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Respectfully, I have to disagree with GBMan about the value of a loader. I find my JD 1020 and the 48 loader is the handiest tool combination on my small farm. There seems to be no end to the applications you can come up with for a loader! In addition to moving "horse exhaust" and snow plus dirt, gravel and the other usual tasks, I depend on the loader to move hay into the loft storage areas, as well as the other things that need storage... there's always other things! I use the tractor, loader and a small chainsaw as my "Swedish Cherry Picker" and bow up limbs that are 20ft up! ...wife at the hydraulic controls, me in the bucket... cussing, praying and wittling away! ...a real test of marital harmony!) Moving brush, tools, fencing supplies, etc. are so frequent that the loader only comes off at haying time. In fact, the task of removing the 48 loader takes five minutes and I STILL won't remove the loader, because I know I will be using it everyday. GBMan is correct in his assertion that "wants and needs" must be carefully matched to you budget. I contend you don't need an Gator or ATV. You don't need a snowblower, chipper, tiller, and most other Hobby Farm implements being sold by your suburban farm equipment/supply stores. But, you do need a dependable loader! And, by the way, a dependable tractor to attach to the loader is a good idea too.
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