What should I do?

   / What should I do? #1  

Good Feller

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
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2
I'm new to here....hi!
I need equipment but can't make up my mind what to get. I plan to inherit about 80 acres in the near future. 40 of it crop ground and the other 40 rough/timber. I do not want a tractor to farm with (not at this point anyways). I need something for brush cutting/snow removal/fencing/firewood/log skidding.

There will be a big emphasis on using it for loading firewood on my trailer and dragging/winching firewood quality logs out of the timber. I'm interested in a farmi winch for the 3 pt. I'm a forester and run business selling firewood, doing timber stand improvement, timber sales, and tree removal. The trees I cut down for timber stand improvement are all low quality poor formed trees 12"dbh and smaller that I would like to take advantage of for firewood. Right now I have a 500cc 4 wheeler that I thought I could use to skid these small logs out, but it's not hacking it. Get a little bit of snow and ice on ground that has an incline and the 4 wheeler is worthless. I don't have time for that. I also don't have time to load my trailer with wood by hand. I need a loader/forks. On occasion, I cut larger logs (walnut trees 18-22"dbh 8-10' logs) and would also like to be able to load them.

If I get something it has to weigh less than 3500lbs. for hauling purposes. If it weighs more than that I can't haul it to different job sites with my current truck/trailer set up. What do you think I need? I have family and friends that work at our New Holland dealership in my town... that might be good for a discount/help with parts and maintenance.

Whatever I get, it has to have a loader. I'm sick of doing things the hard way. I've thought about getting a conventional log skidder, a forcat 2000, a skid loader, and now a tractor. I think a tractor with a loader will be the most versatile and best bet. The way I see it:

Conventional skidder: 10K-20K for a 30 year old maintenance project. BUT safest most efficient way to skid logs from timber. Also, I have no way to haul it and it only does one thing.... skid logs. Also, when it's time to sell it, there are only so many loggers in my area.

Forcat 2000: Neat little thing. Has tracks and 8000lb winch. Easy on fuel. Low impact/can get in tight spots. Would be able to go in and get 90% of what I cut. New, shipped to my house $24,000.... ouch. Weighs less than 3000lbs. Can't put a brush cutter or post hole digger on it.

Skid steer: No good in the woods. Can't see behind you. Can't brush cut with it. Next.

I've been looking at the TC 30 New Holland. I can't decide on new or used. I could afford 15-20K. 4wd is a must, loader,,, What options should I get if I go with this particular model? I've also looked into the Kubota b7800. It has the same hp but weighs like 600lbs less than the NH!

Does the TC 30 fit my needs? Thanks!
 
   / What should I do? #2  
I'm new to here....hi!
I need equipment but can't make up my mind what to get. I plan to inherit about 80 acres in the near future. 40 of it crop ground and the other 40 rough/timber. I do not want a tractor to farm with (not at this point anyways). I need something for brush cutting/snow removal/fencing/firewood/log skidding.

There will be a big emphasis on using it for loading firewood on my trailer and dragging/winching firewood quality logs out of the timber. I'm interested in a farmi winch for the 3 pt. I'm a forester and run business selling firewood, doing timber stand improvement, timber sales, and tree removal. The trees I cut down for timber stand improvement are all low quality poor formed trees 12"dbh and smaller that I would like to take advantage of for firewood. Right now I have a 500cc 4 wheeler that I thought I could use to skid these small logs out, but it's not hacking it. Get a little bit of snow and ice on ground that has an incline and the 4 wheeler is worthless. I don't have time for that. I also don't have time to load my trailer with wood by hand. I need a loader/forks. On occasion, I cut larger logs (walnut trees 18-22"dbh 8-10' logs) and would also like to be able to load them.

If I get something it has to weigh less than 3500lbs. for hauling purposes. If it weighs more than that I can't haul it to different job sites with my current truck/trailer set up. What do you think I need? I have family and friends that work at our New Holland dealership in my town... that might be good for a discount/help with parts and maintenance.

Whatever I get, it has to have a loader. I'm sick of doing things the hard way. I've thought about getting a conventional log skidder, a forcat 2000, a skid loader, and now a tractor. I think a tractor with a loader will be the most versatile and best bet. The way I see it:

Conventional skidder: 10K-20K for a 30 year old maintenance project. BUT safest most efficient way to skid logs from timber. Also, I have no way to haul it and it only does one thing.... skid logs. Also, when it's time to sell it, there are only so many loggers in my area.

Forcat 2000: Neat little thing. Has tracks and 8000lb winch. Easy on fuel. Low impact/can get in tight spots. Would be able to go in and get 90% of what I cut. New, shipped to my house $24,000.... ouch. Weighs less than 3000lbs. Can't put a brush cutter or post hole digger on it.

Skid steer: No good in the woods. Can't see behind you. Can't brush cut with it. Next.

