Thoughts on adaptability of sub-compacts

[Brokermike]

I've breached this topic before and at that time simply decided to keep my Massey GC2310 because I was being cheap. However in the last several months I've continued to run into some of the same situations that made me rethink my purchase initially. Essentially the sub-compact just doesn't have the ground clearance to drive in the woods on my land. I'm in the woods frequently as it is the source of my firewood as well as slowly becoming a managed sugarbush. The GC is great around the house for moving mulch and digging drainage ditches and the small size allows me to sneak under trees etc. However I'm at the point where I need to resolve the woods issue and the way I see it is I either buy a small older dozer (JD 350/450 or similar) for the road maintenance and woods work or I upgrade to a larger (32? HP) tractor with ag tires. My land has some swampy areas that I'll be trying to navigate (MY GC gets stuck immediately) and I have no idea which would handle that best, nor do I know if I'd use the dozer enough to justify the maintenance and cost. Has anyone been in this spot before?

Any thoughts

 

[js5020]

I'd plan on keeping the GC or getting a lawn tractor, no matter which way you go, I have a bigger machine and I'm not happy using it for lawn stuff, it's big, heavy, hard to maneuver, not a lawn machine, at least not for me.

 

[Brokermike]

Sorry I should mention that I already have a lawn tractor that I mow with. The GC does not have a deck

 

[pitt_md]

I don't see any way around the swampy issue. Your going to have to avoid that no matter what you have. They all sink in a swamp.

You mentioned ground clearance as a problem. Maybe you could back in with a box blade and level out the rough spots so your GC can move freely?

If none of the above work out then I would opt for a larger 4WD tractor with ag tires AND a dozer to pull it out when you really get stuck.

 

[eanjay]

I began by looking at the MF2310, and then consideration of woodlot requirements took me to the 1523 for the extra bit of clearance it provided.

I now run it with a Firmi Logging Winch in the woods, with a BB and Box Blade for maintaining the woods roads etc. The BH comes in handy for ditching and culverts.

I would suggest that AG tires and probably chains are a 'must' in the woodlot - for a good part of the season around here anyway. Once you lose traction, you are gone - then you are glad of the winch to pull yourself out.

eanjay

 

[ChuckinNH]

I was faced with the same problems when I added another 10 acres of rough woodland to the 3+ acres of open yard that I had. I had a BX22, and ran into the same issues as you have. The choice then was to not do too much in the woods, and improve my logging roads /trails so I could use them with the BX, or sell that, and get something larger. I like the idea of a dozer, but maintenance on anything I could afford ruled them out. Next I decided that I wasn't going to do any "real" logging so that made choices easier. I ended up buying a Kubota B2620. Nothing magic about that of course, but I felt the weight, size, and power were best for my modest needs. It's too light to pull out tree length firewood, but does just fine if the trees are cut down to size a bit. I decided that the extra money for a larger tractor could be better used for things like my chipper, and perhaps a winch, and backhoe in the future. So far I have really been happy that I finally chose to sell the BX, and get something with more clearance, and more hydraulic power at lower rpm, and still have a tractor that I am very comfortable using aorund the yard (loaded R-4's) I loved my BX, but I wouldn't go back now.

 

[Soundguy]

Could always get a chinese 30hp job to fill in where the bx don't like to go.. then you wouldn't be out as much $$.

soundguy

 

[js5020]

Well with Chinese equip already thrown into the ring,,, how bout them China dozers?

 

[LBrown59]

I would opt for a larger 4WD tractor with ag tires AND a dozer to pull it out when you really get stuck.

Now that's a thought.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

They all sink in a swamp.

I agree. You'll always have to use your better(learned) judgement around marshy areas. My 32Hp 4WD with R4's gets stuck in a heartbeat in the mud. Usually I can inch worm my way out with the FEL. Sometimes not.

 

[barneyrb]

Yep,
40hp with R1's. Gramps always said "If it's got tires, tracks, or hoofs it will get stuck".

 

[MossRoad]

Essentially the sub-compact just doesn't have the ground clearance to drive in the woods on my land.

What's it getting caught up on?

The GC is great around the house for moving mulch and digging drainage ditches and the small size allows me to sneak under trees etc. However I'm at the point where I need to resolve the woods issue

What are all the issues?

My land has some swampy areas that I'll be trying to navigate (MY GC gets stuck immediately) and I have no idea which would handle that best, nor do I know if I'd use the dozer enough to justify the maintenance and cost. Has anyone been in this spot before?

