M62? M59? Or something else

[Russell King]

I would like a cab, I saw you can get an aftermarket for the M62 but it wont have AC which inst a deal breaker but not ideal.

Your point about the 2 machines vs 1 is definitely valid, but I think my wife would struggle with the concept. Her math would be 2 is larger than 1. But, it's definitely a point I will try and make.

Would your wife be involved in using the equipment you purchase? If she will be involved will she be okay operating the large open cab model? Or would she prefer to be operating a smaller, cabbed tractor in the heat or A/C cab?

If you really intend to produce hay, that is a power intensive operation. Look at the requirements of the equipment and the cost. That may be a good thing for you to rent the equipment or to have others do for you if that is done in Maine.

 

[Maine Woods]

It's easy to explain, if you're the one doing the work it makes sense to have tools that make difficult jobs a lot safer and less difficult; silverware isn't needed to eat, but it makes the experience better.

Regarding a TLB vs. tractor and excavator, a mini-ex sure is nice compared to a backhoe if you have the need. It's a lot easier to move an excavator when digging, plus with a smaller footprint it fits a lot of places easily, and check out the lifting capacity. A tractor is great for transporting ground, pulling a mower, brush hogging, etc., not so great for excavating.

I'm sure I could make the case if I really thought it was the best choice for us. I am struggling a little with it myself. I usually prefer to buy new, keep it in great shape, and keep it forever.

Buying a mini and a tractor new is money better spent elsewhere.

I would need to find a good deal on a very clean Mini-ex and tractor, which has been elusive so far. The tractor hasn't been too hard but I haven't seen many Mini-ex that are in good shape and not close to the price of a new unit.

I'm using Searchtempest to check all Craigslist posts across the country, and checking my local dealers inventories but not much luck so far. Any other places you could suggest looking?

 

[Maine Woods]

Would your wife be involved in using the equipment you purchase? If she will be involved will she be okay operating the large open cab model? Or would she prefer to be operating a smaller, cabbed tractor in the heat or A/C cab?

If you really intend to produce hay, that is a power intensive operation. Look at the requirements of the equipment and the cost. That may be a good thing for you to rent the equipment or to have others do for you if that is done in Maine.

She will not be helping, her domain is inside the house.

In Maine, people often hay fields for others, but they always want to keep the hay. Making hay would be at the bottom of my list of "things to do with the tractor". Hay is avg. about $7 a bail up here so, not cheap. We board our horse at a facility with an indoor riding arena so my wife can ride year round. And I was thinking about bartering hay for the cost of board. So, not something I need to do, just something I was mulling over.

When you say it's power intensive, I assume you're talking HP?

 

[Russell King]

Yes horsepower of the tractor and if small square bales the potential for lots of human labor to gather and stack. They do make implements to gather it but my family used the children as free labor.

I know that we planted the fields but paid a person to cut and bail the hay. I assume that in the northeast you probably just bale the grass that grows naturally.

I believe that now they make larger square bales and smaller round bales. So you could look into that.

Since you have horses, I would definitely move the hay up in priority to help offset that cost.

Good luck with your journey though this.

 

[McMXi]

I usually prefer to buy new, keep it in great shape, and keep it forever.

Buying a mini and a tractor new is money better spent elsewhere.

I would need to find a good deal on a very clean Mini-ex and tractor, which has been elusive so far. The tractor hasn't been too hard but I haven't seen many Mini-ex that are in good shape and not close to the price of a new unit.

I'm using Searchtempest to check all Craigslist posts across the country, and checking my local dealers inventories but not much luck so far. Any other places you could suggest looking?

Sometimes I think that I should have opted for a tractor and excavator rather than two tractors, but now I think that a new or used excavator is in my future in 18 months or so once the tractors are paid off. Having two tractors is really useful though, and they're so different that it makes it easier to justify the expense.

