Pulled the trigger on my first tractor!

[tedzap]

I’ve got a few acres but a long shared gravel driveway and have often wished for a tractor to help around the place. My back is poor and I always look for ways to minimize grunt work.

Finally pulled the trigger on a L2502HST with a land plane, box plane, forks, quick hitch, and top-n-tilt. I don’t have much in the way of grass and I don’t foresee any mowing.

i appreciate this site, and the people who post... I’ve done a lot of reading to put together my shopping list.

My neighbor used to maintain the road with his skid steer, but since he passed it has gotten rough…. Especially with the renter who took his place who drives 15k work trucks at high speed. Hoping I can get him to chip in on rock.

Amy advice on learning how to tractor well is appreciated!

 

[85Hokie]

Two things.............. be slow with everything you do!!!!!!!

and try not to kick yourself for not getting the tractor earlier in life!!!!

 

[bearbait]

Congrats on the new tractor. Keep the loader low when your driving around and if you have any hills approach them at right angles, nothing worse than putting a tractor on it's side. Other than that never let the wife drive it or you'll never get the seat again.

 

[tedzap]

my property is pretty steep, it will always be on my mind.

im pretty sure i will want a grapple at some point, should I get the 3rd control installed now?

 

[jimh406]

Use the land plane without new stone to start.

 

[S-G-R]

Congratulations on the new tractor. Slow and steady, keep the bucket low and rear ballast is you best friend.

 

[Caden]

Amy advice on learning how to tractor well is appreciated!

Congrats on your tractor!
Couple things to be mindful of when it comes to dragging driveways.

Before getting any new stone as you say, try to work with what you have first. If you cut a good bit of existing material you might be surprised how it can smooth out and fill the low spots. At any rate you will want to take care of filling the potholes ahead of bringing new gravel so it can be tailgate spread out of the truck.

Secondly, and far more importantly, is to keep a crown in the road. I've fixed more than one driveway where somebody with a tractor went and "fixed" it, by dragging a flat area down the middle, that was low with a mound of gravel on both sides. Water accumulated here of course.

You will want to pull material in towards the middle so that the center is slightly higher.

I don't mean to lecture you at all, just a couple of bigger points I've picked up over the years that may be of value to you.