Any thoughts

Several options:
Go around the swampy area.
Drain the swampy area.
Build a road through the swampy area.
Improve the floatation of your tractor.

What's do you think a dozer is going to do for you? Just curious.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree. You'll always have to use your better(learned) judgement around marshy areas. My 32Hp 4WD with R4's gets stuck in a heartbeat in the mud. Usually I can inch worm my way out with the FEL. Sometimes not.

Yep.. the stuck-est I've ever been was in a 32hp compact diesel with 4wd, crossing a 'dry' lake bed.. turns out 1/4" crust on top was dry.. but the 3' of muck underneath it was nice and sticky..


soundguy

 

[AndyinIowa]

When I first came here, this was all swamp.

Everyone said I was daft to drive a tractor in a swamp, but I drove in all the same, just to show them. It sank into the swamp.

So I bought a second one. That sank into the swamp.

So I drove in a third. That burned down, fell over on its side, THEN sank into the swamp.

But the fourth tractor stayed up!! And that's what you're going to get, Lad, the strongest Kubota in all of England!

 

[plowking]

Yep,
40hp with R1's. Gramps always said "If it's got tires, tracks, or hoofs it will get stuck".

I've heard that sayin' around here before...however the third part of saying isn't hoofs. Your granddad was being nice. plowking

 

[Soundguy]

I've heard that sayin' around here before...however the third part of saying isn't hoofs. Your granddad was being nice. plowking

I think you might be thinking of the similar saying.. IE.. tires, tracks, ti.. (you know) , it's gonna give you trouble.. etc.

soundguy

 

[threeman]

Doesnt have to be swampy. Here in GA and I am sure in other parts, you can get stuck very very quickly if not careful on a sandhill. I know what your thinking but I have heard if before from my dad but recently saw it for my eyes as well. A cat d8 pushing debree on a sandhill after cutting timber. I mean white sugar sand hill. Abou 1 to 1.5' of sand then some bad ***** gumbo under neath. That dozer was sunk. I really dont know how they got it out. I heard another 330 excavator and d8 came in to help.

When it gets wet you have to watch your attachment very well. The tractor most of the time slips a little and will keep going, but once the implement slides and starts intot he mud it will stick the tractor in about 1 turn of the tires. Or at least before you can get the lift arms back up.

 

[smitty9266]

If you get suck with a small tractor with low ground pressure what will getting a heavier machine with higher ground pressure do. I live in deep south Mississippi you are either in beach sand, swamp or heavy forest "Fluff"( which is by far the worst). I have a 40hp 4wd. I have access thru my Brother-in-law next door to small bulldozers, track hoes, large bulldozers, tracked skid steer and many other types of equipment. He has been trying to clear a piece of land between us for some time, everything getting stuck. I took the chain saw and my tractor, heavy duty bush hog and 3pt skidding grapple and a hyd winch. I was able to clear more efficiently with my stuff than with the rest of the equipment combined.

Did I get stuck....yep lots it is just part of the job, just not a fun part. Pulling cable in 90+ temps and 90-100% humidity is no fun!!

We have found best was not to get stuck is not to spin the tires if you spin you dig if you dig you get stuck. We load the tires and do the work, if you spin STOP the tires. The usual thought is it is almost moving a little more spin and lock the diff and I can pull out, not usually true. You must Lighten the load or push from a different direction change some thing .... after you get the tractor out of the spin ruts.

Have fun and remember our local saying

"we spend most of our day stuck or waiting to get stuck again" or "if you ain't getting stuck, you ain't working"

Jeff

 

[Soundguy]

If you get suck with a small tractor with low ground pressure what will getting a heavier machine with higher ground pressure do. Jeff

You make many assumptions.. Like, 1, that a heavier machine has higher ground pressure. I can tell you that a tractor with some big rear duals, and balloon fronts can have less gp than a lighter tractor with narrow ags or rice tires in the rear and 1-2-3 rib implement fronts...

I have a d4lgp dozer setting on my lot that weights more than the d5 next to it.. but is les GP than the d5, due to it's footprint.

Tire height / clearance can play a roll as well. I've driven thru muck that was nearly 1' deep and got a compact stuck due the front axles and spindles bulldozing, plus 0-clearance up front and dragging. In came a 2.5x heavier tractor that went right thru, as the front tires were taller and cut thru the muck to the hardpan underneath, without the spindles plowing a trench.. because they had more clearance... this also helped for clearance under the tractor so that it did not become high centered liek the other one did. First tractor wasn't mine.. but I was 'assured' it would drive thru the pasture where I was helping a friend work... yeah right!

soundguy