Author Topic: What equipment do you use/own (Read 4698 times)

Land_Owner · « **on:** March 09, 2007, 01:24:04 PM »

I purchased a used Case 420 that had its 4 cyl diesel removed (before me) to be used as a mosquito impoundment pump and replaced with an in-line 6 cyl Ford Truck gasoline engine. Someone had modified its front end to receive the longer engine but not too much else. It'll go 75 mph. once. You would never recover as there is over 4 inches of throw to engage the steering in either direction while turning the wheel; no shocks; large balloon tractor rear tires; etc. The PTO turns as fast or slow as the engine. The 5-foot bush hog turning at about 2,000 rpms will take out a leg sized pine tree. Once it threw a chunk of wood into my backside at or near my right kidney. Laid me out! I installed heavy 1/4 inch plate in front of the hog after that to prevent another occurrence. Gas engines are not made for low torque or slow work.

Later I purchased a Massey Fergusen 275 (67 HP) 4 cyl diesel that will outwork me every day and twice on Sunday. It LOVES my 20 blade disc and tows it everywhere I ask them to go without question or hesitation. I borrow a 300# fertilizer/seed spreader. I would own my own but I have no barn or shed. I have a box blade that is really fun to operate, a 6-foot bush hog, and a 25 gallon 90 psi herbicide sprayer.

deerslayer79 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2007, 02:34:50 PM »

I use/partly own (my dad also has money invested),a new holland tc 18 4wd with a 54in befco roto tiller,a 4ft 3pt hitch disk,a 54in packer converted to 3pt hitch,and a befco 150lb rated spin seeder,for bigger plots a tc55da 4wd new holland with a quick attach loader,a 10ft disk,a 12ft case no-till drill.I also have two new holland cab tractors at my disposal a ts90 and a 7840 with assorted implements and a 4 row JD no-till planter and a 16ft barron brothers and 12ft H+S manure spreaders.I also have a 200 gallon skid sprayer with 3 boomless nozzels I put in the back of my 4wd ford to spray herbicides with.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2007, 06:05:34 PM »

I have a JD790 with front end loader and bucket. The only accessories I have is a box blade and finish mower. I don't really have any land that needs plowing but I would kinda like to get a rototiller for it for gardening some day.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2007, 01:33:23 AM »

One of the neatest and least expensive pieces I own is a lifting bar for the 3-pt hitch on the tractor. It has the capability of 7,500 close to the hitch and 5,000 at its tip (I think). That is almost enough to lift my truck! Of course counter weights would be required for either of these maximum lifts as the tractor does not weight enough. Versitility is the key. I can pick up any implement, yard Gnome, stump, gun safe, etc. and haul it to or close to where I didn't want it in the first place. No more heavy lifting.

Will Bison · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2007, 02:37:33 PM »

I have a Sears garden tractor with 8 horse tiller on the rear, a Kioti tractor with bucket and back hoe, two quads with rake on one and snowplow on the other.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2007, 03:02:50 PM »

The best tillage tool i've found for food plots is a Howard rotavator with a decent tractor in front of it... I've used mine to put a lot of them in for myself, and for others....

DM

deerslayer79 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2007, 03:26:56 PM »

that is a tuff lookin tiller ya got there.

Cecil · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2007, 05:04:44 AM »

A John Deere 1050 with front end loader , Tandem disc, Grain drill, Fertiliizer spreader 3 point,brush hog,dozer.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2007, 05:41:11 AM »

Quote

that is a tuff lookin tiller ya got there.

Howard is one of, if not the BEST tiller on the market. They just keep going and going even if you have stones... All tillers are NOT created equil, some are garden tillers, and then there's "field" tillers.

Howard calls their tillers Rotavators, and they have features that set them apart from garden tillers. I've replaced my plow, disc ect... with my rotavator, and it does a better job and makes for happy customers.

I've been running my rotavators with AGCO tractors for more than 10 years now, and they have been very good to me. They make a great combo with my Howards...

