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Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) #6168223
02/24/18 12:49 AM
02/24/18 12:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline OP
trapper
Forest  Offline OP
trapper
F

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
Just curious looking to get something that can mow the lawn and haul firewood out of the woods. Thinking about an ATV with trailer for wood and mower deck for the lawn. Or tractor with mower and trailer.
Never used an ATV mower deck setup before, any thoughts and recommendations?


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168235
02/24/18 01:00 AM
02/24/18 01:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,241
Indiana
K
keystone Offline
trapper
keystone  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,241
Indiana
I would recommend the tractor, especially with a bucket for firewood. You can also put forks on the bucket. It seems to me tight turns mowing grass with an atv would suck.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168246
02/24/18 01:21 AM
02/24/18 01:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 776
MN, USA
star flakes Offline
trapper
star flakes  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 776
MN, USA
Get a tractor or you will regret it as an ATV is not built for the kind of pounding you intend in wood and mowing. If I can let me give you some expensive advice to save you money.
My idiot brother in law would not listen when we told him to get a Farmall H or M when they were going for 300 dollars to open his road and mow things. Since then he has gone through 3 riding lawnmowers and deals with a hand snowblower or 7000 dollar waste of money as those old Farmalls would still be running.
I bought a WD 45 Allis Chalmers as I really needed something, but had no experience with AC's. That was my mistake in those tractors are more garden tractors. That was a 3000 dollar mistake.
I asked my neighbor who moves snow for us, what he thought of new tractors and he said, they were all pretty good. He has a Kubota, New Holland and a John Deere. The Deeres are expensive, but the others hold up good he said, just as my other neighbor runs Case and they are good too. The Kubota is the least expensive of the tractors.
My uncle had a Belarus and he liked that.

The tractor you can get a wood splitter for, run a generator off of it if the power goes out, will do the lifting of wood for you, and are amazing for picking up deer too. The ATV is not versatile.
If you are dripping money, get front wheel assist, a loader an a cab. You won't need all the bells and whistles of a Deere, but having a cab and a loader will not turn you into a petrified broken down geezer.
One more thing, if you where it gets Arctic cold, get a tank heater as a warm engine starts easier and wears out less.

I hope that helps.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: star flakes] #6168254
02/24/18 01:29 AM
02/24/18 01:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,308
Montana
USMC47 🦫 Offline
trapper
USMC47 🦫  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,308
Montana
Originally Posted By: star flakes
Get a tractor or you will regret it as an ATV is not built for the kind of pounding you intend in wood and mowing. If I can let me give you some expensive advice to save you money.
My idiot brother in law would not listen when we told him to get a Farmall H or M when they were going for 300 dollars to open his road and mow things. Since then he has gone through 3 riding lawnmowers and deals with a hand snowblower or 7000 dollar waste of money as those old Farmalls would still be running.
I bought a WD 45 Allis Chalmers as I really needed something, but had no experience with AC's. That was my mistake in those tractors are more garden tractors. That was a 3000 dollar mistake.
I asked my neighbor who moves snow for us, what he thought of new tractors and he said, they were all pretty good. He has a Kubota, New Holland and a John Deere. The Deeres are expensive, but the others hold up good he said, just as my other neighbor runs Case and they are good too. The Kubota is the least expensive of the tractors.
My uncle had a Belarus and he liked that.

The tractor you can get a wood splitter for, run a generator off of it if the power goes out, will do the lifting of wood for you, and are amazing for picking up deer too. The ATV is not versatile.
If you are dripping money, get front wheel assist, a loader an a cab. You won't need all the bells and whistles of a Deere, but having a cab and a loader will not turn you into a petrified broken down geezer.
One more thing, if you where it gets Arctic cold, get a tank heater as a warm engine starts easier and wears out less.

I hope that helps.
I don't know enough about the subject to give advice but decided to read out of curiosity. But I've got to say....this guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about.


The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.

www.derricks-nm.com
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168293
02/24/18 03:26 AM
02/24/18 03:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,917
Oakland, MS
Drifter Offline
trapper
Drifter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,917
Oakland, MS
I vote for the tractor as well. Most times a package deal with the bucket on it is less money then buy it after. Belly mowers can be a pain to take on and off so make sure the one you get has enough clearance to not have to for timber work.


Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish poet, novelist and literary critic









Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168306
02/24/18 05:12 AM
02/24/18 05:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
W
Willy Firewood Offline
trapper
Willy Firewood  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
A tractor is a tractor. An atv is not a tractor. Asking an atv to do tractor work is asking for it to fail and you to be dissatisfied.

I have worked with both for decades. I have a wildlife services business and grew up out in the country working with this stuff. I replaced two tractors last year, bought a new commercial zero turn, a new brush hog, some other equipment, have two atvs, and a side by side. They all work hard and have different jobs. This stuff is expensive and you better learn how to operate it safely so you don’t hurt yourself or others, and get the work done.

Send me a private message if you have questions,
.
Best wishes.


