A guy with a piece of equipment like that is a real asset! Amazing what a skid loader can do. But I can't imagine not having a tractor as a bushog, disk, and seed drill are the three most important attachments I need on my farm. An ATV or UTV with a spreader (fertilizer and seed) and spray boom and wand (for Herbicide insecticide) are also must haves. You can do that with a tractor also, but the atv is just so quick and handy to do both small and large jobs. So I think most of us are better off calling someone like Ben to come out and do improvement projects. But if you have a new farm it may be best to buy a skidsteer then sell it in a few years, then buy a tractor to maintain the land. More so if the skidsteer is used for new construction projects like putting in driveways/trail system, or digging/leveling for foundations.
All good input and advice. Thanks for the comment. I agree, that early in the evolution of a property, there a lot more projects that require something like a skid steer, but in time those become less. Buy used and then resell would be a good option for sure. But the attachments are just as important and some of those are really expensive too. I still like hiring someone like Ben who has all the stuff and is really good at using it all. Plus, the maintenence falls on him and not on me. Have a great day.
@@jerimahjohnson8698 I think Ben charges $150 per hour for his time and the equipment time. I think that is pretty cheap, all things considered. He can get a ton of work done in 10 hours.
Another great video. If you can only afford one, personally a FEL like a Kubota L or MX Series with front and rear functioning valves is the way to go. This way you can run planters, mowers, front grapples, land planes and all the toys under one machine. I can do everything Ben is doing with my 72" Virnig skeleton bucket on my L3560HST. The advantage a skid steer has is break out force, lift capacity (its a dedicated lifting machine) and hydro flow. Larger front end loaders have come alone way and a tractor is not just for the field anymore
Agreed. I have tried doing some of these things using a tractor and chain to the bucket, but that was only good from pulling really small stuff - and very time consuming. The skidsteer is perfect for most general duty land management projects. If you need to clear bigger stuff, you will nee a dozer. Good input.
A properly optioned tractor can clear quite well with the same attachments. Say a hydrostat L6060 or 4066R JD. I would 100% go for a hydrostat tractor for work in the brush.
Yeah no contest. Can even till the ground enough for food plots with them. There are several people in Ky now doing this service for a living. Pretty affordable too
I decided that for me, I can hire Ben or lease the equipment for cheaper than owning the skidsteer system. Way cheaper. Sure, that limits the amount of projects I can get done in a year, but we did a lot of work (Ben did a lot of work) in just 10 hours. I think one day per year would be all I need to eventually get this farm where I need it. Most of the projects here are planting and spraying related and those are not well adapted to the skidsteer. Thanks for the input.
I recently sold my skid steer that I used to clean up my property after a timber harvest. I found that I could do the most of the same tasks with my tractor and loader. I had also bought a mini excavator. I ended up using it more than the skid steer. I found that I could be more precise in clearing food plots and was not removing all the topsoil like most dozer operators do.
I noticed in this video you were just playing with tiny little small trees and stumps. Last fall we cleaned up some trees in an area of the farm we were installing tiles. Used bulldozers to push over the half dozen 4 foot diameter trees. A month ago a guy with a Case skidsteer came to the pile of trees and helped push things around for burning. But he was honest and said he couldn't do anything with the big trees. Just the branches and other small brush. Hopefully this week we will get the big Komatsu dozer over to the pile and push the big tree trunks together for burning.
Agreed, the skidsteer isn't going to handle the really big stuff so if I ever want to carve a food plot out of the timber (I have one spot for that), I will have to get a bulldozer in here. That will be a project for down the road.
I can't see not having a tractor for the kinds of stuff I do. I would love to have skid steer too, but at least I can rent one (or better yet - hire Ben) for specific projects on the farm. Have a great day.
Here in the northeast where primarily everything’s densely forested and almost always very rocky an excavator is the key to making anything work. Bought my first one about 7 years ago and it’s paid for itself over and over again.
William, assuming you already have tractors, if you had to choose between an excavator & a backhoe are there any major pluses or minuses to either for the type of work we are talking about?
