Upgrading and some questions.

[shooterdon]

I looking at getting a cab tractor with a front mounted snow blower (60-70" width). Tractor size about 3500 lbs and about 40 HP (but not stuck on either parameter). It will be a new machine. The videos I have seen on YouTube are all done on asphalted or cement surfaces....easy/peasy.

I would like some real world comments on just how difficult it is to remove the FEL to add the snow blower and remove the snow blower to put the FEL back on. By "real world" I mean on uneven ground and ground that could have over 12 inches of snow. The only tractors I am interesting in are Deere, Kubota or Mahindra due to dealer support. Any comments and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

My other question is regarding FEL capacity. Ratings at the pin are not too useful to me. I would like to be able to lift a pallet of firewood with 1/3 of a cord (1600 lb) a height of 3 ft. How big a loader do I need.? I have a 500 lb ballast box but can easily increase that. Tires will be loaded as well.

Budget of $ 40k if that matters.

Thanks for you help.

 

[nybirdman]

You will find that removing a FEL or sub-frame is not fun on uneven ground;concrete pad is best of course.
Things "have" to be level to fit.I had a sub-frame snow plow on my first Kubota;nice unit but a tight fit.,same with the FEL.
I think you are looking at a 50 h.p. machine to lift 1600 lbs.safely.

 

[Professor Marvel]

don't they make a SSQA snow blower?

 

[Tractorable]

Simple, Kubota L4760!

 

[shooterdon]

Simple, Kubota L4760!

You sir selected the machine my dealer suggested. But at $48k, it is a bit more than I wish to invest.

BTW, I took my fiancé to look at and she loved it. I think she is a keeper....she is almost as excited as I am at getting a new tractor.

Tomorrow I hit the JD and Mahindra dealers.

 

[tradosaurus]

You sir selected the machine my dealer suggested. But at $48k, it is a bit more than I wish to invest.

BTW, I took my fiancé to look at and she loved it. I think she is a keeper....she is almost as excited as I am at getting a new tractor.

Tomorrow I hit the JD and Mahindra dealers.

Wait until you are married and the honeymoon wears off. :laughing:

 

[Citydude]

I was on the same path, wanting a front blower on an L4060 cab I ordered a week ago. The more I thought about it, we have those snowmageddon type blizzards once every few years. The loader with a rear blower would be invaluable for those events.

Full disclosure. My wife of 21 years insisted on buying this. The honeymoon is alive and well.....

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

When I was tractor shopping, I "built" a unit on both the Deere and the Kubota website, with similar requirements to what you're looking for. I think on the Kubota site, I "built" a Grand L, to get the cab and features I wanted. On the Deere site, I "built" a 4 thousand series. Both came in MUCH higher than your stated budget. I remember the Deere came in at 55K, with FEL, SSQA, mid PTO, front blower and rear 3 pt brush hog. I don't remember if that was also with a box blade. I don't remember exactly how I spec'd the Kubota Grand, but it was about the same spec, and even higher price tag.

Just giving you a heads up, bring your smelling salts so your fiancee can revive you when you see the sticker price.

 

[ericm979]

I think you are looking at a 50 h.p. machine to lift 1600 lbs.safely.

My 37hp Branson handles an IBC tote with 1/3 cord of wet wood easily. It's not close to the limits of the loader or tractor. The new models have a loader with a higher capacity than mine.

I don't know what solutions Branson has for front snow blowers though.

 

[finn1]

I know it痴 not on your list, but I removed the loader and installed the front mounted blower on my Kioti for the first time, by myself, in about a half hour, more or less, this past fall.

The initial installation was done by the dealer, along with the installation of the loader for the summer.

Removing the blower and installing the loader took him less than 15 minutes.

We spent more time bs段ng than the conversion, by an experienced person took.

I keep my blower in the shop lean to for the off season. The loader winters under the snowbank on a gravel pad.

Invest in at least a concrete pad for your blower, preferably covered. You will spend time on your knees installing the subframe pins and the driveshaft, and it痴 a pretty big investment to sit out in the weather for seven months of the year. A solid, level surface will speed installation and minimize frustration.

 

[TheMadOne]

My 37hp Branson handles an IBC tote with 1/3 cord of wet wood easily. It's not close to the limits of the loader or tractor. The new models have a loader with a higher capacity than mine.

I don't know what solutions Branson has for front snow blowers though.

OP specifically said Kubota, Deere, or Mahindra due to wanting dealer support. There's only one Branson dealer within 100 miles of Johannesburg MI, and barely at that.

That said, the LA805 might be able to do what the OP asks, it can lift 1766lbs at 20" to 5ft. Which opens up the L4060 and L3560 as possibilities. Only way to know for sure would be to try it.

Edit: To the guy recommending Kioti, again, there isn't a dealer within 100 miles of OP's given location, and they want dealer support. Kioti and Branson are fine tractors, but OP was pretty clear they need/want dealer support.

