I really have no idea, suggestions please!

[almost canadian]

Please let me start by saying hi to everyone. I have been lurking for sometime and decided that it was time to meet you all!

My family and I bought an acreage in southern Alberta just over a year ago.

We have 20 acres which is divided into a single 9 acre pasture, an outdoor arena and a number of smaller pastures of approximately 2-3 acres. We have a number of horses and that was the reason for buying the acreage.

I believe that the previous owner used the 9 acre pasture for haying and, last summer, we did too (with the aid of a neighbour) and we obtained 400+ square bales from it, which our horses are currently working their way through.

We have a paved driveway that is approximately 400 yards long which is S shaped.

Last winter we managed to plow snow off the drive using a quad and a blade. This year has been a different story due to the amount of snow that has fallen. We ended up buying a snowblower which we used to clear the snow when the quad couldn't cope.

We thought about buying a tractor last year but decided that we would live her for an entire year to see if we really needed one.

We have decided that it would be best to get one and we are now looking into this.

We have a Kubota dealer and a John Deere dealer situated a stone's throw from our property. There is a Mahindra dealer some 3 hours away. I am no mechanic so I have no intention of attending auctions as I really have no idea what I should be looking for.

The plan is to purchase something new. At this time I anticipate that we will use the tractor for simple small acreage chores: moving stuff around, landscaping, snow removal. I anticipate that, once we have one, we will find many other uses for it. For this reason I wish to ensure that we purchase something with sufficient capacity so that we do not "outgrow" it too quickly.

I anticipate that I will purchase a FEL right off the bat but I am not looking to purchase something that is capable of lifting round bales to a great height.

I believe that something along the lines of a Kubota L4400 or a JD 3320 will fit the bill. Am I way off the mark or will one of these be sufficient as a "starter"?

Any guidance you could provide would be very much appreciated

 

[jeff9366]

I have no experience with the JD 3320 but the Kubota L4400, with FEL, sounds like it would be perfect for your expressed needs.

There are 260 threads containing "L4400" in the title, within the T-B-N archive. Here is a LINK:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1089418


THIS THREAD IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/235676-l4400-vs-mx5100-whats-catch.html

 

[murphy1244]

Go to the Dealers and drive them. You will know which one is for you. How many other Dealers are within a hour from you?

 

[kcflhrc]

Kubota's and John Deere's are nice tractors, but a bit pricey for my taste. Mahindra's are relatively expensive too. Being in Canada I have no idea what is available to you but if you can check out Kioti, LS and TYM. I can buy a LS G3038H for $16,900 and a TYM 353 for $16,999, both hydrostat. The closest thing in the Kubota line is the 3200 or 3300 which is $18,300. The John Deere is well, lets just say higher than that. I would love to buy the Kubota because I have a dealer very close to me but I just cant justify the extra $$$$. Same with the Deere. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Way too many options, I tend to over think things though.

 

[Danny C]

Kubota and Mahindra are good tractors without question. You would do well with either. I would check out LS Tractor. I just bought a larger one and ther price/value is exceptional. LS is a subsidiary of LG (the electronics company) which is a spin-off of Hyundai. Anyway I digress...LS makes the New Holland and Case compact tractors now as well as their own line. Here's their website: LS Tractor Canada - Tractor Sales 1-888-825-6095

I just bought a LS 5020C (47hp w/cab) and am very happy.

It's hard to get one tractor to do everything. A nice small tractor with a FEL will get around, mow your pastures and lawns, will grade your rings and may be able to get into your barn(s). It may not however, be able to handle a bailer. A cab is noce in the winter for snow plowing. Here's a link on tractor sizing for bailers: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...s/244179-right-size-tractor-small-square.html

Hydrostatic drive is nice for detail work (and not having to push a clutch). I prefer gears, but that's a personal preference. Some with say that hydrostatic drives are unproven, rob to much power and are too expensive to maintain. I'll point out that they've been used in skid steer loaders (Bobcats) for decades without much issue, plus they're common place in compact tractors now.

I would get the biggest tractor that you can still do your most important and demanding chores (and that you can afford).

 

[Piston]

Do you think you'll ever hay your own fields, or continue to have the neighbor do it? I have no experience with haying anything, but the hp required. Is something to think about.

I feel that you would outgrow the JD 3x20 series.

You may get more bang for your buck if you step up to a utility sized tractor, more tractor, less luxuries, less or equal price, and less likely to grow out of it. However, if you are confident you'd never need the extra capability, then the Kubota L series and JD 4x20 series are a really great sized tractor. They are large compacts, and seem to have become the "sweet spot" for properties and tasks you describe.

I would budget for a cab

JD and Kubota can be more expensive than others, but if you. Really compare apples to apples, you'll find that real life prices are not at all far off. The MSRP prices aren't really a good way to compare prices, you need to go drive them, get a feel for what you like, and get quotes. I have a Kubota L series and really love it, but would like one bigger. I also love the Deeres, they're all great tractors and you really have to split hairs to say one is "better" than another.

 

[almost canadian]

I have no experience with the JD 3320 but the Kubota L4400, with FEL, sounds like it would be perfect for your expressed needs.

There are 260 threads containing "L4400" in the title, within the T-B-N archive. Here is a LINK:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1089418



THIS THREAD IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/235676-l4400-vs-mx5100-whats-catch.html

Excellent. Many thanks.

 

[almost canadian]

Go to the Dealers and drive them. You will know which one is for you. How many other Dealers are within a hour from you?

I, really, have no idea. More effort required on my part I think.

Thanks for the response.

 

[almost canadian]

Kubota's and John Deere's are nice tractors, but a bit pricey for my taste. Mahindra's are relatively expensive too. Being in Canada I have no idea what is available to you but if you can check out Kioti, LS and TYM. I can buy a LS G3038H for $16,900 and a TYM 353 for $16,999, both hydrostat. The closest thing in the Kubota line is the 3200 or 3300 which is $18,300. The John Deere is well, lets just say higher than that. I would love to buy the Kubota because I have a dealer very close to me but I just cant justify the extra $$$$. Same with the Deere. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Way too many options, I tend to over think things though.

My main concern is access to dealers if something goes wrong, that was the reason for starting with what was available locally and was the main reason why I had taken Mahindra out of my thought process.

I will look to see what else is available within a reasonable distance.

Thank you.

 

[almost canadian]

Kubota's and John Deere's are nice tractors, but a bit pricey for my taste. Mahindra's are relatively expensive too. Being in Canada I have no idea what is available to you but if you can check out Kioti, LS and TYM. I can buy a LS G3038H for $16,900 and a TYM 353 for $16,999, both hydrostat. The closest thing in the Kubota line is the 3200 or 3300 which is $18,300. The John Deere is well, lets just say higher than that. I would love to buy the Kubota because I have a dealer very close to me but I just cant justify the extra $$$$. Same with the Deere. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Way too many options, I tend to over think things though.

I have just looked and it would appear that I have access to Kioti, LS and TYM dealers that are closer than the Mahindra dealer.

Time to start researching.

Many thanks.