What would be the best use of my money?

[gersus]

Hey everyone, I bought a LS XG3025 a couple months ago for cleaning up our land and we're having a great time with it. It is time to purchase some attachments and I need some guidance. Our needs are mostly clearing small (up to 4'') trees right now. Still have quite a few to remove and more in the future. Also smoothing out the ground after pulling the trees, leveling out a spot for a tractor shed, maintaining the road, and clearing brush with a rotary cutter. Our property is 17 acres, almost completely wooded. Eventually I'll be using the tractor to clean up the acre or so of bottom land by the river. Basically sandy,rocky,some dirt area.
If money were no object I'd get a whole truck load of stuff lol! But, I have to prioritize. I have $1700 to spend. I would love a grapple but thats not in the budget and I don't want to spend the money on running the 3rd function just yet.

Here are some options I've looked into:
piranha tooth bar
stump bucket
rock bucket (to use like a grapple since I don't have remote hydraulics)
5' box blade
landscape rake
5' rotary cutter

I've been looking like mad for a used 5' box blade but none have been less than 2 hours away from me and/or overpriced.

I'd like to buy used if possible, so I can stretch my dollars a bit. I can find good rotary cutter for around $800.

So, if I buy a cutter for 800 and a used box blade for 400, then I have 500 to spend on one of the other options.

What do ya think? How should I spend my money?

Thanks in advance!

 

[newbury]

<snip? I have $1700 to spend. I would love a grapple but thats not in the budget and I don't want to spend the money on running the 3rd function just yet.

Here are some options I've looked into:
piranha tooth bar
stump bucket
rock bucket (to use like a grapple since I don't have remote hydraulics)
5' box blade
landscape rake
5' rotary cutter

I've been looking like mad for a used 5' box blade but none have been less than 2 hours away from me and/or overpriced.

I'd like to buy used if possible, so I can stretch my dollars a bit. I can find good rotary cutter for around $800.

So, if I buy a cutter for 800 and a used box blade for 400, then I have 500 to spend on one of the other options.

What do ya think? How should I spend my money?

Thanks in advance!

I'd recommend a $100 set of clamp on pallet forks (see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/392273-bucket-attached-pallet-forks.html#post5016455 )and a couple of $35 chains (see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/392389-chain-wheres-best-place-buy.html ) to give you some of the functionality of a grapple.

And I highly recommend a piranha, I've got 1 for each tractor.

You wrote "none have been less than 2 hours away " - If your two hours are at highway speeds with a truck you should factor in the cost of your driving when comparing prices. It costs me about $1/mile for my dually I figure. So a box blade next door is worth $200 more than the same box blade 2 hrs away.

 

[gersus]

I'd recommend a $100 set of clamp on pallet forks (see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/392273-bucket-attached-pallet-forks.html#post5016455 )and a couple of $35 chains (see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/392389-chain-wheres-best-place-buy.html ) to give you some of the functionality of a grapple.

And I highly recommend a piranha, ive got 1 for each tractor.

You wrote "none have been less than 2 hours away " - If your two hours are at highway speeds with a truck you should factor in the cost of your driving when comparing prices. It costs me about $1/mile for my dually I figure. So a box blade next door is worth $200 more than the same box blade 2 hrs away.

My wife said the same thing earlier "Is it worth driving 2 hours to save $200?"

 

[newbury]

My wife said the same thing earlier "Is it worth driving 2 hours to save $200?"

The proper response is "Yes hon, if you come along a 4 hour drive is worth it"

 

[/pine]

If you're mechanically inclined....you can get a "The Thumb" grapple for the FEL...believe me...unless you are clearing large mounts of stumps and root piles a thumb type grapple is all you need...they work great for piled brush or single logs etc.,etc...Get the thumb for less than $400 and if you can do the installation yourself and the FEL valve has a Power Beyond port a SCV is less than $150...hoses, fittings and Quick disconnects will run you about another $150- $200

This will give you hydraulic remotes at the front of the tractor...

 

[Wolfy]

The landscape rake is about the handiest implement for me, although a brush hog is pretty close.

 

[4570Man]

I'd recommend a $100 set of clamp on pallet forks (see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/392273-bucket-attached-pallet-forks.html#post5016455 )and a couple of $35 chains (see http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/392389-chain-wheres-best-place-buy.html ) to give you some of the functionality of a grapple.

And I highly recommend a piranha, I've got 1 for each tractor.

You wrote "none have been less than 2 hours away " - If your two hours are at highway speeds with a truck you should factor in the cost of your driving when comparing prices. It costs me about $1/mile for my dually I figure. So a box blade next door is worth $200 more than the same box blade 2 hrs away.

It cost me about 25 cents a mile in fuel at current diesel prices. Maybe less just cruising the interstate. Oil change cost is about a cent a mile. Tire cost is about 3 cents a mile on my truck. ( I've not had the truck long enough to wear out a set. That's just assuming a $900 set last 30,000 miles ) Those cost are for my 90s model dually. Is the depreciation on your truck that bad?

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would go rotary cutter,tooth bar then box blade and bolt on forks..

 

[oosik]

For all sorts of property clean-up projects - I see a set of pallet forks and a couple of chains as the next best thing to a grapple. Especially if you have a second person who will "work the chains". The full blown cost of a grapple, electric over hydraulic actuating system & installation is not cheap.

 

[jeff9366]

LS XG3025

ENGINE
Type: 3-cylinder, indirect-injection, Water-cooled
Model (Tier 4): MHI S3L2
Engine HP (Gross): 24.4
PTO HP: 19.2
Rated Speed (RPM): 2,500
Displacement (cu. in.): 80.4
Fuel Tank Capacity (gal): 7.4
Alternator: 12V - 50 Amps

DRIVE TRAIN
Transmission: Synchro shuttle
No. of Speeds: 12 forward / 12 reverse
Brakes: Wet, Multi Disc
Steering: Hydrostatic Power Steering

PTO
Type: Independent
Rear PTO: Standard (540 rpm)

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
Implement pump (gpm): 7.9
Steering pump (gpm): 4.6
Total flow (gpm): 12.5

Category, 3 pt hitch: CAT 1
Hitch Lift capacity (lb): 1,808
Lift control type: Manual

DIMENSIONS
Overall length with 3pt (in.): 118
Wheelbase (in.): 66
Min. overall width with AG tires (in.): 54
Height to top of ROPS with Ag tires (in.): 88
TIRE SIZE

Ag Front/Rear: 7 - 14 / 11.2 - 24
IND Front / Rear 25 x 8.5 - 14 / 43 x 16 - 20
Turf Front / Rear 25 x 8.5 - 14 / 41 x 14 - 20
WEIGHT

Total weight without ballast (lbs.): 2,434