Sort of new to this Homesteading way of life. Have 5 Ac. and will be building a house. There are a lot of questions on the house which is a whole different subject. My thoughs now are directed to the type of equipment which will be best and most economical. Due to a concern about a possible rollover, I have decided a small tractor is not suitable. Looking for a machine that will perform three + task: 1 Bush hogging 2 Roto tilling 3 Hauling (moving a generator) and possible a blade to push dirt around. Have looked at some DR power tools, but they lack the necessary attachments. SUGGESTIONS?

-- ken ballard (steelframeme@yahoo.com), September 11, 2001

Answers

Questions, How much of the 5 acres need bush hogging, How much roto tilling? How often do you move a generator and how much dirt do you need to move.

Why is rool over an issue with a tractor. How is roll over any different with a DR power tool? You would need some pretty steep slopes to roll a garden tractor. Most compact tractor have Roll over bars on them.

For you bush hog/tilling issues, maybe just hire it out each year, might be cheaper than buying. How often do you really move the generator? WOuld a heavy duty kids wagon do the job? For moving dirt, how about just hiring it out?

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), September 11, 2001.

Hi Gary,

Will try to answer your questions: 1 [How much of the 5 acres need bush hogging] The total 5 Ac will need to be bush hogged. 2 [How much roto tilling?] None initially, about 1 to 1 1/2 Ac. in the future. 3 [How often do you move a generator and how much dirt do you need to move.] Really unknown, probably one two fifty times per year. 4 [Why is rool over an issue with a tractor. ] About 4/5 of the property is on a slight slope. That in conjunction with holes of unknown origins dictates that no small tractors be used. 5 [How is roll over any different with a DR power tool?] The DR Field and Brush has an extremely low center of gravity and is a walk behind unit. 6 [You would need some pretty steep slopes to roll a garden tractor. Most compact tractor have Roll over bars on them.] May be overly cautious, but am not an experienced homesteader. I prefer to error on the side of caution. 7 [For you bush hog/tilling issues, maybe just hire it out each year, might be cheaper than buying.] The decision is based on long term scenario and time availability along with a need to exercise productively. 8 [ WOuld a heavy duty kids wagon do the job?] That is being considered. 9 [For moving dirt, how about just hiring it out? ] See answer to # 7. Hope this answers all your questions Sort of new to this Homesteading way of life. Have 5 Ac. and will be building a house. There are a lot of questions on the house which is a whole different subject. My thoughts now are directed to the type of equipment which will be best and most economical. Due to a concern about a possible rollover, I have decided a small tractor is not suitable. Looking for a machine that will perform three + task: 1 Bush hogging 2 Roto tilling 3 Hauling (moving a generator) and possible a blade to push dirt around. Have looked at some DR power tools, but they lack the necessary attachments. SUGGESTIONS?

-- ken ballard (steelframeme@yahoo.com), September 11, 2001

Answers

Questions, How much of the 5 acres need bush hogging, How much roto tilling? How often do you move a generator and how much dirt do you need to move.

Why is rool over an issue with a tractor. How is roll over any different with a DR power tool? You would need some pretty steep slopes to roll a garden tractor. Most compact tractor have Roll over bars on them.

For you bush hog/tilling issues, maybe just hire it out each year, might be cheaper than buying. How often do you really move the generator? WOuld a heavy duty kids wagon do the job? For moving dirt, how about just hiring it out?

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), September 11, 2001. -- Ken Ballard steelframeme@yahoo.com Voice # 1-405-737-5373 P.O. Box 10471 Midwest City, OK 73140-1471

NO ONE! has ever repealed the law of SUPPLY AND DEMAND!

-- ken (steelframeme@yahoo.com), September 11, 2001.

You need a tractor that has * wide front wheels and a low center of gravity. * at least 40 - 45 horsepower to handle the tiller * three point hitch capability. * most important....ROPS...Roll Over Protection System.

There are several new and used that will fill the bill. Go surfing at John Deere, Ford, etc. and see what you can find.

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), September 11, 2001.

Hi Ken, we farm on very steep hillsides, and dear husband has had a tractor "rear up" and turn over on him, he jumped clear fortunately, or I would be a farm widow now. But that tractor was a narrow front end gas job that had a too high center of gravity, now we have a 1972 Ford 4000 SU model, was still $10,000 used, but it has 45 hp, diesel powered, and a very wide front end and extremely low to the ground. It hugs the hiilsides like a cat, and is very stable on the worst terrain, even use it drag trees up out of the woods for lumbermaking. It also powers our PTO powered alternator generator on occasion. Being diesel powered, it is extremely economical to run, and will outlast the both of us in lifespan! For comparison, the same model new would be $20,000.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 11, 2001.

I'd look at an International Low Boy. They are common on golf courses and used for mowing and other work.

-- Paul (Treewizard @buffalo.com), September 12, 2001.

Ken,

While I think you would be better served with a newer compact - not garden- tractor in the 25-40 hp range, if you really want walk behind equipment look at the BCS brand tillers. Thay are also sometimes called 2-wheel tractors or walk-behind tractors. They are basically a power unit which can mount any number of attachments made for them. They have attachments for all of the jobs you asked about as well as many others including chippers and snow blowers.

Best of luck.

-- Murray in ME (lkdmfarm@megalink.net), September 13, 2001.

Ken,

I forgot to mention, BCS's web site is : www.bcs-america.com Hope it helps.

-- Murray in ME (lkdmfarm@megalink.net), September 13, 2001.