@@michaelswitzer218 I’ve used both and a 10k pound excavator blows a tractor mounted backhoe out of the water. No one understands how efficient and effective a mini excavator is in the woods until they use it. I didn’t realize until I bought mine.
@@williamaltman3860 Thanks for the input, I will look into that. Is 10k pound the capacity of the bucket arm? An excavator is one thing I have never used.
I use my skid steer all year for all sorts of projects. The tractor is mainly for planting etc. If I had to choose I would only have the skid steer because hiring tractor work is less expensive on a per hour basis and frankly the skid steer is more fun to operate. I have the exact same model JD as in this video. Bought it with 50 hrs from a CAT dealer when someone traded it in after waiting 6 mo on their new CAT. Someone told me all the name brands have their pros and cons but just buy the brand with the nearest dealership to your place. Something to consider anyway.
Thanks Dan. I think I am just the opposite. I have tons of work for a tractor, sprayer, planter and some work for a skidsteer. I would to have one but much more cost effective to hire someone like Ben who has a good one and all the needed attachments. Plus, he is really good at operating it.
Agreed. Maybe someday for me too, but just too hard to justify financially right now when I can get someone like Ben for a day or two per year and get a ton of stuff done.
Agreed. That is a good point. I may get one some day, but the number of projects I have hear won't justify buying a skidsteer. They are a blast and I am sure I would keep it busy, but I can get essential stuff done by hiring or renting the skidsteer. Good input.
It all comes down to preferences. Skid you have the ability to go just about anywhere, while a tractor you are still limited. If clearing trees in tight areas and needing to shred under brush then skid steer. They make tillers for skid steers and others. In the end it’s personal preference and what types of work you wish to do.
This is a question I have been struggling with, as Dad's new 2000 series John Deere tractor isn't really big enough, and my only tractor with a loader is a 50+ year old Ford 3600. Skidsteers are pretty expensive ($90,000 new) and nobody has them in stock, all the dealers are telling me over a year wait after you order one. There are a couple places leasing them but there is a waiting list & ball park prices of $500/24 hours or $7500/month. Right now I am leaning toward finding a used backhoe with a thumb attachment for pulling trees & stumps, it seems like the most useful compromise.
Agree Michael, that backhoe should get you by on most of the tree pulling and removal work. The old tractor with the bucket would likely be enough to push everything out of the way and smooth up when done.
I would buy a skidsteer 100%. I rent for now but there is a lot of attachments you can rent for them that help a ton. Now we also are in timber country. I have micro plots so for myself skid does great
Agreed. Here in ag country the plots are too big for the skid steer to make much sense, although their capabilities and attachments are coming a long ways. Cost is the other thing. I can get a used tractor and used implements for pretty cheap compared to all the stuff I would want for a skidsteer. Better for me to rent the skidsteer and own the tractor.
Skidsteer is the way to go...i was looking for a forestry mulcher for my farm but could not find one and ended up using the Brushcat, it worked well but not a one and done attachment.
I have both just like a hammer and a screwdriver I have a 333g hi flo for specific tasks like I just cleared 7 acres along a creek for more food. Have a Deere 5075e and a 3038e both do specific things like pick up a land pride 3pt nt606 drill. I really feel safer in the skid loader on any slopes.... otherwise I used the 3038e Bill I find myself using my blue diamond extreme duty cutter to do a lot of the work and I can push over 60 ft trees with a little work. Push them to the side and use for blocking. I have a grapple forks and the brush cutter and I bet I have 100 hours using that cutter. The Drury's have featured my farm on the fundamental 5 and without that skid steer I'd never would have been able to do what I have done.
Agree. I want one and all the attachments but can't justify it. I have rented them several times and they are a blast, but just too expensive for me to own for the number of projects I have each year.
I just don't need a dozer for most projects here. If I go to making a road/path or clearing large trees for a new plot, I would have to hire a dozer guy, or maybe rent one. But I am sure it would make more sense from a time standpoint to just hire someone who is really good at using the dozer.
