Moving and need to buy a new TLB next year.

[Williy]

When you have a cab no problem with
branches when you clear your path so
you don't have the problem. Now if your
lazy and don't clear the path then look
out!!!!!!!!!!!! I have seen so many tractors
with cabs in the woods and they don't have
broken windows and the only time I have
seen a broken glass on a tractor is when
the door was left open and driver went fast
down the trail in the woods and came back
with the mangled door.
There is always somebody that says
(you don't want a cab in the woods)
maybe they shouldn't drive a tractor in the
woods because they just might get hit with
a branch????????????

willy

 

[Jchonline]

When you have a cab no problem with
branches when you clear your path so
you don't have the problem. Now if your
lazy and don't clear the path then look
out!!!!!!!!!!!! I have seen so many tractors
with cabs in the woods and they don't have
broken windows and the only time I have
seen a broken glass on a tractor is when
the door was left open and driver went fast
down the trail in the woods and came back
with the mangled door.
There is always somebody that says
(you don't want a cab in the woods)
maybe they shouldn't drive a tractor in the
woods because they just might get hit with
a branch????????????

willy

Yup I live in a forest with a cab tractor, cab excavator, and cab RTV. No issues here.

 

[Gator6x4]

Thick, untouched forest that I'm going to need to make some roads through. Moving trees and brush, a lot of firewood carrying. Grapple for moving trees and large rocks. Will need a box blade for the road work and a plow for snow when it comes. Digging a small basement as well as a sunken greenhouse and lots of trenching, burying water containers, etc.

If me I would get a local Dozer operator to rough in the road, clear the home site, dig the partial basement. The dozer operator can push trees over and you can saw the stump off he can stack the logs for later sawing into round and push the stumps off and into a pile for burning.

What you have outlined so far is a lot of back breaking work. The environment is also going to be harsh and unforgiving. Much different than Georgia. Shelter for the tractor and implements should be very high on your priority list.

Given the amount of snow annually in Maine I think looking at a tractor with a cab was a wise decision.

Tym builds a lot of tractor for other people. Any piece of equipment will break if abused and not properly taken care of and maintained. So don’t be afraid of the TYM. The key to longevity is take care of and do not abuse. And always remember as Clint Eastwood said in the movie “A man has to know his limitations.” In your case it will be you have to know the limitations of your tractor and not try to do with it jobs that require a Bull Dozer.

 

[Carl_NH]

SoGeorgia,

Interested in what part of Maine or town are you relocating to?
How much land area are you clearing for your home, then how long of a driveway/road?
Off Grid - do you plan to build the solar array first a ground mount?
Do you have surface water that is potable - stream/lake?
What's your plan - build a combo garage/barn/living area first then the main house? Or will you do a RV or trailer for temp quarters?

This sounds like an interesting project, and looking forward to your adventure!

 

[sd455dan]

Echoing what tractorable said - you might really want a mini-excavator for initial site work instead. You can yank trees/stumps, cut ditches, scoop dirt, etc - much easier with a excavator in the 8,000-15,000 lb range than by abusing a 4000lb tractor.

If the the prices of mini and midi ex's in Maine are like they are around here, I would look for a full size used TLB with a cab and 4 wheel drive in the 12-20k lb range instead, extend a hoe would be a plus for digging at a distance as well.
Full size TLBs may not be the perfect tool for some jobs but am finding they can be a very good Jack of all master of none. A full size TLB will put a 474 to shame when push comes to shove or you need to lift something heavy or high for that matter. Digging bigger stumps will be much quicker as well.

You would lose the abilities of a 3 point though.

I am probably not in the majority but would be looking for 2 Used machines. the full size TLB and then additionally a used 30-50 hp 4 x 4 tractor with some included implements.

 

[mikester]

I think for 26 acres you need a lot more than 20 HP and 2500# of tractor….don’t even get me started with grappling on that light of a tractor.

But let’s hear more about what you want it to do and how much time you want to spend doing it.

Agreed.

Buy a real full sized construction TLB. Use it for 5 years doing the tough jobs, then sell it for what you paid for it.

Then go buy a toy SCUT TLB to putz around the garden with. It will last longer that way.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Isn’t it pretty rocky in Maine?

 

[SoGeorgia]

Isn’t it pretty rocky in Maine?

Yes, yes it is.. Blessing and a curse.. we have lots of rocks for retaining walls and other things.

 

[SoGeorgia]

SoGeorgia,

Interested in what part of Maine or town are you relocating to?
How much land area are you clearing for your home, then how long of a driveway/road?
Off Grid - do you plan to build the solar array first a ground mount?
Do you have surface water that is potable - stream/lake?
What's your plan - build a combo garage/barn/living area first then the main house? Or will you do a RV or trailer for temp quarters?

This sounds like an interesting project, and looking forward to your adventure!

South of Calais, 26 acres on a lake with a stream running through it.
Probably will be clearing half an acre for the house. There will be several driveways/roads through the property. Probably .5 mile total.
The house or I should say cabin is going to be fairly small and I've designed everything around small electrical requirements. The lighting is 12 volt led, 12 volt fridge/freezer. Heat will be a wood stove and backup heat from a propane heater. Cooking and water heating is all propane. Outside of the 12 volt led lighting and fridge the only other electrical needs are my starlink router and computer/cell phone charging and a 12 volt water pump. I've already purchased the solar system, a wind turbine, battery banks and two backup generators. The wood stove, propane heater and water heater have already been purchased as well. I have not decided whether or not I will do a ground mount or roof mount for the solar panels. Will have to start with a ground mount of course while we are building the cabin and living in our RV.
We're super excited to sell this house and get out of debt and live off-grid. The 2 weeks we were there visiting we were fine with 200 watts of solar, water I pumped from our stream and couldn't have been any happier.

