Best, smallest, tractor with bucket and rear hoe?

Billy_S · May 19, 2006

If the ONLY thing I needed a tractor for was to clear one acre, I would hire that done, then buy a riding mower.

The Kubota and the John Deere that others have mentioned are the only ones I am familiar with. While good units indeed, there is no way, in my mind, it makes economic sense for you to buy one, based on the needs you have described here. What you will end up with is a VERY expensive lawn mower.

All that being said, if you can afford it, go for it. If money isn't an object, you certainly won't regret spending it on a nice tractor. The more tools the better. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Billy_S · May 19, 2006

If the ONLY thing I needed a tractor for was to clear one acre, I would hire that done, then buy a riding mower.

The Kubota and the John Deere that others have mentioned are the only ones I am familiar with. While good units indeed, there is no way, in my mind, it makes economic sense for you to buy one, based on the needs you have described here. What you will end up with is a VERY expensive lawn mower.

All that being said, if you can afford it, go for it. If money isn't an object, you certainly won't regret spending it on a nice tractor. The more tools the better. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

daTeacha · May 19, 2006

The type of unit you seek is usually marketed as a TLB, for Tractor, Loader, Backhoe. These are fairly commonly stocked in most any tractor store that sells compacts and sub-compacts.

The typically encountered brands will have TLBs in their lines, but you might want to think about the size of your investment versus just getting the tractor/loader with a mid-mount-mower, or MMM. Compare the cost of the backhoe attachment against the cost of renting a small excavator or similar rig for the jobs you want to do. Consider having renting a stump grinder instead of digging them out and leaving a big hole in the yard plus a stump to dispose of. With one acre, I can't imagine that you'd run up several thousand dollars in rental time or contractor fees. When you're done digging up stumps, what else will you do with the hoe? A number of guys here who have one say it sits around taking up space about 98% of the time or more.

I have nothing against having neat toys to work with, but a backhoe is a lot of money that may not get a lot of use, whereas a MMM will.

The BX series Kubota will fill all these roles well. It looks almost like a large riding mower rather than a big tractor that shrunk. They are very nice machines, as are the JDs and the Case/New Holland estate tractors like the DX18E.

daTeacha · May 19, 2006

The type of unit you seek is usually marketed as a TLB, for Tractor, Loader, Backhoe. These are fairly commonly stocked in most any tractor store that sells compacts and sub-compacts.

The typically encountered brands will have TLBs in their lines, but you might want to think about the size of your investment versus just getting the tractor/loader with a mid-mount-mower, or MMM. Compare the cost of the backhoe attachment against the cost of renting a small excavator or similar rig for the jobs you want to do. Consider having renting a stump grinder instead of digging them out and leaving a big hole in the yard plus a stump to dispose of. With one acre, I can't imagine that you'd run up several thousand dollars in rental time or contractor fees. When you're done digging up stumps, what else will you do with the hoe? A number of guys here who have one say it sits around taking up space about 98% of the time or more.

I have nothing against having neat toys to work with, but a backhoe is a lot of money that may not get a lot of use, whereas a MMM will.

The BX series Kubota will fill all these roles well. It looks almost like a large riding mower rather than a big tractor that shrunk. They are very nice machines, as are the JDs and the Case/New Holland estate tractors like the DX18E.

Bob_Skurka · May 19, 2006

JD 110 tractor-loader-backhoe. 

( Take a look at the CK (20,25,30) model line of tractors )

As far as the JD110 it very over rated I have a L48 Kubota and a friend of mine has a JD and the Kubota will run rings around the JD and my kubota is 3 years old 

Uh guys, just for reference, this guy has a 1 acre property. Don't you think that some of those choices are a little large for 1 acre? The largest tractor I could reasonably see him use is the CK20. But lets be honest, for 1 acre he could do most of the chores with a garden tractor and rent a small backhoe to pull the stumps. It would save him about $10,000 over the price of the small tractors mentioned here, and probably save him $30,000 over the price of the commerical grade stuff.

Bob_Skurka · May 19, 2006

JD 110 tractor-loader-backhoe. 

