Small tractor advice

[bdog]

I guess I'm missing something. Why would you need a bucket to unload a dump bed? Isn't the purpose of a dump bed to be able to unload it by dumping?


Load it with your big bucket, use the ATV to move it where you want it, raise the bed and dump as you go to spread. Then use a pull behind rake on the ATV to further spread and level.

If you don’t care about spilling the material you are loading that would work fine. I want to scoop the material from my big dump trailer and take it directly to where it goes. The big trailer will be parked in an area that has crushed asphalt on the ground. I won’t be loading from a big pile where I don’t care about spillage.

I have a big dumpster that is five feet wide. Many times I have tried to clean up debris from various projects with my skid steer and dump it in the dumpster. It is amazing how much ends up on the ground due to the bucket being 2’ wider than the dumpster.

 

[rodneyn]

25 hp tractor on 2 series frame any brand will fit your needs. You will have to review bucket to pin lift capability it is slightly different between brands. If you go to big you do lose maneuverability and will need heavy weight trailer to move unit. I have both 2 series and 3 series in LS . There is a big difference getting in tight spaces and visibility on frame sizes. Many people have the 1 series and believe it痴 great , they don稚 take in mind ground clearance and weight that comes with the 2 and 3 series tractors. Find a trustworthy dealer buy their brand offered you need service if you not going service yourself. Have fun test driving tractors that appeal to you, soon one will be yours.

 

[MossRoad]

We have an 18' steel deck car hauler trailer with removable sideboards ( 2x12's in the stake pockets ). I use that to haul purchased mulch, crushed stone, or to get black dirt from our remote property. When I come home, I just drive the little PT425 right up the ramps and scoop the material up and off I go. Leaves very little mess.

The car hauler trailer is low enough that I can load it from the sides with the PT. That's one thing that should also be mentioned about the smaller PTs is that they don't lift high enough to load modern pickups from the side, unless you'd use a 4-in-1 bucket and dump it out the bottom. The larger PTs wouldn't have a problem. With that being said, I never load a pickup from the side at my house. I'm always bringing things home, but never hauling loose material away, so it's not a problem for me. I don't own a pickup (at least a driveable one) anymore. We haul the car trailer with a Suburban. Works for us.

 

[MossRoad]

Machine weighs about 1500# with me on it.

Lift capacity for me with bucket on is somewhere between 840#

and 900#

 

[MossRoad]

From 2003, unloading crushed limestone from car hauler.

 

[MossRoad]

Anyhow, any small machine will be better than a wheelbarrow. Good luck in your search. :thumbsup:

 

[Jstpssng]

What is this "wheelbarrow" that people keep referring to? I gave mine to someone who needed it, after buying my first "Bota with a Loda"... that was almost 20 years ago and I haven't missed it yet.

The OP just needs something small to complement his existing fleet, so his options are nearly unlimited. It would be interesting to watch if he does decide on a PowerTrac, currently there's only 1 posting member who actually owns one.

 

[airbiscuit]

I hate to say it, but a Power Trac PT 425 sounds like the cats meow for your needs. Some people think they are better than any CUT ever made (agree to disagree here), but it would be superbly well suited for the tasks you describe.

 

[MossRoad]

What is this "wheelbarrow" that people keep referring to? I gave mine to someone who needed it, after buying my first "Bota with a Loda"... that was almost 20 years ago and I haven't missed it yet.

The OP just needs something small to complement his existing fleet, so his options are nearly unlimited. It would be interesting to watch if he does decide on a PowerTrac, currently there's only 1 posting member who actually owns one.

There's many more of us over in the PowerTrac forum.

 

[bdog]

The power tracs are not cheap. Actually cost more than I could get a tractor for. The price really jumps if you go to a diesel one. I am really partial to diesel as everything we have is diesel and we have a bulk tank here. Still researching. They are neat though.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd still think long and hard about a PT purchase before committing VS a standard CUT. You have to know what you're getting into. You're the mechanic. Resale value VS tractor. Proprietary implements, but you can easily adapt anything to it. Just be certain it's a good decision for you VS anything else.

