Buying Advice Narrowing the tractor selection pool

[biodegraded]

This is my first post. Short background: I am buying a 10 acre property in the hills west of Junction City, OR. Seven of them are pasture and will be the main focus of my initial work. The place has been untended for several years. The last time I worked on a farm was 1976, so I'm rusty. Also, aside from being 40 years ago, it was 5000 acres, so the machines were of course gigantic and not relevant to my current situation. I have decided to go with Kubota based on their reputation and the simple fact that they have an apparently decent dealer closest to me. (Mid-Valley Tractor Company in Eugene.)

The reason for my post is to focus a tractor selection based on the vast experience on this site. Here are the tasks I know I need done:

• Junk removal. Old farms accrue junk, it has its share.
• Demolish (small) out buildings. There are several in stages from still standing to completely collapsed.
• Dig holes. There will be much fence work needed. Also quite a few trees will be planted on the perimeter.
• Blackberry thicket removal. My god those things get huge in Oregon! One is 15' tall by 60' across. No idea yet how to rid them.
• Level paths. Driveway is 750' + side paths.
• Mow pasture fields.
• Two years later or so there will be some excavation.

Common tasks not relevant to me:

• No turf.
• No snow worth bothering with.

Attachments I know I'll need:

• FEL
• BB
• PHD
• Field mower of some kind. I don't have any experience in these.

I would appreciate suggestions on models to focus on. I have ideas from my own research of course, but I won't mention them to muddy input. Input welcome and thanks.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My first thought would be an L3800 if any are still available, or an L3901 for a basic machine. But then if you want nice, a few bells and whistles, then an L 3560 or even an L4060.

Sounds like you will be doing some grading, so be sure to get some rear remotes, 2 even 3 so that you can get top & tilt cylinders for your 3pt hitch and still have an extra for an implement cylinder.

Lots of different implements to make life easier.

 

[jeff9366]

In tractor-speak a Field Mower is called a Rotary Cutter. The best known brand of Rotary Cutter is 'Bush Hog'.

A Rotary Cutter on the Three Point Hitch and a Ratchet Rake attachment for your bucket will handle those Blackberries, although control will take a couple of seasons. If you want to speed up control spray herbicide after mowing brambles down.

The Ratchet Rake is also good for minor grading of all sorts.

If you acquire a heavy enough tractor with a proportionately heavy FEL and bucket, a <$400 Bucket Spade attachment works very well for planting trees.

I have a Kubota L3560, my third tractor, and rate it a great tractor-loader. I was out rough cutting brush with my Land Pride (brand) RCF2060 Rotary Cutter all morning. Like so many others it took me quite awhile to realize what 'enough tractor' would be for my conditions.

LINKS:

http://www.ratchetrake.com/images/ratchet_rake_brochure.pdf

RCF2060 & RCF2072 Series Rotary Cutters | Land Pride


WELL COMPOSED FIRST POST.

 

[k0ua]

If you get a machine with a SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) front bucket, you won't regret having that option to add pallet forks and most importantly a grapple later on. A grapple is a great thing to have to clean up junk piles, move rocks and logs, and general brush and downed limb cleanup. Really saves on manual labor. Would you like to have a right hand that can pickup over a thousand pounds (or more) materiel and move it rapidly to another location without much effort.? That is what a grapple is, an extension of your hand. The key to versatility is SSQA on the front of your tractor. I don't know why they all don't come with it.. Just the money I guess.

 

[biodegraded]

The first big decision for me in the Kubota line was whether the go with the B series or L series. From what I'm reading here, L is the way to go. The ratchet rake looks like what's on the front of combines. Thanks for the replies so far.

 

[jeff9366]

The first big decision for me in the Kubota line was whether the go with the B series or L series. From what I'm reading here, L is the way to go.

Preceding the L3560 I had a Kubtoa B3300SU, purchased new. Good machine but I worked it too often too close to the margin in my woods work. Working a tractor beyond its capacity is not safe and it adds to maintenance. Also, the underside of the B3300SU, in common with all the B's, is somewhat vulnerable to brush in hard woods use.

The considerably heavier L3560 is much more stable. The telescoping and pinned Lower Links make hooking up implements relatively easy. The underside is well shielded and I do not hesitate to bull through the heaviest vegetation when using the Rotary Cutter.

I have SSQA option on FEL.

The L3560 is a 'keeper' for me.

 

[big bubba]

btw: careful when taking down old shacks for safety & FLATS! best of luck

 

[varmint]

The advice about the SSQA is good! I was just in Ireland, walking in the countryside, and EVERY tractor I saw there had quick attach on front. Once you have/use it, you'll never be without it again. Weight is your friend, HP maybe not so important if you have time and not so much money. Smaller engines will get the job done, just not as fast. But for some jobs, a good choice. 30 HP or more would be what I would look at. A hydro tranny is good for loader work and worth the cost, IMHO.

 

[Rmart30]

L3800 or L4600 ... bigger is better than small in tractors. The hydro trans will spoil ya if you choose to go with it.. Drive both styles at the lot and see what ya like better.
Cant go wrong with Landpride implements. Their website and brochures are very well done and unlike most others they list a max cutting diameter on their cutters... Not all are created equal. They vary from 1" to 4" rated cutting size.
At least one set of rear remotes. they can always be used with longer hoses to use a front grapple etc.

 

[bigballer]

35-40hp. I will second the grapple and ssqa recommendation. Like having a hired hand. If your thinking about haying the pasture you will need 50 hp. I have a L3400 and would be capable of all those jobs but sometimes I wish it were a bit bigger (mowing fields).