What would be the BEST rough terrain tractor?

RAW · Feb 18, 2006

I've been reading through this forum off and on for quite some time now. I've searched every conceivable keyword.
I've even touched on the issue in my own threads.

So now, I thought I'd post THE DEFINITIVE thread. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

What would be the BEST rough/steep terrain tractor?
Nothing crazy like a walking excavator. We're talking farm tractors. 4x4 obviously. Locking differentials are good. Many tractors still don't have front lockers standard. It needs to be capable of operating a FEL/grapple and a brush-hog/flail-mower. And let's put a limit of 90hp on the tractor.

I've been eyeballing all of the major manufacturers, but also Landini, Antonio Carraro, and Power-trac.

Landini and Antonio Carraro are Italian tractors. I would imagine that makes parts harder to come by. The AC tractors also are limited in the FEL department. In fact, I haven't seen one with a FEL, but a dealer told me that there is one available. That oscillation and reversible operator's station would be nice. The TRG and TGF look quite capable.

The Power-trac 1460 looks quite interesting, but I'm concerned about the proprietary attachments. You are primarily limited to what Power-trac makes. Plus, you couldn't have it outfitted with a grapple and a brush-cutter at the same time. But the articulation, heavy-duty construction, low COG, and deutz engine are appealing.

The Massey Ferguson 400 series looks like a strong contender. Lower than most newer-style tractors these days while still maintaining ground clearance. Add in the low-profile versions . . . and you're looking at a pretty stable machine. But it sure would be nice to have some updated features. The Landini Evolution (60 series) appears to be virtually identical to the Massey 400. And this design seems to offer a decent front axle oscillation.

New Holland TN series looks pretty good too. I would think the Landini Powerfarm would be comparable.

Nothing in the JD lineup has really called to me. I have gotten the distinct impression that other manufacturers are offering more features/hp per $.

The new Kubota M40s seem to have good potential, but they're still scarce. More than any other, the Kubota lines confuse me about which would be best on steep/rough terrain.

The Farmtrac 7-series looks pretty robust and capable too, but . . . what little I've seen about them suggests that the new 7-series is expensive.

I could go on and on. I've checked every manufacturer I've seen mentioned. I've called dealerships. But I'm guessing that the collected experience/knowledge of the people on this board will be able to provide better answers.

So, peeps, enlighten me!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JerryG · Feb 18, 2006

For rough terrain go with either a MF 400 series Low Profile or a MF 3300 series. The 3300s are really low and have a very, very low center of gravity. They would need to have the wheels set out or custom wheels made. To bad you can't get a low profile MF industrial with 8' wide axles anymore.

RAW · Feb 18, 2006

JerryG, you're my massey expert! I've seen many, many of your posts. And I know you've been with me on this 400 series idea.

It's a shame that there aren't any Holder tractor dealers in the Southeast. That forestry tractor of theirs looks great (if a bit tall cuz of the cab).

JerryG · Feb 18, 2006

How bad is your land?

RAW · Feb 18, 2006

Well, last week the snow was bad enough to point out my RAM's less than stellar 4x4 system. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hehe. Glad I've got another full-time 4x4 truck for the rough stuff!

Anyway, my land is pretty steep. I keep changing my mind about how much I want to accomplish with the tractor. Part of me just wants to maintain the logging roads that are already there. Most of these would be fairly easy to negotiate with a good 4x4 tractor, but . . . there are places that I'm pretty sure a tractor wouldn't go.
Here's a pic of my buddy on an ATV coming up one of the trails:

and I'd love to get into some of the areas like this to do some briar control

It's hard to tell in this picture, but the trail that goes up to the right is pretty steep. I'd love to have something that could tackle that (other than the ATV and my truck)--then I'd be set.

This is pure fantasy, but I wish I could afford to make some of my property look like this (a neighbor's property)

Even in that picture you can get a little more feel for the slope.

The trails I'd want to work are usually cut into the sides like so:

But you can still tell that there are some inclines to work with.

Here's an area near the abandoned house-site (from the early 1900s) that I'd love to clean up and keep open.

Almost tipped the motorcycle over for this one, but it shows the slope pretty well (and this is pretty mild)

JerryG · Feb 18, 2006

I think that you are right about needing a LP tractor. I would say that either one of the two above would do as good a job, if not better that most an tractor that you find.

DavesTractor · Feb 19, 2006

A small Komatsu dozer would be the hot ticket. I know that isn't a farm tractor, but you have some steep country!

Egon · Feb 19, 2006

Ditto on a small wide pad dozer. Tractor just ain't gonna work on most of those hills.

