Purchased a JD 1025R TLB in 2015 with a 54D mower deck. Great piece of equipment, very versatile. I got tired of having to mess with carburetors when I needed the chipper, mower, splitter, snow blower, what ever I needed to use at the time. 1st requirement was Diesel, loader, hoe, and mower. From there I added a tiller, a rake and pallet forks. This gives me the ability to tackle things I never thought possible at the time of purchase. Like Mike said, These do nothing great, but they are very very good at pretty much anything. Thanks for the informative look at the equipment. Have a great weekend!
When I first moved out here from town, I got a Stihl chainsaw and a Big Dog zero turn. I've got 93 acres all told, with 35 acres of cropland, but a farmer rents the ag part and takes care of it. I wasn't concerned about the woods in the beginning, but that's changed! At first I was mainly focused on the 2 acres of yard I have to mow, and the 1-acre pecan grove. Then after a few years I saw more things that needed doing around here, so I branched out and bought a Deere 3032E tractor. It came with a bush hog and a loader bucket. I quickly got some pallet forks, then a tiller, a subsoiler (to break up underground hard pan in places where water stands after rain storms), a box blade, a landscape rake. Getting a grapple soon. Watching this channel has convinced me that I need an excavator, so I'm in the market for one of those too, a mini like a Deere 35P. Need to dig some ditches, make some trails in the woods, even make a clearing for a food plot in the woods like you've done. I don't hunt, but would love to put a deer blind back there and take photos. See what you've done Mike! Watching this channel gets expensive! But it's all going to be great once I get it all done. I don't have a side-by-side yet, but plan to get one once the trails are done in the woods, or at least some of them.
Couldn’t agree more!! I started with a JD 1025R TLB with a 60” mower, and 54” snow blower for our 1.5 acres. It did everything I needed, now that we have moved to 150 acres it’s too small. A new JD 4052R is being delivered with grapples and a skidding winch for logging and firewood duties. Between the 1025R, the 4052R, and our 1946 CJ2A wood jeep we have a similar combo to what you use on your property.
I just purchased my first piece of property - 42 acres, 37 of whick is woods. I first purchased a zero turn for the 5 acres of yard/grass. I'm in the process of getting a tractor so I can get the place ready for horses. Have to build an arena and paddocks for the horses and a wheel barrel and shovel will not cut it. I also have a lot of holes to drill, so the tractor is going to be a life saver. I'm putting a utility vehicle on the wish list, but not in a big hurry for that. I've got to make trails into the woods to ride the horses, so a PTO driven wood chipper is next on the buy list. It will take care of the limbs/trees I remove and make a nice trail cover for the horses to walk on. It's all about priorities - thanks for the thoughts and the videos - Have a Day!
1. Kubota BX2200 (loader, 54" mower, 4 ft box blade, 5 ft angle blade, bush hog and a 4x8 firewood trailer) 2. Honda Forman ATV 3. Gravely proturn 1000 60" (totally worth the time savings in mowing 3 acres) 3. Honda Rancher ATV I got the Kubota BX2200 first. Graded my yard and mowed exclusively for 10 years - it really is the swiss army knife, not the greatest at any one task, but can get a lot done in a small package - and it is tough. I am about ready to upgrade to a larger tractor, but that little thing is so good at getting in small narrow spots that I can't justify the money - can always borrow a skid steer from work if I need it also. Should have a side by side, but expensive and the atv's are good enough for now. If I bought a larger tractor and side by side I would have a new project to widen my goat trails I use now.
Excellent analysis and considerations list. Only buy what you need, make it as versatile as it can be, and only add to it when the situation directs it.
A friend of mine recently inherited some property and purchased a John Deere 540m zero turn. I had never used one before. It felt very awkward at first but a few minutes later I was cutting grass. I was quite impressed with it. He also has a Stihl Mx 250 chainsaw. I expected it to be much larger and couldn’t get over how fast it cut.
This video is so timely, Mike. My wife and I just inherited a 5 acre homestead that has very little grass, but tons of trees and requires what seems for now like an enormous amount of culling. Dead, diseased, and dangerous trees abound and there are two swift waterways running through the property. In addition, the long, flat driveway requires snow plowing (we are NH) and hauling firewood will be a major activity for the remainder of our (newly retired) lives. I think the side by side is the way to go, according to your informative upload, here. Thanks again, and stay safe.
My wife inherited this property in Northern Middle Tenn a few years ago. We at first were going to sell but changed our minds. We already had equipment though most was old. I bought the tractor first then bought the side by side a few months later. We had two older zero turns. The older was slower and had a 48" cut. I used it to do most of my trim work and the least one had a 54" deck. They started becoming an issue with fixing them enough to the point I got rid of both and bought a new commercial zero turn. I'm quite sure my Kubota dealer loved seeing me walk in, lol.
When I first acquired my 40+ acres of property in Maine, I purchased a John Deere Gator and a chainsaw first. If your land is all nature, a tractor does you no good unless you intend to destroy it by driving through trees to clear land. Financially, it made so much more sense to have the gator full time and rent a proper tractor a few weeks the first year to remove stumps and grade land. That decision allowed me to rent a much larger tractor than I could reasonably afford long term for the bigger jobs. Year two, I added the Kubota L6060 with backhoe and loader. The Kubota BX tractor came several years later when decided I wanted to take over the lawn care and more. I also purchased a large rotary brush for cleaning and light snow removal along paths. I also added a salt spreaders to control ice in the depth of winter. A plow on the gator and 72” snowblower on my L60 covers all my winter needs living in Maine. So all of these machines are year round use. I splurged on the grand model of the L6060 which has a climate control cab. I’ve cinch added a cab enclosure for the gator which I remove in the spring and replace late fall. I’ll be looking at a seasonal cab for the BX next.
Mike made the best choice, a tractor is as handy as any piece of equip. you can buy. Only thing I might add is give an older tractor a chance. I've got a 65 year old deere 70 diesel , power steering ,live PTO and three point just about all you need. Their simple rugged and cheaper than new. Give the oldies a chance, its a folly of youth to put down old guys and old machines.
Exactly how I looked at it. Bought a home on 5 acres (only about 2 had been maintained). It’s a mix of woods and pastures hilly country. I went with a bx23s. Got a mid mower, brush cutter, and box blade. Of course it comes with the backhoe and loader. Had the third function added along with the front end grapple bucket. Handles everything I need. Mows well, cleared all of the brush, hauls out firewood, digs up stumps, maintains driveways, cuts terraces in the hill for planting, building sites. I did not get a tiller, but multiple passes with the ripper teeth on the box is acting as a fair substitute for now. Only other thing I’m toying with the idea of is a chipper. You might say I got the Mike Morgan starter kit. Tractor, and a suite of Stihl tools (chainsaw, weed trimmer, and leaf blower). Your earlier videos really helped me get up and make the change to actually get the property, and think through what equipment needs I would have. It has been great. Thank you for your consistent great attitude and content. You, Mellisa, and family continue to be an encouragement and inspiration.
I don't have a big property, but the tractor would be great for all it's used. Trenching, planting/removing trees, dirt, tilling, etc... not only for myself, but to help my neighbors. Some of us are older in the neighborhood and we can't afford to hire someone that charges a small fortune. Good advice!
My first purchase to start with raw land was a 4x4 backhoe. Used it to clear the land and build my house. Still using it 18 years later to plow my driveway and many other uses. You can also make an income doing local jobs.
100% agree - subcompact first to support property over an acre. Agile enough and functional as a mower, and enables serious projects. The loader is a game changer. We purchased a gator second, and has turned into the mobile tool hauler, project support vehicle. Looking forward to the next Morgan project!
