FELs arn't worth the risk!

[knucklehead]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

<font color=blue>"...flat as my living room floor with a few wet spots"

<font color=black>Yep - Sounds like my living room floor before the boys got outta diapers.....

Mark

 

[TBone]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Harv,

I'll bet you're right. If I had one I would probably find (or invent) a lot of uses for it, but right now I just can't justify the expense. Come to think of it though that's never stopped me before./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

When my kids were small, we went to the Smokeys on vacation most summers. They were always fascinated with the rocks because they had never seen any in the creeks and rivers back home and to dig one up in a field is unheard of around here. They always wanted to bring some home with them.

The seven acres adjoining my house are slightly hilly but the other place (about 2 miles from my house) is in what is referrred to as the "flatlands". There are probably a thousand acres that are as flat as can be. Flat land has its advantages but I actually prefer some "hills and hollows". I especially like creek and river bottoms with some slopes. Oh well, we can't have everything.

P.S. I think you overpaid moderators are doing a very good job.

TBone

 

[tdenny]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

TBone,

<font color=blue>"When my kids were small, we went to the Smokeys on vacation most summers. They were always fascinated with the rocks because they had never seen any in the creeks and rivers back home and to dig one up in a field is unheard of around here. They always wanted to bring some home with them."</font color=blue>

Around here rocks grow. Don't bring any home as you might end up with millions of them.../w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Oliver1]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Tbone, I recently purchased a tractor with a FEL. The use will be moving two rolls of hay "one front and one rear" at one time, and loading rolls of hay three high on a wagon. Also, with gravel roads, it's always nice to have a gravel pile so you can easily repair you road after a heavy rain. Also, after heavy rains, it can be used to push rocks back into branches and creeks. Also, my place was logged a few years ago and there are still some logs and heavy bush in my fields that I hope to move. You can also do alot stuff you aren't suppose to do. The farmer across the road said he would stand in my bucket and trim the trees around my fields. It was tempting since I wasn't going to be the one in the bucket, but I passed on that one. As someone else said, it depends on your needs. I think that I needed one as opposed to wanting one.

One other thing, with a quick detach system, it's easy to remove that bucket.

 

[Alan L.]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

I couldn't do without my FEL:

Moving heavy stuff thats in the way.

Moving dirt and gravel.

Moving bags of seed, fertilizer, sacrete.

Moving chainsaw, fuel can, brush cutter, misc to jobsite.

Digging.

Moving logs and brush and putting it ON TOP of the pile.

Shoving the entire brush pile out of the way.

Compressing the brush pile.

Hauling trash from all over to the trash bin.

Knocking down crosstie retaining wall.

Back-drag to smooth dirt/gravel.

Knock down fence posts.

Kock down trees.

Break rotten limbs I can't reach.

Stand in it for cutting branches, antenna work etc.

Tie a chain on it and pick stuff up like a crane - such as new implements you bring home on the trailer.

Picking up the front end of the tractor.

etc.

 

[Rockyroad]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Bought my JD750 in '86 WITHOUT FEL. Biggest mistake I ever made. Went all those years without, and just last Fall bought a Kelly 1000 from Shaeffer (great deal!) and installed it myself one weekend. What a difference in what I can get done in the limited time I have to work.

Just splitting firewood: load the chainsaws, gas can, bar oil, etc. into the bucket with the splitter being towed on the ball hitch. Drive to the wood pile (I buy my firewood tree length in 10 cord loads). I used to fool around with a logging chain to pull the tree trunks off the pile so I could get them down flat on the ground to cut them with the chainsaw. On and off the tractor endlessly. Now I can usually just use the FEL to roll the log off the pile. After the wood is split, I throw it into the bucket and dump it exactly where I want it on the side porch of my log home. I used to do this with a trailer, but that meant handling every piece of wood by hand to throw it off the trailer onto the porch.

I have built two good size brush piles with the loader that I will burn this winter when we have snow cover. The piles used to get really big, but now I can use the FEL to crush down the piles. Will probably burn better being more dense.

Stones is another story. Here in Rhode Island we have nothing but stones. I used to try to get them out using a chain, but now I can usually dig them out with the FEL. I can then put the stone where I want it on the stone walls on my property with the FEL.

Loading stuff in my pickup, moving stuff around the property, moving snow (that's why I bought it), moving brush, landscaping, the list goes on and on.

My first big project this Spring was to move and spread 40 yards of loam I bought. It wasn't even a weekend project with the FEL. Without it, I would have been at this for a month with a shovel and the trailer for my tractor.

Just another thing like my air compressor that you wonder how you ever lived without. Just since this Spring I can see the difference in how my property looks as a result of all the things I can do or do quicker with my FEL.

 

[steveky]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Hi Tbone, not sure if I need one our not. They are putting in on today and I've got lots of jobs lined up for using it. My neighbor has one on his little JD and says its the handiest tool he has with his tractor.