There are lots of turkeys. We didn't have time to hunt it this spring with all the projects, but Ethan got out and shot one and I heard several gobbling first thing on those ridges each morning. I hope next year we will get out more. Have a great day.
@@ShochCustomCalls Sometimes the deer stuff works against the turkeys. The turkeys like fairly open timber with nearby thick nesting. They don't like moving in areas where predators can easily hide. They don't necessarily leave, in my experience, but they may fringe out into nearby areas if they are more open.
My problem is that I need a tractor at least a couple times per week. The best value is a decent used one that you can resell at probably close to what you bought it for if you need to.
A guy with a piece of equipment like that is a real asset! Amazing what a skid loader can do. But I can't imagine not having a tractor as a bushog, disk, and seed drill are the three most important attachments I need on my farm. An ATV or UTV with a spreader (fertilizer and seed) and spray boom and wand (for Herbicide insecticide) are also must haves. You can do that with a tractor also, but the atv is just so quick and handy to do both small and large jobs. So I think most of us are better off calling someone like Ben to come out and do improvement projects. But if you have a new farm it may be best to buy a skidsteer then sell it in a few years, then buy a tractor to maintain the land. More so if the skidsteer is used for new construction projects like putting in driveways/trail system, or digging/leveling for foundations.
All good input and advice. Thanks for the comment. I agree, that early in the evolution of a property, there a lot more projects that require something like a skid steer, but in time those become less. Buy used and then resell would be a good option for sure. But the attachments are just as important and some of those are really expensive too. I still like hiring someone like Ben who has all the stuff and is really good at using it all. Plus, the maintenence falls on him and not on me. Have a great day.
Great video Bill! Great to see real progress!
Thanks Kapper. It takes time, but slowly but surely this place will start to take shape. Have a great day.
You don't need either you just need a friend or neighbor with one 😂
I am glad someone finally said that. It has been the motto of my life so far!
Lol that machine is super expensive per hour to run let alone own...it's over 100k
@@jerimahjohnson8698 I think Ben charges $150 per hour for his time and the equipment time. I think that is pretty cheap, all things considered. He can get a ton of work done in 10 hours.
Another great video. If you can only afford one, personally a FEL like a Kubota L or MX Series with front and rear functioning valves is the way to go. This way you can run planters, mowers, front grapples, land planes and all the toys under one machine. I can do everything Ben is doing with my 72" Virnig skeleton bucket on my L3560HST. The advantage a skid steer has is break out force, lift capacity (its a dedicated lifting machine) and hydro flow. Larger front end loaders have come alone way and a tractor is not just for the field anymore
Agreed. I have tried doing some of these things using a tractor and chain to the bucket, but that was only good from pulling really small stuff - and very time consuming. The skidsteer is perfect for most general duty land management projects. If you need to clear bigger stuff, you will nee a dozer. Good input.
A properly optioned tractor can clear quite well with the same attachments. Say a hydrostat L6060 or 4066R JD. I would 100% go for a hydrostat tractor for work in the brush.
Yeah no contest. Can even till the ground enough for food plots with them. There are several people in Ky now doing this service for a living. Pretty affordable too
I decided that for me, I can hire Ben or lease the equipment for cheaper than owning the skidsteer system. Way cheaper. Sure, that limits the amount of projects I can get done in a year, but we did a lot of work (Ben did a lot of work) in just 10 hours. I think one day per year would be all I need to eventually get this farm where I need it. Most of the projects here are planting and spraying related and those are not well adapted to the skidsteer. Thanks for the input.
Looks great guys! I really enjoy seeing the improvements to the dream farm.
It is coming along slowly but surely. A few more years and it will look way different.
I recently sold my skid steer that I used to clean up my property after a timber harvest. I found that I could do the most of the same tasks with my tractor and loader. I had also bought a mini excavator. I ended up using it more than the skid steer. I found that I could be more precise in clearing food plots and was not removing all the topsoil like most dozer operators do.
Thanks for the input. Using an excavator for clearing trees to make a plot is a great idea. Have a great day.
Very informative video here, thanks Bill and Ben!
Thanks Alex. Much appreciated.