FRAC LIVES MATTER
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168336
02/24/18 07:06 AM
02/24/18 07:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,201
Northern Minnesota
BernieB. Offline
trapper
BernieB.  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,201
Northern Minnesota
I have not used a mower deck to mow the lawn but I pull a rented brush mower around to mow trails, food plots, weeds, with my Polaris 500. Works great for me. I also use the ATV for so many other things including hauling a load of firewood out of the woods. I would never need a tractor and they cost a ton more than an ATV which has many other uses. I have several attachments for the 4-wheelers which I use for food plot, including disk, seed spreader, sprayer, drag, etc. While pulling the disk I wish I had a tractor, that's the only time. Pulling a lot of weight is hard on an ATV. A 4-wheeler gets around in the woods when cutting firewood better than a trailer. I only have a small property, but I suppose if I had a lot of land a tractor might be a better fit. But for me right now the 4-wheeler is the way to go for me. It has so many uses that a tractor can't do. Without knowing more about your situation, it's hard to say what would be best for you.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168337
02/24/18 07:08 AM
02/24/18 07:08 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14,102
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 14,102
Michigan
a tractor I've seen to many people like star flakes said

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168339
02/24/18 07:15 AM
02/24/18 07:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,063
Western Wisconsin
T
TraderVic Offline
trapper
TraderVic  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,063
Western Wisconsin
I make a lot of firewood and I mow a fair amount.....tractor hands down.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168350
02/24/18 07:34 AM
02/24/18 07:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,030
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,030
SEPA
Like the others have said, get a tractor. It will hold up much better in the long run.


Eh...wot?

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168416
02/24/18 09:25 AM
02/24/18 09:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 561
WV
G
garymc Offline
trapper
garymc  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 561
WV
I have both a tractor and atv. They both have their strengths/weakness. Keep in mind if you are going to mow your lawn with the tractor that will kind of limit how aggressive of a tire you will be able to have on your tractor or it will reek havoc on the lawn. The flip side of that is the less agressive tire won’t go as well in the woods without chains. I have a Kubota L3450 with a front loader and a 60”
Rear finish mower. It is great for clipping out wide open spaces, but you have to watch out for the bucket in tighter spots. I use a regular cheap rider to trim around the house and buildings so that I’m not swinging the bucket near the house and buildings. Most people will say if you watch what you are doing the bucket isn’t an issue. Trust me sooner or later it WILL come in contact with something not intended. I use my atv to drag my trees down to a landing for sawing and splitting. I also have a 44” swisher pull behind mower that I use for mowing access roads, food plots, and steeper ground where I don’t want to take the risk with a tractor, but it is not the quality of cut as the 60” mower on the back of the Kubota.

I have also hung them both up several times and would much prefer pulling out the atv over the tractor.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Lugnut] #6168419
02/24/18 09:30 AM
02/24/18 09:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,410
Pennsylvania
H
Hern Offline
trapper
Hern  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,410
Pennsylvania
Forest-
I have what you described, a tractor, an atv & trailer, plus a side by side.
I wouldn't be without a tractor when cutting trees & firewood.

With tractor, I drag logs to wood pile or landing. Then cut to length & split. That's the big thing for me. I can drag logs where I want to cut (safely on flat, clear ground).
Bucket on my tractor can haul rounds or splits. Bucket can push over brush to make safe cutting. Bucket has 3 hooks welded to top for dragging logs with chain.

You will fine more uses with a tractor and bucket other than firewood.
I do take bucket off for mowing grass. I use a 62" belly mower. I have a diesel, 4x4, compact tractor.

Talk with some family members or friends that own a tractor. They should help you with what you need.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168431
02/24/18 09:42 AM
02/24/18 09:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 493
PA
R
RKG Offline
trapper
RKG  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 493
PA
I didn't "need" a tractor, until I inherited a 30hp Ferguson. After plowing my garden, hauling wood, plowing snow, dragging logs, brush hogging..... I couldn't live without one.

Then, I 'inherited" a 2010 JD 2520. I didn't "need" live hydraulics, power steering, a front end loader, diesel engine, 4 wheel drive... now, I don't know how I lived without it.

You will limit yourself by what you purchase. Don't think about the minimum threshold, think about the possibilities.

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168649
02/24/18 12:55 PM
02/24/18 12:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,989
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,989
Minnesota
Tractor first!


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168777
02/24/18 03:17 PM
02/24/18 03:17 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline OP
trapper
Forest  Offline OP
trapper
F

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
Thanks for the help. A lot of good advice and knowledge. Seems like tractor is the best option.

My parents just bought about 50 acres in up state NY. It has 3 acres of lawn, but mostly woods and is on a slope. My father told me to keep my eyes out for something we could mow the lawn and haul firewood out of the woods with on Craigslist or Ebay. A snow plow might be a good addition too. (I’d also like to haul deer out with it).
My father is an experienced mechanic, so I'm looking for something older and easy to work on. I know he’s done work on an old Ford 9n and Deere before.

The reason I was considering the ATV option was because the woods are on a hill, and there are some marshy spots at the bottom. But it seems like the tractor option will be better based on the replies above.


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168839
02/24/18 04:56 PM
02/24/18 04:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,218
MI
lebowski Offline
trapper
lebowski  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,218
MI
for what you want to do, I vote for the tractor first.


"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man."

--The Dude
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168841
02/24/18 05:02 PM
02/24/18 05:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
W
Willy Firewood Offline
trapper
Willy Firewood  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
If you want to do any serious work moving firewood out of the woods, consider a 4 wheel drive tractor with agricultural tires with chains on the rear tires. And look into a skidding winch. Wallenstein makes a great one in Canada. It is powered by the pto and mounts on the 3 point hitch.


FRAC LIVES MATTER
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168869
02/24/18 05:37 PM
02/24/18 05:37 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline OP
trapper
Forest  Offline OP
trapper
F

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
A friend of ours has a Case 580E backhoe for big tree work that we can use.


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168876
02/24/18 05:44 PM
02/24/18 05:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,841
Mn
W
Whopper Stopper Offline
trapper
Whopper Stopper  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,841
Mn
Tractor hands down. I have both and the ATV sits.

WS

Re: Tractor or ATV (mowing and firewood) [Re: Forest] #6168886
02/24/18 05:53 PM
02/24/18 05:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
I
il.trapper Offline
trapper
il.trapper  Offline
trapper
I

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
skid steer.....most versatile "tool" you can get.

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