DM

Land_Owner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2007, 11:30:03 AM »

Rototiller Users: Questions posed from a non-farmer:

Is the concept to grind everything into the soil with one pass? Are multiple passes necessary? Do you herbicide and bush hog in advance? Does the soil need to be deep tilled (turned over) and broken first? Does this machine leave a level surface in its wake if the soil is pock marked (say by hogs)? What do you use to seed and turn the soil lightly onto new seed?

deerslayer79 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2007, 01:34:52 PM »

I have found out using my 5ft befco tiller,that sometimes it takes 2 passes when vegitation is thick be it dead or alive,even though it works better if the vegitation is sprayed and cut down after it is dead.if the soil is heavily packed it needs a couple passes also but a tiller leaves a smooth surface when done.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2007, 02:21:05 PM »

Quote

Is the concept to grind everything into the soil with one pass? Are multiple passes necessary? Do you herbicide and bush hog in advance? Does the soil need to be deep tilled (turned over) and broken first? Does this machine leave a level surface in its wake if the soil is pock marked (say by hogs)? What do you use to seed and turn the soil lightly onto new seed?

You pose some good questions, but there are so many variables there's no one answer...

When i get to a job, i look at the ground and ask the customer what they want to "end up with". Then i work to give them what they want... Rotavators are VERY ajustable, and you can ajust them to grind the soil up, ot leave it in clods like a disc chisel would or anything inbetween.

On a rotavator you can ajust the tine speed, if the back door is open or closed, the depth of tillage and of course the ground speed. Makeing these ajustments will affect what tillage you will end up with.

My pict. i posted eariler of my tractor in the field, you can see what it's leaveing in a single pass. The field was a combined grain field that's sandy loam soil. I'm useing a mediun tine speed, back door closed and going 2.75 mph ground speed. I went back in that field after one pass and planted cerial grain rye seed... You can "lightly" use a spring tooth harrow on it after and even pull a crowfoot cultipack behind that if you want. It really all depends on what your seeding in the field.

Below i was in a veggie field and i made one pass with the same settings as above except the ground speed was just over 2 mph... Generally veggie farmers want more tillage because it areates the soil and it will warm up eariler in the spring. Also many don't use spray for week killing, so the tiller helps with that too.

Where a rotavator "really shines" is in breaking up new sod. Nothing puts new ground in production better than a field tiller. I like to brush hog the field, let it set untill the green matter dries, then rotavate it in. Then i let it set about 5 days more and rotavate it again. It's then ready to plant.

Like i said eariler, it really all depends on what you have, and what you want to end up with!

DM

Land_Owner · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2007, 09:09:01 PM »

Large tractor driven tillers are used behind cement trucks that distributed their dry aggregate free product directly onto the ground. The tiller then mixes the soil and cement to proscribed depths (6", 8", 12", etc.). Soil moisture absorbed by the cement sets it up hard and this is soil-cement base course for road construction. Lime in surfficient quantity worked into the soil this way also sets up hard. If left untopped it "dusts" every time it is driven over. Dissecation cracking in a poorly cured soil-cement based roadway reflects through the surface course leaving the driver to think the brand new road is nearing its useful life.

Booyah · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2007, 02:24:17 PM »

Wow, you guys are way above me when its comes to equipment. I am just your average poor boy hunter. I have a Honda four wheeler and I last season purchased a disc. I can't keep up with you guys as to how much I can do as to coverage but I can at least try to improve the property that I hunt and provide some type of food source for the wildlife. I think its important that if a person is going to harvest game during hunting seasons, then they should try to help the wildlife after season. Thats why I purchased the disc. I planted food plots before deer season, kept my feeders running during season and I am still keeping my feeder running now. I will next week try to do some discing and plant sometype of spring food plots. Maybe soybeans and peas. I hunt deer and hogs on my place. Presently I am feeding a corn/roasted soybean mix.(22% protein) and the hogs are loving it. Deer size has improved and I have only had the place about 9 months. Hope I can improve this more.

