Proper \"Sizing\" Advice???
This is probably one of the most basic and difficult questions to answer….
I am struggling with how to choose an appropriately sized tractor. I don’t have the confidence that I can anticipate my future uses well enough to choose the correctly sized unit. The dealers I have spoken with have spent a bunch of time telling me about what each tractor can do but their recommendations vary so drastically the information doesn’t help select the right tractor.
This board has convinced me to buy the biggest tractor I can afford. Yet, I don’t want to waist money. The only way I know to approach this decision is to decide what tasks the tractor will perform most frequently (80% of the time) and make sure that what ever I buy will be able to handle those jobs.
Conditions include…
· The property is fairly rough and muddy in places.
· The grassy acreage is slightly sloped towards a creek and pond.
· The majority of the property is fairly wild with heavy undergrowth. This includes heavy grass, holly trees, blackberries, sage and junk trees up to about 2 inches.
· There is large Doug Fir on several acres that need to be mowed around.
I know I want the tractor to immediately be capable of…
· Brush hogging.
· Moving quantities of dirt and gravel for a roadbed, and planting areas.
· Digging postholes.
In the future I may need to perform maintenance on the creek, pond and dam, chip debris and till planting areas. I want to buy something that is capable of these tasks.
Given these requirements I think I need about 30 PTO horsepower in a stable 4wd chassis. The brush hog should be capable of cutting up to about 2 inch trees. So far the tractor that seems to best meet these requirements is the JD 4510 with a power-reverser transmission. I have looked closely at the 4310, 4410, 4510 and NH 35d and 40d. The NH models we not comfortable for me and seemed to be considerably less stable. Is this a valid impression? I have doubts that the 4310 and 4410 have enough grunt to do the work I require.
So, I guess my question boils down to a very generic “Am I going about this purchasing decision correctly?”. What advice can you give me to narrow my choices? What questions should I be asking my local dealers to better select the proper tractor?
What models in the JD, Kabota or NH lines would you recommend?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Colin--
This is probably one of the most basic and difficult questions to answer….
I am struggling with how to choose an appropriately sized tractor. I don’t have the confidence that I can anticipate my future uses well enough to choose the correctly sized unit. The dealers I have spoken with have spent a bunch of time telling me about what each tractor can do but their recommendations vary so drastically the information doesn’t help select the right tractor.
This board has convinced me to buy the biggest tractor I can afford. Yet, I don’t want to waist money. The only way I know to approach this decision is to decide what tasks the tractor will perform most frequently (80% of the time) and make sure that what ever I buy will be able to handle those jobs.
Conditions include…
· The property is fairly rough and muddy in places.
· The grassy acreage is slightly sloped towards a creek and pond.
· The majority of the property is fairly wild with heavy undergrowth. This includes heavy grass, holly trees, blackberries, sage and junk trees up to about 2 inches.
· There is large Doug Fir on several acres that need to be mowed around.
I know I want the tractor to immediately be capable of…
· Brush hogging.
· Moving quantities of dirt and gravel for a roadbed, and planting areas.
· Digging postholes.
In the future I may need to perform maintenance on the creek, pond and dam, chip debris and till planting areas. I want to buy something that is capable of these tasks.
Given these requirements I think I need about 30 PTO horsepower in a stable 4wd chassis. The brush hog should be capable of cutting up to about 2 inch trees. So far the tractor that seems to best meet these requirements is the JD 4510 with a power-reverser transmission. I have looked closely at the 4310, 4410, 4510 and NH 35d and 40d. The NH models we not comfortable for me and seemed to be considerably less stable. Is this a valid impression? I have doubts that the 4310 and 4410 have enough grunt to do the work I require.
So, I guess my question boils down to a very generic “Am I going about this purchasing decision correctly?”. What advice can you give me to narrow my choices? What questions should I be asking my local dealers to better select the proper tractor?
What models in the JD, Kabota or NH lines would you recommend?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Colin--