New guy here needing advice on equipment for clearing land.

Now I'm a track loader guy and a track loader will fit the bill for what you want to do as well. I got sidetracked in my post above thinking about how much used iron has increased in price over the last 2 years and forgot to mention that.

Anyway a 953 or 963 would be a good choice. The combination I prefer to clear with is a 321 and 953, those machines can double team a clearing job well. The exc. lays the trees down and the loader cleans up. Since you don't need both I would go towards a loader as it can take the trees down and clean up.

A track loader is one of the hardest pieces of dirt moving iron to learn how to run this side of a grader IMO. Now that doesn't mean anything other than it takes time to master all it can do - and it can do a lot. If I had one machine to earn a living with it would be a loader.

The hystats in these machines are durable but if they do go out it's a lot of cash to get it back running, same with travel motors. The internals are jammed in there and replacing hoses can be an all day job deepening on which one goes out. Clearing is rough on any piece of equipment and being inexperienced will only add to the stress put on the machine, no offense intended just stating a fact.

Spend some time looking for a machine and pay a mechanic to go with you when you find one that might pan out. Get the machine hot (to working temp.), especially hystat loaders and work it for a while. Usually a weak hystat or travel motor will show itself when it gets to working temp and under load. Any hydraulic leaks should surface as well. If the seller won't let you run it for an hour or so then pass and keep on looking, they're probably hiding something.:cool2

It's a crapshoot buying used equipment, especially old used equipment. There is good used iron to be found but be sure and take a mechanic with you that knows the piece of iron your looking at - there's a reason why a 963A or B can be bought for $30K and the newer used ones run $100K +.Now I'm a track loader guy and a track loader will fit the bill for what you want to do as well. I got sidetracked in my post above thinking about how much used iron has increased in price over the last 2 years and forgot to mention that.Anyway a 953 or 963 would be a good choice. The combination I prefer to clear with is a 321 and 953, those machines can double team a clearing job well. The exc. lays the trees down and the loader cleans up. Since you don't need both I would go towards a loader as it can take the trees down and clean up.A track loader is one of the hardest pieces of dirt moving iron to learn how to run this side of a grader IMO. Now that doesn't mean anything other than it takes time to master all it can do - and it can do a lot. If I had one machine to earn a living with it would be a loader.The hystats in these machines are durable but if they do go out it's a lot of cash to get it back running, same with travel motors. The internals are jammed in there and replacing hoses can be an all day job deepening on which one goes out. Clearing is rough on any piece of equipment and being inexperienced will only add to the stress put on the machine, no offense intended just stating a fact.Spend some time looking for a machine and pay a mechanic to go with you when you find one that might pan out. Get the machine hot (to working temp.), especially hystat loaders and work it for a while. Usually a weak hystat or travel motor will show itself when it gets to working temp and under load. Any hydraulic leaks should surface as well. If the seller won't let you run it for an hour or so then pass and keep on looking, they're probably hiding something.:cool2