I've been looking at the TC 30 New Holland. I can't decide on new or used. I could afford 15-20K. 4wd is a must, loader,,, What options should I get if I go with this particular model? I've also looked into the Kubota b7800. It has the same hp but weighs like 600lbs less than the NH!

Does the TC 30 fit my needs? Thanks!

Mahindra 3215 4WD ($15665) with the ML111 FEL (5-ft wide bucket,1400 lb lift capacity, $4525 skid steer compatible). Tractor weighs 2544 lb, FEL est wt 800lb.
 
   / What should I do? #3  
By the time you get a tractor with enough HP, and the implements you need, I think a 3500lb limit may not be realistic for your needs.
 
   / What should I do? #4  
I can't think of anything larger than a Kubota B3200/B7800 that would do the job, and come under your weight limit. Remember that the weight of the trailer has to be figured in there too. You will most certainly want the rear tires loaded with rimguard, you will more than likely want good chains, there is the weight of the Farmi, etc. Eventually, you will probably see the need for more overhead protection, and that will add weight too.(Look at the forester in a recent Kioti thread) In your situation, more weight is probably a better thing, but a lot of skidding, and brush handling has been done by the B series tractors. I have a B2620, and that weighs a little less yet, but perhaps not enough less to justify it for your use, on the other hand, the tires are smaller, and that would cut the overall weight a bit too. It is not, however, a good idea to have a tractor lighter than the log you are dragging. With a Farmi, I would probably hitch up to the kind of thing you are talking about, but use due caution. There are no quick attach forks readily available for it either. Here is one picture that a member submitted showing that size B tractor pulling a tree, and another showing the use of home made forks. Bear in mind that this land is level, and open.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/132884-kioti-forestry-worker.html
 

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   / What should I do? #5  
If you are considering a compact tractor and it's primary function is working in the woods make ground clearance a primary consideration. While awkward in the woods you may want to consider a backhoe attachment in addition to your FEL. reason; their will be times when you might appreciate the ability to dig a stump out to help getting to an area and snagging some logs. The bad part is a backhoe with a subframe will reduce ground clearance but you have something to work with if you need to knock off some high spots in the road.


I use one of the heavier compact utility tractors ini the woods but it has pretty good capabilities with FEL and Backhoe in place it's all of 4000 lbs.

Good luck.

rimshot
 
   / What should I do? #6  
You may want to stay in the "Compact" size range in order to snake thru the trees. I drag logs out of the woods with my B7800 with adequate success. I dragged a 30'' X 32' green poplar out just the other day - a victim of recent wind storm. Your smallish trees won't be a problem. Be sure to consider which tires. Most folks here favor R1 ag tires that have superior traction. I oped for R4 industrial to keep a bit lower to the ground and to minimize the chance of puncture while in the woods. Some folks swear by R4 + chains. Good luck.
Mike
 
   / What should I do? #7  
I can not imagine anything under 3500 pounds having the grunt to lift a whole lot, particularly with regards to hardwood logs nor having the weight to skid anything of any substance.

I am thinking for sure you'll need AG tires and chains.

I would think you'd need something in the 30hp range with a weight with loader of about 4500 lbs or more.

You'd be amazed at how quickly a machine gets light.

The worst thing you can do is buy too little tractor, and rarely will you read on here that someone bought too much tractor.

Just for the record, nothing pulls like tracks, as a former crawler owner had to get that in there.

Good luck,

Joel
 
   / What should I do?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
The trees in the loader bucket in the picture above by chuckinNH are what I'm talking about. The other picture of the big tree behind that little Kubota is not something I want to do often. I know tractors are not designed for woods work but it can be done if you are careful. A 30 hp tractor might not weigh much or be able to lift a house.... BUT, it's better than what I have now,,,, which is NOTHING! I fully expect to be limited to what I can do with a tractor this size.
 
   / What should I do? #9  
If you get the pin on quick attach, you can get forks that mount directly to the loader arms, and thus keep the load much closer to the tractor, and loader pivot points.
 
   / What should I do? #10  
10' walnut log 20" small end 22" large end is 1300-1400 pounds. You should target machines with at least 1500" of lift 500mm beyond and not "at the pivots". The Mahindra listed above (3215) has it's rating at the pivots. That means about 1000# out where the log will be and it means you won't be loading it.

Have the sales guy put it on the sales contract that you can return the tractor for a full refund or full price exchange on a larger machine if it fails to lift a 1400 pound log to full height good for 30 days after delivery. If that is your target use, get it in writing! I've found that the sales guy BS factor evaporates quick when it's written on the contract and they will nearly always move you into the correct machine for your use.


I would also see about getting higher ply count R1 tires. The R1's that come with the tractors are usually the lowest ply cheapest things that will hold air. Good enough for plowing fields but not tough enough for the woods.

jb
 

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