A 4wd tractor w/ front end loader/fork and agile as a skid steer!

[woodbowl]

This sounds too good to be true and I'm afraid that it is, but I continue to search for the next best thing anyway. So, what's the name of this magic tractor yall'?..............One piece of equiptment that will do the job of many is the goal. Loading a whole ramp full of logs in just a few minutes with a skidsteer is very attractive but it just won't do the work of a tractor when it is needed. I would settle for a sassy little power pack of a tractor that could scoot! Have you ever been on a job that kills the day because the loader is too big and awkward, doesn't have the lifting capacity or because Grandpa is driving it? These are the kind of things that put a big kink in my custom
sawing buisness. Does hydrostatic add these type qualitys to the ordinary tractor? If so, how long will it last if abused like a skidsteer?

[mike_van]

Tough machine to find, but here's what I do - I use a 574 IH tractor with a 3ph forklift I made, also on the front I made a log grapple. 2 WD, but you can use chains too. Tires [18.4x26] are loaded. If I can't do it with that, I probably don't belong on that terrain.  3ph "log skidder" I made too, like a Farmi.  I've never run a skid steer, but the ones i've seen bouncing up & down like a bronco didn't do much for me.  Depends how many you want to load - & how fast, I used to be in a hurry years ago, funny how some grey hairs slow you down.  Those Pettibone loaders the big mills use are fast, but boy, got to be a lot of $$$$$$.  A rough terrain forklift with big tires would be good too - but I would like to see a top grapple on it if I had one.

[Tom]

The handiest vehicle I have around the mill at home is my Ford 555A Tractor-Loader-backhoe.   It has enough oooomph to get the job done, is quick enough and has a boom.

It's real easy to think that you have to rush moving the logs.  Actually, safety is lost with speed.  Always keep in mind that there is always tomorrow as long as you allow tomorrow to exist.  

I've worked around young bucks with skid steers who tear up the ground, the logs, the sawmill and the skid steer as they whip around loading logs on the ramp. Ultimately, they end up utilizing the day running the skid steer and losing track of the goal that the whole purpose of the operation was to  saw the logs.  The sawmill crew sits idly by and makes no production because they are afraid they will get hurt if they get too close.  

Sometimes you can make more hay with less equipment if you just use your head.

[footer]

I would look for a small articulated payloader with detatchable bucket and a set of forks!

[FeltzE]

I kept migrating around equipment until I setteled on a Cat 4wd 416C Tractor/Backhoe. It lifts about 1mbf of lumber and dosn't tear the yard up, additionally it's great for all the other work cleaning up sawdust, handling large and small logs, the 4-in-1 bucket grabs but trim pieces and small logs fine.

Eric

[barbender]

  A lot of people get a bad impression of skid steers because they watched a buffoon run one. You don't have to sit in one spot  and spin cookies, just because the machine is capable of it.  Also, you can't expect one of the tiny units that weigh 3000# and have a lift capacity of  500# to get anything useful done.  I think these are the bouncin and jumpin machines everyone talks about.  I have a case 1845 that I like a lot. They weigh about 6500# and are lift rated at 1700# if I remember right. They are a good stable and reliable machine and there are tons of used ones out there. I wouldn't go with anything smaller than that for mill use.  Another machine to consider is one of the rubber track skid loaders, like an ASV.  Those units have all the manueverability of a regular skid but don't tear stuff up at all.  Problem is they cost more.  Tractors are slow and that is all there is to it, but if you really need monster lifting capacity I suppose a big tractor might be what you need.  All depends what you are using them for, I guess.

[woodbowl]

Well..........I've been grinding gears so much that I feel like I need hydrostatic. I've been turned around backwards looking at the lift pole so much I fell like a crawfish. I've been putt puttin' around on this IMT 539, I just feel like I need to go a little faster. I'm not sure That there is anything out there that does it all just right but I've got an idea it may be a hydrostatic transmission that can help out with the fast scootin'. How much HP are we talking about? I would hope that 60-70 HP would be plenty to do anything I wanted. Picking up one end at the time on the ocasional monster is fine for me............Barbender, I know tractors are slow. I'm just trying to out smart the old standard way somehow. I know it's not going to be as fast as a skid steer, I just want it faster than it has been. The only reason that I'm on to tractors are because they have clearance, able to be on rough terrane, have a pto and 3ph for later use. I just can't justify an idle piece of equiptment right now.

[tnlogger]

woodbowl with the IMT you got get a used loader for it take a 55 gal drum cut it in half  get and old draw bar and stick it thew the drum bout half way up  take an old pc of heavy chain about 3' long hang it over a 2x6 on end on top of that there drum fill her with concrete for a weight and git-er-done .

[woodbowl]

TL,
   I lost you on the chain/2X6 thing. What's that for?  I've seen the half a drum of concrete on other tractors though. Good weight..............I've got a used loader, just haven't put it on yet! I also busted my steering box while pushing logs around with the front tires. It snatched the steering wheel clean out of my hands. So now I've got to baby it around untill I get another or rig it in a good way.

[tnlogger]

ok then  ya gots most of it  the chain hooks where your top link goes.  what i do is lift as high as i can and put pin though where the top link goes  then let the arms down to take the pressure off the hydraulics.

