What implements would you suggest for my situation?

[jcombs]

I recently bought a Kubota L3200 with FEL. I will be visiting a couple of farm machinery auctions in February and March, and so am trying to put together a list of items to be on the look out for. Here is my current situation.

I live on 32 acres, which is mostly wooded and hilly. I have a couple of level areas, maybe 6 acres in total. I've mostly cleared both areas, but still have some work to do with removing small trees/bushes, etc. We have a fairly small garden, which we'll be expanding over the coming years. We are considering fencing in the other flat area for grazing some small livestock in the future. Our yard is around 1/2 acre, but I don't need to use the tractor for maintaining it as I bought a tow behind mower prior to buying the tractor that works well for this task. There are some uneven areas of the yard that could probably be helped by a box blade. I have a 300' gravel driveway that I would like to maintain using the tractor.

So far here are the items that I'm thinking might be useful. Box blade, brush/debris forks, 3pt carryall, auger, log splitter, single bottom plow, roto-tiller, bush hog (although my current mower does a good job of this).

Is there any attachment that would do a better job of collecting grass clippings that a lawn sweeper? With cutting long grass I wonder if something like a hay rake would be more beneficial. Any specific implements that might help with pulling up small trees or with dragging/moving larger logs?

Any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I don't plan to buy all of these items, especially not right away, but I want to have a good list of things to look for in case I find an exceptionally good deal at the auctions.

 

[joshuabardwell]

With a 300' driveway, I would consider a land plane if I saw a good deal on one.

 

[zzvyb6]

8' york (landscape) rake, pto generator, post hole digger, boom pole, 6' box blade, 6' rototiller, extra front weights, fence stretcher. The usual stuff.

 

[jcombs]

Thanks for the quick responses so far. I forgot to add a bit of additional info.

For turning under cover crops and crop residue, would you suggest a set of disks or just a plow?

 

[mowin]

A grapple bucket would be at the top of my list...

 

[greenthumb]

Backhoe, logs splitter, 3 point chipper, fertilizer spreader, tractor can. Hey it's not my money

 

[greggh]

You might think about a cultivator.

 

[lutt]

I will throw this out there about farm sales, price the equipment that you want on cl and the dealers,first, find out how much it is bringing new and used. In our neck of the woods farm sell equipment will sometimes bring new or close to new prices. Do your homework. I have been going to farm sales for 20+ years. There is always going to be bargains at sales.But more often than not,there isnt. Depends on the crowd that is there and how many are interested in the same piece of equip. And you dont want to bring home someone elses junk. Not trying to be discouraging, enjoy your tractor and your place, I am doing some thing similar with my 16 acres. Have fun. LUTT

 

[jcombs]

I will throw this out there about farm sales, price the equipment that you want on cl and the dealers,first, find out how much it is bringing new and used. In our neck of the woods farm sell equipment will sometimes bring new or close to new prices. Do your homework. I have been going to farm sales for 20+ years. There is always going to be bargains at sales.But more often than not,there isnt. Depends on the crowd that is there and how many are interested in the same piece of equip. And you dont want to bring home someone elses junk. Not trying to be discouraging, enjoy your tractor and your place, I am doing some thing similar with my 16 acres. Have fun. LUTT

Thanks for the suggestion. That's pretty much what I as planning. I figured if I can put together a list of equipment to be on the lookout for I could start researching prices. My plan is to go to the sale with a list of items, along with new and used prices that I can reference for deciding which items to bid on, and how much to bid. I've been told that there are some good deals to be had at this particular sale, although I'm sure that varies from year to year and depends a lot on the type of equipment one is interested in.

 

[lutt]

Thanks for the suggestion. That's pretty much what I as planning. I figured if I can put together a list of equipment to be on the lookout for I could start researching prices. My plan is to go to the sale with a list of items, along with new and used prices that I can reference for deciding which items to bid on, and how much to bid. I've been told that there are some good deals to be had at this particular sale, although I'm sure that varies from year to year and depends a lot on the type of equipment one is interested in.

Sounds like your on the right track. I like farm sales,especially retirement ones.We used to travel up to 300 mile radius for them, not much anymore.You might keep track of the local FFA chapter sales. I know my daughters chapter farm sale auction is coming up in the middle of Feb. They always have some interesting items at theres. LUTT

 

[RJJR]

A grapple bucket would be at the top of my list...

X2.... You'll be amazed at how useful a grapple can be. If done properly it makes short work of small trees.

 

[newbury]

If your planning on continuing in farming for a long time look into investing in a skid steer style quick attach What is Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach . This will allow you to "swap" expensive attachments for relatively low cost. Moving items between platform is so much lighter on the wallet. I'm planning on moving my $7,000 backhoe from my B7610 to my M4700. For a $200 bracket.

Build up a spreadsheet of all the items you can think of and put in prices you find at B&M retailers, best online retailers, auctions, Craigs List for rapid reference.

I was searching Craigs List one night for pallet racking and up popped a Stihl 088 chainsaw for $450. Easily valued at over $1,000, the guy had to get rid of it, I got it the next day. You might find a boom pole for $10 because someone had to clear out the garage.

And for moving larger logs look for a log arch.

 

[Baby Grand]

If you are mowing tall field grass you are probably producing "short" clippings, unless you are using a sickle bar or similar mower.
Picking up short grass clippings is tough. We do this and use the clippings for mulch. I had zero luck with various rakes.
The best way we have found is to suck them up with a Cyclone Rake.

I second newbury's idea of getting a log arch for log handling. I'll be making one in the next few months.

A set of pallet forks and some good, heavy pallets will prove surprisingly useful.