Posted: 9/6/2025 7:38:31 AM EDT
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I'm likely throwing rocks at a hornets nest with my questions but I need input because of my lack of knowledge and experience. Maybe this thread will help others as well. I'm retiring and have 170 acres, 51 tillable, 6 acre lake a few out buildings and the rest in hardwoods and softwoods. In the last year I've bought the above 2 pieces of equipment. I want to put in food plots, mow, maintain trails, dress 1,500 gravel drive [part up a hill] and general maintenance. No row crops and no hay. Trying to buy once and cry once. Already have a couple of my 20 something grandkids interested in 'our farm' so want to buy quality for the long term For the track loader [with a tilt hitch] I think I need the following: rock bucket fork lift forks Land leveler [maybe a rotary mower] M4D tractor, properly back weighted FEL planting drill crimper box blade 12' wing mower For one or the other above, a grapple. Is there any benefit of having both a box blade and a back blade [don't think I need a land planner] Now the gorilla question: What is the best source for quality attachments and implements? Is it piece specific or can a generalization for source be made? Of course the Kubota guy wants me to buy landpride but I wonder if they are any better or just painted a different color? I would rather buy new since I don't have the knowledge/experience to assess used equipment. I know there is much I don't know, and don't know I don't know.... so all guidance and advice is welcome. Thanks |
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What I have listed by most used: 9’ heavy harrow 6’ bushhog 500 lb capacity spreader 9’ box blade Post hole digger Sprayer Bottom plow One row middle buster to lay irrigation/etc. Cultivator (2) For FEL Bucket Grapple Forks Everyone’s situation is different. ETA: Ag Supply if you have one close. Agrisupply.com |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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I'll leave out hay equipment since you said you weren't interested but I suggest that you consider it. Great way to keep the land clear, make a few bucks, and have fun. Here are my implements and attachments in order of use with a 50hp 4wd tractor. 6' brush hog Regular 3/4 yard FEL bucket 7' back blade witn urethane blade for paved driveway snow removal FEL pallet forks, must have for deliveries, moving logs, lumber, etc. 60 gallon sprayer 7' heavy duty back blade for moving dirt, etc. 3 point PTO hole digger, if I was doing it again I'd get a hydraulic FEL mounted one. I'd get one for your skid loader. |
"I would live this war one day at a time, and I promised myself that if I survived, I would find a small farm somewhere in the Pennsylvania countryside and spend the remainder of my life in quiet and peace.” - Richard Winters
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Hopefully, you're renting out the 51 tillable acres for at least a small amount of income, and some free food plots. I'd get the grapple for the skidsteer. Here's my 55 HP tractor implements in order of use (not including hay stuff): -6' grader blade (IMO: a box blade does a better job leveling, a grader blade is a little more versatile for crowning and cutting ditches) -10' brushhog -pallet forks (I use my double bales spear as forks, which works, but if I didn't do hay, I'd way rather have pallet forks) -6' disc (mine is a pull type, I'd rather have a 3 point for small areas) -3 point hitch (it has a 2" receiver hitch and gooseneck ball) -manlift basket for the FEL -I have an old plow I use on food plots every once in a while, but if you're interested in a crimper, I'm assuming you're wanting to avoid a lot of soil disturbance, so it's probably not necessary If you have a UTV, I'd prefer that to do spray work, haul around chainsaws for trail maintenance, etc. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By Steamedliver: I will only get a cab version of either. I enjoy doing the work, my allergies will make it a chore. I much prefer my open station for most of my work, but there are some jobs that a cab sure would be nice. For chores that revolve around doing the same job for long spans of time, especially in inclement weather, dusty conditions, etc. a cab is great. For jobs that involve getting on and off the machine several times and for working around tree canopy, an open station is nice. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By Buckshot4U: I much prefer my open station for most of my work, but there are some jobs that a cab sure would be nice. For chores that revolve around doing the same job for long spans of time, especially in inclement weather, dusty conditions, etc. a cab is great. For jobs that involve getting on and off the machine several times and for working around tree canopy, an open station is nice. I understand. I enjoy the work but my allergies will sideline me for days. I am the guy that wears an N100 to use the zero turn. I had to adapt to overcome. I replace the cab filter in my skid steer often (also clean often). Hey, it’s better than not doing it at all. Originally Posted By Deuskid: I'm only there 1-3 days a week. Isn't cattle an everyday thing? @Chadnutz A living creature is depending on you. I choose not to take on that responsibility. Therefore I mow. |
Words fall from your mouth like shit from ass.
