need a tractor

[Strappe]

I'm a newbie looking for advice about my impending purchase of some sort of mechanical device to mow grass, mow 6-foot nettles and 2" ailanthus trees, push or blow snow, conquer 30% grades without killing or maiming me, clear of light snow and dirt from a concrete driveway, till a garden, split logs, chip branches. Thinking Steiner or Ventrac. Not sure how much HP I need. partial to gasoline engine, maybe with propane possible. Budget is whatever it takes but not more than that! I'm all in for saving money on used stuff (aren't we all?). I've got about 6 acres, but will only tame about 3-4 more of it this year.

 

[jeff9366]

I'm a newbie looking for advice regarding purchase of some sort of mechanical device to conquer 30% grades without killing me. Not sure how much HP I need. Partial to gasoline engines.

Thinking Steiner or Ventrac. Budget is whatever it takes but not more than that!

Considering safety as a priority is GOOD.

How mechanically adept are you? With your predilection for gas engines you should consider Power Trac in Tazewell, Virginia. There are 182 PAGES of Power Trac threads in the Power Trac Forum.

WEB SITE LINK: Power Trac
POWER TRAC FORUM: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/


Do you have a Ventrac or Steiner dealer within a reasonable distance?

I suggest 35-horsepower to 45-horsepower for six acres of hilly ground and the tasks you have specified.


Three reasons diesel power has mostly supplanted gasoline power in tractors:
1) Tractor work generally requires high torque at low speed. (Also the reason HST transmissions dominate.)
2) Fuel consumption is lower per unit of work with diesels.
3) Heavy weight of diesel engines is positive for tractor traction.

 

[jeff9366]

Splitting logs is cheaper/simpler accomplished in your driveway with an electric powered log splitter.
VIDEO: electric log splitters - YouTube


110V is good. 220V is better.

 

[Strappe]

Thanks for the responses. I thought about Power Trac. No offense to fans, but looking at their machines online, for some reason I am reminded of when I asked for a new Schwinn Jaguar Mark IV for my birthday and Dad got me a knock off brand instead. Within the first month, the fork snapped off at the bottom of the steering tube at speed and nearly killed me.

I am mechanically adept, but I prefer to use those skills restoring autos or building aircraft, not fixing a mower/tractor. I have a local Ventrac dealer, but the closest Steiner dealer is 200 miles away. Local Ventrac dealer does not rent attachments, and doesn't currently carry inventory that would let me demo a machine. Says come back in the spring.