Lengthy question from the new guy! I have 2 acres of yard. It's about time to park the Craftsman riding mower, and get something mo better. But, I also have some yard clearing to do. I have a bunch of 1-4 inch trees, and 5 or 6 10-18 inch trees. I want to pull them/push them all over, and then fill with dirt and level. So is there an older tractor suited to this clearing work, that could also serve as a mower when the clearing is done? Eventually I plan to add on to the house also, maybe I could get something with a bucket for digging the footing!
- Thread starter rampeyboy
- Start date
evilboweviel
Member
hire a good dozer operator for the inital cleanup
once the work is done then do the rest yourself.
anything from a Farmall Cub, 100,130,140 to a Massey Ferguson 35,135 to an Oliver S55, 550.
Or a new Kubota would work fine from then on.
SAY NO TO A FORD 2N,8N,9N
Ron
once the work is done then do the rest yourself.
anything from a Farmall Cub, 100,130,140 to a Massey Ferguson 35,135 to an Oliver S55, 550.
Or a new Kubota would work fine from then on.
SAY NO TO A FORD 2N,8N,9N
Ron
I see this is your first post; it's been said many times that this forum is frequented by wanna-bee farmers, yuppies and small-time gardeners; however, there are a few active or retired farmers. To safely take down an 18 inch tree, I'd suggest either a chain saw or an older crawler; maybe a D5 or D6; that's not gonna get your mowing done, however. A backhoe would safely take the tree down and dig your footing. You'll probably get some suggestions about getting a REAL tractor, maybe an 8N Ford, but personally I wouldn't use any farm tractor.........
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Similar to what has been written, I wouldn't recommend using a tractor to pull most trees. I've got tractors up to 180 hp including a 4WD and wouldn't consider pulling out a 8-10 inch tree. As was already mentioned, a backhoe would be the golden ticket for removing the trees. You can rent one but it probably would be cheaper and without a doubt more safe to hire it done. Forget digging the footing, unless you are willing to buy a skid steer, backhoe attachment for a standard tractor or better yet a backhoe. Unless you have extra time, want to play, and are willing to fix/pay for correcting any mistakes, hire the footings dug. As for a mower tractor there are a great many options. I wouldn't choose a foreign made machine that it might become difficult to find parts/service. Would look for live hydraulics and PTO, or better yet independant PTO. Power steering would be nice and very likely FWD if intending to get a loader. Probably would avoid getting a belly mower if you intend to use the tractor for many other chores, particularly if buying a loader.
wow thanks for the quick responses folks! Sounds like good advice to me. I have spoken to a couple guys about clearing those trees for me. Nobody has actually come out and looked yet to see what they're signing up for, but it sounds like $500-$1000 to do the job. I just hate to pay someone for that if it is something I could do myself, particularly if the required tractor could later be used for mowing.
So, aside from the larger trees, what's the best way to clear the 1-5" trees? Maybe rent something like a skid steer, or excavator? I have used my 1 ton truck and pulled a couple over, and out of the ground, but have been pretty concerned about damaging my truck. Basically, I have been letting the truck roll away at idle, and letting the weight of the truck pop the trees out. I am also using a small chain hoping it to be the weak link(not the truck frame)!
So, aside from the larger trees, what's the best way to clear the 1-5" trees? Maybe rent something like a skid steer, or excavator? I have used my 1 ton truck and pulled a couple over, and out of the ground, but have been pretty concerned about damaging my truck. Basically, I have been letting the truck roll away at idle, and letting the weight of the truck pop the trees out. I am also using a small chain hoping it to be the weak link(not the truck frame)!
use a bulldozer for the heavy tree/backfilling and heavy leveling work. when it is level and nice and smooth, then use your farm tractor to keep it mowed or disced or whatever. you will be way ahead in time and money by doing so. i know as i was in landscaping and this process paid off great for me. rent the dozer, buy the tractor.
