Landscaping and Small Ground Work Tractors

[phishook]

What do you use and what would you like to use?

Looking for small lifting power (<1000lbs), 3pt for grading and tiller, option to add a small back hoe, light enough to use on turf.

[Complete Lawn Care]

I use a New Holland TC45. I love it. It is big enough for tough jobs, but is only 6' wide and fits in most yards around here. It has R-4 tires (I think thats what they are called) and is very easy on turf. Much easier on turf than a skid steer.

It is a 45 hp, and I had a 35 hp before, but traded it for the 45. It can handle the 6' bush hog much better.

I use the front end loader for landscape and sod jobs, and I have a backhoe for tearing out old landscapes.

[shack]

John Deere 2305 here, does not have 3 point hitch position control though, I'd love to step up to a 2520 but my wife says not till I have a flourishing business with plenty of income.
this is a subcompact tractor that will fit through most gates.

[Russ]

Kubota--B78 30 Hp. Compact, light , easy to transport, plenty of power. Almost bought the L series but, when I explained what I was doing to the salesman he suggested the B series and I'm glad he did. By the way it's very reasonably priced.

[phishook]

Kubota--B78 30 Hp. Compact, light , easy to transport, plenty of power. Almost bought the L series but, when I explained what I was doing to the salesman he suggested the B series and I'm glad he did. By the way it's very reasonably priced.

that's real close to what caught my eye. Kubots web page dosn't have too much info. What do you think you loader could lift?

[Russ]

My loader is a LA 402. It is about a 1/2 yard. I think the spec sheet says 750 lb but, I know I've had over 1K in it on Many occasions.

[shack]

phishook, remember these machines are small and will lift alot of weight, 800 pounds will stand it on it's nose if it's not ballasted real good.

[phishook]

little change

Now they have me lookiung at at a asv pt-30

[shack]

think it through, if you start adding attachments they are real pricey for a skid steer.

[Dougster]

What do you use and what would you like to use?

Looking for small lifting power (<1000lbs), 3pt for grading and tiller, option to add a small back hoe, light enough to use on turf.
Lots of good compact utility tractors out there these days. I happen to use a Mahindra 4110 with R4 tires, FEL and backhoe. If you can afford it, go with a Kubota. Other good brands would be Deere, New Holland, Kioti, Mahindra... there are many. A lot will depend on your local dealer. Find one that you trust. Stay away from Chinese and obscure brands. Buy what you can comfortably tow to your jobsites and watch PTO HP closely. Give yourself a good margin on specs. Buy with an eye toward your future needs, not just your current needs.

Dougster

phishook, remember these machines are small and will lift alot of weight, 800 pounds will stand it on it's nose if it's not ballasted real good.
Correct. A compact utility tractor will almost always need some ballast on the back end to achieve it's FEL's maximum lifting capability. I happen to have a 2,000 lb backhoe... and I use a box blade for ballast when the backhoe is not installed/needed. You can load the rear tires and/or use wheel weights, but that approach can have disadvantages if you must transport to jobsites.

Dougster

little change Now they have me lookiung at at a asv pt-30
The ASV RC-30/PT-30 is a very nice little machine... but very different in approach, capabilities and fully-implemented cost from a compact utility tractor. In my view, it would be great to have both in your fleet. If this is to be your only such machine, I would urge you to consider moving up to the RC-50/PT-50 or RC-60/PT-60.

Dougster