I could not agree more with you Mike. I started with nothing and now have much of the same equipment as you do. I maintain 26 acres. Exmark zero-turn, bx23s, and Polaris Ranger, and all have a specific use.
Closing our first deal on Tuesday. 32 acres of all woods with one 30 year old path to the best build site. My wife and I will pay it off in two years and then start building. Until then, we go out on many weekends and clean it up a bit. Develop three roads over two creeks to go all around the property. Our first and second step is to clean up the old path (remove fallen trees, and cut a few more down) to turn it into a drivable road and then have a shipping container placed for storing our first piece of equipment. We can't decide if we should get a cheap four wheeler or a side by side (two of us working). The thing is, we know we will eventually need a tractor first, and later a side by side for work and touring. I think Mike hid a great answer in there at the end. Get a four wheeler first and wear it out. I'm thinking used for about $2k and a cart to pull behind it. But it's a hard decision when we know we'll eventually spend the $ on a four-seat side by side (but damn those things are about $12k!). Any suggestions? (also trying to decide when to get the compact tractor).
I would agree with Mike that you need to take your time and assess your needs. Few will have the same needs! For some a home will be the top need. For others a barn/storage shed/workshop will be the top need. For others the versatile subcompact or compact tractor and attachments/implements for a variety of projects will be the top need. Take the time to assess and reassess. A part of that assessment may be the need for a certain piece of equipment to construct that “barn” especially if you do it yourself.
After watching ODWTM for sometime including this video, I bought a new Kubota BX23S. I have a BX 2660 that’s 11 years old with 2000 hours on it. I also have a Kubota MX5200 and a RTV 900. The backhoe is what sold me. Much needed on our farm. Keep the videos coming.
Mike my equipment list is endless, first sthil290 , Norwood sawmill, log splitter, polaris 450 sportsman then a 1705 sub compact Massey, ten it's attachments( blade,forks,stump grinder, skidder) then I got a second Massey 1643 with a bigger set of forks and a CB20 backhoe. Each item has a purpose but all except the tractors are payed for
A compact side-by-side with a hydraulic bed is actually the first item in my book. It gets you to wherever you need to go, fast! It can haul all the tools for the job, chainsaws, firewood, tow a wood chipper or a trailer, and you can have a helper come along as well. A small mini excavator also comes insanely handy for so many things, so you can add this to the list as #4.
When we bought our eight acres, we knew we needed a compact tractor for snow removal, driveway grading, garden tilling, rotary cutting in the back pasture area...everything you talked about. Got that, and picked up a cheap used lawn tractor riding mower for the dedicated mowing around the house. Nursed that mower along for several years, until finally able to upgrade to the zero turn mower. Then recently upgraded the tractor; would love a UTV, but the tractor does everything we need for now. Maybe a UTV in the future...
Anyone else notice their right hand wiggling when Mike is spreading gravel?? Caught myself doing that today ! LOL HI Mike, Melissa, Hannah, Eva, and a big shoutout to Hunter. My cats said to tell your critters MEOW!
Answer ; Garden tractor/mower, rototiller, snowblower! Bought my Toro Wheel Horse 520H 30 years ago -no regrets. I then went on to restore 2ea IHC Scouts (many other machines). only have 3 acres, don't need a bigger tractor or a 15K $ ATV...have a Suzuki Eiger 400 4wd model for 2 up...pulls little trailers, ect. Guessing the test depends on how much disposable income you have, your business needs, your sponsors, ect. Enjoy your videos!
I landed on your videos are researching the BX23s. It never sounds bad from a distance but any footage/audio being recorded from the operator seat has a unpleasant hydraulic squeal. I know that is normal but it's more prevalent on that machine that I expected. Thanks for the videos. Great place you guys have.
I've actually done this twice.When I moved from the old farm to town I sold all of my equipment. Then bought some raw land and started all over again.By priority: Barn good chainsaw good 18' to 24' trailer 45 to 65 HP tractor with loader and high end bush hog shredder land plane and a good box blade plow,disc,planter cultivator of some type sprayer for ag chemicals A good welder and a good cutting rig. And mechanics tools,never will have enough of those. This will get you started. After that another barn since first one somehow filled up,14 more tractors,a dozer,a crawler loader,a backhoe,a dump truck....... And after all of this: there is ALWAYS something else you will need,might need,or a deal that you can't pass up.
I'm in this exact position. In fact, this video is probably partially directed at me, I sent the Morgans an email about a month ago asking this precise question. My wife and I just bought 10 acres of land, and I'm struggling with trying to figure out what to buy first, living in an RV on the property, and I think you are right about the barn being top priority. Right now my pickup truck is my workshop and that's not ideal at all. Course I want a tractor first, but I look around the property and realize the random dead tree or Fallen limbs are still going to be there in 8 months, I'm not trying to plant a garden yet, and for the moment the pasture and dirt track through the woods is holding up to our traffic. But what I need is a place to put tools, run a deep freezer, and have a sheltered space to do the million small projects that are starting to crop up. Looks like the Kubota might have to wait, although two compounds the complexity of the decision is the fact that right now 84 months 0% down 0% interest, so...
Bone and Fog my first priority would be building a comfortable home or building out buildings so the RV is a place you can comfortably live in for longer.
@@ambiguity22 We've got good use from our side by side for general tasks including bringing rounds in for splitting. It was easy to transport back & forth from home to property after I purchased a trailer that would handle it, a tractor would have not been so easy. And we don't have a shelter to keep the vehicle covered on the property.
@@rdeanbenson217 Nooooo, I didn;t say "section" I said "some". Little over 64 acres. Still live in town since I'm still working but the land is a solid investment: especially as I improve it. Plus I like working the land. Makes me feel good.
I have a Polaris Ranger and a Kubota L3901. Before I got the tractor, I used the Ranger to mow with a tow behind DR field & brush mower. I still use this set up for areas that I can't get to with my tractor. The Ranger is great for doing chores around the hacienda and it is a lot of fun to play with out in the woods. I wish mine was a Crew cab model so I could carry more people on occasion.
Well hello over there. I’m the welsh version of you in Wales, U.K. Morgan’s, now there’s a Welsh originated name ! I’d go tractor as a front end loader is very useful and can put a mower attachment on. I’ve got an old MF 35x which has just had an engine rebuild and spray. 60 years old and now last another 60 😀 good channel !
I have three acres with a bunch of trees and a creek running though the middle. I have a Commerical JD Zero turn that I had planned on selling when I got the BX23s, with the loader, backhoe, 60" mid-mount mower, grass catcher, grapple, dirt box, roto-tiller, and sickle bar. I ended up not selling the JD simply because no one wanted to pay me what it was worth. Had I known I was keeping it, I could have saved a chunk of change by not buying the MMM or grass catcher. Well I probably would have spent it on other attachments, so it really wouldn't have saved me anything. You're spot on with your assessment, the BX is great at cutting grass, but the JD is at least three times faster. I still use the BX about once a month or so with the grass catcher, to pick up all the grass the JD leaves. Only problem I've found with the BX is that it's too versatile, and I'm always taking off and putting on implements. I'm pretty sure it's Kubota's way to convince me I need another BX so I don't have to keep changing implements.
I think I'd have to go with a tractor and implements as my first major purchase. For the property I'm on I could get a BX with a loader, mower, tiller, box blade, pallet forks, and maybe a snow blower or a front straight blade for snow removal and be pretty set. I only have an acre so there's not too much in the way of heavy tractor work, but a tractor would be of great value especially with a mid-mount mower and a loader. Tons of uses you can always find for a tractor. Been here for almost 30 years, haven't yet had a tractor everything has always been done by hand as far as moving dirt, hauling rock, etc. I have a lawn tractor and snow blower but a sub-compact tractor would be a huge asset on the property for other chores that always seem to arise. I only wish we still had the 2nd acre that was sold about 12 years ago....I miss the larger size property but things had to happen and had to sell the 2nd acre. I've had ATV's and UTV's, and really after not having them for the past several years I really don't miss them. I can use my yard trailer with my lawn tractor for everything I was using the UTV for LOL. Someone else may have a different approach of course, but if you got enough property a tractor should be on the top of the list, the ATV/UTV wouldn't be necessary right away you can use the tractor loader bucket to haul tools, and stuff around the property for chores which is what I'd be doing if I had a tractor, kind of like a ride on wheelbarrow.
