Tractor or skid steer? Just bought 150 acres.

[Dadnatron]

I did what you want to do, but on about 85ac.

I did it almost all, with a JD 5100E with FEL.

However, I rented a D7 dozer to cut a road and do some more dirt work. I’d never been in one before they dropped it off in my field. Watch some videos, and do work in your property LONG BEFORE you go to the driveway and entrance. You can do it with a big enough dozer in a week. Size matters, especially in a dozer.

I’m doing this all again, and want a BIGGER tractor for the job, as I strained that 5100E. I’m also looking at splitting the work between a CTL and another tractor for pulling (tractor) work.

I bought a post driver… and it’s MUCH harder than you think. It’s the time… the time you’d likely be able to better spend at your ‘career job’ and pay someone else to do. It’s good to have one for fixing things or adding a few posts… but you WON’T be able to fence 150ac yourself. Hire out the critical paddocks and add the rest as $ comes in.

Finally, if you are able to get it all seeded and need it hayed, share out the work for part of the hay. I would hire the hay out, and I kept what I wanted. You should get 1/2 the hay off your placed stacked for you, in recompense for the hay man taking the rest. It’ll cost you nothing.

 

[mikester]

jealous?

Jealous of watching a slow motion train wreck?

 

[Sonny580]

SKIDDER and never look back!!! Tractor loaders are USELESS!

 

[Skypuppy]

jealous?

Well,*I* am!

 

[Yander]

Midwest. Soil on the farm is very high quality - mostly Maury and McAfee silt.

The plan is to skim off the top 4-6'' and grade it so that the driveway will be predominately flat (side to side).

Will put down driveway fabric before the gravel goes down.

I talked with a neighbor who installed his driveway about 20 years ago. He has to put new gravel down every 4-5 years because it keeps sinking. He never put down fabric and for some reason doesn't think it would help.

You don't need a dozer for a drive. I could put that drive in with the tiller and a box blade in a day with the size tractor you have mentioned.

Edit: I just noticed half mile. Ok not in a day. But you could do it with those two items. Then sell the tiller when you're done.

 

[pecans]

This is an excellent question. I may duplicate some information,, please forgive, but do add what you know is missed.

All equipment has a design purpose. This is often centered around how the frame is put together.

Tractors were designed to pull ground engaging equipment. They have a PTO to transfer their power to another piece of equipment. They typically use a clutch to achieve movement.

Skid steers are designed to maneuver and turn in small spaces as well as changing directions constantly. They use hydraulics instead of clutches. Most are made to lift and dig - check their manual for design criteria.

Bulldozers are designed to push and use hydraulics for locomotion in a similar manner of Skid Steers. They can typically tow ground engaging equipment well. Generally no ability to transfer their power.

Backhoes / Loaders are made to endure twisting and other stresses. Wow.


Think this through.... While almost anything can be done with almost any piece of equipment with good judgement, bad judgement will quickly destroy a good piece of equipment.

- Changing directions / starts and stops often with clutch use are not the occasional use a clutch is designed for. They can overheat and "burn out". That means an expensive replacement which requires the tractor front and rear be spit apart. There are also dry vs wet (longer life and abuse) clutches. Discuss with your mechanic.

- Lifting items and digging puts completely different stresses on the frame. Digging can twist a frame in all sorts of directions. Lifting puts a tremendous stress on the Front end.

- Putting a backhoe on a standard tractor (digging) and using it hard or often and you can break the bolts or worse holding the front to the back. (some companies make a frame add on to compensate and have designed a back hoe to match.)

- Pushing (dozing) with a tractor other than lightly can break metal in all sorts of ways.

etc.

Summary... Any piece of equipment designed to do one task generally has some overlap which can help for rare tasks or starting out etc. if used gently and with good observation.

As many folks have pointed out, some tasks are better with the occasional rented equipment (costs less than repairing yours) or a quality hired person.


I used a 37.5 HP tractor to do everything on hundreds of acres starting out. I learned the hard way and learned to listen as well. I did this for a long long time and learned when to be careful etc. A good decision for my operation.
I now own 5 units of various purposes and some of them don't get used often..... I have them because I could afford them at the cost point offered and understood their needs to stay in good working order. They are all older with no electronics etc.

Ask around to others why they have the equipment they have. Ask positive attitude, well informed people their equipment strategies.

Then develop your own and learn what you did right and what you did wrong.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

I came here to echo what I've already seen.

Your plan is no plan. It is a failure of thought. None of your first post will work like you describe. This is not a situation you can afford to be in right now.

Come up with a more realistic plan.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

You don't need a dozer for a drive. I could put that drive in with the tiller and a box blade in a day with the size tractor you have mentioned.

Edit: I just noticed half mile. Ok not in a day. But you could do it with those two items. Then sell the tiller when you're done.

A tiller? Talk about a bad plan. Using a harrow and then a bb is how it should be done. I wouldn't dream of attempting that with a tiller.

 

[4570Man]

A tiller? Talk about a bad plan. Using a harrow and then a bb is how it should be done. I wouldn't dream of attempting that with a tiller.

A tiller is one of the best ways to strip topsoil without a dozer. It’s way easier to scoop up the topsoil and maintain depth after it’s broke up with a tiller. It’s also a lot more usable when it’s broke up vs in big clods like a dozer makes when it’s pushed off.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

A tiller is one of the best ways to strip topsoil without a dozer. It’s way easier to scoop up the topsoil and maintain depth after it’s broke up with a tiller. It’s also a lot more usable when it’s broke up vs in big clods like a dozer makes when it’s pushed off.

It don't deal with rocky soil. I can't believe I have to actually say that. Not to mention there are so many vines it would entangle a tiller in minutes.

A tiller wouldn't last a half hour making roads around here.

A harrow does great. Less to mess up too when rocks are encountered.