I noticed in this video you were just playing with tiny little small trees and stumps. Last fall we cleaned up some trees in an area of the farm we were installing tiles. Used bulldozers to push over the half dozen 4 foot diameter trees. A month ago a guy with a Case skidsteer came to the pile of trees and helped push things around for burning. But he was honest and said he couldn't do anything with the big trees. Just the branches and other small brush. Hopefully this week we will get the big Komatsu dozer over to the pile and push the big tree trunks together for burning.
Agreed, the skidsteer isn't going to handle the really big stuff so if I ever want to carve a food plot out of the timber (I have one spot for that), I will have to get a bulldozer in here. That will be a project for down the road.
I'm fortunate to have both but the mini trackloader (skid steer) is far more versatile and never has a flat tire. Good video.
I can't see not having a tractor for the kinds of stuff I do. I would love to have skid steer too, but at least I can rent one (or better yet - hire Ben) for specific projects on the farm. Have a great day.
That tree puller attachment was impressive. I’ve never seen one of those
It did an awesome job. I had not even thought of pulling multifloral rose instead of just mowing it. That was really slick.
Here in the northeast where primarily everything’s densely forested and almost always very rocky an excavator is the key to making anything work. Bought my first one about 7 years ago and it’s paid for itself over and over again.
Interesting. I had not even considered that as a reasonable option. Good input.
William, assuming you already have tractors, if you had to choose between an excavator & a backhoe are there any major pluses or minuses to either for the type of work we are talking about?
@@michaelswitzer218 I’ve used both and a 10k pound excavator blows a tractor mounted backhoe out of the water. No one understands how efficient and effective a mini excavator is in the woods until they use it. I didn’t realize until I bought mine.
@@bill-winke a 10-12k mini excavator is an incredibly handy tool for working the woods and making plots. Everything except planting.
@@williamaltman3860 Thanks for the input, I will look into that. Is 10k pound the capacity of the bucket arm? An excavator is one thing I have never used.
I use my skid steer all year for all sorts of projects. The tractor is mainly for planting etc. If I had to choose I would only have the skid steer because hiring tractor work is less expensive on a per hour basis and frankly the skid steer is more fun to operate. I have the exact same model JD as in this video. Bought it with 50 hrs from a CAT dealer when someone traded it in after waiting 6 mo on their new CAT. Someone told me all the name brands have their pros and cons but just buy the brand with the nearest dealership to your place. Something to consider anyway.
Thanks Dan. I think I am just the opposite. I have tons of work for a tractor, sprayer, planter and some work for a skidsteer. I would to have one but much more cost effective to hire someone like Ben who has a good one and all the needed attachments. Plus, he is really good at operating it.
I own both but if could only have one on my farm it would be the skid steer hands down!
Thanks for the vote Tom. We all appreciate the input. Have a great day.
Would love to be able to afford a skid steer. For now the tractor with piranha bar takes care of quite a bit of my landscaping for wildlife.
Agreed. Maybe someday for me too, but just too hard to justify financially right now when I can get someone like Ben for a day or two per year and get a ton of stuff done.
I dwelled on it for years, I bought a brand new Kubota track loader and no regrets. You can get a cheap old tractor for implements
Agreed. That is a good point. I may get one some day, but the number of projects I have hear won't justify buying a skidsteer. They are a blast and I am sure I would keep it busy, but I can get essential stuff done by hiring or renting the skidsteer. Good input.
It all comes down to preferences. Skid you have the ability to go just about anywhere, while a tractor you are still limited. If clearing trees in tight areas and needing to shred under brush then skid steer. They make tillers for skid steers and others. In the end it’s personal preference and what types of work you wish to do.
Good points. Thanks for the comment Cody. Much appreciated.
This is a question I have been struggling with, as Dad's new 2000 series John Deere tractor isn't really big enough, and my only tractor with a loader is a 50+ year old Ford 3600. Skidsteers are pretty expensive ($90,000 new) and nobody has them in stock, all the dealers are telling me over a year wait after you order one. There are a couple places leasing them but there is a waiting list & ball park prices of $500/24 hours or $7500/month. Right now I am leaning toward finding a used backhoe with a thumb attachment for pulling trees & stumps, it seems like the most useful compromise.
