I'm considering buying a used piece of equipment for use around the homestead. First a little background.
We already have a Loader/backhoe, but it's in need of some TLC. It's a 1969 Allis Chalmers ~50hp like an I600. Also have several older tractors that haven't run in years... but would with a new battery, gas, and points. Everything ran when it was parked; just haven't had a need to use them. BTW, all other equipment is smaller than the loader; IH Cub, Ford 3000, Ford 600 etc.
The property needs some TLC too. Mostly over grown nursery stock, (pine trees, azaleas, spruce, etc) about 7 acres. There's snow plowing to do in the winter and general ranch/farm/nursery work all year. Once a year I need to move 10 or so 2,000 pallets which is done now with the AC loader with a set of forks stuck on the front of the bucket.
Also there is some clean-up that needs to be done. An old barn has fallen down from snow load and old age.
I think an excavator with a hydraulic thumb would be a good choice for clearing the overgrown fields and the old barn, but wouldn't work for the pallets.
A skid steer would do the pallet and the fields but not so much for the barn.
The loader we already have could do it all, but less efficiently and probably with some flat tires from nails in the barn debris.
Budget is small (maybe 10k), mostly because I can't think of any way to make money with anything I buy. The AC loader is paid for.
What would you recommend to compliment, or replace the loader?
Opinions?
We already have a Loader/backhoe, but it's in need of some TLC. It's a 1969 Allis Chalmers ~50hp like an I600. Also have several older tractors that haven't run in years... but would with a new battery, gas, and points. Everything ran when it was parked; just haven't had a need to use them. BTW, all other equipment is smaller than the loader; IH Cub, Ford 3000, Ford 600 etc.
The property needs some TLC too. Mostly over grown nursery stock, (pine trees, azaleas, spruce, etc) about 7 acres. There's snow plowing to do in the winter and general ranch/farm/nursery work all year. Once a year I need to move 10 or so 2,000 pallets which is done now with the AC loader with a set of forks stuck on the front of the bucket.
Also there is some clean-up that needs to be done. An old barn has fallen down from snow load and old age.
I think an excavator with a hydraulic thumb would be a good choice for clearing the overgrown fields and the old barn, but wouldn't work for the pallets.
A skid steer would do the pallet and the fields but not so much for the barn.
The loader we already have could do it all, but less efficiently and probably with some flat tires from nails in the barn debris.
Budget is small (maybe 10k), mostly because I can't think of any way to make money with anything I buy. The AC loader is paid for.
What would you recommend to compliment, or replace the loader?
Opinions?