100% agree, until you have a tractor and a couple of attachments you don't know how handy they can be. I use it for things I would have never thought of.
I bought 1. ATV 2. Zero Turn 3. Kubota L2501 with loader It’s amazing how much I can do with that tractor and loader. When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail! Greetings from Guyton, GA!
For the extra 5k or so, do you wish you had gotten the 3901? The 2501 i rented bushhogged my 10 acres relatively OK, mostly grass and small shrubs, had to go slower in certain sections... right now I'm just thinking "f - it, whats 5k more when I'm financing 25k for the tractor at 0%...
I really don’t. The L 2501 has done everything I’ve asked her to do. I like the fact that there is no ReGen on mine either. The 2501 and 3301 have the same size engine. If I was going to go bigger, I would get into the 4701. Larger engine, larger frame, and more weight.
Nice job Mike and Morgans. I agree, tractor first. Maybe tractor upgrade second and third as you can afford them. When I got my land, my first “tractor” was a 70’s Cub Cadet 149 garden tractor (30 years old at the time). It helped with a lot of land clearing and field mowing. I then jumped into a new-to-me Ford 9N. 3-point implements made life easier. Now I’m enjoying a John Deere 2210 with loader and mower. It’s a shame it took me so long to own a front end loader. They’re a great tool. Keep up the great content.
Hi Mike! You are so right about the "tractor first" approach. I've seen folks spend 10k on a side by side and have no money left for a tractor. By the way, you can cut grass with a side by side. You just need one of those pull-behind mowers. I would not recommend it though. One more thing, I always buy used equipment if I can. You can get it for a fraction of what " new " costs and if you have to wrench on it, you learn something with every fix. I do realize that not everyone is handy with tools so new may be the way for those. Thanks for all the useful information and quality entertainment! 🚜
Tractor for sure. I only go a sxs because I scored a rhino 660 for $251. Still no zero turn yet. Tractor is a Jack of all trades. But if mowing is your number 1, zero turn is the best for sure. Sxs are over rated for work but they are fun to wheel. I also have a japanese mini truck which I use for yard work in the late fall with leaf clean up It has AC and heat
Totally agree, tractor is most bang for the buck. Wrangler star said recently that he would have gotten side by side first, depends on your individual needs and property. Do your research, very important. I am extremely happy with my situation, tractor first, (JD 1025R) then side by side (JD 835M).
Good episode...I've skipped over some of the last few. For me, this is how the channel started and what I subscribed to see: equipment stuff, how to use it, and good practical advice. No gimmicks, no t'n'a...but I guess you have to do, what you have to do.
Shed looks great Mike! Funny how things like building things gives you sense of pride and accomplishment. As for the Bx2380, your way back video’s with your Kubota caused me to buy my own. Absolutely love it for my mowing, plowing snow, and plowing the garden. Also have a 3 point sprayer I built for lawn maintenance. Thanks to you and the family for all the great videos.
I think you're correct on the sub compact tractor . With my 2.25 acres on the eastern shore of Maryland, just bought a sub compact last year after being here 30 years. And like you my riding mower , wheel borrow , shove and sweat. Always looked at a tractor but financially didn't work out tell retirement.
You calculated purchased material costs for the shed - which is fantastic by the way. The use of the Wood Mizer has a cost of some sort? Your labor to convert logs into timber and build, and labor / time to produce videos. These costs could be offset by You Tube income? Now this all done in your free time. At the end of the day it’s something you love to do and we appreciate it.
Totally agree with you mike. We have a mower, Kubota and a Gator. We probably use the a Gator the most but really just to get around. It can’t really do anything. We could not do our ‘living needs’ without a tractor.
Mike in my opinion this was your best informative videos sharing your experience. Blessing to the morgans especially Hunter and his new friend Archie Amen
We bought a four wheeler first but then quickly realized what we really needed a tractor. We bought a Kubota MX 5100 with a blade, forks, scarifier, hydraulic grapple, and a rock bucket.
So I bought my first acreage last fall. So right off the bat, out of the three pieces of machinery on topic, I believed I needed a tractor. So I picked up a used Kubota. Then the grass started growing...next was a zero turn. Now I know that if I only had enough for one of those two, the zero turn should have been the first purchase and has been the most used at this point. A side by side is fun and could be very useful but, I think out of the three is the least needed. I'm going to go back and finish the video to see what you think. Your shed looks very nice by the way!
WOW! A great video. I have a zero turn, old but well maintained, have a 4 X 4 quad that is a workhorse for me. But with only 14 open acres, I just sold my Kubota L2900 only because me, personally, found I did not use it as I really anticipated. Not to say with more land that it is not the top choice but not for me. But I do agree totally that sub compact for a small farm is not by far the best choice. Because of you and the side by side, don’t take it personal 😁, I am looking at side by side with dump bed. I am getting older and putting the old knees over sometime is painful. But Thank You for a great ‘Educational’ video. Keep them coming my friend......
This is the kind of content I was looking for thanks. As a new landowner my first step was to get a container on site. After watching your video, I’ll definitely get a tractor first. UTV later.
Mike you can mow that bank down by the woodpile with the deck on that bx23s. It’s not how fast you mow it’s how well you mow fast. That tractor is a Swiss Army knife.
The shed and scenic overlook are looking great. Mike is spot on when he said "it depends on whats going on at your property". We went with the side by side as our first equipment purchase, it has served us well though I pine for a tractor. We need to build a barn to keep the tractor in, then the tractor.
Good morning Morgan’s. Seems a little early to be working. I’ll finish my coffee first. Beautiful sun shining morning in the blue grass. Excellent tutorial! I bought the zero turn first, then the side by side then the utility tractor. Now I think I need a compact or subcompact. It never ends!
34 acres equestrian farm build happening now...My order was a bit different. Gator first, Zero Turn second and about to pull the trigger on a Compact Tractor (4066R most likely). I agree on getting tractor first. Great job on the channel. Very helpful to us newbee landowners. I was corporate executive for 28 years and now starting a new chapter. No where near as handy as you, but learning something new everyday.
Hello from Sardis City, Alabama. We bought us a 2017 Polaris General. Its also a good farm vehicle. Was also our first vehicle for our mlnl farm, we then bought a Yanmar yt 235 tractor with various implements, then we bought the Granite grappler from Ruel King, the best implement thus far. Besides the back hoe.
Awesome analogy. I agree totally Morning coffee with OUTDOORS WITH THE MORGANS GOD BLESS Stay Safe HI HUNTER We need to see more of our friend from Tennessee. RC the wonder cow.
I have a couple of acres of established landscape with some trees and a vegetable garden, but it's mostly lawn. So I have a 54" zero turn. But it can tow a 10 cu. ft. utility dump trailer, so with it I can haul mulch, topsoil, and landscape stone. I can also tow a sprayer and small wood/brush chipper. I rigged up a sled for skidding brush trimmings to the mulcher out back. I've found it pretty versatile.
Be careful, zero turns really aren't designed for towing, you will be replacing the hydraulic motors. Check your manual to see if they give a towing capacity rating and keep in mind pulling 200 lbs on a sled is much different than 200 lbs on a trailer.