( Take a look at the CK (20,25,30) model line of tractors )

As far as the JD110 it very over rated I have a L48 Kubota and a friend of mine has a JD and the Kubota will run rings around the JD and my kubota is 3 years old 

Uh guys, just for reference, this guy has a 1 acre property. Don't you think that some of those choices are a little large for 1 acre? The largest tractor I could reasonably see him use is the CK20. But lets be honest, for 1 acre he could do most of the chores with a garden tractor and rent a small backhoe to pull the stumps. It would save him about $10,000 over the price of the small tractors mentioned here, and probably save him $30,000 over the price of the commerical grade stuff.

coasterez · May 19, 2006

I'm with you on this one Bob. A CK20 is big for that size lot, and would be a good choice, especially for the digging. But the BX is probably better for mowing.

Huh! Who am I to talk. I bought a CK25 for a mere 2.5 acres /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Bought too small the first time, and wasn't going to let it happen again. (There's a lessen here for the original poster). I now have a lot of money tied up in 2 tractors. But, boy is it ever fun, and nice to be able to do just about anything when I need to.

coasterez · May 19, 2006

I'm with you on this one Bob. A CK20 is big for that size lot, and would be a good choice, especially for the digging. But the BX is probably better for mowing.

Huh! Who am I to talk. I bought a CK25 for a mere 2.5 acres /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Bought too small the first time, and wasn't going to let it happen again. (There's a lessen here for the original poster). I now have a lot of money tied up in 2 tractors. But, boy is it ever fun, and nice to be able to do just about anything when I need to.

KentT · May 19, 2006

(
Uh guys, just for reference, this guy has a 1 acre property. Don't you think that some of those choices are a little large for 1 acre?
)

Bob, IMO that serves to make the earlier Power Trac recommendation even more appropriate. Rather than a $4000 to $5000 backhoe, it uses an $1100 minihoe...

That gives an awful lot of "hoe" functionality at a small fraction of the cost... the other common attachments cost about the same as for a SCUT.

KentT · May 19, 2006

(
Uh guys, just for reference, this guy has a 1 acre property. Don't you think that some of those choices are a little large for 1 acre?
)

Bob, IMO that serves to make the earlier Power Trac recommendation even more appropriate. Rather than a $4000 to $5000 backhoe, it uses an $1100 minihoe...

That gives an awful lot of "hoe" functionality at a small fraction of the cost... the other common attachments cost about the same as for a SCUT.

Bob_Skurka · May 19, 2006

KentT, you will never hear me suggest a PowerTrac is a bad solution, I'm one of the few conventional tractor owners who also owns an articulated tractor, and who has had a couple PTs out at my property. I'm not sure that the "mini hoe" is up to the capabilities of a Sub-Cut back hoe, and I consider the finish mowing quality of the PT 422 and PT 425 to both be marginal (which is the main reason I purchased a Ventrac instead of a Power Trac), however for an "all around" tractor, it is very difficult to find a machine that is as well suited to the small land owner than a PT.

Bob_Skurka · May 19, 2006

KentT, you will never hear me suggest a PowerTrac is a bad solution, I'm one of the few conventional tractor owners who also owns an articulated tractor, and who has had a couple PTs out at my property. I'm not sure that the "mini hoe" is up to the capabilities of a Sub-Cut back hoe, and I consider the finish mowing quality of the PT 422 and PT 425 to both be marginal (which is the main reason I purchased a Ventrac instead of a Power Trac), however for an "all around" tractor, it is very difficult to find a machine that is as well suited to the small land owner than a PT.

Volfandt · May 19, 2006

Kubota BX24. There still may be very good deals on the discontinued BX23 out there also.

The BX23 and/or BX24 will give you an ample FEL, 6' digging depth BH and when outfitted w/a MMM it will give you a lawn mower quality finish cut. And all these implements can be mounted/dismounted without any tools in minutes......

Now when I take off my orange colored glasses I would recommend putting your seat in the seat(s) of the Kubota BX23/BX24 & the Massey GC2310 as well as the TZ & others and enjoy the process. Go with the one that fits and cranks your tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt

Volfandt · May 19, 2006

Kubota BX24. There still may be very good deals on the discontinued BX23 out there also.

The BX23 and/or BX24 will give you an ample FEL, 6' digging depth BH and when outfitted w/a MMM it will give you a lawn mower quality finish cut. And all these implements can be mounted/dismounted without any tools in minutes......

Now when I take off my orange colored glasses I would recommend putting your seat in the seat(s) of the Kubota BX23/BX24 & the Massey GC2310 as well as the TZ & others and enjoy the process. Go with the one that fits and cranks your tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt

Henro · May 19, 2006

I think the key to the answer is, as Bob mentioned above, the property size: 1 acre.