I just started reading this Forum (Wildlife and Land Management Issues) thanks for keeping this forum going.

deerslayer79 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2007, 03:15:57 PM »

You are on the right track BOOYAH,even though you think that having limited equipment somewhat limits your abilities,they don't.I have planted plots with nothing more than a walkbehind cherry of a rototiller and a yard rake when I first started planting plots and more than often gotten as good or better results than I do now with high dollar equipment,yes bigger,more versatile equipment does make it alot easier,but getting sweaty and dirty won't kill ya.I think if you are getting results with what you have and it works,Hell rock on buddy.....

Land_Owner · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2007, 10:46:50 PM »

Booyah...I would think that ATV use accelerates the destruction of the ATV which was not made for nor intended to be used that hard or at such low speed and high torque. Just my 2 cents. I used a golf cart once to drag a chain link fence across newly broadcast seed and it nearly ate the clutch. I extrapolate that working an expensive ATV that hard would be the same. Early demise of expensive equipment. A 50-60 HP tractor is not any more or less expensive than an ATV. Implements are reasonably priced and readily available. Something else that disturbs me about using an ATV is draw bar location and implement drag. If the draw bar is too high the ATV will flip over backward when the implement bogs down into the soil. Is that a concern? Also, where are you located with such abundant hog hunting?

Booyah · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2007, 04:10:41 AM »

Land Owner, I agree that it is hard on a 4 wheeler, my Honda has a low range which helps on pulling power. I have only had my disc since last fall and my 4 wheeler pulled it without much problems. I figure I should be able to use it again this spring. That would give me two planting on the same 4 wheeler. If I have to replace the clutch cost will be less than $350 as I thought about the same thing as to burning up the clutch. If two plantings per year cost me $350 per year for equipment repair, I believe that would be a lot cheaper than a tractor payment of $350 or more per month. Where I went to school $350 x 1 = $350 is less than $350 x 12 = $4200 . As to the cost of 50 HP tractors compared to cost of a 4 wheeler. Either you purchase cheap tractors or very expensive 4 wheelers. My disc is a pull type, it does not have a 3 point type hookup. Cost for the new disc was $450 + $1250 for used 4 wheeler. I grew up in East Texas on a farm and I know that you cant purchase much of a tractor for $2000. Like I originally stated "Poor Boy" I and many hunters cant afford tractors such as a 50-60HP but that doesn't mean that we can't contribute something back to the wildlife. Some hunter such as my self can't justify the cost of tractors just to use on a deer lease. I think you will find that most people that have the tractors such as you have suggested, have other uses for the equipment other than a deer lease food plots, unless the deer lease is used as a source for income.

In the area I hunt ( East Texas) the soil can vary from a little sandy to hard red clay. What I do to help my 4 wheeler is set the depth of my disc to about 1 inch straight, disc until soil is lose, then I turn disc a small angle and disc again, disc until ground is lose, adjust depth about 2 1/2 inches disc again and then set final depth to about 4 inches. After I am through, I seed and drag again with disc set at about 1 inch. That's how I did it last fall. If you have suggestions of how to help I would be very appreciative. But don't criticize me and others for not have the more expensive equipment. The topic for this discussion was " What Equipment Do You Use/Own" and that's what I have and use.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2007, 12:30:18 AM »

You could hire someone for $350 per planting. At $50 per hour that's 7 hours and $1,700 divided by $350 is almost 5 years worth. You wouldn't be responsible for maintenance and upkeep, costs for fuel, oil and lubricants, filters, tires, implements and their repairs, transportation to and from the field. But then you wouldn't have as much fun, you wouldn't own the equipment, and nobody is criticizing you for how you use your resources.

I can get three non-adjacent acres done in an 8-hour day - bush hogged, disced, fertilized, seeded, and lightly spread in one day. That's one food plot of 1.25 acres, two by 0.50 acres, and two by ~1/3 acre each plot. If they were all one plot I could get more done than 3 acres. Do you plant more than that? Other ways to use a tractor come up after you justify and purchase one. I have put in and smoothed driveways with the box blade, spread dirt (and gotten paid), pulled hay rides for kids, pulled parade floats, disced lawns and football fields (and gotten paid), lifted, transported and stacked heavy equipment/materials, pulled stumps, and bush hogged groves and food plots. The uses are as endless as the possibilities.

