Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
The big 4-0 was an excuse to pull the trigger on something I’ve been daydreaming about for a while. I went a little big but, hey there’s no trouble that more horsepower won’t get you deeper in!
Happy birthday...to me
- Thread starter Howboutthemdawgs
- Start date
Suburbhunter
5 year old buck +
Yeh, I'm close by too... Just sayin...
You are gonna have a Blast! Got the Bobcat T770 3 years ago. Everyone, including my buddy that works the place with me, said I was wasting my time. Kids said I would use it a couple of times only. Have put on about 200 hrs per year. And I am lucky if I get down to my place once weekly. So basically averaged 4 hours per day for 3 years! However THAT was what started the whole management quest and dollar hemorrhaging. Had to get a container to store it, got attachments that needed protection, so built a 40 x 44 metal barn. Added more attachments, and cleared more open space. Needed the big tractor to work the extra acreage for plots. You get the idea. BTW, if you get a stump bucket, get one with the grapple arm I did not and that is my single regret. Would help a ton with the smaller cleanup chores. Hard to handle small stuff with a big grapple. And when you push over or dig up a tree, you can immediately pick it up and move it.
Also watch this video. Had to do it once and it works great. My buddy backed into a muddy hole so that the entire rear end was 4 feet deep and the machine was on a 45 degree incline. Thought I was gonna need a dozer to pull it out. Used chains and a tow rope to anchor to a tree in front of the machine and it pulled right out!
Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
That video is cool and makes a lot of sense. I fear if I get 110 hp stuck it’s gonna take a dozer!
As far as attachments I am gonna let this wound heal financially first! I need a tooth bucket first and then I’ll go from there. I have a buddy with more attachments than underwear that I can borrow so that helps.
The other mistake I made was a dozer blade. My buddy can pretty much do everything with that bucket. This was the first piece of heavy equipment I ever owned. My place was a diamond in the rough...very rough. I also have a lot of woods, so needed tight maneuverability. I got a bucket, blade, grapple, and stump bucket. Added a heavy brush cutter and a stump grinder. However I did not have tractor or implements at the time. This WAS my tractor. AND BTW, EVERYONE has eaten their words. That's my 92 hp "I told you so":-)
jsasker007
5 year old buck +
tracks are a great invention.
One last thing. Go ahead and learn now how to put tracks back on. Took me about 4-5 hours to do it the first time, exhausting myself in the process, and shattering the door. It is absolutely a 2 person job, even though there are some tricks for single person work. Now I know to properly set up, have my buddy in the cab, and I can pop them on in 2-3 minutes.
Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
Great advice. I am definitely gonna learn that. Have a buddy coming up this weekend who has owned for a while so I’m gonna get the rundown.
As far as attachments, I have a tractor with a Bush hog, scrape blade, etc.
I’m interested in a grapple and a disk mulcher. The second being a bucket list item. I think those things would run me 12-15k. May be looking to rent for a bit! I feel like just what I can do with a simple bucket is an absolute gamechanger, correct me if I’m wrong? But I envision, smoothing roads (I have a gravel road system that has become compacted and needs to freshened), cutting fire lanes, clearing areas, digging a burn pit, cleaning up old crappy box blinds the previous owner left, etc.
Heck I’m so giddy I may skip deer season and work....kidding!
Sweet machine. I'm a heavy equipment operator. I've run almost all brands of skidsteer. Cat is my favorite. They have smoothest controls and power. The new JD s are really nice also. The track machines are awesome. There are so many advantages over the wheel skids. The tracks are pricey, but if you run them right they will last a long time. Just don't be doing donuts when turning on hard surfaces and carefull running the outside edge of tracks along rocks, concrete etc.You will love it.great choice
