To FEL Or Not To FEL

DaRube · Sep 11, 2001

I'm trying to decide whether to purchase a loader right out of the gate, or whether I should (and can) defer the decision (actually, it is my wife who needs to be convinced - I'm in 'buy now' mode) /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. Part of it is sticker shock....2K to 3K isn't hay for a newbie....and consideration of the cheaper alternative: A front blade (I'll need either a front or rear blade anyway) coupled with a towed wagon.....and hiring someone on those rare occasions when other implments are needed.

Perhaps I cannot see the situations where a loader is indispensable. My non-mowing tasks (as far as I can envision) are snow removal, gravel drive maintenance, one-time regrading around the house, mulching of flower beds, ultimately putting in two rows of grapevines and possibly some hops - strictly non-commercial, and whatever might be involved in maintaining a stocked pond (bring your fishing rods, guys) and a small stream across the property. Also several wooded areas and isolated trees on the grounds as well.

I've just moved from half-acre suburbia to 10 acres of heaven, and trying to learn fast what kinds of 'hell' does 'heaven' have in store for me. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Questions include:

1) If I forego a loader now, and decide to get one later, what are the chances I can find one that is compatible (I'm looking at Kubota BX2200 and B7500)?

2) How much does it cost to rent a loader (or equipped tractor) for a day, or even to hire out the work, should I come up with something beyond my capabilities (Northern Virginia pricing)? (Or perhaps I should get friendly with lots of tractor owners who would like to fish my pond and drink my homemade beer, lol)

3) Several threads have said that you always discover new and different uses. What should I be seeing in the crystal ball?

Well, I've rambled long enough....what do you gentlemen think?

ronjhall · Sep 11, 2001

DaRube
There was a whole thread called Ridiculous uses of tractors. Some of them are quite useful./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I use my FEL the most in place of a kart or wheelbarrow. When I trim trees and shrubs just load of the bucket and take it the place you want to dump it.
I did find a ridiculous use for it. I had some old garbage cans that I kept putting out front for pickup. The garbage haulers did want to take them. I used the FEL to crush them up. They were gone after the next garbage day. See attached picture . /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
There are many uses for a FEL. The longer you have one. The more you will depend on it./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

ronjhall · Sep 11, 2001

Forgot I had snowblade on in picture. I'm sure the FEL bucket would work just as well.

GlueGuy · Sep 11, 2001

There are lots of ways to use the FEL. How long is your driveway? Ours is 4300', and needs a little TLC every year. The FEL is important in that regard (the driveway), but not quite as important as the boxblade, which I would die without.

Another consideration is that the FEL will be cheaper if purchased as part of the "package". Adding it later makes it a little more expensive.

The GlueGuy

Sailorcrew · Sep 11, 2001

I sometimes think I bought a FEL with the tractor as the attachment. I use the FEL for everything. Here are some uses: building rock walls (moving rocks I can barely budge with a pry bar), moving loam, sand, fill, carrying new plantings to the site, digging the hole for the plantings (not all holes, just ones away from the lawn), chain hooks on front to chain old stumps to stick way out back, loader forks to scoop up deadfall and again dump way out back, digging and leveling, pushing over dead trees, carrying all sorts of tools to where I'm working, moving mulch. The list goes on and on. I even duck taped a beverage cooler to the edge one day and put a wine cooler in for my wife, she was thirsty and floating in the pool. I just drove up and lowered it down to her. I'd like to think that she was moderately impressed but she more likely was just letting boys be boys. Oh well, the kids thought it was funny, didn't even spill any! All in all, I absolutely would not go with out a FEL at my house, in fact, I'm searching for some metal garbage cans to crush because that looks like fun. David

GrantMO · Sep 11, 2001

DaRube,
I used my FEL to pull up and put into a pile 2 dozen 4X4 posts from a round pen yesterday and today after work. They each had 2 bags of concrete around them and weighed a good 150 pounds each. Then I scooped up dirt to fill the holes with the FEL. I hate to think how long it would take me to do that by hand.

RichNJ · Sep 12, 2001

I bought a used L4310 w/FEL and thought for most of my uses I don't need the FEL. So, from that point of view maybe I should buy a used International farm tractor for much much less $$.
Since I have gotten the L4310 I have used it about 50% of the time I am using the tractor. The uses are many - like the other posts. And now I wish I had a bigger bucket with more lifting capacity.

hayden · Sep 12, 2001

FEL! 'tis not a question!

TxBilly · Sep 13, 2001

I was like you --- not sure that I needed the FEL with my initial purchase -- also not sure about spending the money if not needed! After spending much time reading posts on this forum, I decided to go ahead and include it. Boy am I glad I made that decision. I have used it more than anything else. Like the others, anything from a large "wheelbarrow" to carry downed limbs to a trash pile to smoothing the dirt fill on my new drive after the wash out rains we have been having. If the cost can be handled on the initial purchase, I would highly recommend it.
Bill

TonyC · Sep 17, 2001

...and don't forget raising someone up to prune trees and clean the gutters. I gotta go with the rest of the folks here. A tractor without a loader just isn't a tractor.