Tractor for 10 NY acres of flat, clay soil and wetland forest?

[ve9aa]

SNOW ! ! Now you're talking my language. We get that much snow and likely more per year.
I'd never, ever, do a 3pt snowblower. The #1 reason I bought my BX (unlike most here) was for snowblowing.
Front mount k-connect, all the way.

I had to do open station as the cab (any cab) won't fit inside my low garage, but I am used to getting pummeled in the face with snow (don't like it, but I am used to it, lol)

Buy the biggest tractor you can reasonably afford.

People don't generally go around saying "I wish I had bought a tractor 1/2 this size"

BTW, I love my BX and yes, sometimes jobs take longer, but sometimes "small is an advantage". I have lotsa obstacles here, so for me, the BX is perfect !

Mike in the hilly country of NB, Canada

 

[bird dogger]

Here in eastern ND we can have winters with plenty of snow...along with temps way below 0°F. I've used a rear PTO driven snowblower for 30 yrs and have never wished I had a front mount snow blower. I don't believe I've ever had a sore neck either. A large back up mirror located in the right spot for viewing while blowing snow works great! You soon learn you can back around curves, next to objects, etc. without any troubles.

It doesn't take much to fab up an enclosure to keep the wind driven snow off of you, especially if you're more concerned about function than looks. And it can be removed in the off seasons. You can go all out and build a custom cab to suit your situation and the "looks" needed......or you can drape clear vinyl over a canopy, tuck it in, and get almost the same results. There's all kinds of options between those two extremes. (I've done/helped with a couple kinds on both ends of those examples)

For chute rotation on a rear blower without hydraulics: It's easy to add/modify your hand crank to use a DC electric motor for chute rotation. Then all you need is a toggle switch up front or in a handy location to run it. Much much cheaper than a hydraulic control.

 

[RBsingl]

One big advantage of the rear mount snowblower, especially on smaller tractors not using aggressive tires, is keeping the loader on the front allows you to roll the bucket to help push or pull the tractor if you get it stuck in a spot. Also with a smaller tractor and blower, the combination of having the blower and loader on the tractor at the same time is very convenient if you run into very tall drifts where I like to take some of the height off with the loader bucket before using the blower to chew up the rest.

In heavy wet snow, the blower puts a large load on the tractor so don't overdo the width or you may run into issues. My Deere 955 had several years of duty running a 72" midmount deck, 5 rear brush cutter, and a tiller before the first time I used it with a snow blower. It sent some glowing pieces of carbon out of the exhaust system during the first several minutes of operation showing the engine hadn't really been working hard for some time.

But it has been a very long time since I have needed the blower. My 4WD Deere compact wearing its normal turf tires has no problems pushing a blade with 8" of snow and it is very unusual to see more than that at a time here. With slightly greater amounts of heavy wet snow, I will put the blade at a sharper angle and clear a track just wide enough for the tractor down a side of the driveway and then come back with the normal blade angle to clear the drive of snow now that it has an open place to go. This allows you to easily tackle a larger snowfall that might get you into trouble using your usual blade angle.

 

[nbryan]

This is a nearby used on tractorhouse for $24,900. “Very clean 2019 Kubota B2650 compact tractor equipped with cab/heat, 4x4, hydrostatic transmission, turf tires, radio, mid PTO, and a 51" front mounted snowblower with power chute rotation/deflection. This tractor is powered by a 25hp diesel engine and only has 225 hours on it.”
Then I’d need to add the FEL and bucket for $6K and the other attachments I was looking at for $7500. Taking me to $38400.

I'd get the B2650, and a box blade for the swale work. A BB1860 is a great match for my tractor. Perfect rear ballast, too. And if you can do your swale, grading, and drainage work with a FEL and boxblade, the $9,000+ BH77 backhoe may be an unnecessary investment. Though I LOVE my BH for so many other things!

My front mounted B2782B snow blower has the hydraulic chute adjuster, you'll need one.

I'm running R4 industrial tires. They're a really good all around tire tread type, IMHO.

A SSQA FEL, and 2000 lb SSQA 42" adjustable pallet forks are again a great combo. Pallet forks revolutionised materials and equipment handling and storage for me. And good wood pallets are free.