 

[fractal]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Sounds like you keep your property nice and clean. You might not need one. The local community had someone come and whack the weeds on our 20 acre "field" last month. Watched him drive around with the bucket just inches over the top of the field. That way he would hit any obstructions with the fel instead of the blades. Would not be an issue if the grass were kept short so you could see.

I bought my tractor for the fel and the box blade. I don't even own a mower for it. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Hillbilly]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

I have a JD loader on my JD 4400 and I for one would not have a loader unless it was a 4 in 1./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

<font color=blue>"I for one would not have a loader unless it was a 4 in 1"</font color=blue>

Well, while I would love to have a four in one bucket on my loader, I'll still keep the loader without the four in one bucket rather than doing without one. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

It's worth having for me just for ballast, balance and extra stability when I'm using the backhoe.

 

[gerard]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Move/dump 18 yards of landscape mulch every spring.

Load flatbed trailer with horse manure, then drive to back of property and unload same.

Take cap on/off truck

Put 325 gal water tank in/out of pick up.

Lift hay to loft and be able to stack 8 high in barn.

Stack snow banks in winter.

Put wife in bucket to pick high apples

Spread 30 yards of wood footing for arena

Spread 90 ton of sand for outdoor arena

Move 15-20 yards of dirt while regrading pond banks.

Just a few things I've done with my loader. Guess I COULD have used a shovel and wheelbarrow to do all these things, after all they built the pyramids without a loader, but it SURE makes things a whole lot easier!!

 

[dgood1]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

I agree with all of you about the many uses for a FEL. There is however one item that I have not seen mentioned. I like to have it half or more full when I am doing a large brush pile burn. Just my little securtiy blanket.

Don

 

[GlennT]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

As others have indicated, it really depends on your needs. Most of my work with my tractor is in and around trees and bushes or close to fences and a FEL would be cumbersome to work with. For moving dirt and gravel I use a rear scoop, for lifting I have a rear-mounted crane, and for carrying I have a rear-mounted platform. HOWEVER, there are definitely times when a FEL would be handy for moving things. The rear scoop and platform don't lift things as high as desired at times, and I get a stiff neck from backing into dirt or gravel piles to load the scoop. On the other hand, I am able to store the tractor and implements in limited space and the tractor is always easy to service. FELs are wonderful and if the day comes that I see a serious need for one, I'm going to buy one (if I can find an after-market one for my tractor).

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

My family owns a dairy farm and on it they have 3 big John Deere's. In my mind, nothing would look sillier than a front loader on them. I have seen others with loaders on their 95+ HP tractors, but I prefer using the Bobcat for cleaning out the freestall barn. (I sure as heck wouldn't load manure with my nice compact). Ha. Ha.

 

[jimgerken]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Well, my 2 cents worth is this: I priced my new tractor without a loader last fall. The dealer was very surprised but cooperated and gave the bid without it. I later added the FEL. Before purchasing I was like you, listing the jobs for the tractor. What I didnt know, is that the loader would become the most valuable and most used attachment of all. In fact, I have over 60 hours on the tractor and have yet to run the MMM. I have used the tractor and loader to build a shed for storage of the tractor and other things. I built several special attachments to add to the versatility of the FEL, like a personnel cage for high-up construction work, a tined brush-handling bucket replacement with hydraulic grapple, a gin pole to get the trusses and tall poles set. I guess what I'm saying is that your plans will change IF you have a loader. You will find yourself asking "How can I make this task easier by using the tractor?", and the answer will, more times than not, include use of the loader. Put another way: If you buy a FEL, you will never be without one again.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

I'd also hate to be without my FEL but I have to say I think I've used my backhoe at least as much. That is something I tried not to purchase when I was negotiating my tractor deal but the seller didn't want to try to sell the BH without the tractor so I ended up taking it. Not a week has gone by since that I haven't been thankful for his intransigence.

 

[daffyduk]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

INTRANSIGENCE......Good, Gary..Is that contagious? Hope my dealer doesn't get it..or give it to me.
Gene (in Indiana too)

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

Every once in a while all those years spent in school come back to haunt me. I've been told that they mostly haunt others, though. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[lpdcac]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

We bought our NH TC33D tractor with the FEL installed. Not a day goes by that I don't find something to haul, lift, roll over, knock down, or use as an elevated platform with the FEL. Weve put over 250 hrs on the machine in the first year and more than half have involved using the FEL in some capacity. We have/had a small Yanmar w/o the FEL and were never able to accomplish all that needed to be done on the property. My vote goes to the FEL!!

PhilD

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: FELs arn\'t worth the risk!

I even use mine as an 'obstacle detector' when I'm driving across unfamiliar ground covered by tall grass/brush, etc. I angle the bucket up ever so slightly and put the loader in the float position. I'll probably do the same thing when I brush hog new areas, too. It won't stop me from getting a flat tire on something but it sure will alert me to a stump before I hang up an axle or undercarriage or damage the mower on it.