Will this do what I want?

[muddyboots]

I am new to the world of tractor buying. I would like to be able to dig a small stock tank, sink piers for a cabin, and do some general field cultivating and light dirt road maintenance. Will a single compact tractor with appropriate attachments be able to handle all of these tasks?

 

[Soundguy]

I'm thinking 24-35 hp machine... backhoe.. auger, cultivator, box blade, angle blade, and optionally, plow, disc harrow, chain harrow, spring tooth harrow, york rake, fel or rear scoop, and a mower suitable for what you cut ( sickle, rotary, finish... ) maybee even a tiller... maybee all if you have money falling out of your pockets...

The field equipment will vary based on what you are growing, and how you maintain it.. row crop.. etc..

Size of the machine will vary based on the amount of property you are maintaining, and how often you maintain it, and how long you want certain jobs to take. For instance.. mowing... if you only do it once a year and have all week.. a 4' mower on a 24 hp tractor will "get 'er done".. if you need a bigger mower.. or spend less time.. you will need more hp.. etc..

Power steering and 4wd recomended for loader use.. may also want HST tranny for extensive loader use... However.. gear and 2wd and manual steering would work.. you just end up with stronger arms and a big left leg.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[muddyboots]

Thanks. Most of the field work will be rare as we are not really farming this land - mostly food plots for hunting. Most interested in whether or not a tractor will work for digging/damming a tank rather than hiring a dozer, especially since the space to get back to this part of the land is tight with trees that I don't wnat to disturb.

 

[3RRL]

Most certainly yes.
Sounds like my tractor use has been similar to what you've described. I'd reccomend 4wd, FEL w/ bucket teeth, backhoe, post hole digger, box blade and game camera. Tractor size/hp depends on size of chores/property and pocket book.

 

[wushaw]

A heavy tractor with BB and FEL with teeth will work on digging your tank but it will take time depending on what size tank you want to dig.

 

[QRTRHRS]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks. Most of the field work will be rare as we are not really farming this land - mostly food plots for hunting. Most interested in whether or not a tractor will work for digging/damming a tank rather than hiring a dozer, especially since the space to get back to this part of the land is tight with trees that I don't wnat to disturb. )</font>Sounds like you may want to mow on occasion with a brush hog or rotary type of mower as opposed to a finish mower. If I was to mow a field that laid fallow for one season, it would be nice to have around 40 (30+ PTO) horsepower for a 6' wide mower.

A six foot mower can grow old depending on the size of your plots. From that perspective, if you go up to say a 15' mower, you might consider a used farm tractor. Big power is cheap.

As for digging the tank, I think you would be better served by either contracting it out or renting a dozer or a skid loader depending on your soil conditions. No doubt, the compacts will do that kind of work. Keep in mind though that you are asking a machine more designed for moving loose material from point to point as opposed to digging a hole. In the end though, it can take more time than you might have planned on.

 

[Osconda]

Muddyboots,

Whether you can do this "digging/damming" work depends on your soil and just how big the job is. It's alot easier to plow up some soil to get it loose then move/push with a loader than to try to dig it all with the loader. For this kinda work you'll need good traction, aka FWA & loaded R1 tires, on your future tractor. If you're just repairing an existing tank I guess you could plow up the center and move dirt to the "repair" area.

It will take some time though. Most compact tractors have about a 1/2 yd. bucket heaped unless you go with one of the larger ones but then again you might be only up to 2/3 yds. I think if you get a quote from someone about repairing the tank for you, you'll probably have a pretty good idea of what your next step might be.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd like to add that if you are really only gonna be digging once.. check the price of a contractor, vs a rental machine.. vs a backhe. Hoes' are gonna start at 4000$ and up.. Do you want to 'own' one for one job? etc..

Soundguy

 

[rambler]

A contractor will in & out in one afternoon, all done.

You will work many days to make a pond with a compact tractor. But it can be done.

What type of soil, & what is it you want to end up with? Couple feet deep, dozen or 2 feet square? Or are you thinking an 8 foot deep, 1/2 acre pond? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif All makes a difference. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If you're getting a tractor, might as well have a loader. Now, loaders can make a hole in the dirt, but the little fellas aren't really made for that. So, you need to choose the time, fresh dirt in spring - not compacted hard dirt in late summer. And going deep is more difficult - if you want deep, then you need to get into a backhoe, which as mentioned is a lot of money for one hole....

If you understand there are limitations, then yes, you can make a hole with a compact tractor.

--->Paul

 

[meledward23]

Although I must add my backhoe is the best "Toy", err, work implent I have. Perhaps a little over stated, but true.

Jobs, fixing drainage were a ditch is need more than grading, cleaning out drainage ditches, digging holes next to the yard water hydrants (instead of by hand) to replace them, removing old stumps, etc....

I love my hoe, and wouldn't trade it for any other implement, etc the FEL with QA Bucket or Forks.

It depends on how much land you have and all, but I would imagine a good 35hp tractor would be about right. for working near and around a house this is about as big as I would want to go. And for the other work you described and a hoe, I dont think I would want to be much smaller.