Tractors and Small Properties

[TheYard]

Why do you want the trees down? Just curious.

My wife and I like to have a vegetable garden, and we need a place with some sun. There are so many giant oak trees it shades out quite a bit of the yard.

 

[GeneV]

MossRoad, that's definitely an interesting machine you got there. Is it 4wd?

TheYard, I see the debate you're having with yourself here, so I'm just gonna flat out tell it to you like this: get yourself a scut with a [quick attach] loader and a belly mower, you won't regret it. You could do nearly anything with that setup, including adding a grapple, pallet forks, snow blade or blower, stump bucket, tiller, etc.

Getting a tractor with a backhoe as well makes it that much better. However, unless you see yourself digging a bunch around your property, you could get by w/o it, honestly. For shallow digging, a stump bucket will dig out a hole deep enough for planting a tree or whatever.

 

[TheMan419]

A subcompact tractor, often referred to as a SCUT here, (Sub Compact Utility Tractor) is great for less than three acres.

They are limited in capability but ample, ample for an acre.

Great mowers. With optional FEL, serve as powered wheelbarrows and can push snow effectively, or operate a rear snowblower with the tractor moving in reverse.

Will operate a 48" Rotary Cutter/Bush Hog.

New, with an FEL and one or two implements figure $20,000 - $22,000

Great fun, within SCUT limitations.

LINKS: https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/brochure-sheets/new_bx80.pdf?sfvrsn=233d3332_2

T-B-N ARCHIVE: tractor for one 1 acre site: tractorbynet.com - Google Search

I use my SCUT to care for my 18 acres with not a single issue. SO saying that it is only good for three acres depends on what you want to do. If OP were going to start wanting to clear those big trees no way is a SCUT going to work. He would need something a lot bigger.

So any statement that you need x size tractor for y acres is really just a vague guideline.

I have flat ground being used as horse pasture. So my HP needs are a lot less than 18 hilly acres trying to be cleared of trees.

 

[MossRoad]

My wife and I like to have a vegetable garden, and we need a place with some sun. There are so many giant oak trees it shades out quite a bit of the yard.

That makes sense. The house my dad built and that I grew up in had 65 large oaks on about an acre and a half. No veggies for us! (we did have lots of moss, however). :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

MossRoad, that's definitely an interesting machine you got there. Is it 4wd?

...

Yep. One hydraulic motor at each wheel. Articulated and oscillates between sections. Quick and nimble. It has a quick attach on the FEL so I don't have to get off the seat to change implements, unless it's powered, then I have to disconnect a couple hydraulic hoses. Takes about 15 seconds to change an implement. I like it. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

I use my SCUT to care for my 18 acres with not a single issue. SO saying that it is only good for three acres depends on what you want to do. If OP were going to start wanting to clear those big trees no way is a SCUT going to work. He would need something a lot bigger.

So any statement that you need x size tractor for y acres is really just a vague guideline.

I have flat ground being used as horse pasture. So my HP needs are a lot less than 18 hilly acres trying to be cleared of trees.

:thumbsup:

It all depends on what tasks you're trying to accomplish.

 

[tradosaurus]

I have a house on a 1.1 acre lot in eastern Massachusetts that's mostly wooded - maybe about 1/4 acre is grass and the rest is either driveway (almost 400ft), or forest (60' tall monster leaf producing oaks with nasty continually tick infested underbrush).

I've been tackling it with a 22" walk behind mower, 18" chainsaw, weed whacker/brush cutter, 32" walk behind snowthrower, and basically blowing leaves into the nearest spot into the woods, and creating brush piles when I have to take down a tree (often right next to where the tree went down). As I approach 60, I'm thinking that I need a plan to maintain this place for the next 15 years, and depending on my back might be a bad idea.

Would one of these subcompact tractors be a good fit for a property like this? Or would be over-kill? Some of me feels like this is a mid-life crisis purchase, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know what climate you are in but with you situation I would seriously look at a cab model with a finish mower.

https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/compact/b50

With you pine trees you might at some point be needing to lift logs and the cab will keep you warm in the winter and the dust out of your face during mowing.

I'm not sure the back hoe would be worth adding on ($8k option) because you can rent what you need when you need it. I have 45 acres with 40 acres of heavy woods and in 3 years I could have used a backhoe twice.

 

[Captain Dirty]

My wife and I like to have a vegetable garden, and we need a place with some sun. There are so many giant oak trees it shades out quite a bit of the yard.

Some years ago I had to clear some towering (30-40') oaks for a new leeching field. At the time oak lumber was $6 per board ft. (1" x 1" x 12"); I had $$ in my eyes until a friend said "there isn't an oak tree in New England that doesn't have ants." Sure enough, they all had ants, and I ended up burning them for firewood.

Not knowing your specific lot and trees, I have to generalize. With the exception of a few straight, former "field" trees all the oaks on my land and most of the oaks I see in the woods and formerly wooded sub-divsions in MA are curved and appear distressed if not unhealthy. You might want to consult with an arborist (horticulturist) as to which (if any) of your trees should be removed first and site your garden accordingly. For removal, a tree service (whack 'em & hack 'em) would probably be cheaper than an arborist and could be contracted for stump removal. It takes me over a day to limb, buck, chip the slash, and haul the logs to the woodpile (leaving the stump to rot) when I have a 16" oak blow down. When I had tree service remove a 24" cherry between my house and the power lines that I did not have the courage to tackle myself, they were on site for 2 hours with a crane, chipper, skid steer and two trucks plus 6 men and a detail cop.

From my perspective with 1.1 acres you would be better (and more quickly) served by hiring out the large, capital intensive equipment tasks and leaving yourself with a SCUT or even 2-wheeled tractor for yard work.

 

[Henro]

I am in the buy a BX with a loader camp.

Initially I had a bit over three acres, and bought a BX with MMM and a B2910 with Loader and backhoe. Never regretted either purchase.

My Tractors are both over 16 years old now. Both work as new. Average hours are about 1500 on each.

The BX would be the last tractor you ever buy I would suspect, unless you get tractoritis, and find you want more tractors, or bigger ones! :laughing:

The loader is invaluable. Don't forget to buy one if you buy a SCUT.

 

[ramman666]

I live in central MA and I just bought a BX2380 it was delivered the 29th I only have about 1/3rd an acre at this house and in the works on a few acres soon. I can tell you with the snow that we had the last few days that tractor was well worth it! I have several projects I needed the tractor for and can tell you it will suit your needs. They are very maneuverable and can come in handy for odd things. We also have a Mahindra emax25 and a JD4044r but they are at larger properties. I don’t find it to be a midlife crisis at all I’m in my 20s and just wanted a tractors for projects. If you do go with a BX and plan to go in the woods go with the R4 ties and a underbody protection kit because they do sit a little low. All of our tractors have the R4 tires and they haven’t hurt the lawn unless it’s muddy out and for plowing purposes I haven’t gotten stuck at all. Good luck feel free to PM me if you have any questions about dealers I paid 15604.00 out the door with tax