Wear and Tear on Tractor - Tiller or Plow?

[TripleR]

A mold board/breaking plow and disk or tiller is not going to be better or worse on your tractor. As to speed, it is not going to make a whole lot of difference as you will be tilling pretty slow and I often make two passes even with a tiller and often with a disk.

As mentioned by other, saplings are the real fly in the ointment and I wouldn't even consider a tiller for that.

Unless you will have use for the equipment for later projects, I would look into hiring it done. I know that is close to blasphemy, but we have a tiller, two breaking plows and a couple or three disks we haven't used in years.

Now if you have plenty of money and space to store it, then by all means go for it.

 

[bigtiller]

For that much ground, I think a plow & disc would be best. Tiller tines would get some serious wear on them and at a price range of 8 to 10 bucks apiece, well a moldboard plow would be better.

 

[smstonypoint]

I have a bunch of all small saplings (1000's) growing up in my fields and bush hogging the field the twice a year does not seem to be working. In fact, I think the field has doubled the amount than last year. Not sure if bush hogging it 3-4 times a year will do much either. I was guessing that a tiller or breaking plow would do a much more effective job, but I am open to any suggestions to get rid of this saplings. Also, curious about the wear and tear of the tiller tines if I cut 15-20 acres of land filled 1"-2" thick saplings?

How about spraying a broadleaf herbicide to kill off the saplings. I use Crossbow for that purpose when I don't want to kill surrounding grasses. You should check the herbicide specs. to see if it works on the sapling species.

Steve

 

[boomer613]

How about spraying a broadleaf herbicide to kill off the saplings. I use Crossbow for that purpose when I don't want to kill surrounding grasses. You should check the herbicide specs. to see if it works on the sapling species.

Steve

Not big on herbicides. I think the consensus on this thread is to used a plow/disk vs. tiller. Perhaps I 'll find one used. Any suggestion on what to look for when buying one used?

 

[ToolBoxTavern]

I have heard a lot of good things on the old Ford plows that I believe are spring loaded, but I am probably wrong bout that.

Dunno how far north you are in AL, but looking at CL in Huntsville I came up with these.

turning plow w/3 blades

FERGUSON PLOW

2 pan breaking plow

 

[Chilly807]

I have heard a lot of good things on the old Ford plows that I believe are spring loaded, but I am probably wrong bout that.

Dunno how far north you are in AL, but looking at CL in Huntsville I came up with these.

turning plow w/3 blades

FERGUSON PLOW

2 pan breaking plow

The second plow (Ferguson) looks like a model 62, missing the coulters. Too bad they're gone, that's not a bad plow, but very hard to find parts for. The price is high too, I paid $200 for mine with coulters included.


Sean

 

[remington270]

Boomer, first off 15-20 acres of saplings is WAY too much land to conquer with either a tiller or plow. You've got to bush hog first.
If you use a turning plow, your ground has to be mowed short, or else the top of the saplings won't be covered up and will continue to grow. You will be disappointed with these results.
As for a tiller, it will be rough going and SLOW. My estimation is that you'd need 30-40 hours to get through a field that size.
If you have time enough to bushing your fields 3-4 times/ year, your field will look great. The saplings (likely sweetgum or pines) will go away if you keep cutting. I too am located in Alabama (west). We cut our fields (60ac) once a year and do fine.

 

[boomer613]

Boomer, first off 15-20 acres of saplings is WAY too much land to conquer with either a tiller or plow. You've got to bush hog first.
If you use a turning plow, your ground has to be mowed short, or else the top of the saplings won't be covered up and will continue to grow. You will be disappointed with these results.
As for a tiller, it will be rough going and SLOW. My estimation is that you'd need 30-40 hours to get through a field that size.
If you have time enough to bushing your fields 3-4 times/ year, your field will look great. The saplings (likely sweetgum or pines) will go away if you keep cutting. I too am located in Alabama (west). We cut our fields (60ac) once a year and do fine.

Thanks everyone for the responses and the craigslist postings. Yes, I live close to the huntsville area.

I was planning on bush hogging it before I used a disk/tiller. I'm just having a hard time keeping them down during growing season.

Any opinions on when to plow/disk? I am guessing it would be best to plow when the ground is moist but not wet enough to get the tractor stuck. I'm in clay/loam country and when you are stuck you are really stuck.

 

[Chilly807]

Generally you're better off to plow just before winter to allow the roots and sod to rot over the winter.

Sean

 

[rubicon79]

Not sure if this helps but I just bought a 17 acre hobby farm. I have needed a tiller twice and discs once. When I need them I can rent a tiller for $100 for the entire weekend or a big set of discs for the same. I can't justify the cost, storage, etc just to use an implement twice a year.

I can do a LOT of tilling in a weekend.


Just something to consider!!