I've gone round and round enough that I'm dizzy, so I'd like to seek some advice. I have probably close to a thousand hours seat time on tracks, mostly on my little JD 350. But I think I've forgotten more than I know. Anywho, I want a machine that doesn't exist (the size of a JD 350 and the power and weight of a 955 or 977...!). We have a couple hundred acres here in the Ozarks where we grow rocks and cedar trees better than anything else. Except maybe for iris's (the flowers, not the eye-parts). I have multiple projects that need doing or am planning--and I can't seem to settle on the right machine (dozer, track loader) or size (D4, D6?). Maybe y'all could offer some insight from your experience.
The projects are (in order of importance, time-line) to build a road (and by that I mean a trail, not something pretty with ditches, but something I can drive my JD 5075 tractor down (and up) with a trailer); to clear about 10 acres of trees to convert to pasture for a variety of walking food; and to, eventually, build a pond (or two) and possibly repair/rebuild a couple that leak. The setting: the trail needs to go up and down several steep hills, at least one of which will need to be cut in.
The ground is rocky in places--but those rocks are generally loose (if they are just half exposed (like an ice berg), won't they just roll under a dozer blade?). 
The road will avoid most larger trees (past the scrub there are fewer small trees and are mostly 24" to 36" diameter oaks), but some medium-sized oaks are not avoidable (though I can cut those and grind the stumps). My initial thought was that a dozer with a six-way would be best for this task, especially being able to side-cast material on cutting in on the slopes. But, I have doubts that a six-way would be up to the task, especially if I run into many rocks. I have some other finish grading to do around the house where a small six-way would be handy, but I can do that task with my 350 and tractors (albeit not as efficiently).
Second task: clearing. The areas to be cleared consist mostly of cedar (all measurements are in diameters, 2" to 12"), hickory and oak (2" to 18"). I'll keep the larger trees (anything above about 14") (except for cedar, they ALL must go!), but there are maybe just two per acre of the larger trees. The average tree and size is about an 8" oak. They are mostly blackjack and if not, they fork (like a trident) 10' off the ground, so are generally useless except for firewood. In these photos the largest trees are about 8".
The biggest problem and what has me most befuddled is that second photo--about half of the trees here are third-growth out of a cutting and so you have multiple trunks (usually 2-3 but sometimes 4-5) growing out of the same root-wad. The photo shows three trees (6"-8") all connected at the base. How do you get this out without breaking off the trunks????
Third task is to build a pond or three and maybe fix some leaky dams (might rent an excavator to help with that task). But this is low on the priority list. Might get high on the list if the wife wants it more than walking meat!
So--first question, would it be more reasonable to get a six-way, do the trail, sell that and get a 4-in-1 to do the clearing? In my experience, I won't go back to a GP bucket! That 4-in-1 on the 555 was fun! But I do have a grapple on the tractor, just not as powerful. What do you think is the minimum machine to deal with clearing what I've described (give or take a little)? I'd prefer to go on the larger than barely useful size. I know I can do the trail-building with a TL and a 4-in-1, but that might not be the most efficient option, though would it deal with the rocks better? (we grow 'em good here!).
The biggest question, though, are those pesky multiple-trunk trees. I really don't know how to approach them. If I treat them as one tree, then it would be a 14" diameter oak (on average), and a 555 has a terrible time with those (been there, done that, blew a hose, not going there again). I almost think a good, large (JD 850) straight blade (with tilt) dozer would be the do-all in this case, any thoughts there?
Other limitations: Budget for a machine right now is about $15K, maybe higher for the right machine, but no more than $18K. I'd prefer less, of course, wouldn't we all? I don't mind older machines (as evidenced by my 350) and I have a top-notch mechanic friend who owes me some favors, so between us we can fix most anything (as long as the parts cost don't go through the roof).
I'd be very appreciative of any advice y'all have. I've read just about every "which machine" thread here and on other forums, but I'm still befuddled. Maybe I'll just hock the place, find a D10R and level the hills.....!
The projects are (in order of importance, time-line) to build a road (and by that I mean a trail, not something pretty with ditches, but something I can drive my JD 5075 tractor down (and up) with a trailer); to clear about 10 acres of trees to convert to pasture for a variety of walking food; and to, eventually, build a pond (or two) and possibly repair/rebuild a couple that leak. The setting: the trail needs to go up and down several steep hills, at least one of which will need to be cut in.
The ground is rocky in places--but those rocks are generally loose (if they are just half exposed (like an ice berg), won't they just roll under a dozer blade?). The road will avoid most larger trees (past the scrub there are fewer small trees and are mostly 24" to 36" diameter oaks), but some medium-sized oaks are not avoidable (though I can cut those and grind the stumps). My initial thought was that a dozer with a six-way would be best for this task, especially being able to side-cast material on cutting in on the slopes. But, I have doubts that a six-way would be up to the task, especially if I run into many rocks. I have some other finish grading to do around the house where a small six-way would be handy, but I can do that task with my 350 and tractors (albeit not as efficiently). Second task: clearing. The areas to be cleared consist mostly of cedar (all measurements are in diameters, 2" to 12"), hickory and oak (2" to 18"). I'll keep the larger trees (anything above about 14") (except for cedar, they ALL must go!), but there are maybe just two per acre of the larger trees. The average tree and size is about an 8" oak. They are mostly blackjack and if not, they fork (like a trident) 10' off the ground, so are generally useless except for firewood. In these photos the largest trees are about 8".
The biggest problem and what has me most befuddled is that second photo--about half of the trees here are third-growth out of a cutting and so you have multiple trunks (usually 2-3 but sometimes 4-5) growing out of the same root-wad. The photo shows three trees (6"-8") all connected at the base. How do you get this out without breaking off the trunks????
Third task is to build a pond or three and maybe fix some leaky dams (might rent an excavator to help with that task). But this is low on the priority list. Might get high on the list if the wife wants it more than walking meat!
So--first question, would it be more reasonable to get a six-way, do the trail, sell that and get a 4-in-1 to do the clearing? In my experience, I won't go back to a GP bucket! That 4-in-1 on the 555 was fun! But I do have a grapple on the tractor, just not as powerful. What do you think is the minimum machine to deal with clearing what I've described (give or take a little)? I'd prefer to go on the larger than barely useful size. I know I can do the trail-building with a TL and a 4-in-1, but that might not be the most efficient option, though would it deal with the rocks better? (we grow 'em good here!).
The biggest question, though, are those pesky multiple-trunk trees. I really don't know how to approach them. If I treat them as one tree, then it would be a 14" diameter oak (on average), and a 555 has a terrible time with those (been there, done that, blew a hose, not going there again). I almost think a good, large (JD 850) straight blade (with tilt) dozer would be the do-all in this case, any thoughts there?
Other limitations: Budget for a machine right now is about $15K, maybe higher for the right machine, but no more than $18K. I'd prefer less, of course, wouldn't we all? I don't mind older machines (as evidenced by my 350) and I have a top-notch mechanic friend who owes me some favors, so between us we can fix most anything (as long as the parts cost don't go through the roof).
I'd be very appreciative of any advice y'all have. I've read just about every "which machine" thread here and on other forums, but I'm still befuddled. Maybe I'll just hock the place, find a D10R and level the hills.....!
