Hi,
I am looking at purchasing my first tractor here in Australia and discovered this great forum while researching the various models (great work on the forum btw). I hope someone has advise to offer me. I know most respondents are American so excuse my terminology if different and feel free to ask me to explain further.
First our land: I have just made a tree-change to 30 acres hobby farm in hilly countryside in Victoria, Australia (I don't know the grade but steep in some parts). Jobs to do with tractor include grading gravel driveway, moving stones/gravel for driveway to fill pot-holes etc., slashing, some small earth-moving landscaping jobs, potentially weed-spraying, moving logs and fire-wood collecting, potentially post-hole digging, and I guess I'll find 101 other uses when purchased.
We also have a small established hazelnut orchard (also on a slope) so the tractor needs to fit under the branches.
Implements: Initially a 4-in-1 bucket, grader blade, slasher, tray ... then later post hole digger and sprayer.
I am looking at spending A$20,000 and have found two tractors currently with a great deal close to where I live. Open to other options. The model numbers I think differ here than in the US but will give comparison.
TYM Compact K274 (similar to K273). 27 hp, HST transmission with 3 cyl. diesel. 4-in-1 loader included.
Kioti/Daedong LK30 (this is like a simplified, basic version of CK30 with manual transmission). 30hp. Standard front-end loader. Doesn't have the frills and electronics as the TYM, but quite sturdy.
Both are 4WD.
My first question: is this enough horse-power or should we be going for something bigger. Obviously the bigger hp the more expensive and as it isn't a revenue raising machine for us we don't want to spend much more.
Can anyone advise on which would be the better tractor out of these two? I understand JD or Kubota etc. would be better again, but they are more costly here in Australia.
Has anyone have experience with similar properties and have recommendations. Ideally I would like something with more hp but can't afford it, but afraid I won't have enough grunt with a 27 or 30 hp tractor to get up and down the hills and do the jobs I want done. I know it will take more time to get the jobs done with a smaller tractor however as long as I can get them done it has to be better then doing it manually by hand.
Thanks for the advice.
I am looking at purchasing my first tractor here in Australia and discovered this great forum while researching the various models (great work on the forum btw). I hope someone has advise to offer me. I know most respondents are American so excuse my terminology if different and feel free to ask me to explain further.
First our land: I have just made a tree-change to 30 acres hobby farm in hilly countryside in Victoria, Australia (I don't know the grade but steep in some parts). Jobs to do with tractor include grading gravel driveway, moving stones/gravel for driveway to fill pot-holes etc., slashing, some small earth-moving landscaping jobs, potentially weed-spraying, moving logs and fire-wood collecting, potentially post-hole digging, and I guess I'll find 101 other uses when purchased.
We also have a small established hazelnut orchard (also on a slope) so the tractor needs to fit under the branches.
Implements: Initially a 4-in-1 bucket, grader blade, slasher, tray ... then later post hole digger and sprayer.
I am looking at spending A$20,000 and have found two tractors currently with a great deal close to where I live. Open to other options. The model numbers I think differ here than in the US but will give comparison.
TYM Compact K274 (similar to K273). 27 hp, HST transmission with 3 cyl. diesel. 4-in-1 loader included.
Kioti/Daedong LK30 (this is like a simplified, basic version of CK30 with manual transmission). 30hp. Standard front-end loader. Doesn't have the frills and electronics as the TYM, but quite sturdy.
Both are 4WD.
My first question: is this enough horse-power or should we be going for something bigger. Obviously the bigger hp the more expensive and as it isn't a revenue raising machine for us we don't want to spend much more.
Can anyone advise on which would be the better tractor out of these two? I understand JD or Kubota etc. would be better again, but they are more costly here in Australia.
Has anyone have experience with similar properties and have recommendations. Ideally I would like something with more hp but can't afford it, but afraid I won't have enough grunt with a 27 or 30 hp tractor to get up and down the hills and do the jobs I want done. I know it will take more time to get the jobs done with a smaller tractor however as long as I can get them done it has to be better then doing it manually by hand.
Thanks for the advice.