HorsesByNet.com: Facilities & Tack: Machinery & Tools: What do I need?

Home


	MAIN INDEX	SEARCH POSTS	WHO'S ONLINE	LOG IN

Home: Facilities & Tack: Machinery & Tools:
What do I need?

justmartha
Member

Oct 27, 2005, 10:20 AM

Post #1 of 14 (1777 views)
Shortcut

What do I need?	Can't Post

I've been discussing with my husband (who doesn't do much of the "horse" work) that I would like some kind of a machine to help me. Our neighbor has a small (38 hp Kubota) tractor that we can hire, but the operative words are neighbor, hire, and schedules. I'd like to have my own toy. I have a small horse farm. Nothing to mow, no hay to bale, no brush to cut. What I need is something that I can use to:
1) rake arena & maybe pull a rock catcher
2) at least haul and maybe scoop manure out of stall areas. Neighbors tractor is about as large as can maneuver in this area
3) tote hay bales around
4) haul loads of rocks out of my arena and dump them somewhere

I'm wondering if one of the utility-type vehicles would have attachments and enough "stouts" to do this, or do I need a compact tractor, or a skidsteer. I'd really love a Toolcat, it looks perfect - except that price tag is quite a sticker for a small-time person like me. So - what's the optimum piece of equipment for my needs? Hubby keeps telling me our Chevy truck will do all that, with a little help from me. Hmmph!

Martha in NM
http://www.valverdemorgans.com

JimHess
Silver Member

Oct 27, 2005, 9:04 PM

Post #2 of 14 (1766 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Martha,
That's what we have, a Kubota L3830, 38hp. It seems pretty big to us. In tight quarters sometimes I wish it was a little smaller, but when I fill the bucket I wish it was a little bigger. All the major manufacturers make good machines in a variety of hp and sizes. If you could zero in on a knowledgeable dealer, they should be able to steer you in the right direction. I guess I'm a little prejudiced, but Kubota has a wide variety of very rugged small tractors.

-Jim

(This post was edited by JimHess on Oct 27, 2005, 9:07 PM)

CJuneau
Bronze Member

Oct 27, 2005, 11:39 PM

Post #3 of 14 (1763 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Martha,
You could get away with a larger ATV. This would excel as a drag for the arena and could pull a drag behind rock picker. A small dump trailer would be easy to use in the barn for chores and or hauling hay and your husband would have a toy! They do make front end loaders that rely on a winch and here ATVs would lack, both in utility and ability.
The more pricey UTVs are similiar to the AVTs but more comfortable and safe for passengers. The small tractors would function well for what you say, but you are then over 10K.
But if you can wait a little longer, I heard a Bobcat Toolcat dealer say that they plan on releasing an open cab, smaller version of the Toolcat. It is going to be called the 4600 or 4200 Toolcat and it will be smaller in all facets; overall size, engine, capacities and pricetag! Smile

I overheard my husband talking with the dealer this evening!
Hope this intrigues you,
Christina

justmartha
Member

Oct 28, 2005, 9:40 AM

Post #4 of 14 (1757 views)
Shortcut

Re: [JimHess] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Precisely - about the Kubota - its a little big for maneuverability. And actually when I fill the bucket by hand, it seems to not hold more than about twice what our contractor-sized wheelbarrow holds. It's a nice tractor, but I would actually like something a little smaller for day-to-day use. But of course, as my husband always tells me, $10,000 buys a lot of Ed's tractor time!

In Reply To

Martha,
That's what we have, a Kubota L3830, 38hp. It seems pretty big to us. In tight quarters sometimes I wish it was a little smaller, but when I fill the bucket I wish it was a little bigger.

Martha in NM
http://www.valverdemorgans.com

Cottonhawk
Member

Oct 29, 2005, 12:43 AM

Post #5 of 14 (1732 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

A RUV with couple of attachments.... Drag Harrow and manure spreader should accomplish most of the tasks you listed. I have a Polaris Ranger 6X6 and it's wonderful for both work and play. For bush hogging and mowing the pastures we use a New Holland compact utility tractor.

Cotton

justmartha
Member

Oct 31, 2005, 9:54 AM

Post #6 of 14 (1711 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Cottonhawk] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Cotton. I have an absolute newby question here. I've seen a lot of abbreviations here and on the tractorbynet list (which I discovered the other day). What does RUV stand for? Oh, and what does something like that sell for?