With that said, drive as many small machines as you can. Some are uncomfortable, some are fantastic. Some have strange control locations, etc... make sure it fits you well if you're gonna be on it all day. Operator comfort is a big plus in my book.

 

[MossRoad]

The power tracs are not cheap. Actually cost more than I could get a tractor for. The price really jumps if you go to a diesel one. I am really partial to diesel as everything we have is diesel and we have a bulk tank here. Still researching. They are neat though.

Yes. They used to be very inexpensive VS a tractor. In the last few years, the prices have risen. I'm guessing it hasn't hurt their sales.

 

[mred2]

I have an Ls XR4150 tractor for farm use. But around the house, my wife will not let me take it. She calls my son on his 26hp. No water in the tires and no weights. Almost everything he does is with the bucket and the pallet forks. Unless it is wet, keep it out of 4WD (may need 4WD if FEL is full). For what you want the turf tires. HST drive. You can open the back of the dump trailer, get a load of sand with the bucket and shake it out on the yard. It will not be for pulling. But can pull a 60" finishing mower. Drive all that you can. You will find that some of the seats and controls just fit and fill better to you. One of the best reasons that I liked my LS was the feel of the controls to me. With HST drive, you will have more control of the speed of the tractor.

 

[bdog]

Pulled the trigger on a BX23S today. I used to have a mini excavator but sold it because I couldn稚 justify a 50k machine sitting around getting used so infrequently but I miss having a backhoe around and have had to rent one a time or two for various projects. The cost differential to get one on the BX was a no brainer in my eyes to have something to dig with for those random projects. I likely wouldn稚 use it to bury 900 of gas line 4 deep like we did earlier this year but I can see it being extremely handy.

It has R4痴 which I would have preferred turf tires but they didn稚 have any in stock. My dealer said try it out and if I still want turfs he will swap them at no charge and can have them in a week.

I was really contemplating the power trac but I have this machine now and can start my projects in the morning and take advantage of my time off work.

 

[MossRoad]

Nice machine. Post some pics of your projects. :thumbsup:

 

[WW2017]

OP, I purchased that same model last year and have put about 100 hrs on it in less than a year. I am EXTREMELY pleased with it and from what you're needing it for, I think you will be happy as well. I use it probably 90% of the time on the "lawn," but it also is used in the woods and to maintain my 22 acres. I will never be without a backhoe. It takes a little longer to dig out a stump but it hasn't failed yet. The only time I put ruts in the yard was when I did some work knowing it was too wet. But I NEEDED SOME SEAT TIME!!! My fault, not the machine! The loader has it's limitations, like any machine, but you sound like an experienced operator so will know when you're pushing it too hard. Congrats. Hope you are as happy with it as I am with mine. Take care.

 

[bdog]

I put about three hours on it today. I like it. Takes a while to get used to doing things at a slower pace as I am used to my skid steer which can lift 4,000 lbs but this BX is nimble and gets lots of places.

The R4’s didn’t tear up the grass but are there wider tires available? The small footprint sinks into the lawn. It never broke through the grass as it wasn’t muddy but impressions are definitely there.

I picked up two yards of river rock and used the BX to carry it into the backyard to put around some plants. It worked well and could lift a full bucket of rock.



The backhoe came in handy to drag the rock to the back of the trailer so the loader could reach it.




Treading lightly on the grass.



Once I was done with the rock I went and picked up two yards of sand to level out the lawn. It wasn?t bad to begin with but I mow it at 1/2? with a reel mower and want it smooth. The BX carried full buckets of sand with ease and I raked it in.



Once the sand dried out I was able to really work it in and get a smooth surface. Notice the tractor tracks.



Tomorrow I have to do the other half of the yard. It is larger probably need at least three yards of sand.

 

[MossRoad]

Getting that work done! :thumbsup:

 

[WW2017]

Looks great bdog. It was 103 with heat index today at my place (Missouri). That pool cooled me off just looking at it. Congrats again and thanks for sharing the pics with us.

 

[bdog]

Thanks guys. Only 93 here today and it was so nice. Last couple weeks we had multiple days over 110. The water temp in the pool got up to 98 and it wasn’t even comfortable.