stonebase
Bronze Member
Another \"How Big\" Tractor request!!!!
Here is another request for advice so bear with me. I’ve been reading TBN for some time now and have been doing extensive research for a tractor purchase this spring/summer. I have learned a lot about checking out the dealers to see who you are the most comfortable with as well as seeing as many different brands that I could. To date within 35-40 miles of home I’ve seen Kubota, Deere, New Holland, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, Case-Farmall, Mahindra & Landtrac (Long).
My situation is very similar to “City Boy” aka Maury who has posted below with a few different twists. Following this post I am posting a couple of pictures of the property I am building a new house on. As you can see it is relatively flat (4% slope from back of property to road) with no obstacles (trees, etc) but there are some contours I am concerned about such as a couple of natural drainage “ditches” that run the length of the property (900+’) as well as various other holes due to ground hog nests, etc.. The property measures 5 acres. Originally as you can see from the first picture there was overgrowth on the whole property but I had that brush hogged down real close in the fall. My goal is to keep the entire property mowed as I gradually do the landscaping (trees, etc) over time.
I guess as far as my tractor needs go I am interested in a new tractor (HST) and mower (rear mount) to mow the field, I need to plow the driveway (150 foot) when it snows in the winter, I would like a FEL so I could do my landscaping, etc (possibly fill in those ditches and divert the water to drain along property line) and I would like a machine for which I could rent implements such as a power rake when it comes time to put in a finished lawn immediately in front of the house where the contractor has excavated.
Here is where the big question lies....what size tractor do I need? I started out looking orange and the salesman started showing me a BX15!!! In retrospect, at the time (before TBN) I didnt know any better and actually considered that option for awhile. Since then I have been shown New Holland TC29D, Mahindra 2810, Deere 4210, Case-Farmall DX29, Long 33hst up to a Kioti DX35. Now there is a big difference between the BX15 and the KiotiDX35!! Somewhere there must be a happy medium. I guess as budgets go I am prepared to pay $17-$18k if I have to but if I can get away with $10-$12k, more power to me and I can spend the $$$$ elsewhere on the new house. Another issue is the fact that I am tall (6 feet 6 inches) and I need a tractor that offers adequate room and comfort. Sometimes I feel the different salesmen are steering me toward these larger tractors when possible a smaller tractor may do????
Is there a good suggestion in between, like a NH TC 18, 24?? Or comparable orange or green? Or am I better off with the larger machine? I looked at the Kubota Grand L3130HST and along with the Kioti 35 look massive compared to the sub compacts, although they were comfortable. My wife just about had a stroke when we drove by the Kubota dealer and I pointed out the 3130 (we are moving from a suburban development where everyone has 1/3 acre lots and mows by hand or has small lawn tractors)
Am I totally off base considering such a large tractor? I guess one of my concerns is getting something big enough (adequate rear PTO HP) to cut the fields as you can see from picture 2 it is all thick, wild field grass. Also something with enough ground clearance to get over the ditches and irregularities in the property. I guess another issue is the value for the dollar spent. It seems that there is not a big price differential between some of the “smaller” frame tractors and the larger ones.
Sorry to ramble on so long, I hope that I have provided enough information in order to receive your respected opinions in return.
Thanks again for all your wisdom and experience,
John /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Here is another request for advice so bear with me. I’ve been reading TBN for some time now and have been doing extensive research for a tractor purchase this spring/summer. I have learned a lot about checking out the dealers to see who you are the most comfortable with as well as seeing as many different brands that I could. To date within 35-40 miles of home I’ve seen Kubota, Deere, New Holland, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, Case-Farmall, Mahindra & Landtrac (Long).
My situation is very similar to “City Boy” aka Maury who has posted below with a few different twists. Following this post I am posting a couple of pictures of the property I am building a new house on. As you can see it is relatively flat (4% slope from back of property to road) with no obstacles (trees, etc) but there are some contours I am concerned about such as a couple of natural drainage “ditches” that run the length of the property (900+’) as well as various other holes due to ground hog nests, etc.. The property measures 5 acres. Originally as you can see from the first picture there was overgrowth on the whole property but I had that brush hogged down real close in the fall. My goal is to keep the entire property mowed as I gradually do the landscaping (trees, etc) over time.
I guess as far as my tractor needs go I am interested in a new tractor (HST) and mower (rear mount) to mow the field, I need to plow the driveway (150 foot) when it snows in the winter, I would like a FEL so I could do my landscaping, etc (possibly fill in those ditches and divert the water to drain along property line) and I would like a machine for which I could rent implements such as a power rake when it comes time to put in a finished lawn immediately in front of the house where the contractor has excavated.
Here is where the big question lies....what size tractor do I need? I started out looking orange and the salesman started showing me a BX15!!! In retrospect, at the time (before TBN) I didnt know any better and actually considered that option for awhile. Since then I have been shown New Holland TC29D, Mahindra 2810, Deere 4210, Case-Farmall DX29, Long 33hst up to a Kioti DX35. Now there is a big difference between the BX15 and the KiotiDX35!! Somewhere there must be a happy medium. I guess as budgets go I am prepared to pay $17-$18k if I have to but if I can get away with $10-$12k, more power to me and I can spend the $$$$ elsewhere on the new house. Another issue is the fact that I am tall (6 feet 6 inches) and I need a tractor that offers adequate room and comfort. Sometimes I feel the different salesmen are steering me toward these larger tractors when possible a smaller tractor may do????
Is there a good suggestion in between, like a NH TC 18, 24?? Or comparable orange or green? Or am I better off with the larger machine? I looked at the Kubota Grand L3130HST and along with the Kioti 35 look massive compared to the sub compacts, although they were comfortable. My wife just about had a stroke when we drove by the Kubota dealer and I pointed out the 3130 (we are moving from a suburban development where everyone has 1/3 acre lots and mows by hand or has small lawn tractors)
Am I totally off base considering such a large tractor? I guess one of my concerns is getting something big enough (adequate rear PTO HP) to cut the fields as you can see from picture 2 it is all thick, wild field grass. Also something with enough ground clearance to get over the ditches and irregularities in the property. I guess another issue is the value for the dollar spent. It seems that there is not a big price differential between some of the “smaller” frame tractors and the larger ones.
Sorry to ramble on so long, I hope that I have provided enough information in order to receive your respected opinions in return.
Thanks again for all your wisdom and experience,
John /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
