B26 vs l3560 vs kx033-4

Sounds to me like you have a job to make a set of trails, but once done you need a very different machine to maintain your property and maintain the trails.

A used excavator would resell after a year or so for about what you paid for it. And you could get a much larger excavator than you otherwise would if you're seeing it as a 1 year use then resell.

Alternatively, if you have a good idea of what you want to do, you could hire an excavator and a guy to drive it, and probably do it all in about a week, then maintain with the 25D (or B26TLB) ongoing.

Unless you have ongoing need to build trails forever, I'd be careful about making your forever machine one that is large enough to do a one-time job.

You wont find a more capable machine with the same footprint as the B26. You also wont find one as expensive. It is a little bulldog. A few comments about mowing with it...the B26 doesnt have HST Plus transmission ( watch Messicks video of HST plus on YouTube so you know the difference). Also on the backhoe I strongly recommend a hydraulic thumb. You wont have cruise control for mowing (at least my M62 doesnt have it so I assume the B26 wont)...this is a big pain if you are doing it for long. That said, it will be compact enough to get into tight places, and it is a real workhorse. With so much property it will be easier to travel across it. The ROPS/FOPS is very nice in the woods.

That said, I would personally never have a tractor that small on 170 acres of property. It is just going to take forever to make a dent in anything.

If your main goal is trail building, a Mini-ex with a blade (6 way is best) is awesome. If we are talking full width UTV trails, then you might even look a size up at the KX040. The 33 is 25hp and non turbo. The KX is turbo and 40HP. It is a much more capable machine. Just go operate them both, you will see. I looked super closely at the these last year. Now you could just do these as a weekend rental if you have an option in the area...because if you buy you will probably want to sell the machine after you finish all of the trails.

In your case I would probably go with the L3560 or L4060 and skip the backhoe.

I would only get a backhoe if you have capable tasks that will help you recover the cost. Digging water lines, electrical lines, sewer lines, septic, maybe foundation trench, etc. Do not get it for digging stumps. Use someone else’s equipment to dig stumps...they are very hard on a backhoe. I got my backhoe because we are building a house in the next few years...and I can do all of the above. It will pay for itself.

The cab thing in the woods is something all folks worry about. Get a good pole saw and keep the limbs trimmed. Don’t go anywhere with the tractor that puts it at risk. Use the mini-ex to do the trail clearing, once cleared you can bring the tractor in to transport brush and timber as needed. Even so I am sure you will break a mirror or 2, but in your case I would still go for a cab in Nova Scotia. If you dont want a cab, the L3560 or L4060 no cab is still an awesome machine.

In fact, see if you can get the grand L and work in a rental deal on the Mini Ex (if that dealer rents them). If you can get a set price for usage including delivery for the next few years that would go a long way.

We aren't moving to the property permanently for another 4 years. We do get snow, but it melts fairly fast with our Sun at 8600ft. The jury is still out on the cab. I may add something to it to get by in the winter, but without a doubt having open station thus far is a huge benefit. I am on/off all the time.

I guess you need to decide if you want to buy a machine for what you "are" doing right now, or for what you "may" do in the future. The B26 is a capable machine, but it still is pretty small. Trail building on a tractor/TLB is nowhere as efficient as a mini-ex with a blade. If you are building miles of trails, I dont think the BX25D is going to cut it. I also dont think the B26 is a great option, because tractors aren't the best at turning around in the woods.

Maybe just rent the Mini-ex for a weekend, give it a shot and see what you think. It is the machine you need "now" for all of these trails...

Check out Mike with Outdoors with the Morgans on Youtube. He has THREE tractors...and he still does trail building by renting a Mini-Ex. Link

Not sure you're able to build a trail for the CBR with the tractors listed ...

I have 25 acres of horse farm, been moving a lot of dirt, some land clearing/clean up.

cab - sucks in teh woods (tree limbs). Nice for heat or a/c but you're not going to be in there 24/7, er, 40/5 anyway. You can dress for the elements.

stump removal..need a backhoe..or bigger. Unless you go stump grinder mounted on a 3 point.

My tractor is equivalent to an L35 and it fits most anywhere, runs 6 or 7' implements (for trail grading, say). They do make a MMM but at 4500lb or so w/ loader it's a tad harsh on the yard. I do a lot of brush hogging and it's great.

Much more stable/capable than my L175 (1500lb 17hp). Would bigger be better? Not in the barn...LOL. Or other tight spaces.

The only issue is when the equip is just too small to DO the job - which is rare. I can take longer on jobs, no problem, but if it just can't do it, then you rent.

I didn't get the hoe - $7500 add on - because i can rent one for $200/day that is more capable...in the past 20 years i've done that 3 times...this past summer I just hired a guy to do teh work for me (replace a well line) for $500 rather than rent anything and do it myself.

I've discovered with a tractor that yes, it CAN save work - but it also seems to MAKE work - stuff you didn't do that you now can do with a tractor you do...so more work!

Oh and now that you mentioned trailering it and potentially doing jobs offsite...dont forget insurance and that you may want to consider a U series as they are Zero swing...much less likely to hit something in tighter spots.

Yes, the expense is exactly what led me to the M62. I was considering a KX040...but at $60k I just decided to get the full TLB which is a great deal more flexible.

With the BH off of the B26, you still have a B series size machine. Weight will be around 3000 lbs with no fluids or filled rears. You can make it a much more capable ground engaging machine by filling the rears. The Downriggers can take the extra weight no problem, and it will give you a more stable platform to use the BH. With those rears filled, you will probably be at 3500-3800 lbs with no BH. With a rear blade, that should be enough to work the road and ditches if you get a nice heavy version. In the woods, these TLB canopy’s are awesome. They guard well from branches, and with FOPS they can stop considerable objects that might fall towards you (think construction site concrete). Not saying they will stop a massive tree, but hey it is better than a ROPS only, or a cab. Visibility is also great. I cant say enough good things about mine.

If you dont need the cab in Nova Scotia, then I agree the B26 is a great option. L47 even better, but hey we have to stop somewhere.

Our neighbor has a 500 acre adventure park with many miles of atv, single track and sxs trails- he has tried all kinds of machines to make and maintain the trails, and says a Cat tracked skid steer is by far the best machine to use. The one he has is a 299D and like 100+ hp and a beast. He has a variety of bucket widths depending on the type of trail. It may be too pricey for a private individual to get