I'm in the "buy new, look after it and keep for ever" camp too, but for a combined price of $92,500, a person could do an awful lot with this low hour tractor and relatively low hour mini excavator. They're only 50 miles apart and would probably fit on the same trailer.

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[David Page]

Welcome. You mention trails, we have a couple of woodlots that we have put woods roads all over. Most of them we can drive on with a pickup. We haven't had to move many rocks or stumps but it depends on what your land is like and how smooth you want it. Were in central Maine.

 

[Smokeydog]

The M59 compact size, scary strong loader and well balanced backhoe are reasons we prefer it over a similar AG tractor in our hillside farm. Doesn’t cut the ground up carrying heavy loads.
Yesterday carried firewood from shed to house to restock supply for next year. Chewed more dirt off a huge oak stump and carried it to gulley. Easily over 3K#. Graded 1/2mile driveway with landplane. Smoothed and filled around where stump was from. Moved at least a dozen grapple piles of trees and limbs cut from pasture fence rows to gully. Heavy and 16-20’ wide loads requires threading thru wooded driveway. Nimbleness and excellent visibility from operator platform makes gathering limbs or trees, pulling vines and debris much easier task over ag tractors. It does like the fuel but it is a heavy machine. With HST plus and auto throttle so easy to drive.

 

[Maine Woods]

Welcome. You mention trails, we have a couple of woodlots that we have put woods roads all over. Most of them we can drive on with a pickup. We haven't had to move many rocks or stumps but it depends on what your land is like and how smooth you want it. Were in central Maine.

I'm roughly an hour south of you, near the western foothills. We have swamp, mountain, rolling fields, pretty much some of everything. We like to go SXS riding so the trails we make don't have to be too smooth.

Last time I stayed in Dexter it was at the (now closed) Motor Lounge. We resurfaced the tennis court up there. Our main point of contact was Duke, I think he was a volunteer serif too. You have some beautiful farming country up there.

 

[Maine Woods]

The M59 compact size, scary strong loader and well balanced backhoe are reasons we prefer it over a similar AG tractor in our hillside farm. Doesn’t cut the ground up carrying heavy loads.
Yesterday carried firewood from shed to house to restock supply for next year. Chewed more dirt off a huge oak stump and carried it to gulley. Easily over 3K#. Graded 1/2mile driveway with landplane. Smoothed and filled around where stump was from. Moved at least a dozen grapple piles of trees and limbs cut from pasture fence rows to gully. Heavy and 16-20’ wide loads requires threading thru wooded driveway. Nimbleness and excellent visibility from operator platform makes gathering limbs or trees, pulling vines and debris much easier task over ag tractors. It does like the fuel but it is a heavy machine. With HST plus and auto throttle so easy to drive.

Even though I would love a mini-ex and a tractor, (plus a few other things) I think what would suit me best right now is a TLB like a M62/M59 or something similar. All of the tasks you listed are right in line with what I would be doing. I appreciate the information.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Even though I would love a mini-ex and a tractor, (plus a few other things) I think what would suit me best right now is a TLB like a M62/M59 or something similar. All of the tasks you listed are right in line with what I would be doing. I appreciate the information.

Your uses, except snow handling, sound close to mine. I'd recommend planning for
* 6 or 7' brush cutter, or flail
* Back blade or box blade
* Grapple
* Tree puller
* Chain saw
* Pole saw
* Brush cutter

I don't burn or chip, on the slopes the brush helps control erosion, and down here the fungi and bugs dispose of stuff quickly.

 

[Smokeydog]

I have found weight makes a difference on R4 tires. B26 is great for our main mower. Grooved the front tires, ballast in rear. Sucks in much snow.
M59 has extra deep tread front tires. Rear ballast and couple hundred pounds for front grill protection and tool carrying. Had grooved the worn OEM front tires to hold better on pasture side slope that helped. Consider grooving or chains for snow use. Grooving is on my to do list. DIY heavy duty R14 type tires. I need the high ply tires with bead guards for forest work.