compact 4x4 tractor or big atv

[Haywire Haywood]

I asked... $3900 with nothing useful attached to it. It's becoming plainly obvious that I need to shelve any aspirations for a tractor till the child support grinds to a halt... 5 more years.

Ian

 

[trialanderror]

i took some chevy 1 ton steer axles, shortened them and setup 4 wheel steering.

made my own frame and small front end loader, used a 1.3 w/5 speed transmission from a ford aspire, took all the wiring harness, computer, eveything so i could maintain the fuel injection. put a pump on the front of the crank. with the transaxle i directed each drive shaft to each rear end, as transaxles have the final drive in them, i ended up with double final drives. It works ok, it's like fulltime 4wd without able to lock it.....

only way i got around that was make the rear ends posi, but, it's still not the answer. I suppose i could take the spider gears out of the transaxle and weld them up or something crazy.

it picks up quite a bit, eaisly in the 1200# range, nothing intense, but more then what i care to muscle around. After i got it going i setup a 3pt with a tiny cylinder so i can quick hitch up to trailers to pull out the woods.

just an idea, something i made with garbage and odds and ends laying around the yard.

 

[A.E. Metal Werx]

where we cut there is no way a tractor will get to where we need to go. i use a rhino 450 and my 4 wheel trailer. for a shortbox it takes 3 loads and the truck is over filling. heres some pics of the places we need to go. pics cant show how hilly and rought it actualy is.

 

[redprospector]

where we cut there is no way a tractor will get to where we need to go. i use a rhino 450 and my 4 wheel trailer. for a shortbox it takes 3 loads and the truck is over filling. heres some pics of the places we need to go. pics cant show how hilly and rought it actualy is.

You're right, pics can't show how hilly and rough it actually is. But I put a tractor in stuff like that almost every day. Never say "no way".

Andy

Dang, that 1st pic was huge.

 

[trialanderror]

You're right, pics can't show how hilly and rough it actually is. But I put a tractor in stuff like that almost every day. Never say "no way".

Andy

Dang, that 1st pic was huge.

haha, there's a rotor just chillin' on a stump....

 

[redprospector]

haha, there's a rotor just chillin' on a stump....

LOL. I hadn't noticed that in the pic. I wonder if it came off of one of my trucks?

Andy

 

[Beefie]

redprospector what are you driving in that first picture . Kind of looks like the hood of a bulldozer or maybe a skidder. You must be trying to give the stump its yearly iron supply. It's growth looks a little stumped:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[redprospector]

redprospector what are you driving in that first picture . Kind of looks like the hood of a bulldozer or maybe a skidder. You must be trying to give the stump its yearly iron supply. It's growth looks a little stumped:hmm3grin2orange:

Good eye. It's the Hood of an old JD 440-b skidder. I also put a Bobcat 863 up that hill several times. The property owner is 90 years old, and I saw him take an old Ford tractor with a front loader up some of those skid trails to get fence post's.
That picture is a couple of years old so I don't remember any details on the rotor. But I'd be willing to bet it's still sitting right there where I left it.

Andy

 

[Steve NW WI]

where we cut there is no way a tractor will get to where we need to go. i use a rhino 450 and my 4 wheel trailer. for a shortbox it takes 3 loads and the truck is over filling. heres some pics of the places we need to go. pics cant show how hilly and rought it actualy is.

Them hills ain't scary, until you add a foot of snow:

I haven't put the chains on the tractor in over 2 years, might be something to do with the new Firestone tires, but I had to abandon the trailer behind the ATV one day, and it was the tractor to the rescue:

If I can't get the tractor between the trees, then the ATV gets used, otherwise it's tractor city here. I realize that quite a few members on here refer to an overgrown lawn mower as a "tractor", and they work quite nicely in a lot of situations, but a real farm tractor, with an 80" + tread width, will climb anywhere a mountain goat will, and come back with a heck of a lot more than any ATV, Gators and Rangers included.

I have a MFWD tractor on the wish list, but the old Massey with the differential locked in will get anywhere I need to go, it just might take a couple trys.

Don't get me wrong, I love the ATV, it just isn't and never will be a tractor.

 

[A.E. Metal Werx]

if only pics could really show how things are. one of the hills we have the red atv has rolled on.. wont be going up that again. i guess its not all just the hills but how tight it is and how rough the terrain is on the hills. i could see a skidder geting around but not much of anything elce

 

[Steve NW WI]

if only pics could really show how things are. one of the hills we have the red atv has rolled on.. wont be going up that again. i guess its not all just the hills but how tight it is and how rough the terrain is on the hills. i could see a skidder geting around but not much of anything elce

Heck, you're in Iowa, if I go to southern Wisconsin and look west, I can see Nebraska!

Just kidding of course, I've seen a lot of steep terrain in NE IA by the river, and yours looks it. But my land has hills that make the guys that rent it with 4wd 400hp tractors curse it, and we farmed it for many years with a 60hp 2wd, technique has a lot to do with it.

To each their own, I wouldn't even try a lot of my woods on a compact tractor, too narrow and tippy, and I use the ATV a lot to get places the tractor won't fit, but it's a lot slower work when I do it that way. I'd much rather skid a whole tree or two out to the field with the tractor and buck and split out in the open than buck a tree, load it 18 cu ft at a time into the trailer behind the quad, haul it out, split and toss it into another trailer, and go back for more.

