If you think tractors are just for plowing, think again. Today’s tractors are versatile and can be used with a variety of attachments to expand their use. Whether you’re working a farm, managing your property, or just trying to earn some money on the weekends, here are seven ways to put your tractor to work.
1. Grading and leveling
With a box blade, grader blade, or land plane, you can smooth out gravel driveways and private roads, prepare spaces for new construction, fix erosion damage, grade gravel roads, and fill in potholes. These attachments are ideal for anyone who has a gravel driveway or road not maintained by the city. For example, if you have potholes, you can’t just fill them in with rock. You need to scrape up the surrounding area and grade the entire road so water drains properly. You can do these tasks by hand with a rake and shovel, but a tractor with the right attachment and a 3-point hitch will save you days of back-breaking hard work.
2. Digging holes
Digging holes manually with a shovel is back-breaking work. It’s grueling, exhausting, and if your soil is rocky you’ll need a rock bar to break it up. If you need to dig a small hole, a tractor can do the job.
You can use a post hole digger for jobs like fencing, planting trees, setting signposts, or installing a mailbox. A backhoe is ideal for digging wider or longer trenches. For basic digging, you can use the bucket to dig but don’t use it like you would a shovel. Don’t use the bucket to scoop deep loads, or you’ll stress the tractor. Instead, scrape the load gradually.
3. Clearing brush
The last thing you want to do is use a lawn mower to clear brush, and weed eaters aren’t any better. Even the sharpest weed whacker blade can’t compete with a brush hog. A brush hog will help you blaze through thick bushes and weeds. It’s perfect for clearing pastures, hunting trails, and preparing unused land.
If you have areas that have been neglected and are overgrown, a brush hog will handle it easily. Need to blaze a new walking path through the brush or get rid of thick, thorny vines? A brush hog can handle it all.
4. Removing snow
If you live in an area that gets snow, a snow blade or snowplow attachment will make it easy to clear your driveway, parts of your property, and the roads. If you’re looking to be a good neighbor or earn some cash you can clear driveways and roads for neighbors, private businesses, and even parking lots with ease. This eliminates the need for a snowblower or manual shoveling.
A front-mounted snow blade will push snow off driveways and roads efficiently, while a rear-mounted snowblower attachment can help clear deeper snowfalls or larger areas where you need to toss the snow far off the path. Just remember to put on your tire chains and add weight for better traction and safety when driving over icy surfaces or packed snow.
5. Hauling heavy loads
Typically, you’d need a trailer to haul heavy loads, but a tractor can do it. With a front-end loader or carry-all, you can move endless amounts of dirt, firewood, hay, rocks, mulch, and anything else you need to transport. It’s ideal for landscaping projects and moving building materials around a job site. Plus, you won’t have to worry about throwing out your back or running out of energy.
6. Moving fallen trees
If you live in the country, you probably have to deal with fallen trees on a regular basis. You can cut them up with a chainsaw, but sometimes you don’t have gas or it’s not convenient. For example, you might head down the driveway to go grocery shopping and get stuck behind a fallen tree.
If your chainsaw is all the way on the other end of your property while your tractor is three feet away, it makes sense to move the tree out of the way with your tractor and come back later to cut it up.
7. Hosting hayrides
When it’s time for fun, your tractor can be the star of the show. With a simple wagon or flatbed trailer and a few bales of hay, you’ve got everything you need to host a hayride right on your property. Give your kids and their friends a ride around the property, and tell them fun stories while they have a snack or just enjoy the ride.
Tractors are a must-have tool
Whether you’re clearing brush, leveling land, or hauling your kids around on a hayride, a tractor is one of the most versatile tools you could ever own.
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