Tractor usefulness

[etpm]

I have a Yanmar YM2310 tractor with a Bulldog 285 FEL. Though not my only tractor it is the one that gets the most use. By far. I have only about 2 acres cleared of the ten or twelve that we own. That tractor gets used so much that I am amazed. It is a super useful tool. Even a 42 year old machine can do plenty of work and still be reliable. I think folks with even small land holdings should be encouraged to buy a tractor with a front end loader. At 68 years of age with bad arthritis, bone on bone joints in both wrists, I can get so much work done that otherwise would not get done. Anyway, tell your friends to buy a tractor.
Later,
Eric

 

[MarkMac]

I came to this same conclusion in my early 40s.

As a young man I would just use my back and physical grunt to get stuff done on my little farm. I’d wake up the next morning feeling beat to heck.

The tractor is like having a brother or two to help with chores.

When my horses knock down a gate, I just use my little tractor to lift it and hold it while I weld, instead of straining my back.

No more fighting with a wheelbarrow either.

 

[blehmann]

When I was still in high school I worked on a Christmas tree plantation with the owner, an old retired farmer. I don't think that he owned any equipment newer than the 1950s era. Come to think of it, 1950s was still pretty new at that time! Being full of energy and plenty strong, I would often grab on to and lift objects that would cripple an older man. That old retired farmer told me on several occasions; "It takes eight hours to build a tractor and twenty-one years to build a man. Use the tractor!" Now that I'm an old man, I wonder how many of these aches and pains were caused because I didn't use the tractor often enough.

 

[kneedeep]

The most used attachment around here are pallet forks.
Use them on both tractors almost daily. Most attachments get used once or twice a year.

 

[stevem5215]

I have 4 acres I maintain. I have a loader on a Steiner and it's great for lifting as mentioned. The limitations are how much it can lift before popping up the rear wheels. While I don't have pallet forks the bucket is what I use to lift things my back can't.

 

[scootr]

The most used here for equipment handling is the Cat 5k forklift. It's everything from lift, trailer mover, scaffold, and more. I will never be without a tractor and a forklift as long as we have property. Last week it moved some 24'x 6' welded wire stud pen panels with ease and precision.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I had wanted a tractor for years, with only 1 acre of land. Couldn't justify it to my wife, but it would have saved the backache. Now with 10+, I use it often.

 

[oosik]

My poperty is at the end of my mile long driveway. I bought my first tractor 1982 Ford 1700 4WD - brand new. Winter snow clearing and summer driveway maintenance.

After 27 years ( 2009 ) I upgraded to my 2009 Kubota M6040. I had a Land Pride grapple and WR Long 3rd function valve installed. Used to move large rocks and chunks of pine tree trunk.

Finally - after ten plus years - all my implements have been upgraded to Cat 2.

 

[crazyjake8493]

I'm only in my 30s but I bought my house 13 years ago on 3 acres of land. To this day, my only regret in life is not buying a tractor 11 years sooner. I would've saved my back, knees, and so much time in my 20s by using a tractor instead of a wheelbarrow or dragging things with a riding mower. I also wouldn't have chronic back pain and knees that pop every time I stand up or sit down. Lesson learned the hard way.

Even on days when I only use my tractor for 15-20 minutes, that could be 1-2 hours of grunt work depending on what it is. Best investment I ever made.

I'm also a firm believer than any tractor sold with a front end loader should come with pallet forks, by default. I use the forks at least twice as much as the bucket.

 

[oosik]

At the end of my mile long driveway I have 80 acres. It's all open range land. Grassy fields and stands of Ponderosa pines. I have a heavy duty grapple on the FEL and a heavy duty rear blade on the 3-point. I maintain my gravel driveway year round and move large rocks and chunks of pine tree trunk with the grapple. Right now I'm using the grapple to deconstruct the last two homesteader built buildings.

I rely heavily on my tractor and implements for most all projects.