BDT in Minnesota
Member
To do this with the least mess: grub the smallest trees out with a shovel and an axe.. two or three minutes a tree will take care most of them,, Then put an ad in your local newspaper that says : "FREE FIREWOOD, come and get it" !!.. put a marker on all the trees that you want removed... Some people will even haul away the smaller branches... If not, a trip to the rent-me center for a chipper with a Briggs engine on it will make short work out of the remaining branches... The next step is CRITICAL: That hotline for locating and marking any buried lines or piping on the property... After this is done, hire a feller with a backhoe. He can dig out the stumps and LOAD them into a dumptruck.. Then he can level what needs leveling and ditch what may need ditching..A good operator could leave you with merely the finishing and touch-up work..Been there, done that, and all smiles....
sounds like a good plan. Handle the smaller stuff myself, and let a pro get the big uns. Now about those Fords, I gotta admit I am torn between a Ford and finish mower, and small Farmall with belly mower. So what's wrong with the Fords? I haven't limited myself to the N's either, the Jubilee, and 600 series are possibilities I guess. I like the looks of the MF, but don't see too many around here.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Come on here they are a 70 year old design. They were introduced in 1939 to start with. You need something with live hydraulics and a live PTO. The N series Fords have none of that. A ford like a 3 or 4000 series 3 cylinder and watch the options or the M-F would be a good choice. See what dealer is in your neighborhood so you have a good source for parts & service. I would get the big stumps cut out. How much snow do you get in the winter? Do you need a snowplow tractor?
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
Those little Fords are just so darned handy because of their 3 point. Nimble, simple, reliable too. Be nice to upgrade from an N to a 600 or even one of the smaller blue Fords but on 2 acres an N would do anything you wanted it to do. I would skip the 9N 2Ns and get an 8N though. Has a real drawbar for pulling out those small trees and shrubs plus a couple of other refinements over it's earlier sisters. They're pulling fools on a plow too those little Ns. Like if you wanted a garden and looked for a plow and a disc. They'll have your bush hogging, finish mowing, snow moving and firewood hauling done in the wink of an eye too while their tall, ungainly, row crop cousins are just getting their makeup on. On 2 acres though I'd make sure I found one with a Sherman overdrive in it.
Had an 8N here in the City for a while on less land than that. Not much to plow or mow here but did find it quite useful (with the overdrive) for Sat. morning breakfasts at McDonalds and Thursday night tacos and taps at the Legion.
Good luck
Had an 8N here in the City for a while on less land than that. Not much to plow or mow here but did find it quite useful (with the overdrive) for Sat. morning breakfasts at McDonalds and Thursday night tacos and taps at the Legion.
Good luck
BDT in Minnesota
Member
Come on now, Jerry; tell this fellow one of the GOOD points about the little Fords: the fact that you can have the tractor and a whole bunch of attachments, and still have only four tires to maintain...Besides no hassle with ripping the muffler off on a low tree limb,, and the fact that you don't have to go mountain climbing to get on the thing..And the fact that you can get parts for them.
He said he wants to clear 2 acres not 200. I could do what he just listed on here in one weekend with a chainsaw and a lawn tractor! You recommend a Farmall Cub over a Ford 9n to do anything? How much work can a guy get done with a farmall cub with no 3 point hitch? They are pretty much useless. I maintain over 100 acres of wetlands and farmland with a Ford 9n and that includes about 3 miles of trails and mowing the roadsides along the farms with a 5 ft brushog and cutting wood in the woods with it. 2 acres I could do by hand. It's really not the tractor as much as the guy that's running it. I see this response on here about once a week that you can't get anything done with a 9n ford. Any tough old farmer could probably clear 2 acres with a hand saw and a team of horses in a couple days. Now we need a dozer and a $30,000 dollar Kubota to "farm" 2 acres.
That's what I was wondering myself. Isn't the Ford 9N one of the most versatile little tractors when it comes to the old ones? We have a 9N with a forklift attachment and man, it really comes in handy. My Grandfather used to disc and make furrows on a our ranch, ( approximately 6 acres) and two other plots totaling 12 acres with that 9N. Sure, later on we went Massey Ferguson, but that little 9N served him well during the early years of our operation.
BillinCentralMO
Well-known Member
The 8n beats doing it by hand. In my opinion though , you'd be much happier with a Massey 135 or 165. It has live pto , comparable weight and will run circles around that 8n. I see 135's for $3000 frequently. You can get a finish mower or even a brushhog with a sharp blade works well. For serious mowing , we just bought a Hustler "Z" mower and that thing will mow some grass. Faster , nicer ride and more economical for mowing lawns. You can't cut the back forty with it though. Take your time selecting a tractor. That is half the fun.
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