I got the tractor first 33 H.P.New Holland with a bucket. Built the house thought i would get rid of it after the house was built! decided to keep it forever.
Compact tractor, loader, mower. Then welding cutting equipment and an over dose of welding vidios. Then you can build everything else you need. My story, just didn't have you tube 30 years back. Learning is much easier now. Making it possible for folks to buy a and restore used equipment, not having to take the big hit on new stuff. JMHO GO MORGANS!
Great videos, I still don't get why no matter what you guys do there are always some thumbs down?? Tractor size does matter, pretty sure you covered that in a past video! I have 26 acres and had a 2006 JD 2305 with loader and mower when I moved here, I was hoping to find about 5 acres. I have a 1/4 mile gravel driveway too. I kept that for 5 years but everything took SOOOO long and it was tipsy on hills and another winter with 4 feet of snow could have killed it, now got a 2007 JD 3720 and made a world of difference, but now I got to find mower :P.
I liked your term for the tractor as a Swiss army knife 😁😁after getting my tractor 3years ago I don't know how I did stuff before the tractor is definitely the first to get you can do so much with it.
Good evening Mike, I watched this video this morning and again this evening 👍👍, I have to totally agree with your good information. Patience and Persistence will lead you down the right path and watching others will give you assistance in choosing the better products. Thanks for sharing with us and keep up the good work and videos. Fred.
That is really an impossible question to answer, as it all depends on a wide range of factors. - How large is the property - What is the property used for e.g. Timber, grazing, cropping, etc. - Who will be required to do what on the place. Zero-turn would be last on my list for anything, Side by side would be second and the tractor would be first. The size and accessories would depend on the property size and nature of the work to be done. So I agree 100% with your response.
Admire your bucket control when spreading gravel. Owned our tractor for a couple years now and I still can't do that as well as you. I've watched a couple of your videos that explained how you're doing it, but my gravel is not as cooperative as yours.
I have 80 acres which includes a Cabin and 1 acre lawn. So I needed a lawn tractor 1st, still have it a JD L111 which is a little small for the Lawn size but works great. Then I needed a ATV so purchased a Honda Foreman. Traded that off for a Honda Pioneer last year. I've never regretted buying a Honda. And now I have a Kubota L series Tractor again a tremendous workhorse and much needed on a rural property with several attachments. This doesn't include Chainsaws and string trimers.
You need one of those side by sides with the diesel motor from kabota. Been hearing good things about them. And yes you can cut grass with a side by side. They make a pull behind cutting/finish deck and bush hog style cutting decks for them and 4wheelers plus pull behind tillers and other implements
Mike we have 6 acres hilly property we have side x side with 66" commercial grade finish mower we pull behind it and does great cutting 6 acres. We have a 54hp tractor with backhoe. Side x side with all we do with it is as important to us as tractor. Great video thanks for sharing.
@@flash1259 sounds like you have some nice equipment. My house is on flat spot on top of a hill. So the 5 acres of hill is not safe for a zero turn for me. I eventually want a Ventrac or Steiner for hill stability the side mower is a bridge to the bigger investment in a year or 2. We bought tractor with backhoe and brush hog first when we purchased property to clear it and build home and side x side for all the country trails around property. Like Mike said it's a mobile tool box and work horse and then also fun on weekend. Take care
A great alternative to a side by side is an ATV with a good bush trailer (not a “garden trailer), and it’s half the price. You can only take one passenger at a time but a good trailer will carry more than the back of the UTV. An ATV will go through tighter bush and is much better in rough terrain with the high ground clearance and more compact wheelbase. Buy two ATVs and a good trailer for the price of a UTV, and after the work is done, 4 people can go off for a fun trail ride.
Man, another good video with really good Stuff, that I need right now with where I find myself. Thanks again for doing these and I’ll see you again on, Outdoors With The Morgans. Thanks again...
So my AW900 that can scoop up 100 yards of dirt is a little extreme, and the D7 with the 40 ft blade that can push 230,000 pounds of dirt is also a little extreme and then the Massey Ferguson tractor all I got from my uncle in north Dakota you have to remember hes got 117 sections of land, the Combines and Swathers and other Massey Ferguson tractors he has to cut all that wheat, barley, for his contract with Budweiser that he is leasing out cause he wants to retire, what he gave me built the six lakes on the property, so it saved us about 5 million dollars for 3 pieces of equipment, nice to have an uncle that really likes us.
I guess im doin it backwards, but i only have an acre. I bought a zero turn toro time cutter 2 years ago, because i have planted about 40 trees since we bought the place, and a ranger 900 xp a year ago. I use it almost daily to cut wood, and for recreation. Tractor some day down the road. Likely an 8n.
Another great video with great info👍 Totally agree with your assessment of the tractor and what it can do👍 hook it to a trailer and you carry more friends then you can get in the side by side and have a hay ride! But then you could hook a trailer to the side by side also. Love your little Kubota👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
ONCE AGAIN OUTSTANDING . WE HAVE OLD 16 HP AND 55 HP KUBOTAS UTV 900 . MY HERO AIS BOBCAT TOOL CAT . LOADER .BLOWER. SPLITTER. DOEES EVERTHING OTHERS DO EXCEPT NOT MUCH GROUND CLEARANCE . PROB;AY BECAUSE HIGH LIFT . AND WOULD BE TIPY . I KNOW YOU HAVE AXCESS TO BOBCAT . TRY I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEED BACK AND WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW US THE KUBOTA 8540 WITH FULL REMOTE CONTROL . GOD BLESS ALL THANK YOU FOR SHARING . A JOY TO WATCH .
I agree Mike. Baby steps acquiring equipment when raising family, mortgage, etc. There's a balance that has to be kept for most people..Great video. Keep it up. Tell family hi, give hunter a hug and have a day from beautiful N. Indiana
The Ash trees are all dying where I live in CT. They make good firewood, but there are gaps in the forrest where these trees are dying. I think the die off is attributed the the Emerald Ash borer that came in from China in the wood pallets.
The compact tractor with all its attachments is just so versatile that it makes setting priorities a bit challenging. I suppose if I needed to mow a lot of grass, especially in rough terrain, I would buy the Kubota BX 23S Subcompact Tractor with only the mower deck and add more attachments as I have the need and the money to buy them. I currently have almost all the lawn equipment covered but I think I'm at the point where I need a pickup truck and then a trailer. Having the means to move my equipment and supplies efficiently from place to place would present more opportunities to use the lawn equipment that I've already purchased as well as future equipment, such as a compact tractor.
Purchased a JD 1025R TLB in 2015 with a 54D mower deck. Great piece of equipment, very versatile. I got tired of having to mess with carburetors when I needed the chipper, mower, splitter, snow blower, what ever I needed to use at the time. 1st requirement was Diesel, loader, hoe, and mower. From there I added a tiller, a rake and pallet forks. This gives me the ability to tackle things I never thought possible at the time of purchase. Like Mike said, These do nothing great, but they are very very good at pretty much anything. Thanks for the informative look at the equipment. Have a great weekend!
When I first moved out here from town, I got a Stihl chainsaw and a Big Dog zero turn. I've got 93 acres all told, with 35 acres of cropland, but a farmer rents the ag part and takes care of it. I wasn't concerned about the woods in the beginning, but that's changed! At first I was mainly focused on the 2 acres of yard I have to mow, and the 1-acre pecan grove. Then after a few years I saw more things that needed doing around here, so I branched out and bought a Deere 3032E tractor. It came with a bush hog and a loader bucket. I quickly got some pallet forks, then a tiller, a subsoiler (to break up underground hard pan in places where water stands after rain storms), a box blade, a landscape rake. Getting a grapple soon.
