The right tractor for towing/forestry work

[LD1]

Consider at least 60 HP, loader, 4x4, HST and some gnarly woods chains. Wet clay may be slippery. HST should give better traction control.

You may also want to look at a log winch for those areas you cannot access with the trailer.

Some pictures of log gathering equipment.

As much as I wished they had HST tractors bigger than whats currently on the market....I think anything currently with a HST is gonna be too small.

OP: I'd certainly get a loader. Lots of uses in the woods, making trails, shoving brush out of the way, etc. And a loader makes a great secondary parking brake. But I'd set your sights a little higher. While that mahindra is certainly one of the heavier weight 40hp tractors you will find....set your sights toward 7000-8000 bare tractor then ballast accordingly.
Again, I have a ~7000 pound tractor but it is still only a 3800# bare tractor.

One that already starts off that heavy....has bigger tires, more power, and more ground clearance. Then you can load tires and add a loader and get north of 10,000 pounds pretty easy. Lot less chance of a trailer pushing you around on hills and you can be confident you have the power and traction to go up the hills.

Something like the larger 5000-series deeres, or the smaller 6000-series, the M5 series kubotas, or if you are familiar with the mahindras (since you mentioned one) something like a 6075

 

[dodge man]

For what you are doing I’d ditch the log wagon and get a grapple and a logging winch.

 

[Jstpssng]

For what you are describing a smaller sized bulldozer such as a Case 450 would be more suited to pulling your trailer.

 

[Xfaxman]

I am considering purchasing a tractor with the primary purpose of towing a log loader and doing forestry work. Up until this year I've been reluctant on investing in a tractor primarily because of the maintenance requirements. I think the right tool for the right job approach is something had focused on, leaning towards frugal options.

Define "frugal". The best machine for you will cost more than a utility tractor but with 4 wheel steering and smaller size it will tow your log loader where you could not go with a tractor: compact telehandler - Image Search

A used one might be frugal.

 

[4570Man]

For what you are describing a smaller sized bulldozer such as a Case 450 would be more suited to pulling your trailer.

Agreed. A dozer will have much more traction to pull up a hill and much more resistant to getting shoved down a hill.

 

[antryan]

@Jstpssng @4570Man Thanks for the recommendation. I'll admit I am a bit worried on operating a dozer. I probably could handle something similar to the DL450 which is like a skid steer. I do see some really cool loaders out there but I assumed they wouldn't have the towing capacity.

I'll take a closer look at the dozer

@Xfaxman Thanks!! Frugal in my mind includes finding something multi-purpose, at the right price. Finding something used would be a must at this point. I had considered avant loaders which look like telehandlers but I saw the technical specs listed "pulling force" as under or around 4000lb which I assume also applied to rear towing capabilities. The compact ones do look pretty cool, not that looks matter. I'll do some more research on them, thanks!

 

[ptsg]

Define "frugal". The best machine for you will cost more than a utility tractor but with 4 wheel steering and smaller size it will tow your log loader where you could not go with a tractor: compact telehandler - Image Search
View attachment 721248
A used one might be frugal.

No, those machines won't tow a log loader and definitely won't move better in the woods than a tractor. Otherwise, you would see them all over Europe in logging operations, which is exactly the opposite. You just won't see those machines in the woods at all.

These machines are great for yard work but they simply get stuck every chance they get even if the soil is slightly soft, let alone pulling a trailer or something.

 

[Hay Dude]

If you must use a tractor, might want to see if one with duals is available. They would increase pulling and stopping power and stability. I don’t know if all tractors that small are.
However, I had no idea a dozer was an option for you as you had mentioned other tasks.
A dozer would be perfect for that task. Heavy, unparalleled traction, low center of gravity, unstoppable on loose ground and a blade up front for extra stopping power and grooming your trails as you go.

 

[Xfaxman]

No, those machines won't tow a log loader

My V417 is rated at drawbar pull of 7,000 pounds

and definitely won't move better in the woods than a tractor. Otherwise, you would see them all over Europe in logging operations, which is exactly the opposite. You just won't see those machines in the woods at all.