Are you concerned about draw bar roll over from implement drag?

Booyah · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2007, 02:46:57 AM »

No I am not concerned about draw bar location as my disc hooks to a trailer ball on the bottom of the 4 wheeler. I think I know what you are talking about as to the draw bar being hooked to high. That type of hook up system is similiar to a 3 point hook up if I am right. That is not the type I have. The center of pull I guess you would say is low in line with my axle. Hooks on like a trailer. I agree if I had some open area I could hire someone but I dont have many open area. Lots of small one. Biggest area is maybe 25 feet wide x 60 feet long. I have 112 acre of thickets and oak bottoms. I lease the property with the understanding that I can not cut any trees. So thats why I am limited to spaces that I can plant. But several of these small plots do add up but most of the places a tractor can not get to. Like I said earlier, some people can justify a tractor because they have other uses other than planting food plots. I don't believe anyone including yourself buy a tractor just so that you can ride in a parade. Like you said and I said, people that own tractors have other uses other than planting food plots. If I want to ride in a parade I will ride my four wheeler. If I want to dig a hole I can borrow my brothers backhoe, his dozer or if I want to get real serious I will get out his Track Hoe, but I dont like to borrow his equipment. I see many hunting shows that show people using 4 wheelers with diferent type of equipment, some is very expensive and I can see where you are expressing concern about being dangerous. But I have not seen any hunting shows say or imply "DONT USE A 4 WHEELER, BUY A TRACTOR" If you are still so concerned about the use of a 4 wheeler, I'll make you a deal. Come to Timpson Texas and I will pay you $350 to do all the food pot planting you can do on my 112 acres. Heck when you get through maybe you would let me ride with you downtown and we can make our own parade. Don't get me wrong, I believe alot of the thinks you say, but you dont know everything and neither do I. Thanks for keeping the Land Managament Forum going as I read some of the old post and I see where Greybeard was about to drop this Forum but you pushed to keep it going. Thanks for doing that. But dont be so sharp tongued.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2007, 03:39:17 AM »

Quote

I am just your average poor boy hunter. I have a Honda four wheeler and I last season purchased a disc.

1. a "poor boy" wouldn't be able to afford a 4 wheeler in the first place.

2. a $2,000.00 tractor if taken care of, will always be worth $2,000.00. A $6,000.00 4 wheeler will ALSO be worth $2,000.00 a few years down the road!

3. With a tractor you can make some side money doing a few things for others.

I've made some pretty good money doing side jobs with my equipment, also i have the enjoyment of it's use right here too...

DM

Booyah · « **Reply #20 on:** April 09, 2007, 06:03:32 AM »

I agree with what you just said. If I had $6000 I could buy a Tractor. I didn't have $6000. If I had extra time on my hands I agree with what both of you have said. I could use a tractor for other purposes. But I didn't have $6000 and I don't have the extra time. Poor Boy was used as to compared to the equipment that some of you have , which is very nice, to what I am using. If both of you would read what I said about having other uses for the tractor compared to not having other uses for a tractor. As to "Poor Boy" if this will make you feel any better. My front end loader is a long handled shovel, my mower is a machete and weed eater and my seed spender if my own two hands. But I am not down playing the type of equipment that you have and or using. The two of you are criticizing me for using a 4 wheeler. Sorry I don't meet your standards. The purpose of this Forum ( I Thought) was to help each other not criticize each other. Since I posted what I have ( equipment) one of the two moderators on this forum was very polite and other became objective that I did not use a tractor. Does the Moderator need to change the name of this forum to WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE-ONLY PEOPLE WITH TRACTORS CAN POST If so I will quite posting on this forum. If not then lets try to be helpful to each other.

Sighned - Note to poor to own a used 4 wheeler BOOYAH

Land_Owner · « **Reply #21 on:** April 09, 2007, 07:32:59 AM »

Booyah, Nobody is chasing you off while I am on my watch. We're not ganging up on you either. I get your drift about equipment.