[Brucer]

I personally favour the articulated tractor. It's got the front-back stability of a regular tractor, the side-side stability of a skid-steer, is almost as maneuverable as a skid-steer, and doesn't tend to tear up the ground as much.

Quick attach bucket, forks, and log grapple are nice.

Hydrostatic power units are nice, if they're properly maintained. If you're ever looking at a used one, first thing to do is pull out the dipstick for the transmission fluid. If the level is low, walk away from the machine!

I don't own one, but I wish I did .

[mike_van]

Barbender, the few i've seen running were probably run by "buffoons" trying to impress someone - really jumpy.  They must be really hot to sit in though? All that steel around you?                                                                                Woodbowl - from what i've seen on the tractor forum I read all the time, the hydro's do hold up quite well, unless they've been used for heavy tillage work -  chisel plows, harrows, etc. seem to take a toll on them sooner than gears drives. 

[beenthere]

Once in a skid-steer, they are pretty good for moving things around, albeit they tear up some ground.  My take is get something much easier to jump in and out of, as a tractor or the Terex like Bibbyman and ProMary.  But my sights would be set on a HST loader tractor with 3pt capability and FEL with forks for the most all-around chore machine, and articulated loader with larger tires as the next step up.
I have a Deere compact utility with loader and forks, and while it isn't big enough to move bigger logs, its bigger brothers would be and have similar agility. I don't often wish I had a skid steer in its place, especially in the woods and on side hills. Do what feels best for you, and maybe even try out a skidsteer if you have feelings to go that way, and get some time in the seat.

[SawDust_Studios]

Anyone use a backhoe with one of the grapples like Hud-son sells?  I was looking at a 45HP Tractor and backhoe for moving the log pile to the mill and I need a tractor for other uses.  It would have forks on front for larger logs. 

Right now I have a 35HP compact that does a great job.  But it doesn't like the big logs too well and I've loaded too many logs on two wheels.

[Part_Timer]

     I had the oportunity to learn how to drive a skid steer last month.  I was working with a crew clearing a woods for a new ditch.  They let me use their JD250 with forks and it had tracks.  Since I don't have that kind of equipment I was real impressed.  Moving big logs was no problem and loading the trailer was a brease.  I didn't have any bounce problems but I was driving slow.  New learner and not my equipment.  Some time soon I'm going to have to have one.  OR so I keep telling the wife

[woodbowl]

Anybody know who makes the smallest, most compact articulating tractor? When I hear articulating, I think "pivot in the middle". Is this what we're talking about?


beenthere,
    How much HP does your Deere compact utility have. What is the model and how many lbs. will it pick up?

[Robert_in_W._Mi.]

  I guess it really all boils down to your use and how much you need it to pick up.

  I bought a skidsteer, but a few days later it was raining, and it didn't have any traction and made a mess around the yard.  So, i bought tracks for it, and yes it made a huge difference in traction, but it made an even bigger mess of the yard!!!  Then on top of that, it wouldn't load and unload bigger logs, so i got rid of it!!!

  I then bought a 60hp MFWD tractor and put an ALO Quickie loader on it.  Now i have something that will pick those bigger logs, and it's usefull for many more things than the skidsteer was.  My loader will pick over 3,000 pounds with ease.

  My tractor will pull big loads of logs out of my wood lot and also will load and unload them.  Also i can take the bucket off in about 15 seconds and put the pallet forks on in the same about of time, and the whole loader will come off in about 3 minutes!!!

  For what we do, a tractor is easily the best choise, as a skidsteer is waaay too specilized for me.

  Robert

[beenthere]

Woodbowl
I have a '99 Deere 4300, 32.2 HP, with 2200 # lift 24" behind the 3pt arms,
and lift at pivot pin of the model 430 loader is rated at 1258 #. The hyd. system working pressure is 2500 psi.

The 4400 of the same vintage is 35.7 HP but the other stats for the model 430 loader are the same.

The on-off time for the loader is max of 2 minutes. With the iMatch quick tach on the 3pt, I can drop the ballast box, and pick up the forks without getting off the tractor ( although I could use the exercise) and the exchange between the bucket and forks on the frnt loader about 1 minute (but have to get off to snap two pins to secure it).

 

[beenthere]

Woodbowl
There may be others, but one popular one that is articulated ( I think 'pivot in the middle' too ) is the Power Trac

http://power-trac.com/

[slowzuki]

The smallest big size articulate would be an older versitile now sold by New Holland.  I think a 70 hp Cummins powered model was available.  They are hydro with loaders, 3 point hitch, pto etc.  Wicked machine to see in operation.

Currently Mccormick makes a small one with pto and 3 point but I don't know what kinda loader is available.

Holden makes some nice machines too but big $$$.

I got a Kubota L5030 hydrostatic with cab.  Its a 50 hp machine, weighs 6-7000 lbs all outfitted, loader lifts over 2000 lb, got std skidsteer quick attach and it does our haying.

The hydro is great for placing things super accurately with the loader and for working in the woods.  Also very nice baling hay but I feel it loses some power.