I'm looking at purchasing my first ever tractor. I have 20 acres of pature land that I would like to keep mowed and I also want to have about 5 acres of wildlife food plots. I have had 5 acres dozed off and need to prepare it for planting. This 5 acres is on 250 acres of hunting land that I own approx. 60 miles from my house. With that being said I'm hoping that I can get by with a tractor small enough to haul back and forth. I have been to many different dealers in a 60 mile area checking prices on all brands. My question is seeing the prices of the new tractors would I be better off finding a tractor that is 2 or 3 years old? I have been lookling in the 35 hp area. Is this going to be large enough for what Im looking to do?
New vs Used
- Thread starter Red Chief
- Start date
whistlepig
Elite Member
I would think 35HP would be enough tractor. I had a MF135 diesel with about 35HP. It would handle the tasks you describe above easily. I tried the used tractor shopping route myself. It was very frustrating. Tractors with low hours and they were beat to death. I looked at dozens and all had damage from being ran in to something. Perhaps because of the area where I live. And the savings over new wasn't all that much. For $1,500 more I was able to buy new. Well kept and taken care of used tractors seem far and few between in my area.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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Go new : Used will eat your wallet in finance charges.
flusher
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With 35 pto hp, not engine hp, you could handle a medium duty 6-ft rotary mower (aka brush hog, slasher) and mow 20 acres in a good 10-hour day. And you could handle your food plot work (discing, seeding) with no problem.
A 2WD tractor with shuttle shift tranny would work and would save some up-front bucks.
A 16-ft flatbed two-axle trailer would be enough for transporting with an F150-size truck or even a full-size SUV.
I'd look for a used L-series Kubota, a JD 990, a Mahindra 4500, a Massey Ferguson MF-1547, or a New Holland TC 40.
mattman
Gold Member
I am also on the fence on wether to buy a new machine or a used one. Most tractors you find that are at a good price are well used. A low hour ,few year old tractor is almost as high as a new one. I am leaning towards a used one because I have some cash money to spend so finance charges would not bother me. Also a used tractor generally does not have sales tax to pay. I don't have a farm so I would have to pay sales tax on a new tractor. Sales tax will add a good amount of change to the purchase price. A new tractor does come with warranty that is a plus. You might find a used tractor with a little warranty remainig. If you find a good deal on a used tractor get it. If you take some time someone else will come along and grab it up. A lot of folks will jump at a good deal on the size tractor you are looking for.
Soundguy
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Another option is to find a good used older tractor that you could leave on the other property.. something like a ford 600/601 series.. or more preferably, an 800/801 series. IE.. 840/841 or 850/851 or best yet.. 860/861.
The 8xx has a near 50 hp engine.. thus plenty of power... not too hard to find power steering onthe 01 series. an early 4 cyl 4000 will be virtually identicl tot he 801 series units. Alternatoely a good 3 cyl 2000/3000 wouldn't be bad either.
All these are small enough to haul with a 5' or 6' mower on a standard 16' 7000# car hauler with a regular 150/1500 pickup truck.
These machines can be used to mow the 20 ac.. just takes a good bit of seat time..Figure near 10-12 hours with a 5' mower to mow 20 ac.. depending on terain / obstacles.. etc... slash a lil time for 6'.. etc..
these machines can be found in the 2000-5000$ range.. with or without mowers.
soundguy
The 8xx has a near 50 hp engine.. thus plenty of power... not too hard to find power steering onthe 01 series. an early 4 cyl 4000 will be virtually identicl tot he 801 series units. Alternatoely a good 3 cyl 2000/3000 wouldn't be bad either.
All these are small enough to haul with a 5' or 6' mower on a standard 16' 7000# car hauler with a regular 150/1500 pickup truck.
These machines can be used to mow the 20 ac.. just takes a good bit of seat time..Figure near 10-12 hours with a 5' mower to mow 20 ac.. depending on terain / obstacles.. etc... slash a lil time for 6'.. etc..
these machines can be found in the 2000-5000$ range.. with or without mowers.
soundguy
I am seeing lots of panic selling now on used tractors, even mid and small 4wd's that were getting almost new prices just 6 months ago. Never in my lifetime have I seen such a buyer's market as we have right now. You will defintely want a 4wd if you are trailering as they generate a lot more pull per pound.
newbury
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If you are seeing a lot of panic selling please start a thread and give us some links. I'm in the panic buying mode.
thanks
Get 4wd. I can't imagine buying a tractor w/o it. I couldn't begin to think how many times I'd be stuck or at least much less productive, especially if your doing loader/grapple work. A decent load of dirt or gravel will reduce the traction of your rear wheels significantly even with loaded tires.
Z-Michigan
Veteran Member
Oh, the endless debate. Here's my quick and simple rule of thumb:
Getting a 40hp or larger utility (not CUT) and using it for field or mowing tasks in a fairly flat area, little or no loader work: 2wd is fine.
Any significant slopes, serious mud, lots of loader work, moving earth, any real tasks other than mowing with a tractor under 30hp: 4wd makes a big difference.
IMHO, 2wd makes sense for mowing, hay work, pulling around grain bins, and a few other farm tasks. If you're not a farmer and the tractor will be used for anything besides mowing, 4wd is very useful or even essential.