Buying Advice Need experienced user advice

[Martingouin]

Hi,
I am new to this forum and new owner of a 90 acres land. I have zero experience with tractor and I have several questions that I would like to have your opinion. I live in Quebec, Canada and I need to buy a new tractor. Here is my situation:

I have 90 acres of woods of maple tree (35%) and mix woods for the rest.
I need to do trails (for horses and tractor).
I will be cutting woods for the winter
A part of my land is really humid so I will need to do ditchs for my trails (so lots of mud in certain area).
I also have 2 horses.


So I've been looking some some time now and I am wondering what is the better option for me.

Do I need a lighter tractor for the mud or heavier?
Do I need agricultural tires of industrial (so I do not destroy the trails I'm making)?
What minimum HP do I need?
Should I buy new or used?
How many hours are considered good to buy for a tractor?

I am looking at Kubota and Tym now as the John Deere dealer sucks in my area

I have a special now for a used kubota L39 but I'm affraid that is not going to be good in wood and mud because it's build for construction.

So what should I be looking for?

Thank you very much for your advice

 

[Fawken]

Hi,
I am new to this forum and new owner of a 90 acres land. I have zero experience with tractor and I have several questions that I would like to have your opinion. I live in Quebec, Canada and I need to buy a new tractor. Here is my situation:

I have 90 acres of woods of maple tree (35%) and mix woods for the rest.
I need to do trails (for horses and tractor).
I will be cutting woods for the winter
A part of my land is really humid so I will need to do ditchs for my trails (so lots of mud in certain area).
I also have 2 horses.


So I've been looking some some time now and I am wondering what is the better option for me.

Do I need a lighter tractor for the mud or heavier?
Do I need agricultural tires of industrial (so I do not destroy the trails I'm making)?
What minimum HP do I need?
Should I buy new or used?

I am looking at Kubota and Tym now as the John Deere dealer sucks in my area

I have a special now for a used kubota L39 but I'm affraid that is not going to be good in wood and mud because it's build for construction.

So what should I be looking for?

Thank you very much for your advice

Welcome here. Now this is just my opinion so ultimately you have to decide. 90 acres is a lot and it sounds like you have a pot pour i of terrain and tasks to take care of. Have you considered getting two used tractors that will each have it's own attributes for your various uses?

 

[Martingouin]

No I did not consider this but I'm open to suggestions

 

[PILOON]

Welcome to TBN.
I also am in Quebec, the lower Laurentians.

Heavy will want to sink.
4 X 4 would be a must and I suggest the lighter (smaller) the less chances of sinking.
My opinion is larger wider tires would 'float' better than narrow farm threads that would want to dig in.
Most if not all will give you the power or torque you want but will just handle smaller equipment hence take a bit longer to do the task.
When it comes to snow, chains would be your friend.

I had a big Deere and traded for a smaller 4 x 4 20 hp and never regretted it due to weight and maneuverability.
The small 20 hp with FEL is never stuck and zips in and out of all kinds of tight spaces.
OK, slow on road and maybe a pass or 2 more when I grade or plow or blow snow but being able to maneuver with agility is well worth it.

Also have a close look at Kioti, good reputation service etc and reliable.

With my 20HP I actually drive up and on snow banks in the winter without sinking. Good chains are your friend come winters.
Hydrostatic tranny is also a big asset.
I also have used my friends Kubota B21 a lot and found it very agile and up to every task I asked it to do.

In recap I'd trade agility for power (and weight) for the tasks you describe.
Besides for trails etc how wide do you really want?
Be sure you do buy with a FEL as adding later will cost way more.

 

[jeff9366]

I have zero experience with tractors.

You will likely find tractoring intimidating at first. All of us do. All tractors seem big in the beginning but they shrink pretty rapidly. Tractors are unstable laterally. Mounting implements on the Three Point Hitch can be difficult in the beginning, connecting PTO powered implements to the tractor PTO output worse, but you gradually learn the ins and outs. A hydraustactic transmission is much safer on sloped ground than gear. Most new 20 to 60 horsepower tractors are sold with HST transmissions.

Do you have someone nearby that can help you when you are frustrated? If not, be sure to select a tractor dealer who will be helpful.

I have 90 acres of woods of maple tree (35%) and mix woods for the rest.

How much of the 90 acres will you work? Do you intend to raise hay for the horses? Have a garden? Food plots to attract game? Amplify how you will use your acreage.

What minimum HP do I need? I am going to advise 45 to 50 horsepower with 4-WD as a working number. Subject to revision depending on how you will use your acreage in total.

Do I need a lighter tractor for the mud or heavier? Weight is important to accomplish work and to make the tractor stable. Do not tractor when the ground is mud. Wait for the ground to dry.

