New member

[Kalle]

Greetings from Maine. I decided to join this group to gather more information on what will be the right tractor for a purchase. We own a home in Southern Coastal Maine and a large wooded property in the Western Mountains region. I consider myself the ultimate do-it-yourselfer. We're currently building a masonry patio behind our home which I am excavating with a Yanmar mini excavator and a DR Power wagon to haul spoils, rocks, stumps and stones. We burn wood and I mill a lot of logs with my Alaskan Mill so the right machine will need to suit a number of purposes. I also plan to construct a large wood shop, so I'd look for a machine that can support that effort as well. I look forward to corresponding and learning.

 

[jeff9366]

Will you trailer new tractor between properties? Does the highway dip and climb repeatedly? Do you own a suitable trailer, suitable vehicle?

Is road maintenance something you need to do? Gravel? Dirt? Is snow removal important? How much snow?

How much land do you have at each location? Flat/hills?

What is The Plan for the Western Mountains property? Crops? Orchard? Food Plots? Fences? Tracks/Trails?

Will you do your own tractor maintenance and repairs? [Probably, YES.]

What tractor dealerships are around Cape Neddick and between Cape Neddick and your Western Mountains property?

Budget for tractor?



Based on your opening post I offer these primary recommendations:

1. Minimum 12" ground clearance

2. Front End Loader (FEL) with Skid Steer Quick Atttach (SSQA), Heavy Duty Bucket for FEL, which requires SSQA on FEL; Four Wheel Drive.

3. Grapple for FEL; requires SSQA on FEL. (To transport logs dirt free.)

4. 3,000-4,000 pound tractor weight, without FEL, Hydrostatic transmission (HST).

Probable 60" - 72" outside-to-outside tire width, depending on tire choice.

5. $25,000 - $30,000 new, well optioned, but without implements. +$$ if you decide on a Cab for winter comfort. (Tractor pricing is most negotiable when there is snow on the ground.)

In some states ag and forestry equipment is sales tax exempt.

(We EXCEL at spending other people's money on T-B-N.)



LINK TO LOGGING TRACTOR THREADS:

https://www.google.com/search?clien...tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[OZisKTB]

Welcome from VA. I just purchased after lurking. Have similar needs, but much less snow. For logs and rocks I got a 4N1 bucket instead of grapple. Many opinions about the trade-offs. Surprises I'm finding are the post-purchase costs, primarily for weight to counterbalance my loader. Filled tires, 2-400lbs wheel weights and 1200# on the 3pt just to safely drive around with a bucket full of dirt was an expense I missed.

 

[mguitas]

:welcome: