Buying Advice looking for help with tractor selection

[CountryConvert]

Let me first state that I am not yet a "tractor guy" but have a need to become one.

I just bought a new place out in the country and need equipment to maintain it.

The place is just over 100 acres but about 75 is wooded and steep and is going to stay that way.

I need equipment to:
maintain the drive (over 1/2 mile long)
mow (approx 3-5 acres, mostly even with few obstacles)
work row crops on 10-15 acres (subsistence only, not commercial)

Normally I would think big, but my place has an additional challenge. It is located in a flood plain and so far this year it has been wet and soggy pretty much all the time. The previous owner had a JD 42XX and you can tell, as there are tire impressions all over many of the fields and ruts are not at all uncommon. I need to balance utility and weight to get the most out of the machine, as this is all new to me I will design my working process around the available equipment. If it takes me longer to do something because I am constrained by the size of the tractor - so be it. I have been looking at 25-35hp utility tractors with FEL and MMM, but not sure if I am on the right track.

I have seen a lot of good advice on the forums and would appreciate your opinions.

 

[IslandTractor]

You have indicated a few of the considerations that will drive your selection. You have 3-5 acres to mow which can be done with any tractor over 20hp. Tending 10-15 acres of crops is doable with a 25-35hp tractor and five foot implements if you have lots of time but most people would probably be looking at 40-45hp and six foot implements. The only real solution for your wetlands problem in the spring is to be patient and wait until the land drys out enough to support the tractor weight. You might consider lighter weight tractors such as the Kubota B3200 but otherwise just waiting an extra week or two before spring soil prep and planting.

 

[flusher]

Let me first state that I am not yet a "tractor guy" but have a need to become one.

I just bought a new place out in the country and need equipment to maintain it.

The place is just over 100 acres but about 75 is wooded and steep and is going to stay that way.

I need equipment to:
maintain the drive (over 1/2 mile long)
mow (approx 3-5 acres, mostly even with few obstacles)
work row crops on 10-15 acres (subsistence only, not commercial)

Normally I would think big, but my place has an additional challenge. It is located in a flood plain and so far this year it has been wet and soggy pretty much all the time. The previous owner had a JD 42XX and you can tell, as there are tire impressions all over many of the fields and ruts are not at all uncommon. I need to balance utility and weight to get the most out of the machine, as this is all new to me I will design my working process around the available equipment. If it takes me longer to do something because I am constrained by the size of the tractor - so be it. I have been looking at 25-35hp utility tractors with FEL and MMM, but not sure if I am on the right track.

I have seen a lot of good advice on the forums and would appreciate your opinions.

Row crops-like corn?

I'd up the horsepower to 45 hp (engine) or maybe a little more to get enough power to handle 7-8 ft discs and maybe a 2-14 double bottom plow.

I have 10 acres (flat pasture) including a 6-acre hayfield that I work with a 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, 8F/2R constant partial mesh tranny, power steering) with the ML250 FEL (6-ft bucket, 2950 lift to 10.5 ft height).

The 5525 is pretty heavy (6000lb+ with the FEL) so I wouldn't try to operate it on soggy ground (we've had 19.5 inches of rain around here since Oct and my hayfield is pretty wet right now). Essentially you're balancing flotation and traction when farming bottom land. We have a lot of rice farming around my area so you see a lot of Kubota mudder tractors and tractors with rubber tracks (like a Cat tractor) to work in soft soil. These are pricy special purpose tractors that you might want to check out.

 

[Gittyup]

If you go light, you might not make the ruts. But, then again you might get stuck all the time too. Definitely R1 tires. I also think 45 HP or more would be the better choice. It'll just plain perform better, and probably not rut things up anymore than a 35 HP tractor.

10 acres of subsistence? That's a lot of eating!

 

[forester2]

3/4 of your property is wooded; what are your plans there? 1/2 mile drive to maintain- just grading or are you in an area where snow removal is important too?

 

[ModMech]

Back in the day, my uncles just added duals on the back when it was wet or there was a low traction concern. That nearly doubled the tractive effort and about halved the ground pressure.

I don't think that is an effective option on a CUT.

 

[Egon]

The MMM do not do well in soft ground conditions. They have a tendency to hang up and it's a bear to get unstuck.

In most cases the larger the tractor the harder it is to unstuck it.

 

[Soundguy]

IMHO.. the best 'single ' tractor for most cases lik me this is actually 2 tractors....I'd get a large scut or smallish cut ( 20-30 hp ) 4wd and a loader.. hst trans. stay light and nimble.. you can get around in the woods with a scut especially if the loader is a QA.

then get an older larger 2wd machine in the 30-40 hp range suited for your rowcrops. in many cases older 2wd rowcrop machines can be had REAL cheap.. like for less than a nice rider lawnmower. I've bought a ford 951 that looked rough but ran good for 1500$.. narrow front row crop with strong 45 ponies.. nimble and good clearance and easy to see crops with the narrow front..

the scut will be your 'utility' machine.. and the older rowcrop will do strictly farming.. though if you needed it.. it would be available for limited heavy tasks..

soundguy