, but rather residential tree care and removal. Right now, I have a 2017 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, max towing capacity is 6400 lbs, but obviously I'd prefer to keep it well under that. I'm looking into purchasing a small dump trailer to tow it with and use on site, either a 5x10 or 6x12, probably a 6x12, both have brakes.

The rated lift capacity is important, however, I'm looking at a CUT/SCUT as a cost effective alternative to a Mini track loader, most of which have lift capacities in the 550lb for the smaller ones to 1500lb range for the largest, most powerful and a price tag ranging from around 33k to 45k.

Generally I won't be lifting heavy stuff for cutting, all the wood will typically be cut on the ground and the tractor will simply be used to load the debris into the dump trailer for transport or to stack it at the curb for the grapple truck to come pick up.

I'm a big fan of bigger is typically better, however, I'm limited in size by both my truck and the properties I'm working on.

My ideal setup would be a small frame compact track loader, however, I'm limited by budget. A CTL is not only about 25k more than a CUT, it would mandate I buy a bigger truck.

fatboycowen · Aug 28, 2017

I'm not an expert in any of what you are doing. But when I read this, I think of these things.
Tractors with implements are long. You'll need a fairly long trailer.
Trailers themselves are heavy. I know most flat beds are at least 2k lbs. Take that away from your tow capacity, and you are down to 4400, which is a pretty small tractor. With enough counter weight, it might not be enough.
The small tractors won't be able to lift very long logs, and move them...

jeff9366 · Aug 28, 2017

A wheeled Skid Steer seems more apropos to your tasks and would be more stable than a tractor-loader.

How much experience do you have operating a tractor-loader?

T-B-N Archive: skid steer vs tractor site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

Grandad4 · Aug 28, 2017

In your price range, maybe you'd want to look at a Kubota B26. Commercial grade with backhoe, also has 3pt + PTO (linkage kit costs extra), probably could be set up with grapple in front. Just at 4,000 lbs.

4570Man · Aug 28, 2017

jeff9366 said:
A wheeled Skid Steer seems more apropos to your tasks and would be more stable than a tractor-loader.

How much experience do you have operating a tractor-loader?

T-B-N Archive: skid steer vs tractor site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

Skid steers tear up the grass too bad, and most people don't like that. But if tearing stuff up us no problem than skid steers win big time.

4570Man · Aug 28, 2017

I don't know that you have enough truck. The Mahindra max25 weighs 2500 pounds with the loader ( probably without a bucket ). You're going to be at 4,000 by the time you get a bucket and sufficient ballast. Dump trailers are pretty heavy and that has to be factored into your total weight.

roadhunter · Aug 29, 2017

Keep in mind that tractor loader capacities are more like tipping weight and include counter weights. Uneven terrain or going down slopes can limit that further as does the weight of the grapple and QA. Tires can also be an issue as tractor tires are not as heavy as skid steer tires and can puncture more easily driving over branches and the visibility on the grapple is not as good. Plastic hoods and fenders are not meant to hold up in commercial tree environments either. No protection overhead.

One option you might consider is a little allmand or terramite backhoe. Those are build heavier than the foreign tractors and will take a beating with metal fenders and hood versus plastic as well as real protection from overhead. A grapple on the hoe might be useful and they do make them with aux hydraulics on the front so you could add a grapple on the loader. For around 10k you would have a tough little tractor with a better loader capacity.