Agree Michael, that backhoe should get you by on most of the tree pulling and removal work. The old tractor with the bucket would likely be enough to push everything out of the way and smooth up when done.
I would buy a skidsteer 100%. I rent for now but there is a lot of attachments you can rent for them that help a ton. Now we also are in timber country. I have micro plots so for myself skid does great
Agreed. Here in ag country the plots are too big for the skid steer to make much sense, although their capabilities and attachments are coming a long ways. Cost is the other thing. I can get a used tractor and used implements for pretty cheap compared to all the stuff I would want for a skidsteer. Better for me to rent the skidsteer and own the tractor.
Skidsteer is the way to go...i was looking for a forestry mulcher for my farm but could not find one and ended up using the Brushcat, it worked well but not a one and done attachment.
Those forestry mulchers are really expensive, from what I have seen. Might be something to rent if you can find one.
Yes indeed good info .
Thanks Anita. Much appreciated.
A really good skid steer driver can do a tremendous amount of land clearing/enhancements in a day.
Amen, I saw that in Ben. He did a ton of stuff that day. I only showed about 1/3 of what he actually did in 8 hours. Really made a difference here.
I will be reaching out to Ben to see if he can help me with some excavating work I need done on my property in Prairie Du Chein, WI area this summer.
I am sure he will do a good job for you. Have a great day.
I have both just like a hammer and a screwdriver
I have a 333g hi flo for specific tasks like I just cleared 7 acres along a creek for more food.
Have a Deere 5075e and a 3038e both do specific things like pick up a land pride 3pt nt606 drill.
I really feel safer in the skid loader on any slopes.... otherwise I used the 3038e
Bill I find myself using my blue diamond extreme duty cutter to do a lot of the work and I can push over 60 ft trees with a little work.
Push them to the side and use for blocking. I have a grapple forks and the brush cutter and I bet I have 100 hours using that cutter.
The Drury's have featured my farm on the fundamental 5 and without that skid steer I'd never would have been able to do what I have done.
That is great input. Thanks for that. We all appreciate it. That Blue Diamond is a very heavy duty piece of equipment. Have a great day.
I need one! 😁
Amen, don't we all!
skidsteer hands down.
Thanks for the comment. Have a great day.
Overall the skid steer can do so much more, way more power! But much more expensive
Agree. I want one and all the attachments but can't justify it. I have rented them several times and they are a blast, but just too expensive for me to own for the number of projects I have each year.
@@bill-winke yep agree too expensive - but a fun toy :)
@@stevedenoyer5956 Much better for me to just hire Ben. He can do twice the work in a day with that stuff as I can.
Would have to compare gross costs compared to dozer guy.
I just don't need a dozer for most projects here. If I go to making a road/path or clearing large trees for a new plot, I would have to hire a dozer guy, or maybe rent one. But I am sure it would make more sense from a time standpoint to just hire someone who is really good at using the dozer.
Does the property have many turkeys?
There are lots of turkeys. We didn't have time to hunt it this spring with all the projects, but Ethan got out and shot one and I heard several gobbling first thing on those ridges each morning. I hope next year we will get out more. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke do you do any habitat improvement for them girlie does a lot of the deer improvements work for the turkeys as well?
@@ShochCustomCalls Sometimes the deer stuff works against the turkeys. The turkeys like fairly open timber with nearby thick nesting. They don't like moving in areas where predators can easily hide. They don't necessarily leave, in my experience, but they may fringe out into nearby areas if they are more open.
Yep, if you could farm with a skid steer, my tractor is history, and the skid steer is hired!
Agreed. Maybe someday.
Mmmmmmmm. I can taste it now.❤
Just rent either when needed, unless you use it to make money it’s a waste
My problem is that I need a tractor at least a couple times per week. The best value is a decent used one that you can resell at probably close to what you bought it for if you need to.
First
Thanks for the support Kurt.