 

[shooterdon]

When I was tractor shopping, I "built" a unit on both the Deere and the Kubota website, with similar requirements to what you're looking for. I think on the Kubota site, I "built" a Grand L, to get the cab and features I wanted. On the Deere site, I "built" a 4 thousand series. Both came in MUCH higher than your stated budget. I remember the Deere came in at 55K, with FEL, SSQA, mid PTO, front blower and rear 3 pt brush hog. I don't remember if that was also with a box blade. I don't remember exactly how I spec'd the Kubota Grand, but it was about the same spec, and even higher price tag.

Just giving you a heads up, bring your smelling salts so your fiancee can revive you when you see the sticker price.

When I visited the Kubota dealer on Friday he quoted me a cab L4760 with loader, loaded tires, wheels weights, 72" front blower, front blower and third function for $48k. He gave me $7k for my JD855 with attachments. He said I needed the 4760 to get the lift capacity I wanted. He charges $300 to pickup and deliver the tractor for any warranty or maintenance work and that seems high to me but it is what it is.

 

[tradosaurus]

When I visited the Kubota dealer on Friday he quoted me a cab L4760 with loader, loaded tires, wheels weights, 72" front blower, front blower and third function for $48k. He gave me $7k for my JD855 with attachments. He said I needed the 4760 to get the lift capacity I wanted. He charges $300 to pickup and deliver the tractor for any warranty or maintenance work and that seems high to me but it is what it is.

I don't know how far your Kubota dealer is but the dealer near me charges $100 total for pickup and delivery.

For $300 I would just load my tractor on my trailer and take it to him.

 

[shooterdon]

don't they make a SSQA snow blower?

I found this:

SnowVac Front Mounted Snowblowers for Trucks, PTO Snow Blowers for Tractors, and Loaders - Buhler Farm King Implements

Looks nifty but it should for $11k. I actually prefer it not being PTO driven. Adding gas is not a big deal, and having electric start (which I assume it has) is a lot easier than the other options. Plus it is a 30 second job to put the loader bucket back on. I will probably put 50 hrs a year on the motor so it should last a while.

But never heard of it before, so not sure the company is going to be around long term.

 

[TheMadOne]

I don't know how far your Kubota dealer is but the dealer near me charges $100 total for pickup and delivery.

For $300 I would just load my tractor on my trailer and take it to him.

I've only ever gotten onsite service. The dealer I work with has a fleet of trucks out in my area constantly. It's the same rate, and I can't imagine being charged for anything related to warranty work. That kind of ruins the point of having a warranty, no?

 

[shooterdon]

I've only ever gotten onsite service. The dealer I work with has a fleet of trucks out in my area constantly. It's the same rate, and I can't imagine being charged for anything related to warranty work. That kind of ruins the point of having a warranty, no?

My feelings as well. Thinking about negotiating a $200 cost per trip for 5 years if I buy from them. They are 35 miles from me and 50-55 minute drive taking the back roads. At $140/hr, it comes in at about $300.

 

[shooterdon]

moving firewood with a grapple - Bing video

Here is a little JD 1025r carrying an IBC of wood - 1/3 of a cord of wood. It has a rated lift with the H120 loader of 836lbs at full height and 955 lbs at 1.5m (just under 60") I am guessing that limiting the lift to a few inches off the ground makes this possible?

I do not think I need a big loader after all, or am I missing something? The above is basically how I intend to move my firewood, My pallets will be 40x32x56 - just under 1/3 of a cord. My lift will be about 12". The pallets will be stored on blocks to keep them from freezing to the ground, so all I need is to lift them off the blocks and carry them 25 yards to the garage.

 

[TheMadOne]

moving firewood with a grapple - Bing video

Here is a little JD 1025r carrying an IBC of wood - 1/3 of a cord of wood. It has a rated lift with the H120 loader of 836lbs at full height and 955 lbs at 1.5m (just under 60") I am guessing that limiting the lift to a few inches off the ground makes this possible?

I do not think I need a big loader after all, or am I missing something? The above is basically how I intend to move my firewood, My pallets will be 40x32x56 - just under 1/3 of a cord. My lift will be about 12". The pallets will be stored on blocks to keep them from freezing to the ground, so all I need is to lift them off the blocks and carry them 25 yards to the garage.

12" is a lot different from your previously stated 3'. In that case, I'd say the LA805 would certainly do what you want. Which gets you down to the L3560, or L4060 if you're feeling spendy. Heck, if you want to replicate the video, a LA524 on a B2650 would probably do better than the little JD.

 

[dodge man]

Something to keep in mind, don't get your tractor over sized for one task. If you put a little less wood in could you get by with a smaller tractor. On the other hand if you are lifting that kind of load all the time, get what you need.

 

[ericm979]

Wood weight can vary quite a bit depending on species and how dry the wood is.