Patiently waiting...

[Einthewoods]

I just ordered my first tractor, and am patiently waiting for it to be delivered in a couple of weeks. I have 20 acres which is mostly hilly hardwoods. I will be using the tractor for moving snow in the winter, firewood work in the summer along with the countless other tasks (food plot clearing, driveway gravel project, etc., etc.)

kubota L3301 - 4WD HST
R4 tires filled
LA525 QA FEL with L2256 66" bucket
PFL2042 42" Forks
E1134 Deluxe fiberglass canopy
Engine block heater


Now on to picking a good grapple and other attachments along with many modifications that I have read about by other members on TBN

-long time lurker, first time tractor owner. Thanks for all the info and I look forward to being a part of TBN.

 

[oosik]

Welcome to TBN and the forum. Waiting is a bi*ch - but you get exactly what you want. You will be getting your tractor just in time to start digging out of the snow. I clear a mile long driveway, my yard and mail box area with a heavy duty Rhino rear blade. A heavy rear blade is a fast way to clear snow and usually less expensive than other methods (front or rear snow blowers or front snow blade). Enjoy the new tractor - go slow and be safe. Read you owners manual - cover to cover. Ask ?? if you don't understand.

 

[oosik]

Just had a thought for you Einthewoods. If you get so impatient that you start itching all over - I have a possible cure. Go to your Kubota dealership and pick up a copy of the owners manual for your new tractor. NOW is a good time to start reading this manual.

 

[nybirdman]

Congrats on the new rig: definitely get a 7ft.rear blade for snow removal,way better than just the bucket.

 

[oosik]

Trying to remove snow with the front bucket will do several things for you. 1) give you quite a bit of seat time with the tractor 2) probably make you frustrated at how little gets done for all the time you spend 3) provide more than adequate first hand experience showing that there are better implements than the bucket for moving snow.

Anyhow - you want as heavy a rear blade as your owners manual recommends( and your budget allows) and a blade that will cover both rear tires while it is offset. This one condition - "cover both rear tires while it is offset" that may push the blade width beyond what the OP manual recommends.

In my case - my OP manual recommends 1000# max with 72" max width. My Rhino 950 rear blade is right at 1000# and is 96" wide. There is no way that a 72" rear blade will cover both rear tires and be offset. My 96" rear blade just barely does the job. Kubota implement recommendations are ultra conservative - as are most tractor manufacturers.

 

[fried1765]

Welcome to TBN and the forum. Waiting is a bi*ch - but you get exactly what you want. You will be getting your tractor just in time to start digging out of the snow. I clear a mile long driveway, my yard and mail box area with a heavy duty Rhino rear blade. A heavy rear blade is a fast way to clear snow and usually less expensive than other methods (front or rear snow blowers or front snow blade). Enjoy the new tractor - go slow and be safe. Read you owners manual - cover to cover. Ask ?? if you don't understand.

Where you are, (South of Spokane?), I am sure the Rhino rear blade does work just fine.
The OP apparently is in the UP of Michigan.
HEAVY snow country!
I would doubt that ANY rear blade is going to be a good snow removal tool for him.
He will very likely need a blower.

 

[Einthewoods]

Just had a thought for you Einthewoods. If you get so impatient that you start itching all over - I have a possible cure. Go to your Kubota dealership and pick up a copy of the owners manual for your new tractor. NOW is a good time to start reading this manual.

Great suggestion! I downloaded the manual and am digging through it. Though, not sure this is helping.

 

[Einthewoods]

Where you are, (South of Spokane?), I am sure the Rhino rear blade does work just fine.
The OP apparently is in the UP of Michigan.
HEAVY snow country!
I would doubt that ANY rear blade is going to be a good snow removal tool for him.
He will very likely need a blower.

I do plan to get a blade. I figure it will help at least as long as I keep on top of it. Use the bucket as needed to move piles and anything else that needs a bit extra. A blower will be nice. I'll be looking into that for next winter once my wife stops giving me the look that she has right now.

 

[Piston]

That’s gonna be a nice setup. Congrats!
I’d love a blower someday as well, but it sure is hard to beat the speed of a blade.

 

[TBN Support]

:welcome:

Waiting is always the hardest part!

 

[George2615]

Welcome to TBN. That's a nice Christmas present to have on order.

 

[fried1765]

I do plan to get a blade. I figure it will help at least as long as I keep on top of it. Use the bucket as needed to move piles and anything else that needs a bit extra. A blower will be nice. I'll be looking into that for next winter once my wife stops giving me the look that she has right now.

I no longer have a need for either blower, or blade.....in Florida now every winter.
I will NEVER forget my 22 Minnesota winters of plowing, with my 8N, and a rear blade.
I was 30 years younger then, but my neck hurts all over again when I even think about it.

 

[txdon]

This is the perfect time to read the owners manual. Have the dealer install some rear remotes (hydraulic connections) for your grapple unless you have another way figured out.

 

[Einthewoods]

Indeed, TXDon. I need hydraulics to run the grapple as well as hydraulics for the rear blade. Not to mention the blade itself I'm going to give them a call this week to see what the bad news would be to add that on. I suspect $800 for each of the front and rear hydraulics, but we'll see what they say.

 

[oosik]

Fried1765 - you could well be right. If the OP is in the UP then all bets are off. Got a friend living in Ontonagon, MI - sends me pics of the snow he gets around there. Keeps wondering why I won't come visiting in the winter. I'd have to have a dog team with wings.

I live around 25 miles due SW of downtown Spokane. OR about 3 miles NE of "downtown" Amber, WA - - ha,ha.

 

[Thomas]

Congrats on your new investment. :thumbsup:
Your bones and muscles will be thanking you in years to come.
Try not to wear holes in your socks as you wait for delivery.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Excellent choice of tractor and implements... Have wifey get a picture of that first, in the seat, smile !!!

 

[Einthewoods]

This whole being patient thing is not all that great. LOL

After reading way too much (mostly on here) I called my dealer this morning and had him add on a Land Pride RB2684 back blade. :dance1:

I just got done plowing the 6 inches that came down over night with my ATV. I now have 4-5 piles all over from the winter so far. The tractor showing up in a couple of weeks will not be too soon and I hope to not be plowing with my ATV much anymore.