Watching this channel has convinced me that I need an excavator, so I'm in the market for one of those too, a mini like a Deere 35P. Need to dig some ditches, make some trails in the woods, even make a clearing for a food plot in the woods like you've done. I don't hunt, but would love to put a deer blind back there and take photos. See what you've done Mike! Watching this channel gets expensive! But it's all going to be great once I get it all done. I don't have a side-by-side yet, but plan to get one once the trails are done in the woods, or at least some of them.
Couldn’t agree more!!
I started with a JD 1025R TLB with a 60” mower, and 54” snow blower for our 1.5 acres. It did everything I needed, now that we have moved to 150 acres it’s too small. A new JD 4052R is being delivered with grapples and a skidding winch for logging and firewood duties. Between the 1025R, the 4052R, and our 1946 CJ2A wood jeep we have a similar combo to what you use on your property.
I just purchased my first piece of property - 42 acres, 37 of whick is woods. I first purchased a zero turn for the 5 acres of yard/grass. I'm in the process of getting a tractor so I can get the place ready for horses. Have to build an arena and paddocks for the horses and a wheel barrel and shovel will not cut it. I also have a lot of holes to drill, so the tractor is going to be a life saver. I'm putting a utility vehicle on the wish list, but not in a big hurry for that. I've got to make trails into the woods to ride the horses, so a PTO driven wood chipper is next on the buy list. It will take care of the limbs/trees I remove and make a nice trail cover for the horses to walk on. It's all about priorities - thanks for the thoughts and the videos - Have a Day!
1. Kubota BX2200 (loader, 54" mower, 4 ft box blade, 5 ft angle blade, bush hog and a 4x8 firewood trailer)
2. Honda Forman ATV
3. Gravely proturn 1000 60" (totally worth the time savings in mowing 3 acres)
3. Honda Rancher ATV
I got the Kubota BX2200 first. Graded my yard and mowed exclusively for 10 years - it really is the swiss army knife, not the greatest at any one task, but can get a lot done in a small package - and it is tough. I am about ready to upgrade to a larger tractor, but that little thing is so good at getting in small narrow spots that I can't justify the money - can always borrow a skid steer from work if I need it also. Should have a side by side, but expensive and the atv's are good enough for now. If I bought a larger tractor and side by side I would have a new project to widen my goat trails I use now.
Excellent analysis and considerations list. Only buy what you need, make it as versatile as it can be, and only add to it when the situation directs it.
A friend of mine recently inherited some property and purchased a John Deere 540m zero turn. I had never used one before. It felt very awkward at first but a few minutes later I was cutting grass. I was quite impressed with it. He also has a Stihl Mx 250 chainsaw. I expected it to be much larger and couldn’t get over how fast it cut.
This video is so timely, Mike. My wife and I just inherited a 5 acre homestead that has very little grass, but tons of trees and requires what seems for now like an enormous amount of culling. Dead, diseased, and dangerous trees abound and there are two swift waterways running through the property. In addition, the long, flat driveway requires snow plowing (we are NH) and hauling firewood will be a major activity for the remainder of our (newly retired) lives. I think the side by side is the way to go, according to your informative upload, here. Thanks again, and stay safe.
My wife inherited this property in Northern Middle Tenn a few years ago. We at first were going to sell but changed our minds. We already had equipment though most was old. I bought the tractor first then bought the side by side a few months later. We had two older zero turns. The older was slower and had a 48" cut. I used it to do most of my trim work and the least one had a 54" deck. They started becoming an issue with fixing them enough to the point I got rid of both and bought a new commercial zero turn. I'm quite sure my Kubota dealer loved seeing me walk in, lol.
When I first acquired my 40+ acres of property in Maine, I purchased a John Deere Gator and a chainsaw first. If your land is all nature, a tractor does you no good unless you intend to destroy it by driving through trees to clear land. Financially, it made so much more sense to have the gator full time and rent a proper tractor a few weeks the first year to remove stumps and grade land. That decision allowed me to rent a much larger tractor than I could reasonably afford long term for the bigger jobs. Year two, I added the Kubota L6060 with backhoe and loader.
The Kubota BX tractor came several years later when decided I wanted to take over the lawn care and more. I also purchased a large rotary brush for cleaning and light snow removal along paths. I also added a salt spreaders to control ice in the depth of winter. A plow on the gator and 72” snowblower on my L60 covers all my winter needs living in Maine. So all of these machines are year round use.
I splurged on the grand model of the L6060 which has a climate control cab. I’ve cinch added a cab enclosure for the gator which I remove in the spring and replace late fall. I’ll be looking at a seasonal cab for the BX next.
Mike made the best choice, a tractor is as handy as any piece of equip. you can buy. Only thing I might add is give an older tractor a chance. I've got a 65 year old deere 70 diesel , power steering ,live PTO and three point just about all you need. Their simple rugged and cheaper than new. Give the oldies a chance, its a folly of youth to put down old guys and old machines.
Don't get to comment much but love your channel. The kids the dogs, and Melissa are great. Love you guys.
Exactly how I looked at it. Bought a home on 5 acres (only about 2 had been maintained). It’s a mix of woods and pastures hilly country. I went with a bx23s. Got a mid mower, brush cutter, and box blade. Of course it comes with the backhoe and loader. Had the third function added along with the front end grapple bucket. Handles everything I need. Mows well, cleared all of the brush, hauls out firewood, digs up stumps, maintains driveways, cuts terraces in the hill for planting, building sites. I did not get a tiller, but multiple passes with the ripper teeth on the box is acting as a fair substitute for now. Only other thing I’m toying with the idea of is a chipper.
You might say I got the Mike Morgan starter kit. Tractor, and a suite of Stihl tools (chainsaw, weed trimmer, and leaf blower).
Your earlier videos really helped me get up and make the change to actually get the property, and think through what equipment needs I would have. It has been great.
Thank you for your consistent great attitude and content. You, Mellisa, and family continue to be an encouragement and inspiration.
I don't have a big property, but the tractor would be great for all it's used. Trenching, planting/removing trees, dirt, tilling, etc... not only for myself, but to help my neighbors. Some of us are older in the neighborhood and we can't afford to hire someone that charges a small fortune.
Good advice!
My first purchase to start with raw land was a 4x4 backhoe. Used it to clear the land and build my house. Still using it 18 years later to plow my driveway and many other uses. You can also make an income doing local jobs.
100% agree - subcompact first to support property over an acre. Agile enough and functional as a mower, and enables serious projects. The loader is a game changer. We purchased a gator second, and has turned into the mobile tool hauler, project support vehicle. Looking forward to the next Morgan project!
I could not agree more with you Mike. I started with nothing and now have much of the same equipment as you do. I maintain 26 acres. Exmark zero-turn, bx23s, and Polaris Ranger, and all have a specific use.
Closing our first deal on Tuesday. 32 acres of all woods with one 30 year old path to the best build site. My wife and I will pay it off in two years and then start building. Until then, we go out on many weekends and clean it up a bit. Develop three roads over two creeks to go all around the property. Our first and second step is to clean up the old path (remove fallen trees, and cut a few more down) to turn it into a drivable road and then have a shipping container placed for storing our first piece of equipment. We can't decide if we should get a cheap four wheeler or a side by side (two of us working). The thing is, we know we will eventually need a tractor first, and later a side by side for work and touring. I think Mike hid a great answer in there at the end. Get a four wheeler first and wear it out. I'm thinking used for about $2k and a cart to pull behind it. But it's a hard decision when we know we'll eventually spend the $ on a four-seat side by side (but damn those things are about $12k!). Any suggestions? (also trying to decide when to get the compact tractor).
Sooo satisfied you got the shed done too.
I would agree with Mike that you need to take your time and assess your needs.
Few will have the same needs!