I'm glad I don't have a cab, even though winters in Manitoba can be fierce. I can dress. Having a cab door to open, get in and out of, and close again all tractor day long year round would slow me down a lot. I generally am up and down off the 'bota fairly constantly given the various jobs it handles for me. I say NAH to the cab.
A cab would also end up creating problems in the bush getting through many of the tight forested spots I use it in. The rops has had to fold down a few times.

Enjoy your search! These machines are fantastic units!

 

[woodman55]

This is a nearby used on tractorhouse for $24,900. “Very clean 2019 Kubota B2650 compact tractor equipped with cab/heat, 4x4, hydrostatic transmission, turf tires, radio, mid PTO, and a 51" front mounted snowblower with power chute rotation/deflection. This tractor is powered by a 25hp diesel engine and only has 225 hours on it.”
Then I’d need to add the FEL and bucket for $6K and the other attachments I was looking at for $7500. Taking me to $38400.

Turf tires actually do quite well in snow, I have a 24hp with a front blower, and I have never had problems blowing with the turfs.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

This is a nearby used on tractorhouse for $24,900. “Very clean 2019 Kubota B2650 compact tractor equipped with cab/heat, 4x4, hydrostatic transmission, turf tires, radio, mid PTO, and a 51" front mounted snowblower with power chute rotation/deflection. This tractor is powered by a 25hp diesel engine and only has 225 hours on it.”
Then I’d need to add the FEL and bucket for $6K and the other attachments I was looking at for $7500. Taking me to $38400.

I am not disagreeing or anything like that, and I will preface this with I don’t know current prices, but to me that seems like extremely high price. I purchased an open station MX with loader in last year April/May of last year for less than that. It’s (MX) not cabbed or anything but 38k for a B seems high (and I have one of those too). For comparable price they are not comparable machines. I can’t believe for that price you could not buy new financed 0%. That’s all. Bs and BXs are commonly sold for a reason. So if prices that much in your area may want to look further away if that is really what you want.

 

[Chanceywd]

I live in central ny with 10 acres of clay. I had and kept my 8N with a front mounted power angle plow for my snow and 300+ driveway. getting back to the L2501 I find it with r14's gets around good in the clay or snow. I use the fel to push banks back if need be but don't use it for snow plowing much. The virnig grapple is a 60" and does good but I still haven't got a lot of time with it yet. I have the BH77 for my digging and a back blade and stone rake. While I am 69 and don't love the open cabs I enjoy my time outdoors for the most part.
I think the size of the L2501 being near the 8N was one of my reasons for choosing it and went with the gear drive. Just about perfect for my uses.

Bill

 

[ajschnitzelbank]

I live in eastern NY, on the Rensselaer Plateau, with over 100” snow per year (on average). I moved snow very well with my B2301, a snow pusher, rear blade, and chains on R4s (was useless without chains). I never wanted for a snowblower, personally. I have a bigger tractor now, but the B was a wonderful snow mover. So I bet you’ll be happy moving snow with most any machine. Personally I’d skip a blower, at least until you have a winter under your belt. Good luck!

 

[radas]

Can't add much to the discussion on snow, but I would save the $10k for a backhoe and rent a machine to trench over a weekend and use the $9XXX on some implements (box blade, bush hog, etc...) and third function/rear remotes.

 

[PaulL]

With all of the available cameras now, you might be able to mount a camera looking back making a rear mounted snow blower more convenient than having to look back over your shoulder. A plexiglass box for the camera with an electric windshield wiper would probably be a pretty easy to arrange setup.

Some guys recommend a mirror. Which seems kinda obvious when I think about it. But I'd guess they also get covered in snow pretty quick.

 

[atarax]

Talked to Bobcat dealer about options, either buying used or bobcat new. He was actually super helpful. He persuaded me that I may not even need a snowblower at first, and wait and see how often it would be useful before investing. In my more northeastern WNY location, we don’t get as much of the Lake Effect snow drop as the south towns. He suggested that he clears his drive with an angled back blade and his bucket. I have a walk behind snow blower anyways for any cleanup close to the house and such.



So they have a Used 2021 CT2025 open ROPS with FEL and QC bucket, standard 3point hitch, and R4 tires that only has 41.5 hours on it and has an extended 5 year warranty until August of 2026. I would have to add 3rd function rail and possibly some upgrades to the 3 point hitch. About $2k for top n tilt and $7000 for my attachments. So I’d be in for something around $30k plus tax. To go for a new CT2025 would start at $24Kish.

