Hello all - First post.
I'm being transferred from GA to Ft. Carson, CO around 01DEC. We are, hopefully, closing on a property near Colorado Springs with about 3 acres. I've never owned a riding mower, a snowblower, a tractor - or even rented anything like that. Yes, complete neophyte....
It did occur to me that I might need something to mow with and clear a 200' long driveway. Hence my current research over the last week.... My brother in law restores John Deere - and is a fanatic. They have a military discount, too. So, that's where I started.
After considerable research and study, I've ended up at Kubota. This is all Internet research - I've never sat on or run anything.
After reading 10,000 posts on here (all amazing by the way), I realize that the need should be driven by the property. So I'm posting my property (if nothing falls through on the closing!!).
First is an overhead view (thanks Google Spybird1). Right under 3 acres. From the front (right side working left), a bit of a hill up to the house, 200 ft of gravel driveway. (Main road is dirt. About 1/2-3/4 mile to hardtop.) The house sits on the highest point. The back yard slopes down, past a small horse barn, to a small creek with a bit of a pond on the south side. Across the creek is 1/4'ish acre of flat grass. Obviously a few trees - but no virgin, "wooded" area.
Picture 2 is from the dirt road looking up to the house.
Picture 3 is the back of the house. Sorely in need of some landscaping \ leveling \ soil work.
Picture 4 is from the back deck toward the creek \ pond. You can see a bit of the horse barn on the right.
Picture 5 is from the very back edge of the property looking back toward the house (past the pond).
So that's the property...
As far as uses: Mowing and snow removal are the ongoing tasks. Being in the Army, "snowdays" aren't a thing. I'll be pushing snow at O'dark-thirty. I might even need to clear a path to the hardball - I have no idea if anybody clears this dirt road.
I plan on considerable flattening of the back and building a patio at basement level and putting in a door to the patio from the first floor. So, some earth moving (over time) can be expected. Grading the driveway, yes. Perhaps running electrical\water to the barn, or electric to a front gate with a "soiler."
I don't have much brush, clearing, rocks, as far as I know. Was leaning towards a BX23s and a backhoe, but not sure the need is high enough yet.
I believe a BX would be just fine - perhaps even more than fine. However, (and this is where it gets stupid), I'm really leaning towards the B2601 as it looks more "tractory." (My uncle has a farm about 60 miles south of Lex, KY. I can't help it, since being a kid, I've always wanted a tractor!!).
To add to my foolishness, I'm also leaning toward a mower that attaches to the 3 point hitch ("finish mower") vs the mmm due to the tractor'y'ness of it.
2601, finish mower, EA box scraper, EA rear blade, FEL - is where I'm leaning. Perhaps adding hydraulics later.... I have to be a bit careful on the price. My wife would absolutely kill me if she knew I was thinking of buying this..... (Not really "buying" outright, but "financing" and hiding the monthly payments!)
So, I apologize for the many words and pictures, but more info for the group is better than less.
Happy for any criticism or advice....
Thanks,
- JBD
Essayons!
I'm being transferred from GA to Ft. Carson, CO around 01DEC. We are, hopefully, closing on a property near Colorado Springs with about 3 acres. I've never owned a riding mower, a snowblower, a tractor - or even rented anything like that. Yes, complete neophyte....
It did occur to me that I might need something to mow with and clear a 200' long driveway. Hence my current research over the last week.... My brother in law restores John Deere - and is a fanatic. They have a military discount, too. So, that's where I started.
After considerable research and study, I've ended up at Kubota. This is all Internet research - I've never sat on or run anything.
After reading 10,000 posts on here (all amazing by the way), I realize that the need should be driven by the property. So I'm posting my property (if nothing falls through on the closing!!).
First is an overhead view (thanks Google Spybird1). Right under 3 acres. From the front (right side working left), a bit of a hill up to the house, 200 ft of gravel driveway. (Main road is dirt. About 1/2-3/4 mile to hardtop.) The house sits on the highest point. The back yard slopes down, past a small horse barn, to a small creek with a bit of a pond on the south side. Across the creek is 1/4'ish acre of flat grass. Obviously a few trees - but no virgin, "wooded" area.
Picture 2 is from the dirt road looking up to the house.
Picture 3 is the back of the house. Sorely in need of some landscaping \ leveling \ soil work.
Picture 4 is from the back deck toward the creek \ pond. You can see a bit of the horse barn on the right.
Picture 5 is from the very back edge of the property looking back toward the house (past the pond).
So that's the property...
As far as uses: Mowing and snow removal are the ongoing tasks. Being in the Army, "snowdays" aren't a thing. I'll be pushing snow at O'dark-thirty. I might even need to clear a path to the hardball - I have no idea if anybody clears this dirt road.
I plan on considerable flattening of the back and building a patio at basement level and putting in a door to the patio from the first floor. So, some earth moving (over time) can be expected. Grading the driveway, yes. Perhaps running electrical\water to the barn, or electric to a front gate with a "soiler."
I don't have much brush, clearing, rocks, as far as I know. Was leaning towards a BX23s and a backhoe, but not sure the need is high enough yet.
I believe a BX would be just fine - perhaps even more than fine. However, (and this is where it gets stupid), I'm really leaning towards the B2601 as it looks more "tractory." (My uncle has a farm about 60 miles south of Lex, KY. I can't help it, since being a kid, I've always wanted a tractor!!).
To add to my foolishness, I'm also leaning toward a mower that attaches to the 3 point hitch ("finish mower") vs the mmm due to the tractor'y'ness of it.
2601, finish mower, EA box scraper, EA rear blade, FEL - is where I'm leaning. Perhaps adding hydraulics later.... I have to be a bit careful on the price. My wife would absolutely kill me if she knew I was thinking of buying this..... (Not really "buying" outright, but "financing" and hiding the monthly payments!)
So, I apologize for the many words and pictures, but more info for the group is better than less.
Happy for any criticism or advice....
Thanks,
- JBD
Essayons!
