Best equipment for sloppy conditions?

[PM1]

The ground here in Virginia tends to be wet, mushy, and sloppy during most of the winter (lots of freeze/thaw cycles to keep the ground saturated with slow melting and rain). Although my 50-hp tractor is my best friend during drier conditions, it can make a real mess when there is standing water on the ground and soft mud.

I'd like to be able to do some simple chores during these sloppy days. The basics would be cutting and transporting firewood, getting around the property for maintenance and inspection, hauling tools/buckets/poles/chainsaw/etc. I don't forsee any need for attachments since the tractor takes care of most needs.

I've thought about an ATV -- certainly a soft footprint, but limited carrying capacity even with a small rack on the rear. Not particularly helpful for firewood and some other chores.

Out of curiosity I also looked up utility vehicles (Gator, Mule, etc.). The prices on these seem to be in the $7K to $10K range. That seems to be a lot of money for a small transport vehicle. That same price range seems like it might deliver a very small used 4wd tractor with loader that would have more uses.


Any thoughts on these or other kinds of equipment that might make sense for sloppy conditions?

Parker

 

[Boondox]

Parker -- I have a Honda ATV with a small trailer with ATV style flotation tires that excels at the things you mentioned. Your winter conditions sound a lot like our spring thaw which lasts from April to early June. That time of year there is plenty of work to do, but the tractor causes tremendous damage to the field till things dry out a bit. The ATV, with the trailer in tow, gives me a huge jump start on those chores.

Pete

 

[IslandTractor]

How about putting dual tires on the tractor?

 

[wushaw]

Have you looked into a Golf cart? There is a company that builds a 4wd electric car that would be light enough to go just about anywhere with mininal disturbance.
I know there are the gas models that will do about the same only louder, faster and heavier.
I use a 2wd electric car on my place and it is really nice and quiet ride, I have a bed to carry whatever I want also maintence on them are real easy, I've owned mine for four years and still on the origional batteries which are almost 7 years old.

 

[GaryE]

Parker,

As Pete mentioned, your winter is much like our spring (mud season as it is known up here). For years I used my old Kubota B6000 with bald turf tires to do exactly what you describe. I got rid of it last spring and I am still kicking myself for doing so. It was the perfect weight, size and power for those muddy jobs.

I think you should be able to find something in that size / class of tractor used for much less than $7K.

Just a thought,

Gary

 

[daTeacha]

I'd go along with Gary. My little B7100 with loader comes in at about 1250 lb. I can go a lot of places in the spring that my neighbor with his "real" tractors can't or won't to avoid compaction. With ag tires, it will mess up a manicured lawn some, but it doesn't do much to the woods/rough unless I repeatedly run over the same path.

 

[PM1]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've considered an ATV with a trailer -- relatively modest cost and certainly seems like it would handle muddy conditions well.

I had thought about golf carts originally; that's what steered me toward small utility vehicles. I'd rather not have to make modifications (little time for customization work), so I think I need something with a cargo bed or trailer right out of the gate.

The small tractor idea is still appealing, although I feel somewhat silly considering buying a tractor when I already own a perfectly good one. If the small SCUT's are really light on the ground, however, it might be a viable option.

Parker

 

[44trxfun]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The small tractor idea is still appealing, although I feel somewhat silly considering buying a tractor when I already own a perfectly good one.)</font>

Ahhh, what's another tractor among friends?? Seriously, I do know what you mean though I'm considering going the other way (smaller to bigger). My GC2300 is quite light on its feet, but one of the tradeoffs is only 6-7 inches of ground clearance. Implements tend to go on the light side, though that may not be an issue for you if you're just transporting stuff. Also be aware the 3PH is often "limited" mostly by lift height. Some on here have made some mods (higher holes in lift arms, Pat's EZ Change, etc.) to offset this, but when things are soupy or you have rolling terrain, the limited lift can be frustrating. If you've got a good setup for long-handled tools, I think the SCUT might be just the ticket, but most of them won't fit very well in the smaller FELs of the SCUTs (at least that's the case for me).

Good Luck; keep us posted.

 

[Deerlope]

Might think about a 6x6 UTV with tracks on the rear.

 

[IslandTractor]

Why not go the double wide wheel route on your existing tractor? You could always convert back to regular wheels after the mud season.