Buying Advice soooo appreciative for tractor buying advice PLEASE!

[IslandTractor]

one more reason for considering a different tractor--my hubster said the TC33D 7308 loader doesn't lift much at all. specs say 875 lbs, trying to lift large logs will flip you over, even with counter weight bush hog in the rear.

T

I'd aim for a minimum of 1100-1200lbs lift and 1500 is better. I used a CK20 with about 1100 and was happy but I'm even happier with 2700lbs on my DK40se. Lifting trees isn't the issue as you can just cut them into smaller chunks. Lifting stumps however can be a challenge for a small tractor. Luckily you are dealing with pine so stumps won't be very heavy.

Also, don't be bamboozled into buying a big expensive and heavy grapple. The simplest grapple you can find will do the job. I have a 48" light duty grapple weighing about 300lbs. I used it successfully on my CK20 and for the past ten years on my DK40se. Never needed or wanted anything bigger for digging stumps or moving trees.

 

[sixdogs]

As a side note, I'll bet you can aerially--plane or helicopter-- spray your trees pretty reasonably on the assumption there is a spray insecticide. We lived through the spruce budworm invasion in northern New England many years ago and spraying took care of the bugs.

 

[NewbieUgh]

We were just looking online at TYM is that the same as Yanmar?

 

[oosik]

If your trees that need to come down/have died are pine - its likely pine bark beetle. There are several species of this beetle. I get the same thing every year and lose about half a dozen per year. There are insecticides that can provide short term treatment. The insecticide is injected into the cambium layer and is not a situation that the normal homeowner will become involved in. However - the normal recommendation is to fell the tree and burn it all. It is a curse of having pine trees - some years are better - some are worse.

 

[TripleR]

one more reason for considering a different tractor--my hubster said the TC33D 7308 loader doesn't lift much at all. specs say 875 lbs, trying to lift large logs will flip you over, even with counter weight bush hog in the rear.

T

Many have rightly pointed out that a smaller tractor will do, just takes a little longer. While this is true, I find operating any tractor at or near its limits to be a bit scary due to stability issues as well as wear and tear on the equipment and operator.

For many of us, time can really be a factor as well. There will surely come a time when "seat time" is no longer "fun" but really hard work and there simply isn't enough time to complete needed tasks. My brothers and I couldn't wait to retire so we would have plenty of time to work on our farms. We aren't even close to caught up and we have tractors from 22 to 85HP.

 

[Wagtail]

one more reason for considering a different tractor--my hubster said the TC33D 7308 loader doesn't lift much at all. specs say 875 lbs, trying to lift large logs will flip you over, even with counter weight bush hog in the rear.

T

G'day and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Seeing as you're going to be comparing a number of different tractor/FEL combinations in different colours, this website should be favourited for reference: TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors

Best of luck in your hunt & enjoy the site.

 

[IslandTractor]

We were just looking online at TYM is that the same as Yanmar?

TYM makes a good tractor. I've noticed though that discussion of TYM has dropped off quite a bit here on TBN and I wonder if they are a good choice. If folks aren't discussing them they aren't buying either. TYM doesn't have any clear advantages over Kioti Mahindra or LS which are better established as brands in USA.

 

[NewbieUgh]

Personally, I would go another route. The New Holland TC33D is a good tractor, I would spend money to dress it up to work. Ask your dealer about adding the quick attach bucket, add hydraulics, grapple, maybe a logging winch... and the other attachments you guys wanted.

Can you get a portable sawmill in there to cut the logs into lumber?? Do you have need for the lumber? What is your time frame? Can you take your time cleaning up the dead pines or do you want a horse pasture tomorrow?

This is a L2800 hst with a green pine... I also have picked up pretty large rock...
View attachment 503779

It's been a great tractor. It's the lift that's a problem. The bucket just seems to stall (sag? not sure the term the hubster used) when trying to get some of the cut lumber to our burn pile.

Website says it's 875 lbs lift. That's really been our first and only problem. She's been a work house since I got her with very few (if any) problems. But aside form bush hogging, we're too limited as to what she can do, that's all. Not interested in creating more horse pastures, don't even have horses!
Just want to more effectively manage a BUNCH of downed trees. Not interested in stump grinding in the woods, wouldn't do it. Just around the house. Yes, we have a Northern Tool portable log splitter, we can use that. To be honest, it's also a safety issue--cut down 2 trees this weekend, the tops stayed up buoyed by neighboring trees. Hubster had to tie a rope to the tops and rock them back and forth for at least 2 hours before they fell. Too much time underneath big tree tops, and I like him and want him around!

So because of this forum, here's what I've learned THIS WEEK!: a. not going with a stump grinder (hubster's so happy I found y'all--he didn't want one--said we should rent)

b. checking out more than just NH and Kubota because those dealers are close.

c. checked out Mahindra, Kioti and LS yesterday.

d. This weekend hitting Yanmar and TYM.

Y'll have been a powerful force in aiding us in our investment, and my spacing issues! Thank you.

Terri

P.S. Best way to determine value of my 2001 TC33D New Holland with bucket and Squealer Bush Hog?

 

[Steve1300]

I have only one pine tree on my property, and I am about to get rid of it. All of the others are hardwoods, so stumps can be very heavy. I needed to be able to lift them, so I have the larger capacity tractor. I certainly would have gone LS if it were not for the lack of hydraulic thumb on the backhoe and the fact that the dealer is closed on Saturday. I think that they are good tractors. I have never had a Mahindra, but I have had two Yanmars which were decent as well.

 

[TheMadOne]

P.S. Best way to determine value of my 2001 TC33D New Holland with bucket and Squealer Bush Hog?

Look at what similar machines are going for in your area on tractorhouse and machinery trader, at a start. Are you planning on trading in or selling before buying the new tractor? If trading in, expect to take a decent ding vs selling, as the dealer needs to flip it at market price and make some money for themselves. though they'll usually give you a bit more of a break elsewhere to take some of the sting out.