Anyone have any experience with Bobcat? I get that Kubota has a better Rep and parts market and landpride attachments, but Bobcat seems like a serious, albeit newer tractor contender. I’ve googled CT2025 vs L2501 and the official Kubota line is to say that they have a couple more inches of clearance and a slightly shorter wheelbase. Is it practically significant?

 

[atarax]

I live in eastern NY, on the Rensselaer Plateau, with over 100” snow per year (on average). I moved snow very well with my B2301, a snow pusher, rear blade, and chains on R4s (was useless without chains). I never wanted for a snowblower, personally. I have a bigger tractor now, but the B was a wonderful snow mover. So I bet you’ll be happy moving snow with most any machine. Personally I’d skip a blower, at least until you have a winter under your belt. Good luck!

I’m leaning towards the wait and see approach on the blower, especially because I have a good Ariens walk behind. And starting to think the R14s would be the best choice. R4s second best, esp with chains. Do you remove the chains in the spring or just leave them year round? Isn’t removal a PIA?

 

[radas]

Anyone have any experience with Bobcat? I get that Kubota has a better Rep and parts market and landpride attachments, but Bobcat seems like a serious, albeit newer tractor contender. I’ve googled CT2025 vs L2501 and the official Kubota line is to say that they have a couple more inches of clearance and a slightly shorter wheelbase. Is it practically significant?

If you're looking at going with Bobcat, go look at Kioti - Kioti makes the tractors for Bobcat with slightly different spec but essentially they are the same and much cheaper. Bobcat commands a $3-8k premium for the name alone.

A CK2610 with the bigger FEL or CX2510 will get you the same, if not similar tractor for roughly $18-23k depending on promotions. The CT2025 was roughly $28-30k similarly equipped last I checked.

 

[ctfjr]

I find the top n tilt to be really useful for my box blade and back blade. If you really don't want to spring for hydraulic controls on your snowblower you might want to consider what I did.
I converted to electric control - a motor for the chute and an actuator for the deflector. I have about $200 all in I would guess and it was a fun project.
After install
Demo

 

[PoTreeBoy]

If you're looking at going with Bobcat, go look at Kioti - Kioti makes the tractors for Bobcat with slightly different spec but essentially they are the same and much cheaper. Bobcat commands a $3-8k premium for the name alone.

A CK2610 with the bigger FEL or CX2510 will get you the same, if not similar tractor for roughly $18-23k depending on promotions. The CT2025 was roughly $28-30k similarly equipped last I checked.

I echo your thoughts. I understand Bobcat has tried the tractor business once before and retreated. Kioti has a better track record in tractors. BadBoy is also getting in.

I suspect these companies see the gross profit in tractors, but underestimate the cost of maintaining a good dealer/parts network of what's essentially a consumer market.

 

[radas]

I echo your thoughts. I understand Bobcat has tried the tractor business once before and retreated. Kioti has a better track record in tractors. BadBoy is also getting in.

I suspect these companies see the gross profit in tractors, but underestimate the cost of maintaining a good dealer/parts network of what's essentially a consumer market.

Agreed, they seem to be more in-tune with their typical products (excavators, skid loaders, etc...) and are pricing themselves out of the tractor market by marking up something they aren't producing. Kiotis are solid machines, I was going to pull the trigger on a CK2510 but passed because my local dealer network was not as robust as Kubota and my dealer had no models to test drive (all crated). The CK2610, like the L series, is a serious workhorse.

 

[ajschnitzelbank]

I’m leaning towards the wait and see approach on the blower, especially because I have a good Ariens walk behind. And starting to think the R14s would be the best choice. R4s second best, esp with chains. Do you remove the chains in the spring or just leave them year round? Isn’t removal a PIA?

If I were buying a smaller machine again I’d try R14s. The chains were very easy to take off. Not so bad to put on. A little annoying but hey it’s only once a year. Took half an hour or so maybe.

I kept my walk behind snow blower when I got my B2301. But then realized we stopped using it when both my wife and I really got the hang of moving snow with the tractor.

This was my B series snow setup:

 

[JoeBabbs]

I got a 7' hydraulic angle plow for my L3800 last year. I have a 300' driveway with a steep incline and can plow downhill, and a shared road that is about a half mile long. The set up works well, but I get half your snowfall.