We've been using a neighbor's little bulldozer for construction skid roads, and a borrowed Shallow 2000 tractor for skidding logs. A 2wd tractor isn't certainly suitable for our abrupt terrain, and skidding logs with the dozer disturbs soils much more than we would cognate.
So we went shopping for used 4wd tractors. The intellectual for our budget was a 30-40 HP diesel tractor with a front loader and a 3-sharp end hitch, in profitable condition with less than 3,000 hours on it. Here in Washington those are thinly scattered. Tractors we found were either of great altitude priced ($15k+) or heaven-kissing hours (6,500+).
After a few weeks of trying, we checked into new tractors and found that they were not that much more of great price. $15k gets you a strict new tractor with a warranty. $17k gets you a hydrostatic transmittal, sun shade, exhaust upgrade, weight in the rear tires, and conveyance. Kubota was offering $0 down and 0% financing for 42 months. It doesn't get much easier.
PHOTO: We bought a Kubota L3400 (35 HP, 4wd) with a front loader. It's a puny farm tractor, very of the people with orchardists in this realm. My brother makes the tractor direct the eye even smaller than it is: He's 6'8" lofty without his hardhat.
The tractor has enough ableness for about 90% of our logs, and usually we can male the big logs that bring into being up the other 10%, or use a block up and tackle, to bring into being them skiddable. Its medium of vision weight is an outlet in the soft dry soils where we're laboring. The machine routinely loses pulling, but in 4wd with the differential fastening engaged, it's more probable to stall than to twist out all 4 tires.
We tack 1 to 3 logs to the raise bar using brief chains and clutch hooks, or sometimes a diminutive grapple. Lifting the bar raises the butts...
I just bought a new Kubota tractor for the farm...what a great new toy!!
Kubota Tractor News
Open house celebration in Jericho BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - 15 hours ago Right in the middle of the biggest storm so far this season, Santa arrived on a Kubota tractor. Children, some fearful and wide-eyed, and some anxious to
Learn about the World Agricultural Implements and Machinery Market Business Wire (press release), CA - Dec 16, 2008 Deere Introduces 7760 Self- Propelled Cotton Picker II-15 John Deere Launches 5003 Series Tractor Line II-15 Kubota Introduces New 108hp Tractor II-15
Claudia Sternbach: Looking for a date for the holidays Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA - Dec 7, 2008 It was as if they had heard the Kubota engine and simply could not resist the siren's song. And it was Michael in the driver's seat.
Hangin' with Mr. Tardiff The Free Press of the University of Southern Maine, ME - Dec 8, 2008 Unlike walking through the mall armed with a debit card, riding on the back of a Kubota tractor searching for something to cut, gives you to time to reflect
Tractor
Our New Kubota Tractor named "The Orange Squeeze" The Tractor Arrives. Before any Scratches. Tractor Grandpa. Tractor Grandma. Irksome out the Backhoe ...
lo guard vs hi guard -- John Deere Review
lo shield vs hi guard John Deere Pass in review John Deere Revise Seems like I remember a debating about this but can not find. I have always run the lo guard. JD split tractor 5