I need to do trails (for horses and tractor). I need to do ditches for my trails.
Backhoes are recommend for removing tree stumps and trenching. Unfortunately, a Backhoe will cover the Three Point Hitch. If you have a lot of stumps to remove or a lot of trenching to do a tractor backhoe can take forever to complete the tasks. If you have a beaucoup, considering hiring in a tracked excavator for one time construction work, then maintain with your tractor.

I will be cutting wood for the winter. I also have 2 horses. Consider a Front End Loader (FEL) an indispensable powered wheelbarrow, which will save your back.

Do I need agricultural tires of industrial (so I do not destroy the trails I'm making)? Agricultural tires grip better, though imperfectly, in mud. Agricultural tires shed mud and horse manure as they turn.

Industrial tires are wider, hence make tractor just a little more stable, have more float. Industrial tires are smoother on roads and wear less on roads. Industrial tires support FEL loads and are recommended for tractors equipped with FELs. Industrial tires are less flat prone in the sidewalls, although neither Industrial nor Ag tires get flats often.

Should I buy new or used? What is your budget? A new tractor without implements and attachments is nothing.

How many hours are considered good to buy for a used tractor?

Well maintained diesel tractors can go 12,000 engine hours and still be fairly reliable. Tractors that have 12,000 hours on them and have been well maintained consistently are practically nonexistent. How are your mechanical/hydraulic repair skills? How near will service be for your used tractor?

NEW/EXPENSIVE/RELIABLE.

USED/LESS MONEY/REPAIRS/UNPLANNED DOWN TIME. PARTS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE.

 

[AxleHub]

Hi,
I am new to this forum and new owner of a 90 acres land. I have zero experience with tractor and I have several questions that I would like to have your opinion. I live in Quebec, Canada and I need to buy a new tractor. Here is my situation:

I have 90 acres of woods of maple tree (35%) and mix woods for the rest.
I need to do trails (for horses and tractor).
I will be cutting woods.

So what should I be looking for?

Thank you very much for your advice

A little more information would be helpful. Having zero experience with a tractor is one thing . . . but do you have good experience with tools and other equipment ? In other words do you have mechanical aptitude?

And all the things you are wanting to do . . How many have to be done right away vs. over a couple years?

My point is . . . cutting a trail thru woods and mud bogs might be better done by hiring someone locally to do it for you so then you can focus on building trails and other things. Is your woods big old pine and cedars or small growth young trees? It makes a big difference in equipment and skill and manpower.

I'd have a tendency to own a smaller tractor and hire some of the bigger tractor work out (or if you have friends with bigger tractors). My reasoning would be you need to learn and develop capabilities and a smaller tractor gives you better manuevering and is more "friendly" for errors and tasks to learn. A big tractor takes big space and you can run out of things to do with it if you have limited time or financial resources.

 

[AxleHub]

I am looking at Kubota and Tym now as the John Deere dealer sucks in my area

I forgot to ask . . do you have any Massey Ferguson or Yanmar dealers anywhere around you?

The reason I ask is both of those manufacturers recently discontinued some very nice tractor models. The Massey 1500 series had several models/frame sizes in the 1500 series and Yanmar had the EX series. Both had well known quality engines and there certainly could be new prodct still in the channel .
even though the brochures will show only the newer models. Just a thought.

 

[flusher]

Tractor: 50-60 hp (engine), 4WD, hydrostatic transmission, power steering, dual hydraulic rear remotes (three is better), single front hydraulic remote, cab (definitely considering your location), ag tires loaded with antifreeze (Rimguard, etc) front end loader (FEL) with 6-ft wide bucket, chain hooks on top of bucket, skid steer quick attach option for the FEL.

This should get you in the ballgame. All the tractor manufacturers have products with these specs. Stick to dealers in your locale (within 100 mile radius). Check out dealer's service and parts departments. Some small dealers just sell tractors and have limited service and few parts in stock.

AND, finally, thoroughly test drive the tractor you're considering. Learn about all the features and ask questions.

Good luck and be careful out there.

 

[nybirdman]

New owner/user;HST for sure,4WD with R1's(Ag),FEL at around 40HP and Quebec=cab.Industrial tires in the mud we just get you stuck.Go with any of the main stream manufacturers.

 

[AxleHub]

A thought came to mind . . In Wisconsin we can certainly get -25 f or -30 f temps . . so rimguard of winshield/rv washer will work for loading tires. But in Canada I assume temps can get still colder pretty easily. Not thay your going to be out in -45 f. But the storage sheds aren't any warmer. So what do they use for loading tires in Canada?