 

[SoGeorgia]

So if anyone in interested, and most probably won't be.. we made a video of our trip to our off-grid property.. if you like trees and fall leaves and don't mind suffering through a looooong drive off the main road to our gravel road and property give it a watch.

Disclaimers:
1) this is my first time ever editing a video and I don't run Windows or Mac so I had to find the best open-source video-editing software I could find and then try to figure out how to use it.
2) again, part of the video is a long drive.. there are some key points though that I title on the screen.. leaving the pavement for our gravel road, where our property starts, future driveway location,etc.
3) if you want to see what Maine looks like in the fall, give it a watch and maybe a like, and a comment.. if you get bored easily, don't bother watching

Our first trip to our off-grid property in Maine.

 

[ruffdog]

I watched your video...nice. Next time put black cloth on top of the dash to block reflections. Nice colors and music.

 

[SoGeorgia]

I watched your video...nice. Next time put black cloth on top of the dash to block reflections. Nice colors and music.

Thank you and noted!

 

[DaBear3428]

That 5100 series is definitely nice. What is an average price for one with a FEL and cab?

bought mine here in march for 28k with FEL but cab is not an option nor is HST.

 

[SoGeorgia]

bought mine here in march for 28k with FEL but cab is not an option nor is HST.

dang.. no cab is a deal-breaker

 

[Gator6x4]

Watched your video. Nice scenery , but that is too much isolation for me. Maintenance of the gravel road before you get to your yet to be installed driveway will be a back breaker. About the only way in or out will be with a snow mobile in the winter. Calls for Medical care will require a long wait. How far away is the closest gas station? Grocery Store? Hardware Store? Shopping Mall? I saw mail boxes but don’t remember seeing them in the last minutes of the video. Will you have mail service?

What about a washing machine. Most important when there is two feet of snow on the ground how are you going to dry clothes, bed linens, etc.

Being off the grid does not mean being isolated and a hermit, it means being without electrical or phone service.

 

[newbury]

Good luck in your ventures.
First thing you need to do is figure out how much you like snow. Since Calais gets about 6.5ft of snow a year you'll probably be moving lots of snow to do anything.
I grew up north of Burlington, Vt and we got about the same amount of snow. It was nice when I was young. We were in a house 1 mile up from the "plowed" roads and some winters we did not get out for about a week after a big storm.

Does the TYM 474 seem like a good tractor? Thoughts?

The Tym 474 looks about what you would need as a minimum for your usage, can you afford a front mounted snow blower?

Thick, untouched forest that I'm going to need to make some roads through. Moving trees and brush, a lot of firewood carrying. Grapple for moving trees and large rocks. Will need a box blade for the road work and a plow for snow when it comes. Digging a small basement as well as a sunken greenhouse and lots of trenching, burying water containers, etc.

But you REALLY should spend some time there in the worst of winter.
For making roads hire a dozer, tractors are not made for that type of work.

 

[Jchonline]

South of Calais, 26 acres on a lake with a stream running through it.
Probably will be clearing half an acre for the house. There will be several driveways/roads through the property. Probably .5 mile total.
The house or I should say cabin is going to be fairly small and I've designed everything around small electrical requirements. The lighting is 12 volt led, 12 volt fridge/freezer. Heat will be a wood stove and backup heat from a propane heater. Cooking and water heating is all propane. Outside of the 12 volt led lighting and fridge the only other electrical needs are my starlink router and computer/cell phone charging and a 12 volt water pump. I've already purchased the solar system, a wind turbine, battery banks and two backup generators. The wood stove, propane heater and water heater have already been purchased as well. I have not decided whether or not I will do a ground mount or roof mount for the solar panels. Will have to start with a ground mount of course while we are building the cabin and living in our RV.
We're super excited to sell this house and get out of debt and live off-grid. The 2 weeks we were there visiting we were fine with 200 watts of solar, water I pumped from our stream and couldn't have been any happier.

That starlink setup will pull 100W continuously, so prepare for 2400w of consumption in a day. I have one. It also has a heating element that fires up in the winter to keep the dish clean.

 

[big bubba]

don't put the cart before the horse. like a previous poster said, initially rent out the heavy site work, settle in, & look at your needs. with a setup like that, wouldn't consider anything below 50 hp. & yes, a cab makes sense in that climate.
once you catch the buying fever, esp after a real estate purchase, recommend standing back to look at future picture as well. choose your tractor, then go a size or 2 larger... good luck

 

[Jchonline]

That is a VERY long road to get out in the Winter. If your neighbors arent plowing their part of it, you will have to do it all. The easiest way (but unfortunately the most expensive) is a front snow blower on a tractor with Mid PTO. There is no way I would recommend a rear 3PT for that long of a road. You will be at the chiropractor all Spring trying to get the neck straightened back out!


Looks like a nice property, congrats. Now the fun begins.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Watched the video. Very pretty area.
Where does the roads go past your land? Any other houses nearby?