If you really want to put a tractor on those slopes I'd suggest a full roll cage with metal mesh and a 5 point seat harness. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

RonR · Feb 19, 2006

Agree on the small dozer. Wide tracks and low profile. It will help you make trailer MUCH easier.

Can't help with brands though.

ron

turbo36 · Feb 19, 2006

I would suggest a tracked skid steer like an ASV-100, I've rented one a few times to do slope work and found it very capable of pushing light soils as well as hauling dirt in the bucket.

RidgeRunnerWVa · Feb 19, 2006

What brand of motorcycle is in your picture ?

orangebluegreen · Feb 19, 2006

Looking at those pictures I was thinking that land calls out for a dozer, and then I scroll down and see others said the same. If you haven’t used a dozer to clear land vs. a tractor, you’ll be amazed how much more traction they create for pushing dirt and trees. Looking at your trees and knowing they are about the same size I used to clear in Ohio with a Cat D3, you should easily be able to push them over like they aren’t even there even with a smallish machine. I had to work in tight spaces and close to basement walls which can be cracked from vibration and weight if machine is too big, but if you are in open space like that, weight and size are your friend, and a lot of fun to go much bigger. Something about a machine big enough to feel totally destructive that puts a smile on your face. The drawback on a Dozer is obviously not as versatile, you usually still need a tractor so it turns out to be a luxury more than need if it’s not for making a living.

RAW · Feb 19, 2006

I've definitely been considering the dozer thing.
There's a place in Fairview, NC that occasionally sells reconditioned Komatsu dozers. It would cost about 15K (for a D20/D21), but I imagine that as long as I did decent maintenance, I could get most of that back out of it if I wanted to sell.

The other option is paying someone to cut the trails with dozers and then I would just maintain them. My concern is that being 30 minutes north of Asheville, I'll have a hard time finding someone who would want to come that far out. And then I'd have to pay more for transport. I've asked my neighbors for the name and number of a local with some heavy equipment. We'll see what happens on that front. I would just hate to pay someone 5K to cut the trails when I could put that same money towards my own piece of equipment.

The other thing about the dozer vs. tractor thing (that someone else touched on) is that the dozer is not as versatile. It has no ability to cut/mow brush or grapple loads of branches and wood. I could even get a PTO chipper for the tractor and chip downed stuff directly onto the trails (keeping the bigger stuff for my central boiler).

RAW · Feb 19, 2006

Turbo,

The ASV RC-100 is my dream machine. I'd love to outfit it with a Loftness Carbide cutter/Tushogg cutter/MagnumMulcher. Downside to the compact trackloaders is price. For the machine/cutter combo, I'd be looking at about $80K new. And finding an RC-100 used and in good shape is proving difficult.
But with a skid like that, I could still run grapples, augers, etc.

Have you seen the stuff from Geo-boy, Supertrak, Gyrotrac, Rowmec, etc? Purpose-built brush cutters. Really cool stuff. But again super expensive and not very versatile for other farm jobs.

RAW · Feb 19, 2006

But let's not get distracted /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Tractors--what's the best rough terrain tractor in the major lineups?

Kubota M series? MF LP? New Holland TN? Something else?

JerryG · Feb 19, 2006

That is what a huge part of the land looks like here. You should see where some of them hay!

KentT · Feb 19, 2006

( I've definitely been considering the dozer thing.

The other thing about the dozer vs. tractor thing (that someone else touched on) is that the dozer is not as versatile. It has no ability to cut/mow brush or grapple loads of branches and wood. I could even get a PTO chipper for the tractor and chip downed stuff directly onto the trails (keeping the bigger stuff for my central boiler).

)
Does no one make a small "crawler" any more that takes 3-PT attachments? My uncle used to own a little one that he used with a rotary cutter for hire, specializing in mowing pastures that traditional tractors couldn't go on...

MMILLER · Feb 19, 2006

I have seen some bulldozers advertised with pto's. I don't know if these are small machines or something that would be benifical to you. Also with a track machine you could drag trees to a flatter area (landing) to cut limbs and create firewood. Then you could chip or burn at your convience. Also for briar work tracks do not puncture and go flat.

BarryinMN · Feb 19, 2006

I have a JD350 dozer 10K lb class. You can get a 540 PTO option for it as well as a 3 pt hitch.

Wide tracks on dozers are designed for soft soils bogs swamps etc. think flotation. Put em on hard rocky surfaces will stress the undercarriage & wear much faster.

I'd vote dozer as well especially with a load pushing or pulling rocks dirt trees etc. Whichever way you get the trails made maintenance and upkeep from washouts etc will keep you busy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JasonH · Feb 19, 2006

( What brand of motorcycle is in your picture ? )That motorcycle is a BMW. It's either a R1150GS or a R1200GS. They're pretty hardcore off road bikes with excellent street behavior.