For some a home will be the top need. For others a barn/storage shed/workshop will be the top need. For others the versatile subcompact or compact tractor and attachments/implements for a variety of projects will be the top need.
Take the time to assess and reassess. A part of that assessment may be the need for a certain piece of equipment to construct that “barn” especially if you do it yourself.
After watching ODWTM for sometime including this video, I bought a new Kubota BX23S. I have a BX 2660 that’s 11 years old with 2000 hours on it. I also have a Kubota MX5200 and a RTV 900. The backhoe is what sold me. Much needed on our farm. Keep the videos coming.
Mike my equipment list is endless, first sthil290 , Norwood sawmill, log splitter, polaris 450 sportsman then a 1705 sub compact Massey, ten it's attachments( blade,forks,stump grinder, skidder) then I got a second Massey 1643 with a bigger set of forks and a CB20 backhoe. Each item has a purpose but all except the tractors are payed for
A compact side-by-side with a hydraulic bed is actually the first item in my book. It gets you to wherever you need to go, fast! It can haul all the tools for the job, chainsaws, firewood, tow a wood chipper or a trailer, and you can have a helper come along as well. A small mini excavator also comes insanely handy for so many things, so you can add this to the list as #4.
When we bought our eight acres, we knew we needed a compact tractor for snow removal, driveway grading, garden tilling, rotary cutting in the back pasture area...everything you talked about. Got that, and picked up a cheap used lawn tractor riding mower for the dedicated mowing around the house. Nursed that mower along for several years, until finally able to upgrade to the zero turn mower. Then recently upgraded the tractor; would love a UTV, but the tractor does everything we need for now. Maybe a UTV in the future...
kubota tractor,zero turn and rtvs uses same set ups and and parts
Anyone else notice their right hand wiggling when Mike is spreading gravel?? Caught myself doing that today ! LOL HI Mike, Melissa, Hannah, Eva, and a big shoutout to Hunter. My cats said to tell your critters MEOW!
Answer ; Garden tractor/mower, rototiller, snowblower! Bought my Toro Wheel Horse 520H 30 years ago -no regrets. I then went on to restore 2ea IHC Scouts (many other machines). only have 3 acres, don't need a bigger tractor or a 15K $ ATV...have a Suzuki Eiger 400 4wd model for 2 up...pulls little trailers, ect. Guessing the test depends on how much disposable income you have, your business needs, your sponsors, ect. Enjoy your videos!
I landed on your videos are researching the BX23s. It never sounds bad from a distance but any footage/audio being recorded from the operator seat has a unpleasant hydraulic squeal. I know that is normal but it's more prevalent on that machine that I expected. Thanks for the videos. Great place you guys have.
I've actually done this twice.When I moved from the old farm to town I sold all of my equipment. Then bought some raw land and started all over again.By priority:
Barn
good chainsaw
good 18' to 24' trailer
45 to 65 HP tractor with loader and high end bush hog shredder
land plane and a good box blade
plow,disc,planter cultivator of some type
sprayer for ag chemicals
A good welder and a good cutting rig.
And mechanics tools,never will have enough of those.
This will get you started. After that another barn since first one somehow filled up,14 more tractors,a dozer,a crawler loader,a backhoe,a dump truck.......
And after all of this: there is ALWAYS something else you will need,might need,or a deal that you can't pass up.
I'm in this exact position. In fact, this video is probably partially directed at me, I sent the Morgans an email about a month ago asking this precise question. My wife and I just bought 10 acres of land, and I'm struggling with trying to figure out what to buy first, living in an RV on the property, and I think you are right about the barn being top priority. Right now my pickup truck is my workshop and that's not ideal at all. Course I want a tractor first, but I look around the property and realize the random dead tree or Fallen limbs are still going to be there in 8 months, I'm not trying to plant a garden yet, and for the moment the pasture and dirt track through the woods is holding up to our traffic. But what I need is a place to put tools, run a deep freezer, and have a sheltered space to do the million small projects that are starting to crop up. Looks like the Kubota might have to wait, although two compounds the complexity of the decision is the fact that right now 84 months 0% down 0% interest, so...
Bone and Fog my first priority would be building a comfortable home or building out buildings so the RV is a place you can comfortably live in for longer.
@@ambiguity22 We've got good use from our side by side for general tasks including bringing rounds in for splitting. It was easy to transport back & forth from home to property after I purchased a trailer that would handle it, a tractor would have not been so easy. And we don't have a shelter to keep the vehicle covered on the property.
sooo, you bought Section of raw forrest/farm and ranch land??? (640 acres, a square mile)
@@rdeanbenson217 Nooooo, I didn;t say "section" I said "some". Little over 64 acres. Still live in town since I'm still working but the land is a solid investment: especially as I improve it. Plus I like working the land. Makes me feel good.
I have a Polaris Ranger and a Kubota L3901. Before I got the tractor, I used the Ranger to mow with a tow behind DR field & brush mower. I still use this set up for areas that I can't get to with my tractor.
The Ranger is great for doing chores around the hacienda and it is a lot of fun to play with out in the woods. I wish mine was a Crew cab model so I could carry more people on occasion.
Well hello over there. I’m the welsh version of you in Wales, U.K. Morgan’s, now there’s a Welsh originated name ! I’d go tractor as a front end loader is very useful and can put a mower attachment on. I’ve got an old MF 35x which has just had an engine rebuild and spray. 60 years old and now last another 60 😀 good channel !
I have three acres with a bunch of trees and a creek running though the middle. I have a Commerical JD Zero turn that I had planned on selling when I got the BX23s, with the loader, backhoe, 60" mid-mount mower, grass catcher, grapple, dirt box, roto-tiller, and sickle bar. I ended up not selling the JD simply because no one wanted to pay me what it was worth. Had I known I was keeping it, I could have saved a chunk of change by not buying the MMM or grass catcher. Well I probably would have spent it on other attachments, so it really wouldn't have saved me anything. You're spot on with your assessment, the BX is great at cutting grass, but the JD is at least three times faster. I still use the BX about once a month or so with the grass catcher, to pick up all the grass the JD leaves. Only problem I've found with the BX is that it's too versatile, and I'm always taking off and putting on implements. I'm pretty sure it's Kubota's way to convince me I need another BX so I don't have to keep changing implements.
I think I'd have to go with a tractor and implements as my first major purchase. For the property I'm on I could get a BX with a loader, mower, tiller, box blade, pallet forks, and maybe a snow blower or a front straight blade for snow removal and be pretty set. I only have an acre so there's not too much in the way of heavy tractor work, but a tractor would be of great value especially with a mid-mount mower and a loader. Tons of uses you can always find for a tractor. Been here for almost 30 years, haven't yet had a tractor everything has always been done by hand as far as moving dirt, hauling rock, etc. I have a lawn tractor and snow blower but a sub-compact tractor would be a huge asset on the property for other chores that always seem to arise. I only wish we still had the 2nd acre that was sold about 12 years ago....I miss the larger size property but things had to happen and had to sell the 2nd acre.
I've had ATV's and UTV's, and really after not having them for the past several years I really don't miss them. I can use my yard trailer with my lawn tractor for everything I was using the UTV for LOL.
Someone else may have a different approach of course, but if you got enough property a tractor should be on the top of the list, the ATV/UTV wouldn't be necessary right away you can use the tractor loader bucket to haul tools, and stuff around the property for chores which is what I'd be doing if I had a tractor, kind of like a ride on wheelbarrow.
100% agree, until you have a tractor and a couple of attachments you don't know how handy they can be. I use it for things I would have never thought of.
I bought
1. ATV
2. Zero Turn
3. Kubota L2501 with loader
It’s amazing how much I can do with that tractor and loader. When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail! Greetings from Guyton, GA!