Thanks

In Reply To

Martha in NM
http://www.valverdemorgans.com

Cottonhawk
Member

Oct 31, 2005, 10:56 AM

Post #7 of 14 (1709 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

RUV stand for Recreational Utility Vehicle. My Polaris Ranger 6X6 is a six wheel drive work horse and a great toy. The Ranger 6X6 is fairly spendy, the bare bone version sells around 10k. Polaris also make several other models and they are all excellent vehicles and you may want to go to their web site look around a bit. There are few other good brands....Kawasaki Mule, Kubota 4X4 Diesel, John Deere Gator...just to name a few. Depend on the size and kind of land you have you may get by with an ATV. You can find a good ATV for much less.
Btw, TBN is a great site with many helpful posters. It is primarily a "tractor" owners site.

Cotton

crehberg
Member

Dec 4, 2005, 8:34 AM

Post #8 of 14 (1600 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you are worried about price tag, why not go with an antique tractor? They are fairly easy to find (at least in my area) and your hubby can have all kinds of fun with it.

justmartha
Member

Dec 5, 2005, 12:26 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1586 views)
Shortcut

Re: [crehberg] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

LOL - as the owner of a '76 Chevy truck, and '81 Mercedes, and our newest vehicle being a '98 Honda, an antique tractor would feel right at home at my house. But sometimes I get tired of the "headache factor" involved in keeping ancient machinery happy. My husband is far more appreciative of the contraption quotient than I am.

In Reply To

If you are worried about price tag, why not go with an antique tractor? They are fairly easy to find (at least in my area) and your hubby can have all kinds of fun with it.

Martha in NM
http://www.valverdemorgans.com

JimHess
Silver Member

Dec 5, 2005, 9:54 PM

Post #10 of 14 (1580 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Don't know if I'd go as far as getting an antique, but there's a lot to be said for getting an older compact or subcompact tractor. We have a '70's vintage Kubota that we got to mow our pastures. It was a mystery to me how it kept running - I just hoped for the best. We recently sprung for a newer, bigger, shinier one, intending to sell the old one. The more I learned about the new one, the more I understood the old one. It just needed a little tinkering, and instead of trailering the new one between our properties, we kept the old one, and it's still kicking. Come to think of it, I guess it is an antique...

-Jim

canoetrpr
New Member

Dec 24, 2005, 12:29 AM

Post #11 of 14 (1545 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Martha:

My wife and I just signed a deal for a Kubota L3400. It is a pretty basic tractor. It is 34 HP, no bells and whistles other than the HST transmission (which I consider to be both a bell and a whistle!). We got a front end loader and a bush hog for the pastures.

It's cheaper than the Grand L series including the other one mentioned here (3830) and even the start of the line Grand L (3130) and will probably do all that you are looking for. If you can swing the Grand L in your budget then they are fabulous tractors but I think that a economy model like the L3400 will do just fine.

I shopped around quite a bit for something around 10 years old but nothing I found seemd to have depreciated enough to buy used rather than new. Tractors are darn expensive but if kept well they last a life time (I hope! because I don't plan on buying another).

All I've got to do is add the horses to the farm!

Jenifae
Member

Jan 8, 2006, 10:50 PM

Post #12 of 14 (1509 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

My husband recently bought a New Holland small tractor. I dont' know the size but, it is compact but, it sure can get alot done. I am amazed by that thing. And of course he loves it. Can't get him off it. LOL Wink

With Love and Patience you get alot more done.

justmartha
Member

Jan 9, 2006, 1:46 PM

Post #13 of 14 (1500 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Jenifae] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I just bought a little used lawn tractor. It was cheap - $300, and has an 18 hp motor. It should be good enough for a starter - I think it can pull a cartload of manure or rocks, or a small arena rake. It's got to work better than me Smile

Martha in NM
http://www.valverdemorgans.com

Jenifae
Member

Jan 10, 2006, 1:54 AM

Post #14 of 14 (1487 views)
Shortcut

Re: [justmartha] What do I need? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh that's great. I have a horse that I believe is a Morgan. I bought her from the trainers and he really didn't know much history on her but, she looks alot like a Morgan and has a slight gate. Is there anyway of having someone look at her and give you a professional opinion on it. I would love to breed her to a Morgan Stallion.

Search for (options)