Since the original poster asked about cost, the $16K+ price of a BX24 or comparable small TLB may come as a shock. Or course, that includes the MMM. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

For one acre, I doubt that I would want anything larger than a BX size machine.

I'm surpirsed the "do you really need a backhoe?" question did not come up! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif (well I guess it did... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

If spending a large chunk of money is not an issue, my advice would be to go with nothing larger than the BX size machine. Get the backhoe, you will love having one. The loader will you love even more over the years.

The small machines like the BX do cut grass quite nice...not that the slightly larger ones don't. But with only an acre of property, the small subcut really is the best match in my limited experience.

Can't really comment on the small power trac, although I do know they are machines loved by those who own them... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Henro · May 19, 2006

I think the key to the answer is, as Bob mentioned above, the property size: 1 acre.

Since the original poster asked about cost, the $16K+ price of a BX24 or comparable small TLB may come as a shock. Or course, that includes the MMM. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

For one acre, I doubt that I would want anything larger than a BX size machine.

I'm surpirsed the "do you really need a backhoe?" question did not come up! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif (well I guess it did... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

If spending a large chunk of money is not an issue, my advice would be to go with nothing larger than the BX size machine. Get the backhoe, you will love having one. The loader will you love even more over the years.

The small machines like the BX do cut grass quite nice...not that the slightly larger ones don't. But with only an acre of property, the small subcut really is the best match in my limited experience.

Can't really comment on the small power trac, although I do know they are machines loved by those who own them... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Iowachild · May 19, 2006

Uh guys, just for reference, this guy has a 1 acre property. ....for 1 acre he could do most of the chores with a garden tractor 

I read a lot of "what size tractor for this many acres". To me it should be what size tractor for the jobs you want to do. (And of course, "what can you afford?) I have a Wheelhorse 310-8 garden tractor. It's a very good mowing machine, a fair snow plow machine and a light wagon hauler. My 1.5 acres has rocks that weigh more than the Wheelhorse I am moving, areas I plan to level out and other jobs that will require three point implements. I'm keeping the Wheelhorse to mow with, but I bought a Ford 1310 for doing the real work. Someday I would love to get something with a small BH. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Iowachild · May 19, 2006

Uh guys, just for reference, this guy has a 1 acre property. ....for 1 acre he could do most of the chores with a garden tractor 

I read a lot of "what size tractor for this many acres". To me it should be what size tractor for the jobs you want to do. (And of course, "what can you afford?) I have a Wheelhorse 310-8 garden tractor. It's a very good mowing machine, a fair snow plow machine and a light wagon hauler. My 1.5 acres has rocks that weigh more than the Wheelhorse I am moving, areas I plan to level out and other jobs that will require three point implements. I'm keeping the Wheelhorse to mow with, but I bought a Ford 1310 for doing the real work. Someday I would love to get something with a small BH. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KiotiJohn · May 19, 2006

I agree that for that property, you may want to just have someone remove the stumps and do some clearing. None of the suggestions is inexpensive, and if you're not going to be doing a lot of subsequent heavy work, that money will be ill spent.

If you think you may buy a larger property later, it makes more sense. Stumping is not as easy as some would have you think. Pine tree stumps, with their long tap roots, require a lot of time to get out of the ground with a compact tractor backhoe. For most folks, just having them ground is sufficient unless one wants to plant a lot where the stumps are, this should be fine.

If you have plenty of money, and don't mind doing so, buying any of the scuts, or a cut such as the CK20 I have should serve you well, but the smaller tractor will have less digging power and clearance than a CUT.

John

KiotiJohn · May 19, 2006

I agree that for that property, you may want to just have someone remove the stumps and do some clearing. None of the suggestions is inexpensive, and if you're not going to be doing a lot of subsequent heavy work, that money will be ill spent.

If you think you may buy a larger property later, it makes more sense. Stumping is not as easy as some would have you think. Pine tree stumps, with their long tap roots, require a lot of time to get out of the ground with a compact tractor backhoe. For most folks, just having them ground is sufficient unless one wants to plant a lot where the stumps are, this should be fine.

If you have plenty of money, and don't mind doing so, buying any of the scuts, or a cut such as the CK20 I have should serve you well, but the smaller tractor will have less digging power and clearance than a CUT.

John