 

[A.E. Metal Werx]

Heck, you're in Iowa, if I go to southern Wisconsin and look west, I can see Nebraska!

Just kidding of course, I've seen a lot of steep terrain in NE IA by the river, and yours looks it. But my land has hills that make the guys that rent it with 4wd 400hp tractors curse it, and we farmed it for many years with a 60hp 2wd, technique has a lot to do with it.

To each their own, I wouldn't even try a lot of my woods on a compact tractor, too narrow and tippy, and I use the ATV a lot to get places the tractor won't fit, but it's a lot slower work when I do it that way. I'd much rather skid a whole tree or two out to the field with the tractor and buck and split out in the open than buck a tree, load it 18 cu ft at a time into the trailer behind the quad, haul it out, split and toss it into another trailer, and go back for more.

Agreed! there is no way i would pull a tree or anything with out wheels on it with the Rhino. no weaght to it. cant even load the bed of the rhino with out the front tires coming off the ground.

 

[23putts]

Is that the X4 Trailor from Northern Tools? If so, how do you like it?

 

[A.E. Metal Werx]

Is that the X4 Trailor from Northern Tools? If so, how do you like it?

yes it is the x4. i love the trailer but i had to make it better right when i got it. first it came in on a truck and the box was all torn to he.. after geting ti togeather i went to use it and oh boy... the tung is bolted togeather with 2 bolts so right there is a weak point, mine swisted. so i welded that solid and then the pivit latch so the box can tilt down there wasnt enough contact area so going up a hill i lost my load. so i built that up with some 3/8 stock. and then i got rid of the pin and weled on a ball receiver. other then all that. i am very very very happy with it. the floating axles rock!

 

[23putts]

Thanks for the review....been scratching my head wondering if its worth the money.

Here is my tractor/quad pics....They both serve their purpose....

 

[giXXer]

Them hills ain't scary, until you add a foot of snow:

I haven't put the chains on the tractor in over 2 years, might be something to do with the new Firestone tires, but I had to abandon the trailer behind the ATV one day, and it was the tractor to the rescue:

If I can't get the tractor between the trees, then the ATV gets used, otherwise it's tractor city here. I realize that quite a few members on here refer to an overgrown lawn mower as a "tractor", and they work quite nicely in a lot of situations, but a real farm tractor, with an 80" + tread width, will climb anywhere a mountain goat will, and come back with a heck of a lot more than any ATV, Gators and Rangers included.

I have a MFWD tractor on the wish list, but the old Massey with the differential locked in will get anywhere I need to go, it just might take a couple trys.

Don't get me wrong, I love the ATV, it just isn't and never will be a tractor.

Guilty as charged. I loosely refer to my Kubota as a tractor and catch a ton of crap from a buddy. We argue about it (in fun) and my point is always if it has a 3 point and a pto it is a tractor because it is capable of "tractor" type work. His argument is always "hook this chain to your 'tractor' and I'll hook the other end to my 'man tractor' and we'll see what happens." He'll also say "your Kubota is either a tractor for a pu$$y or a really expensive lawn mower, take your pick." The funny thing is his Dad has the almost identical Kubota and he uses it way more than his JD "tractor."

It's really a non-issue for me, though. With the economy going the way it is I may end up selling the Kubota which means I have to get 4 new tires and fix all of the hyd. leaks on the ole' Ford Jubilee. It hasn't run in over 5 years, but with a new battery, some fresh fuel, and a little ether she should fire up. There are also several really nice 9N's for sale around here for $2,000-$4,000. 2 wheel drive, but still a decent "bang for the buck."

 

[mtfallsmikey]

Guilty as charged. I loosely refer to my Kubota as a tractor and catch a ton of crap from a buddy. We argue about it (in fun) and my point is always if it has a 3 point and a pto it is a tractor because it is capable of "tractor" type work. His argument is always "hook this chain to your 'tractor' and I'll hook the other end to my 'man tractor' and we'll see what happens." He'll also say "your Kubota is either a tractor for a pu$$y or a really expensive lawn mower, take your pick." The funny thing is his Dad has the almost identical Kubota and he uses it way more than his JD "tractor."

It's really a non-issue for me, though. With the economy going the way it is I may end up selling the Kubota which means I have to get 4 new tires and fix all of the hyd. leaks on the ole' Ford Jubilee. It hasn't run in over 5 years, but with a new battery, some fresh fuel, and a little ether she should fire up. There are also several really nice 9N's for sale around here for $2,000-$4,000. 2 wheel drive, but still a decent "bang for the buck."

Saw a nicely restored Ford 900 go for $4K at an auction recently...a friend who knows a tremendous amount about tractor repair sez Kubotas shed a lot of metal, internally. But, it's still the top-selling compact on the market.

 

[redprospector]

Them hills ain't scary, until you add a foot of snow:

The foot of snow dosen't bother me near as bad as that layer of ice that's under it.

Andy

 

[sawinredneck]

...a friend who knows a tremendous amount about tractor repair sez Kubotas shed a lot of metal, internally. But, it's still the top-selling compact on the market.

WTF does that mean? I am not familiar with that term at all! The Kubota engines I have had the pleasure of working on (Mainly Bobcats) have been bullet proof!

 

[mtfallsmikey]

WTF does that mean? I am not familiar with that term at all! The Kubota engines I have had the pleasure of working on (Mainly Bobcats) have been bullet proof!

Metal from crank bearings, etc. found in oil when it is changed. At least on the newer models.