Needing advice on tractor size

[herefromthere]

Is there a particular reason why you want to remove stumps in a clearcut? Doesn't seem necessary for your intended use, and I can't see either of those tractors being up to the task of doing that. If you're thinking of the ones you want to remove for the roads throughout the property, I think you'd be better renting/hiring bigger equipment to do that, THEN buy the tractor that fits your ongoing use(s.)

My L3200 starts feeling pretty big when I get it in the woods or in a clearcut where I have to navigate around random stumps, and it's smaller than the small machine you mention.

While I don't know exactly how you will use your equipment there, I will say that I have a similar property and do similar things with it. I made the mistake of not getting the extra hydraulics, both front and rear. Don't be me in that respect. I would have really appreciated having top & tilt in back and grapple capability in front. My gut feel is that the smaller tractor would serve you better in most cases, save money, and be more trailerable with less truck and trailer. For the few times you want to do heavier/larger stuff, rent or hire the appropriate equipment.

 

[EddieWalker]

I bought my cabbed 4707 brand new in 2022. I got lucky. That was the first year that they had the new AC System. I own 68 acres that was thick woods when I bought it 20 years ago. I mostly use the Massey for mowing with my 12 foot batwing. It's awesome in the heat of summer to be able to relax while being productive!!! Yesterday the temps droped ten degrees in half a hour, so I quit working on my fence and got in the Massey to finish up my mowing for the year. The heater works almost too good!!!

For maintain your land, light loader work like moving round bales, small amounts of dirt and carrying things like firewood rounds, the Massey is a great tractor.

For clearing land, it's not a good choice. While I don't know what other brands are like, I'm pretty sure they are all poor choices for clearing land because they are not designed for it.

If you had unlimited cash, an excavator is the best thing for clearing and cleaning up land. But it's very limited in moving materials.

I bought a used 1998 2wd open station full sized New Holland 555E for clearing my land. The loader is night and day better than the Massey or my 5065E Deere. The bucket holds a Yard of dirt, and it's rated to lift 6,000 pounds. Being able to dig up stumps, take out entire trees or just pull apart a pile of logs is easy with the hoe. Digging anything is easy with the hoe.

I modified my front bucket so it's now a Quick Attach. I have pallet forks for it and a grapple. The grapple was the big game changer. I can dig out a tree, then pick it up with the grapple and carry it to the burn pile without getting off the seat. A 4 in 1 bucket would be even better because I could haul a bucket of dirt back to the hole from the tree and fill it up. Now I use the Massey for hauling dirt to the hole so I can leave the grapple on the Backhoe.

Another plus to having the backhoe is it's great at pulling my lawn mower out of the mud!!!!!

 

[LNSTrees]

Is there a particular reason why you want to remove stumps in a clearcut? Doesn't seem necessary for your intended use, and I can't see either of those tractors being up to the task of doing that. If you're thinking of the ones you want to remove for the roads throughout the property, I think you'd be better renting/hiring bigger equipment to do that, THEN buy the tractor that fits your ongoing use(s.)

My L3200 starts feeling pretty big when I get it in the woods or in a clearcut where I have to navigate around random stumps, and it's smaller than the small machine you mention.

While I don't know exactly how you will use your equipment there, I will say that I have a similar property and do similar things with it. I made the mistake of not getting the extra hydraulics, both front and rear. Don't be me in that respect. I would have really appreciated having top & tilt in back and grapple capability in front. My gut feel is that the smaller tractor would serve you better in most cases, save money, and be more trailerable with less truck and trailer. For the few times you want to do heavier/larger stuff, rent or hire the appropriate equipment.

I want to grind stumps in food plots so I don't have to work around them to seed and mow. I also want to make roads and trails. The only drawback to hiring out a large scale stump removal operation is that I don't have every single thing I want done completely mapped out and it will be an evolving thing as I learn the lay of the newly clearcut land.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I would definitely go with the 50 hp tractor.

 

[paulsharvey]

Maybe Eddie can speak on it more, but for a pto stymp grinder, I dont think the 4707 is needed, and the 2850 might actually be better for it.

I see the main upgrade for 2 reasons; mowing, and PTO needed for that; and 2nd, lifting capacity. 4707 is more, but for what you described, I still lean towards the 2850M. Even more so if the question is a 2850 And $20k, or a 4707; short of batwunf mower or field cultivation/bailing hay; id take the 2850/2860 and the $20k

 

[LNSTrees]

Skid steer isnt what i would recommend for installing food plots.

I honestly think the MF 2850M/2M50, or 2860M, will do 90% of what you want, without being unwieldy. If there is 10% that its just not enough machine for (im assuming that means clean up), hire or rent. Dont know what you are saying on your mill, but 2570# at pins/1880 at bucket edge; probably about 2250 with forks, is a good sized log. You probably arent saying 30 ft whole logs, im assuming you saw 12/16 ft logs.

Its not that the 4707 won't do the job, but it sounds like its size might be a disadvantage in the future

I think you're right about the 2M.60 and it's helpful to hear someone say it. And no, I'm not skidding whole trees. Anything I'm sawing is for sale to boutique type local woodworkers, not commercial volume-based enterprises.

It's just real hard to look at that 4707 (especially the rear end) and turn down all that power. Everything in life has tradeoffs tho....

 

[paulsharvey]

I think you're right about the 2M.60 and it's helpful to hear someone say it. And no, I'm not skidding whole trees. Anything I'm sawing is for sale to boutique type local woodworkers, not commercial volume-based enterprises.

It's just real hard to look at that 4707 (especially the rear end) and turn down all that power. Everything in life has tradeoffs tho....

Mission creep is a real thing... You get something sized for every possibility, and you have $125k, and a 155hp machine... At the same time, ive never found More HP in the same size to be a negative. So, I would consider the 2860 if I was looking at the 2850

 

[paulsharvey]

So, one thing thats hard to see in spec sheets, sales ads or even pictures is Size. Try to find a dealer that had a 28M and a 47 onsite, and look at the physical size difference, at the same time. Big isnt all good, nor is small all good. The 28 series falls into a small utility in my mind, not really a compact utility class.

Its weight is around the top of what I would haul with a 1/2 ton truck, when equipped. "Dry" it should be about 5000#; add a rear pto impliment, and loaded tires; your close to 6500#, a 2000# trailer; its going to be close to 9000# to tow. GVWR trailer 9990#, and a properly set up 1500 class truck or a 2500, no issues.

I also like the idea that your in 6/7 ft impliments, but able to use some 8/9 ft used stuff if the right deal comes up. I think for bushhog, a 7 ft is about right, but a double spindle, 3 point 8 ft is do able too. Dont know Christmas tree farm row spacing, but i assume you mow between rows?

 

[paulsharvey]

I think with the 4707, your already over 7 ft wide, and close to 10,000# when ready to work. Meaning, 7 ft inpliments arent really sized right. If you want some sticker shock, start pricing 8 ft box blades, new 9 ft disc, 10 ft dual spindle bushhogs... A Bushhog Ms3110 is around $15k new.


Transport, you go from a $4500 trailer to haul the 2860M vs a $6500 min trailer for the 4707. More importantly, the 4707 is 8'4" tall, on top of that deck over trailer; and we are at 11 ft to 11'6" load height.

 

[Texasmark]

Skid steer is also a lot better at tearing up the ground. But, like everything else, that can be managed... with 20 point turns. Of course it doesn't sound like "disturbing the turf" is an issue in the OP's cleanup operation.

I'll counter that comment with an operator that is turf condition conscious has no problem maintaining the pristine grass lawn....Just like ZT operators that know what they are doing.