Greetings!
After lurking for a few weeks I thought I’d finally make a post to thank those past and present forum participants for the invaluable information input leading to my recent tractor upgrade. Thanks one and all! As partial repayment for all that great information I thought I’d provide some details of my own situation in hopes of helping others with their tractor decision making process.
Our property here in Vermont consists of eighty acres that is 65% forested and contains a couple of small ponds as well as a small “recreational” gravel pit. Most of the tractor work…. err … “play” is concerned with an 800 foot gravel drive, the ponds, forest snowmobile/walking trails, culverts, firewood, home workshop lumber logging, and assorted “honey-do” projects.
For the past ten years I’ve used a Kubota L3600 GST (soft side cab), LA680 Loader, R4’s, BH 4690 backhoe, rear 6’ snow blower (rear window chute control), and a 6’ brush hog. Early on I added an 8,000 lb electric vehicle recovery winch to the top of the loader bucket for extracting logs and dealing with “widow maker” tree falls. At about 1,500 hours I felt the L3600 tractor had more than paid for itself and I’d had just about zero maintenance problems during those ten years. Essentially, the L3600 proved to be a faithful companion and just about “bullet proof”.
For my new tractor I wanted a factory cab to avoid severe blood loss during Spring black fly/mosquito season (I hatz bugz!) as well as a bit more warmth on those minus zero snow blowing days. I wanted a larger and frame mounted backhoe that would be more easily removed and stronger. I wanted sufficient HP at the PTO to make full use of a larger backhoe. I wanted a larger loader bucket. I wanted a drink holder (very important!) I wanted a front mounted snow blower with hydraulic cab controls. I wanted to be able to get in and out of the woods without shattering the glass cab! I wanted a new toy something terrible!
Well, I got most of what I wanted. From the “wanted” list I deleted the front mounted snow blower as I couldn’t justify the cost and a loader is essential to me in the Winter. Besides, I have a back “crick” from all those years of snow blowing
“backwards” and I just might miss the sensation!
After serving breakfast in bed to the bride for the past month I just ordered the following: Kubota L4330HSTC, LA853 loader with quick disconnect, R4’s, rear hydraulics, Rear mounted 6’ snow blower with hydraulic controls, rear lights, rear wiper, Woods BH9X (curved boom) backhoe. I kept my faithful 6’ brush hog. An IPOD provides the music.
I figured that if I could work in the woods for ten years without damage to the vinyl sided cab on the old tractor then the loader mounted winch was keeping me sufficiently away from limbs/trees to give me a fair chance (with caution) of keeping the new factory glass cab intact while working in the woods. I’ve welded up an “L’ shaped steel bracket with front opening for the roller fairlead. This will be through bolted to the top of the loader and on top of a solid piece of hardwood that will provide a surface for snapping on a cover to protect the winch from dirt when handling material in the loader.
Quick disconnect electrical leads, circuit breaker, and a 12’ remote control will complete the installation of the new 9,000 lb electrical winch. Always pulling in a direct line forward of the loader and using the loader to elevate the stub end of a log reduces stress on the loader and electrical system while using the winch. The cable is 125’ of 3/8” aircraft stainless steel rated at 38,000 lbs. The remote control keeps me out of the cable backlash path.
I hope to take delivery of the new tractor in about two weeks. Once again, thank all of you for great information.
Ken
After lurking for a few weeks I thought I’d finally make a post to thank those past and present forum participants for the invaluable information input leading to my recent tractor upgrade. Thanks one and all! As partial repayment for all that great information I thought I’d provide some details of my own situation in hopes of helping others with their tractor decision making process.
Our property here in Vermont consists of eighty acres that is 65% forested and contains a couple of small ponds as well as a small “recreational” gravel pit. Most of the tractor work…. err … “play” is concerned with an 800 foot gravel drive, the ponds, forest snowmobile/walking trails, culverts, firewood, home workshop lumber logging, and assorted “honey-do” projects.
For the past ten years I’ve used a Kubota L3600 GST (soft side cab), LA680 Loader, R4’s, BH 4690 backhoe, rear 6’ snow blower (rear window chute control), and a 6’ brush hog. Early on I added an 8,000 lb electric vehicle recovery winch to the top of the loader bucket for extracting logs and dealing with “widow maker” tree falls. At about 1,500 hours I felt the L3600 tractor had more than paid for itself and I’d had just about zero maintenance problems during those ten years. Essentially, the L3600 proved to be a faithful companion and just about “bullet proof”.
For my new tractor I wanted a factory cab to avoid severe blood loss during Spring black fly/mosquito season (I hatz bugz!) as well as a bit more warmth on those minus zero snow blowing days. I wanted a larger and frame mounted backhoe that would be more easily removed and stronger. I wanted sufficient HP at the PTO to make full use of a larger backhoe. I wanted a larger loader bucket. I wanted a drink holder (very important!) I wanted a front mounted snow blower with hydraulic cab controls. I wanted to be able to get in and out of the woods without shattering the glass cab! I wanted a new toy something terrible!
Well, I got most of what I wanted. From the “wanted” list I deleted the front mounted snow blower as I couldn’t justify the cost and a loader is essential to me in the Winter. Besides, I have a back “crick” from all those years of snow blowing
“backwards” and I just might miss the sensation!
After serving breakfast in bed to the bride for the past month I just ordered the following: Kubota L4330HSTC, LA853 loader with quick disconnect, R4’s, rear hydraulics, Rear mounted 6’ snow blower with hydraulic controls, rear lights, rear wiper, Woods BH9X (curved boom) backhoe. I kept my faithful 6’ brush hog. An IPOD provides the music.
I figured that if I could work in the woods for ten years without damage to the vinyl sided cab on the old tractor then the loader mounted winch was keeping me sufficiently away from limbs/trees to give me a fair chance (with caution) of keeping the new factory glass cab intact while working in the woods. I’ve welded up an “L’ shaped steel bracket with front opening for the roller fairlead. This will be through bolted to the top of the loader and on top of a solid piece of hardwood that will provide a surface for snapping on a cover to protect the winch from dirt when handling material in the loader.
Quick disconnect electrical leads, circuit breaker, and a 12’ remote control will complete the installation of the new 9,000 lb electrical winch. Always pulling in a direct line forward of the loader and using the loader to elevate the stub end of a log reduces stress on the loader and electrical system while using the winch. The cable is 125’ of 3/8” aircraft stainless steel rated at 38,000 lbs. The remote control keeps me out of the cable backlash path.
I hope to take delivery of the new tractor in about two weeks. Once again, thank all of you for great information.
Ken
and welcome to TBN.