For the extra 5k or so, do you wish you had gotten the 3901? The 2501 i rented bushhogged my 10 acres relatively OK, mostly grass and small shrubs, had to go slower in certain sections... right now I'm just thinking "f - it, whats 5k more when I'm financing 25k for the tractor at 0%...
I really don’t. The L 2501 has done everything I’ve asked her to do. I like the fact that there is no ReGen on mine either. The 2501 and 3301 have the same size engine. If I was going to go bigger, I would get into the 4701. Larger engine, larger frame, and more weight.
Nice job Mike and Morgans. I agree, tractor first. Maybe tractor upgrade second and third as you can afford them. When I got my land, my first “tractor” was a 70’s Cub Cadet 149 garden tractor (30 years old at the time). It helped with a lot of land clearing and field mowing. I then jumped into a new-to-me Ford 9N. 3-point implements made life easier. Now I’m enjoying a John Deere 2210 with loader and mower. It’s a shame it took me so long to own a front end loader. They’re a great tool. Keep up the great content.
Hi Mike! You are so right about the "tractor first" approach. I've seen folks spend 10k on a side by side and have no money left for a tractor. By the way, you can cut grass with a side by side. You just need one of those pull-behind mowers. I would not recommend it though. One more thing, I always buy used equipment if I can. You can get it for a fraction of what " new " costs and if you have to wrench on it, you learn something with every fix. I do realize that not everyone is handy with tools so new may be the way for those. Thanks for all the useful information and quality entertainment! 🚜
Tractor for sure. I only go a sxs because I scored a rhino 660 for $251. Still no zero turn yet. Tractor is a Jack of all trades. But if mowing is your number 1, zero turn is the best for sure. Sxs are over rated for work but they are fun to wheel. I also have a japanese mini truck which I use for yard work in the late fall with leaf clean up It has AC and heat
Totally agree, tractor is most bang for the buck. Wrangler star said recently that he would have gotten side by side first, depends on your individual needs and property. Do your research, very important. I am extremely happy with my situation, tractor first, (JD 1025R) then side by side (JD 835M).
Shed looks great ... well worth all the effort ... well maintained it aught to last a few decades
Good episode...I've skipped over some of the last few. For me, this is how the channel started and what I subscribed to see: equipment stuff, how to use it, and good practical advice. No gimmicks, no t'n'a...but I guess you have to do, what you have to do.
Shed looks great Mike! Funny how things like building things gives you sense of pride and accomplishment. As for the Bx2380, your way back video’s with your Kubota caused me to buy my own. Absolutely love it for my mowing, plowing snow, and plowing the garden. Also have a 3 point sprayer I built for lawn maintenance. Thanks to you and the family for all the great videos.
I think you're correct on the sub compact tractor . With my 2.25 acres on the eastern shore of Maryland, just bought a sub compact last year after being here 30 years. And like you my riding mower , wheel borrow , shove and sweat. Always looked at a tractor but financially didn't work out tell retirement.
You calculated purchased material costs for the shed - which is fantastic by the way. The use of the Wood Mizer has a cost of some sort? Your labor to convert logs into timber and build, and labor / time to produce videos. These costs could be offset by You Tube income? Now this all done in your free time. At the end of the day it’s something you love to do and we appreciate it.
Totally agree with you mike. We have a mower, Kubota and a Gator. We probably use the a Gator the most but really just to get around. It can’t really do anything. We could not do our ‘living needs’ without a tractor.
Mike in my opinion this was your best informative videos sharing your experience. Blessing to the morgans especially Hunter and his new friend Archie Amen
We bought a four wheeler first but then quickly realized what we really needed a tractor. We bought a Kubota MX 5100 with a blade, forks, scarifier, hydraulic grapple, and a rock bucket.
So I bought my first acreage last fall. So right off the bat, out of the three pieces of machinery on topic, I believed I needed a tractor. So I picked up a used Kubota. Then the grass started growing...next was a zero turn. Now I know that if I only had enough for one of those two, the zero turn should have been the first purchase and has been the most used at this point. A side by side is fun and could be very useful but, I think out of the three is the least needed. I'm going to go back and finish the video to see what you think. Your shed looks very nice by the way!
WOW! A great video. I have a zero turn, old but well maintained, have a 4 X 4 quad that is a workhorse for me. But with only 14 open acres, I just sold my Kubota L2900 only because me, personally, found I did not use it as I really anticipated. Not to say with more land that it is not the top choice but not for me. But I do agree totally that sub compact for a small farm is not by far the best choice. Because of you and the side by side, don’t take it personal 😁, I am looking at side by side with dump bed. I am getting older and putting the old knees over sometime is painful. But Thank You for a great ‘Educational’ video. Keep them coming my friend......
This is the kind of content I was looking for thanks.
As a new landowner my first step was to get a container on site.
After watching your video, I’ll definitely get a tractor first. UTV later.
In making decisions on what to buy I go for quality..buy the best
Mike you can mow that bank down by the woodpile with the deck on that bx23s. It’s not how fast you mow it’s how well you mow fast. That tractor is a Swiss Army knife.
The shed and scenic overlook are looking great. Mike is spot on when he said "it depends on whats going on at your property". We went with the side by side as our first equipment purchase, it has served us well though I pine for a tractor. We need to build a barn to keep the tractor in, then the tractor.
Good morning Morgan’s. Seems a little early to be working. I’ll finish my coffee first. Beautiful sun shining morning in the blue grass. Excellent tutorial! I bought the zero turn first, then the side by side then the utility tractor. Now I think I need a compact or subcompact. It never ends!
34 acres equestrian farm build happening now...My order was a bit different. Gator first, Zero Turn second and about to pull the trigger on a Compact Tractor (4066R most likely). I agree on getting tractor first. Great job on the channel. Very helpful to us newbee landowners. I was corporate executive for 28 years and now starting a new chapter. No where near as handy as you, but learning something new everyday.
Hello from Sardis City, Alabama. We bought us a 2017 Polaris General. Its also a good farm vehicle. Was also our first vehicle for our mlnl farm, we then bought a Yanmar yt 235 tractor with various implements, then we bought the Granite grappler from Ruel King, the best implement thus far. Besides the back hoe.
Mike don't forget Sawmill blades and gasoline to run the mill added in the price to build a shed.
Great Information Mike !!👍👊
Tractor is biggest bang for the buck. Love the side by side though.I'm going with tractor with attachments.
I have the BX up hear in Canada , It saves hours and hours of work all year round
Love the way your property keeps giving....and remember all those who gave so that we can enjoy our properties,,,have a safe Memorial Day
#1 Tractor
#2 Zero Turn
#3 Side by Side
Awesome analogy. I agree totally
Morning coffee with OUTDOORS WITH THE MORGANS
GOD BLESS
Stay Safe
HI HUNTER We need to see more of our friend from Tennessee. RC the wonder cow.
We bought ten acres in 2014, Kubota L3301 with 72” finish mower in 2016, and in the market for a zero turn now that we have everything established!
Try several brand mowers and then try a Ferris with full suspension!
I have a couple of acres of established landscape with some trees and a vegetable garden, but it's mostly lawn. So I have a 54" zero turn. But it can tow a 10 cu. ft. utility dump trailer, so with it I can haul mulch, topsoil, and landscape stone. I can also tow a sprayer and small wood/brush chipper. I rigged up a sled for skidding brush trimmings to the mulcher out back. I've found it pretty versatile.
Be careful, zero turns really aren't designed for towing, you will be replacing the hydraulic motors. Check your manual to see if they give a towing capacity rating and keep in mind pulling 200 lbs on a sled is much different than 200 lbs on a trailer.
I got the tractor first 33 H.P.New Holland with a bucket. Built the house thought i would get rid of it after the house was built! decided to keep it forever.
