We're looking for a new/used tractor for some ranch land in central Texas. We have about 500 acres of land comprised of rocky brush and pastures. We currently have a 71' Ford 3000 in need of a new hydraulic pump and a few other repairs and are looking at "retiring" it to a backup tractor and getting something which is more apt to start up after sitting for a month and work, without spending an hour fixing it...
Usage will be lots of bush-hogging along fence lines, in some pretty rough terrain. We would like a FEL, a disc, and some sort of planter. We have about 200 acres of cultivated land that is currently leased, but I do anticipate having to maintain this at some point in the next five years or so. We'll likely just plant a few food plots for hunting and turn the rest of it once a year to keep it from getting overgrown.
How much tractor do we need? The Ford 3000 was purchased new and the only tractor for a number of years on the place. With that said, I don't know if we really need anything bigger than this. I know a much bigger tractor would allow us to run a much bigger disc, but I don't think we could justify a tractor big enough to pull a 10' disc or so.
2wd vs 4wd??? The Ford is 2wd and seems to do fine, but I am guessing a FEL would benefit from 4wd???
Thanks in advance for the help.
We are looking at the Mahindra, Kubota, New Holland, and JD.
Usage will be lots of bush-hogging along fence lines, in some pretty rough terrain. We would like a FEL, a disc, and some sort of planter. We have about 200 acres of cultivated land that is currently leased, but I do anticipate having to maintain this at some point in the next five years or so. We'll likely just plant a few food plots for hunting and turn the rest of it once a year to keep it from getting overgrown.
How much tractor do we need? The Ford 3000 was purchased new and the only tractor for a number of years on the place. With that said, I don't know if we really need anything bigger than this. I know a much bigger tractor would allow us to run a much bigger disc, but I don't think we could justify a tractor big enough to pull a 10' disc or so.
2wd vs 4wd??? The Ford is 2wd and seems to do fine, but I am guessing a FEL would benefit from 4wd???
Thanks in advance for the help.
We are looking at the Mahindra, Kubota, New Holland, and JD.