I have used mine in the woods a lot. A tractor could not follow where I have gone in the woods. Turning radius with 4 wheel steer is one reason:

Small size is another reason:

These machines are great for yard work but they simply get stuck every chance they get even if the soil is slightly soft, let alone pulling a trailer or something.

I have owned two different Compact Telehandlers and they can get motion impaired in silt or deep mud. But using the boom have always pulled or pushed themselves out:

Pushed itself out:

 

[ptsg]

My V417 is rated at drawbar pull of 7,000 pounds

I have used mine in the woods a lot. A tractor could not follow where I have gone in the woods. Turning radius with 4 wheel steer is one reason:
View attachment 721274
Small size is another reason:
View attachment 721275View attachment 721276


I have owned two different Compact Telehandlers and they can get motion impaired in silt or deep mud. But using the boom have always pulled or pushed themselves out:
View attachment 721280 View attachment 721279

My 35 HP tractor is rated to pull 7,700lbs and it's like a third the size of that Bobcat, it only means it would sneak even easily in the woods and it actually has the ground clearance to go on the woods.

A 75HP conventional tractor is rated to pull 17600 lbs.

Sure the telehandler can pull it self out sometimes but on the other hand the tractor would've just kept going.

 

[Xfaxman]

Sure the telehandler can pull it self out sometimes but on the other hand the tractor would've just kept going.

Not in the silt, just stuck in deep mud. MF240D 4 wheel drive:

The neighbor's dozer stuck in the silt around our pond:

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^ Your telehandler would be just as useless as that tractor if it also didn’t have the loader.

 

[4570Man]

Not in the silt. MF240D 4 wheel drive:
View attachment 721287

The neighbor's dozer stuck in the silt:
View attachment 721290
View attachment 721291

If you hooked a 7 ton trailer to that dozer and your telhandler and tried pulling them through more reasonable conditions the dozer would win by a mile.

 

[Xfaxman]

^^^^ Your telehandler would be just as useless as that tractor if it also didn’t have the loader.

If it didn't have the loader boom, it would not be a Compact Telehandler.

 

[Xfaxman]

If you hooked a 7 ton trailer to that dozer and your telhandler and tried pulling them through more reasonable conditions the dozer would win by a mile.

What is the top speed of the dozer in reasonable conditions?

The top speed of the V417 in reasonable conditions is 15 mph.

 

[Thunder chicken]

So much good info here and great advice, my experience is pale incomparison…. I tow this dump trailer down the highway…. 6x10, with a cord of wood in it. I like all 70hp to keep it going max speed on the road for the hills. I’ve wanted to add an electric brake controller and use it manually as like mentioned, that weight will push that tractor around especially with the roads are slippery!! (I almost lost it on an icy road… no more icy roads!)
Skid plates will be a great investment, one stick being shoved up into the bottom will rip lines and bend linkages, even those sticks you don’t see! I use forks/grapple to move 8’ logs around and usually put weight on the 3pt hitch for ballast (cast rear rims and wheel weights but it’s not really enough)
Another thing that would help in the woods would be a tractor with a ‘ground speed PTO’ with a ‘powered’ trailer. Some cool homemade ones out there from old bus frames/drivetrain etc.

 

[IndyJay]

^^^^ Your telehandler would be just as useless as that tractor if it also didn’t have the loader.

The bulldozer would be just as useless if it didn't have tracks.

If a frog had wings it wouldn't keep bumping it's ass on the ground.

 

[Jstpssng]

The bulldozer would be just as useless if it didn't have tracks.

If a frog had wings it wouldn't keep bumping it's ass on the ground.

He was comparing a tractor without a loader, to his telehandler which has one to pull it out. It has nothing to do with the bulldozer; rather, he was comparing apples to oranges.

My tractor does have a loader; I have never gotten it into anything I can't get it out of.

 

[4570Man]

What is the top speed of the dozer in reasonable conditions?

The top speed of the V417 in reasonable conditions is 15 mph.

Faster than you might think but a race wasn’t the contest. Pulling the trailer up hill in the mud and then back down controllably the dozer is by far the best tool.

 

[Hay Dude]

Guys….I think the objective here is to not get stuck in the first place. A metal track bulldozer is unmatched. Well, maybe a dual quad articulating tractor could come close. They work nice with a pull pan, but the OP wants something under 100HP, not 500HP