Compact tractor, loader, mower. Then welding cutting equipment and an over dose of welding vidios. Then you can build everything else you need. My story, just didn't have you tube 30 years back. Learning is much easier now. Making it possible for folks to buy a and restore used equipment, not having to take the big hit on new stuff. JMHO GO MORGANS!
Great videos, I still don't get why no matter what you guys do there are always some thumbs down?? Tractor size does matter, pretty sure you covered that in a past video! I have 26 acres and had a 2006 JD 2305 with loader and mower when I moved here, I was hoping to find about 5 acres. I have a 1/4 mile gravel driveway too. I kept that for 5 years but everything took SOOOO long and it was tipsy on hills and another winter with 4 feet of snow could have killed it, now got a 2007 JD 3720 and made a world of difference, but now I got to find mower :P.
I Just got the utv yesterday. Completed the trifecta. Zero turn first then loader then utv. For me.
Good advice for new property owners.
I liked your term for the tractor as a Swiss army knife 😁😁after getting my tractor 3years ago I don't know how I did stuff before the tractor is definitely the first to get you can do so much with it.
Tractor with bucket or course, cuz you can always drive it to where you need to go and dig up the grass when it gets to high 😁
You should talk Kubota into letting you test out one of their diesel side by sides with a cab.
Good evening Mike, I watched this video this morning and again this evening 👍👍, I have to totally agree with your good information. Patience and Persistence will lead you down the right path and watching others will give you assistance in choosing the better products. Thanks for sharing with us and keep up the good work and videos. Fred.
That is really an impossible question to answer, as it all depends on a wide range of factors.
- How large is the property
- What is the property used for e.g. Timber, grazing, cropping, etc.
- Who will be required to do what on the place.
Zero-turn would be last on my list for anything, Side by side would be second and the tractor would be first. The size and accessories would depend on the property size and nature of the work to be done. So I agree 100% with your response.
Great advise Morgans !
I'm thinking your like'n the BX ................. A LOT !
Great review but I’d just like to mention you can cut grass /brush /snowplough and have a tonne of fun an a UTV side by side 👍 from the UK
Admire your bucket control when spreading gravel. Owned our tractor for a couple years now and I still can't do that as well as you. I've watched a couple of your videos that explained how you're doing it, but my gravel is not as cooperative as yours.
I have 80 acres which includes a Cabin and 1 acre lawn. So I needed a lawn tractor 1st, still have it a JD L111 which is a little small for the Lawn size but works great. Then I needed a ATV so purchased a Honda Foreman. Traded that off for a Honda Pioneer last year. I've never regretted buying a Honda. And now I have a Kubota L series Tractor again a tremendous workhorse and much needed on a rural property with several attachments. This doesn't include Chainsaws and string trimers.
You need one of those side by sides with the diesel motor from kabota. Been hearing good things about them.
And yes you can cut grass with a side by side. They make a pull behind cutting/finish deck and bush hog style cutting decks for them and 4wheelers plus pull behind tillers and other implements
Mike we have 6 acres hilly property we have side x side with 66" commercial grade finish mower we pull behind it and does great cutting 6 acres. We have a 54hp tractor with backhoe. Side x side with all we do with it is as important to us as tractor. Great video thanks for sharing.
@@flash1259 sounds like you have some nice equipment. My house is on flat spot on top of a hill. So the 5 acres of hill is not safe for a zero turn for me. I eventually want a Ventrac or Steiner for hill stability the side mower is a bridge to the bigger investment in a year or 2. We bought tractor with backhoe and brush hog first when we purchased property to clear it and build home and side x side for all the country trails around property. Like Mike said it's a mobile tool box and work horse and then also fun on weekend. Take care
A great alternative to a side by side is an ATV with a good bush trailer (not a “garden trailer), and it’s half the price. You can only take one passenger at a time but a good trailer will carry more than the back of the UTV. An ATV will go through tighter bush and is much better in rough terrain with the high ground clearance and more compact wheelbase. Buy two ATVs and a good trailer for the price of a UTV, and after the work is done, 4 people can go off for a fun trail ride.
Great information, Mike. Enjoy the weekend!
Great video, Mike. Well organized, well thought out, and very helpful for property-owning newbies.
Take your time... best advice for most decisions.
Sound advice Michael!
Man, another good video with really good Stuff, that I need right now with where I find myself. Thanks again for doing these and I’ll see you again on, Outdoors With The Morgans. Thanks again...
So my AW900 that can scoop up 100 yards of dirt is a little extreme, and the D7 with the 40 ft blade that can push 230,000 pounds of dirt is also a little extreme and then the Massey Ferguson tractor all I got from my uncle in north Dakota you have to remember hes got 117 sections of land, the Combines and Swathers and other Massey Ferguson tractors he has to cut all that wheat, barley, for his contract with Budweiser that he is leasing out cause he wants to retire, what he gave me built the six lakes on the property, so it saved us about 5 million dollars for 3 pieces of equipment, nice to have an uncle that really likes us.
I guess im doin it backwards, but i only have an acre. I bought a zero turn toro time cutter 2 years ago, because i have planted about 40 trees since we bought the place, and a ranger 900 xp a year ago. I use it almost daily to cut wood, and for recreation. Tractor some day down the road. Likely an 8n.
I agree tractor first. Now I'm considering side by side or smaller tractor. I have the zero turn.
Another great video with great info👍 Totally agree with your assessment of the tractor and what it can do👍 hook it to a trailer and you carry more friends then you can get in the side by side and have a hay ride! But then you could hook a trailer to the side by side also. Love your little Kubota👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Mower no matter what kind should always be the first thing.
ONCE AGAIN OUTSTANDING . WE HAVE OLD 16 HP AND 55 HP KUBOTAS UTV 900 . MY HERO AIS BOBCAT TOOL CAT . LOADER .BLOWER. SPLITTER. DOEES EVERTHING OTHERS DO EXCEPT NOT MUCH GROUND CLEARANCE . PROB;AY BECAUSE HIGH LIFT . AND WOULD BE TIPY . I KNOW YOU HAVE AXCESS TO BOBCAT . TRY I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEED BACK AND WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW US THE KUBOTA 8540 WITH FULL REMOTE CONTROL . GOD BLESS ALL THANK YOU FOR SHARING . A JOY TO WATCH .
Another great video and morning coffee with my Morgan fix! LOL! Love from Northwest Indiana! 🙏🏻👏👍😉🇺🇸
Great advice on “take your time”
I agree Mike. Baby steps acquiring equipment when raising family, mortgage, etc. There's a balance that has to be kept for most people..Great video. Keep it up. Tell family hi, give hunter a hug and have a day from beautiful N. Indiana
Same answer I would give Mike. Tractor first then move to extra equipment. Good video 👍✊
The Ash trees are all dying where I live in CT. They make good firewood, but there are gaps in the forrest where these trees are dying. I think the die off is attributed the the Emerald Ash borer that came in from China in the wood pallets.
Michael A you are correct. I’ve lost hundreds myself.
Great perspective Mike, especially the dealership piece! Keep ‘Em coming.
The compact tractor with all its attachments is just so versatile that it makes setting priorities a bit challenging. I suppose if I needed to mow a lot of grass, especially in rough terrain, I would buy the Kubota BX 23S Subcompact Tractor with only the mower deck and add more attachments as I have the need and the money to buy them. I currently have almost all the lawn equipment covered but I think I'm at the point where I need a pickup truck and then a trailer. Having the means to move my equipment and supplies efficiently from place to place would present more opportunities to use the lawn equipment that I've already purchased as well as future equipment, such as a compact tractor.
Great advice. Detailed, precise and concise. Thank you professor Mike! Happy Holiday to all the Morgans!