Hello there. My wife and I are looking to buy a little tractor-loader-backhoe that can do a lot of work, a little bit at a time. We bought a short sale on 5 wooded acres that has been neglected. We have big plans landscaping and cleaning the place up. Also we want to keep up a .15mi driveway and run a tiller a few times a year (dad had a tiller to borrow)
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Fairway,
Others are telling you, you are now done with the spreadsheet . . . and I would disagree . . . because something tells me numbers are important to you.
I would mention as an example that your Massey numbers are off in several spots. A 3pt lift will always be greater than a fel lift and your is way way low. I could go.on . . but my point is your speeadsheet needs work on accuracy but m9re importantly it needs more rows to reflect a series of things imo.
You listed the gc1710 yet for about 1100 to 1300 more than a gc1710 you can get a gc1720 with 2.5 more hp, a better seat that includes both coil AND spring suspension plus a rear light etc..
Your spreadsheet doesn't show sidehill angle stability ratings. It doesn't show the units that have forward engine cooling (like the bx and the massey have). It doesn't show that some tractors on the list are operational at 1500 rpm while others need 3000 rpm to move the fel without growing a beard. Where does your spreadsheet indicate differential lock on it?
My point is not to mock your spreadsheet or you . . my point is to show your spreadsheet lacks things or errors on thi gs that are significant issues that you might miss in a visit unless you know to look for them. And warranty length ??
I always liked the bx products but when I test drove the Massey gc1715/gc1720 I saw considerable differences in cockpit comfort . . In legroom . . In placement of pedals for leg comfort . . In sidehill comfort etc. etc.. take another example . . a gc1710 or 1720 comes with backhoe AND 3 pt unit AND both can be on at the same time. Which otherbtractors on your list do that ?
I think a spreadsheet is a fine thing to use as a checkoff list at dealer visits. BUT it needs to be inclusive of features not just "brochure numbers" that can be wildly varied from reality.
Sitting in the seats and running the units is a great thing to do . . . but it also means you have to understand what you're seeing and feeling too. My gc1715 can rpm at 3200 yet it cuts wonderful lawn at 2400. The point is? Useable power not dimensional power.
Lastly . . too often spreadsheets encourage "bigger is better" and oh so many times it isn't imo. Your initial description talked of a number of things a bx or massey would do very well. Then much later I see a post about leveling 2 to 4 foot sways ??? I'd gently encourage you not to think of a "do it all" machine because then things will not be well done on the smaller side of activities like sidehills and lawns and tighter turning. That doesn't mean a scut is small . . It means it does a great job on 85% instead of a bigger clunkier unit doing an average job on 35% and a great job on 50% . If you once in awhile don't rent something or hire someone for something bigger . . then you got too big and clunky imo.
You're going to do a great job . . Youre just not complete yet imo. Happy days . . this us the fun part.
