Just not sure I can bring myself to drink what's in those plastic cups, a little too fruity for me. Just give me my Absolut and tonic and I am ready for any beech.
This stuff will burn in the 17/18 season, so it will be dry for certain. The gator is t a 855d (diesel) with the electric over hydraulic dump. I must admit I love the thing as I was using a 4 wheeler with a small off road cart. I can now use the cart in addition to filling the gator if the job and terrain warrant it. It has pulled everything I have asked with more room to go. Looking forward to loading it up with this dirty old beech.
Don't tell my RTV, but I have been secretly coveting an 825i gasser. Nothing wrong with the RTV...does all I ask and requires very little in return but....how do I say it...it's an Ox where I'd like to have a draft horse? Sometimes it just seems to take a while to get to the back of the back forty. Glad to hear you are liking your Gator. I'll likely stick with the Kubota for a little while as it's paid for and all....I just hope I don't get a chance to drive one of the new Rangers or Gators anytime soon....I hear and read good things about both.
I'd say so. That's a max time to dry too. I have some beech that I fell before the sap started flowing this winter/ spring, and it's under 20% already. I burnt some when we had a cold snap in April. It burned real nice.
The one thing you should do if you consider a gator and have hills is to take one home for a demo. Not sure about the Kubota, but the gators do not have any form of engine braking if you let off the gas. It literally free wheels when the gas is not depressed. Takes some getting used to. I have very steep hills, so it was a surprise. I do not let the kids drive it for just tat reason. Aside from that it is a beast.
Then you'll be absolutely in the clear. Have you ever burned beech before? If not, you'll find that you'll want more of it after you do burn some. I can't think of any other high end btu wood that dries as quickly as beech.
It was called a "pain in the a$$". Pina colada and rum runner mixed with a shot of rum in a test tube as well. If there's palm trees, I'm drinking fruity stuff.
My cousin has a Kubota rtv. It's more of a tractor than a side by side/ UTV. Yeah, it's slow, but it's hard to fault it beyond that.
Never burned Beech. Should be interesting. Same thing with Ash, but I had some of that delivered last year, so that's on the menu for this fall.
The rtv is so slow, that freewheeling downhill isn't an issue. That's where the tractor like quality of the rtv is good.
The freewheeling is the curse of the CVT trans. It's odd though that my 2002 Yamaha Grizzly had CVT and plenty of compression braking...don't know why the newer machines don't have it. As far as terrain...hills are pretty much all I have. Agreed. It is for sure a work machine. The hydro dump and power steering are my favorite features. Add to that the HST trans which will chuck you out of your seat if you let off too fast. I think the newer models have improved shifting...I guess that would be another small complaint...the shifting of ranges and the shifter itself.
I have burned beech before. Good stuff once dry. Still prefer some Black Locust or Hard Maple, but this is close in the running.
My Polaris Sportsman had a cvt, and also had a wonderful engine brake. I could roll down the hill with a trailer full of wood without touching the gas or the brake. Like I said, takes some getting used to, but is no longer an issue for me. Just something people should be aware of.
