Originally Posted by Fred's 123
I've come the conclusion that I need a front end loader. Shoveling 32 yards of mulch this spring into and out of the wagon behind my cub, and moving 24 yards of dirt more recently (again, all by shovel and the plow on the front of my Cub), has brought me to this conclusion. I also heat with wood, and move many cords of wood every year. That said, I only have 4 acres, and it's all manicured lawn. I don't have any agricultural needs, brush hogging, or woods to maintain.
Honestly, my little Cub 123, although not always the most reliable machine (hey, she's old), does pretty much everything I ever need it to do. I have a 48" mower deck (which serves as a nice back-up to my big mower), a 42" plow blade, and a 42" snow thrower. She's well-equipped to do almost any job I need.
So, the question is... should I aim to put a small front end loader on the 123, or just buy a utility tractor (JD 750'ish) with a front end loader? Yes, I could get 4wd with a utility tractor, and potentially save myself headaches on the rare occasion we get more than a foot or two of snow in one shot, but then I'll have another machine to store and maintain. I have too many toys, so garage space is a bit of an issue around here.
I've seen some small loaders (eg. kwik-way), which have small but still useful capacities. I do not know if there's anything that's a direct bolt-on for a Cub narrow frame, but I am equipped to do fab work. I just don't have much time for it, if it's much behind a few cuts and welds. Moreover, if I use the Cub for loader duty, I need something that I can swap back and forth for plow or snow thrower relatively quickly and easily.
Thoughts? Ideas? Favorite loaders?
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