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Originally Posted By Steamedliver: I understand. I enjoy the work but my allergies will sideline me for days. I am the guy that wears an N100 to use the zero turn. I had to adapt to overcome. I replace the cab filter in my skid steer often (also clean often). Hey, it’s better than not doing it at all. I totally get it. I'm very fortunate that I have very few allergy issues. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By Deuskid: I'm only there 1-3 days a week. Isn't cattle an everyday thing? @Chadnutz Not Chadnutz, but yeah, 1 - 3 days a week isn't going to work for raising livestock. There are folks that do it, but it's setting yourself up for failure. I don't want to drag your conversation off into the weeds, but are you renting out the 51 tillable acres? For me, ideally, assuming I did not want to take that on myself, I would find an honest neighboring farmer and see what could be worked out for a multi year deal. Even if he paid you very little, if he was fertilizing, liming and not letting it grow up into weeds, you should be coming out ahead. If you plan to not use the 51 acres for anything ag related, that is going to weigh pretty heavily on your needed equipment. 51 acres would be one helluva food plot to plant and maintian. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By Buckshot4U: Not Chadnutz, but yeah, 1 - 3 days a week isn't going to work for raising livestock. There are folks that do it, but it's setting yourself up for failure. I don't want to drag your conversation off into the weeds, but are you renting out the 51 tillable acres? For me, ideally, assuming I did not want to take that on myself, I would find an honest neighboring farmer and see what could be worked out for a multi year deal. Even if he paid you very little, if he was fertilizing, liming and not letting it grow up into weeds, you should be coming out ahead. If you plan to not use the 51 acres for anything ag related, that is going to weigh pretty heavily on your needed equipment. 51 acres would be one helluva food plot to plant and maintian. |
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I own a Yanmar T210 and a Bobcat E35 R2, I used to own a 38hp Mahindra with a FEL. I sold the tractor, the Tracked loader is superior in all activities except plowing a field which I don’t do. I would get these attachments for the Tracked loader. Grapple - either rock or root, I have both. Nice dirt bucket Brush cutter - look at Rut Mfg Pallet forks - look at Express Steel. |
"I am not an Operator but I play one on AR15.com"
| One item that I think only OldGold mentioned, and I neglected is a harrow. I normally just use a 4'er behind the UTV after discing a food plot up. I also use it to de-thatch the lawn at the beginning of growing/mowing season. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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When I buy my next piece of equipment. 1. I know what I need to do with it, so I’ll buy something that will handle that (for sure). 2. I’m going to get the most common package sold in my area. In case I decide to sell. |
Words fall from your mouth like shit from ass.
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There are so many variables, but for me my most used tractor implements are the box blade and grapple. My driveway is 3000' long so the box blade is key for keeping it up. However I also have a 7' grader blade which I use as more of a specialty tool for the driveway since it cuts and cleans my ditches better than the box blade. If I could only have one, it would be the box blade without question. A hydraulic top link is a must have in my opinion. Pallet forks are awesome and if you get enough big deliveries they pay for themselves  I've bought attachments everywhere. Tractor Supply, Facebook Marketplace, etc. I bought the Iron Craft grapple and a Dirt Dog rear blade from Tyler at Good Works Tractor. He's a distributor for a bunch of brands and offers excellent advice on implements and even talked me out of one that was more expensive and bigger than I needed. His prices at first seem high but include shipping/freight so when you factor that in they seem fair to me. |
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Originally Posted By Equator: There are so many variables, but for me my most used tractor implements are the box blade and grapple. My driveway is 3000' long so the box blade is key for keeping it up. However I also have a 7' grader blade which I use as more of a specialty tool for the driveway since it cuts and cleans my ditches better than the box blade. If I could only have one, it would be the box blade without question. A hydraulic top link is a must have in my opinion. Pallet forks are awesome and if you get enough big deliveries they pay for themselves I've bought attachments everywhere. Tractor Supply, Facebook Marketplace, etc. I bought the Iron Craft grapple and a Dirt Dog rear blade from Tyler at Good Works Tractor. He's a distributor for a bunch of brands and offers excellent advice on implements and even talked me out of one that was more expensive and bigger than I needed. His prices at first seem high but include shipping/freight so when you factor that in they seem fair to me. excellent advice! Thanks |
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I have a Kubota M7060. I was lookking a the M4 but it was not available when I was buying. I don't have a SVL, but would like one. I have a KX057 excavator with a q/a plate and can share implements between the two. The tractor has loaded tires and I went with the radials. I have teeth to add to the bucket Older (cheaper) grapple which is about 20 years old and still holding up. Definitely worth it. Box Blade...don't use anymore. I added 8 cement blocks for weight to dig in and it was still too light. Also about 20 years old. 9' Landpride 3 way rear blade...1200 lbs and beats the box blade I had. I use it in the winter and it adds weight. Land pride power rake... great for ice in the winter too. 8' HLA plow HLA spreader for sand/salt or anything else that needs to be spread. Jenkins Iron and steel hydraulic forks. These are 4' x 4' and replace a set that is 4' x 5' and out of alignment. Hydraulic is nice. Wallenstein BX62 chipper with feeder. Works great, but would be nice to have something which can handle 8" or 10" now that I don't don't burn firewood. Farmi winch...351 that is a little small for this tractor, but I don't use it a lot since I don't log for firewood. Post hole digger. Hydraulic on the third function. I can use the plate adapter for he KX057. The front of the tractor gets in the way, but handy when I need to travel way out on the property. I have a rock bit but that also works better on the KX. I am sure the SVL would also be an improvement over the tractor. On the KX057 I have a hammer which could be run on the tractor or a SVL, but it is more flexible on the KX057. Helps a lot with rocky soil to free that one rock to get the rest out. I also ahve a mulcher head which is nice for slops or reaching where a piece of equipment won't go. However a mulcher head on a SVL would be great for land management. I am going to try the power rake for a food plot next year. Should be okay. Our tractors are larger for working in he woods. You may find he SVL would be best for this. I would recommend checking out Jenkins Iron and Steel for some implements. I have some of their items for a Kubota SCL including a 4' mower that works like a champ. Good luck, Mike |