My comments were not criticism at your choice, even though you saw them that way. We can all play in this "sandbox" without fighting among ourselves. It is an open forum for help, suggestions, questions, comments, observations, and good old disagreement if kept above board. No name calling and no flaming. I've got a really thick skin and I "step in it" from time to time. When I do, you guys will let me know. Of that I am sure.

I have a good old fashioned concern about using what I consider to be the "right" tool for the job. I didn't put you down for not owning a tractor. The "title" Moderator is someone that is not on anyone's payroll that is tasked to keep the peace here, watch for advertisement posts that are not from the sponsors, and keep the Forum going in an above board fashion. Beyond that I am entitled to whatever opinion I happen to hold.

Let's communicate on planting food plots. Period.

Booyah · « **Reply #22 on:** April 09, 2007, 09:29:57 AM »

Land Owner, I agree with you. I just felt that I was being criticized or looked down upon, for not being able to keep up with the jones, if you know what I mean. I know I don't have the best equipment, but I am doing the best I can do on a limited budget. I for many years used a garden tiller and rake. Didn't get much done then at all, but I tried to help with feeding the wildlife. I am able to accomplish more now with what I have and I would like to improve more. I spend about $100 or more per month on feed that I keep in my feeders. year round. If I used that $1200 plus what it cost me for the lease each year, I could buy a lot more groceries. But I would not have a place to enjoy the hunting that me and my son get to have the honors of having. That my friend is worth more than any piece of equipment that I could ever purchase.
If you are ever in my area look me up and we will go hog hunting.

deerslayer79 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 09, 2007, 02:12:18 PM »

If it makes anybody feel better,I have all this damn equipment and can't afford a four wheeler.but I am eyeballin a donkey

......

Booyah · « **Reply #24 on:** April 09, 2007, 03:42:58 PM »

If the donkey is loud, makes alot of noise, has a big ass, has long ears and is real hairy, GET AWAY , THAT'S MY MOTHER IN LAW

deerslayer79 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:27:41 PM »

LMAO,that is funny stuff right there...

elmer · « **Reply #26 on:** May 14, 2007, 04:27:41 PM »

Booyah and Land_Owner,

I have enjoyed reading both sides on this discussion. I don't own land (other than the 1/4 acre my house sits on) and all but a lane that is about 20yds by 150 yds of my section of the lease is wooded. I have wondered if it was feasible to plant anything and how I would manage it. The lease is also not close to my home and I don't have anyplace to store a tractor.

SDS-GEN · « **Reply #27 on:** May 15, 2007, 04:34:18 AM »

I have an Allis Chalmers 190XT tractor, a JD 335 lawn tractor, 6' and 8' disc, bush hog, sprayer, drag harrows, 6'blade, small spreader, plus access to all of my neighbors farm equipment. All of it, except the John Deere and sprayer, cost me $3000. There are still some bargains out there if you are willing to look hard and bide your time.

K.K · « **Reply #28 on:** May 15, 2007, 11:35:28 AM »

I use a Yamaha Grizzly, 4x8 drag harrow/drag, and lawn spreader. I only plant about two acres. I live in mountainous terrain, and I plant about every place that I can. I'm clearing more (with lopping shears and chain saw). It is a lot of work, but the rewards are great.

Booyah · « **Reply #29 on:** May 15, 2007, 05:55:46 PM »

Elmer, I would say that planting anything is helpful. I have (before I purchased a disc) used a piece of a chain link fence and I would drag it up and down a old road just to scratch the ground, and then I would throw out some seed and re drag. It help but depending on your location as to what seed would grow best. Most of the plots that I plant (now that I own a disc that i pull with my four wheeler) are not more than 10 -15 wide and the longest plot is about 50 yards. most are shorter. And I know this helps as to I have picture of the deer and hogs in the plots. Some of my favorite spots are not mush more than a 30 foot circle area that is in some oak bottoms. The deer will feed on the acorns but will almost always browse over to a patch of green oats or wheat and graze a little. This will help pull them out of some of the thicker brush and move to a more open spot. Two years ago I shot a buck with a 21 inch spread that was in a food plot that was no bigger than a 30 foot circle, surrounded by oak trees.