Get rid of your car and get a tractor

DJ in WA · #1 09/05/10, 12:26 AM

I was reading Callieslamb's thread about plows and thought of this related subject.

I have resisted for years getting a tractor because I didn't think 5 acres justifed one. But the itch persisted until this spring I got a 1973 Ford 2000 with a loader and mower and post hole digger and scraper.

I have found that once I have it, I think of more uses than I had imagined. All of which makes a car seem quite boring.

I took down a big cherry tree on the lawn and rather than cut it up there and make a mess, I picked the whole thing up and hauled it over to a woodcutting area.

I've hauled dirt and wood chips, and cleared areas for my wife's yard landscaping.
Pulled out old lilac bushes.
Pushed limbs into piles from pine trees we've cut up over the years.
Moved compost and manure piles.
Field mowed weeds.
Hauled big rounds from cutting up pine logs for firewood. Need to load logs on trailer and take over by woodshed for cutting up.
I'm now moving some fences, and so pulling out railroad ties after loosening them. Then using the post hole digger and dropping railroad ties into the holes with the loader and chain.
Lift myself up and trim tree brances from loader (OSHA violation, but running chainsaws from ladders not good either).
I pull a trailer around the place to haul stuff around.
Pushed and pulled dead vehicles with it.
Lifted up lawn tractor to work on it.
I need to level the driveway with the scraper.
Will pull up T-posts along a fence which prior owner buried a foot too deep.
Hope to build a lean-to against the barn, with clearing and leveling and post holes.
This winter I plan to push up the cow pen muck for drainage.
Will move some snow. Had a couple record snow years recently and could have used it to move 6 foot piles.

If one is devoid of exercise and is young, probably don't need a tractor. But as I get older and no kids around to help, and I get plenty of exercise at work, figure I need to save my body. Railroad ties aren't getting any lighter.

The other thing is that older tractors don't lose much value, so I figure I could use one for years, and hopefully sell it for most of what I paid, though might need repairs in the meantime.

And since I drive a 1986 Mazda, when it dies, I might need to drive the 3 miles to work on the tractor. I imagine that's what the high range is for, as I don't use it around here.

Callieslamb · #2 09/05/10, 06:13 AM

Yep...that other thread was all about finding an excuse to buy a tractor. Every job you listed - except pushing old vehicles around - needs done around here. We're looking hard. Hope to come up with a good one soon so we can do some work before winter.

Irish Pixie · #3 09/05/10, 06:30 AM

We have a 1974 Ford 2000 and it's a great little tractor, bought it 4-5 years ago in excellent condition, even the paint is tip top. We don't have a loader, but it has a bull dozer blade that's even better for plowing snow. It came with a back blade and a 4 pt hitch box and we bought a Brush Hog. We had our first repair this summer- the water pump went on it. Fairly easy to repair but the part itself was pricey.

deaconjim · #4 09/05/10, 06:34 AM

A tractor is on my list of things I want, but so far one hasn't made it on the budget yet. Christmas is coming though.

geo in mi · #5 09/05/10, 07:51 AM

What? Not a pickup?

geo

FarmboyBill · #6 09/05/10, 08:18 AM

Wall, inna my book ya coulda done way better than a ferd, But iffn yer happy with it.

Windy in Kansas · #7 09/05/10, 09:15 AM

This would fix some of you right up.

While I prefer operating an open air tractor most of the time, there are other times when a heated/ACed cab would be nice to stay out of the rain or snow.

My property is just a half mile from the city limits so if worse comes to worse-----
If the Amish can do it I surely can too. In my area the Amish are allowed to use tractors.

geo in mi · #8 09/05/10, 09:53 AM

The guy who sold his property for our big factory still lived across the street. From our office, we could see him, every day at 9 o'clock, get on his Ford Jubilee and drive across the interstate interchange and down the block to the donut shop for his morning coffee.

geo

TxMex · #9 09/05/10, 10:31 AM

Most unique thing I've done with a tractor.....

Last week we used the front end loader to lift my big 1000 cc motorcycle off of the front of a 16 ft trailer. Put straps around the frame and lifted it right over the railing. Kind of cool to see that big machine up in the air like that. Neither me nor hubby were real comfortable about me rolling that big of a motorcycle backwards off of the trailer.

Don't forget how handy it is to suspend a hog or a deer by the front bucket when you are skinning em out.

DJ in WA · #10 09/05/10, 01:35 PM

I could have used a tractor going to work a few winters ago when the roads were drifted shut and impassable. I drove in a ways and found a farmer clearing snow with his little John Deere with loader. Even the big county snow plows couldn't get through. Problem with plows is you can run out of room to put the snow - have to either blow it or lift it up and over the bank.

Yeah, TexMex, that's another plan is to do my own steer butchering and lift them up for bleeding/gutting/skinning.

taylorlambert · #11 09/05/10, 01:42 PM

THe tractor would be the last thing to go here lol. I have a Farmall bub I do my cultivating with, a 3000 Yanmar 30 hp I do my tillage and some of my earth moving with. I have an old 3500 Ford TLB and a Case skid loader. THey are very handy loading fire wood, rocks and other tings. I even have a manbasket that goes on the skid steer forks.

Callieslamb · #12 09/05/10, 03:02 PM

I love the looks of the Farmalls.....the ones with the wide front ends. But, they won't run a baler. alas. There are lots of pretty, shiny, red ones for sale near here.

Dh has been helping some families in our church put on new shingles. When it comes time to do ours - he wants that bucket to lift those bundles up rather than having to carry them up.

Where do you guys park all these toys?

mightybooboo · #13 09/05/10, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

What? Not a pickup?

geo

Like how you think Geo,reading my mind (not that its a challenge or anything)

4x4 Diesel truck instead of car,wish I'd done that sooner.

tinknal · #14 09/05/10, 03:45 PM

A poll for everyone who grew up in a small town; Did you have a drunken old farmer with no license who drove his tractor to the bar? Seems like every small town around here had at least one.

Callieslamb · #15 09/05/10, 08:27 PM

They drive elec golf carts in my town....and it's a hick town!

FrontPorch · #16 09/05/10, 08:43 PM

When I was in high school we had a "drive your tractor to school day" every year. I swear I'm not making that up. Population 9,000 and only one stoplight in the entire county. It was not uncommon to see tractors driven here, there and everywhere.

Goat Servant · #17 09/05/10, 09:05 PM

Callieslamb, loved your thread I learned so much from everyone! In fact I printed it out for future reference.
I grew up of a small farm but no one taught me why they did what they did or with what equipment & it never occured to me to ask. But at least as a 10 yr old girl learned how to run the Farmall Cub.
Now Dad is in his 90s & not very lucid.
So all that info is invaluable!

big rockpile · #18 09/05/10, 10:01 PM

Yea I've thought about a Tractor for years for if anything to haul Fire Wood.But for Food Plots and Road work.

big rockpile

Jim-mi · #19 09/05/10, 10:33 PM

Adding to the list: Raising trusses for the extension onto my barn.
I bolted 2x2 steel tubes to the bucket to get the height.

Not keen on driving into "town" but the bucket would hold a bunch of goodies . . . . .

taylorlambert · #20 09/05/10, 10:57 PM

Tinknal I have a firend I used to work with that had an uncle that farmed. ALways drove a big cabbed JD i dont recall the number but in its day was the Cadillac. He always drove it to town and around 30 miles away. My friend alwas said folks made fun of him till they saw what the tactor cost. I met him and he was reall bright hust liked to drive the tractor.