Buying Advice Seeking advice for first tractor

[dave3NC]

Hi all,

I am obviously new here and would love some guidance in narrowing down the list of tractors I should consider for my first tractor.

We have a small lot, only 1.2 acres, but it's wide open and has only 4 trees, one which is too close to the house and will be coming down soon. Our lot also slopes downhill so soil does get moved around over time affecting one of our neighbors and creating a small "swamp" on our property line. It has to be regraded to help with drainage. We have almost no landscaping so over the next several years we want to add a patio and make a lot additions to the yard which will require a fair amount of grading. I also do some woodworking and usually keep rough lumber or entire tree trunks around. I may also be starting a tree service in the near future and know there will be times I would save large portions of certain trees for milling. So, the jobs I plan to use the tractor for are:

• Landscaping/grading
• Moving lumber/logs
• Tree service (maybe)
• Hauling mulch/gravel
• Mowing and other lawn care tasks

The biggest job will be moving the lumber/logs around since I may need the capacity to lift up to 1000lbs. Also, along with my needs, I have several relatives that would benefit from me having a small tractor with the ability to use attachments.

Being completely new to anything more than a lawn tractor, I would appreciate some feedback on which brands/models I should consider.

Thanks!!
Dave

 

[dickfoster]

Doesn't sound like you really need anything over a SCUT with a belly mower and FEL. The rest you can do with the 3PT.

Almost any brand will do, what you really want to do is identify a good dealer who will support whatever you buy. I prefer Mahindra, because like most everyone else here, my preference follows what I own.
Read a lot here and you will find what size, implements etc. you really need if anything. I found this board very helpful in buying my first tractor.

 

[dave3NC]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply! Was kinda thinking SCUT was the way to go. Dealers for JD, Kioti, Mahindra, Kubota, and New Holland are all within 25 miles of my location, but I've not been to any yet since I really wanted to have an idea of what I need before I visited.

I've been reading through old posts since I've found this site but most folks are either doing more that I would or just have a lot more land to cover, so I wasn't sure how much their picks would be appropriate for my situation. Very educational though! Some really helpful people on this forum!

Dave

 

[jeff9366]

Even a 20 horsepower, 4-WD, tractor can pull large tree trunks due to great mechanical advantage provided by the large rear wheels. The alternative is to cut up the trunk where it lays, then transport the 4' to 5' billets in the FEL bucket.

For moving lumber you can purchase Pallet Forks which attach to the Front End Loader (FEL) bucket.

As your 1.2 acre lot is open, just four trees, soon to be three trees, a Three Point Hitch mounted Finish Mower will cost 50% less than a MMM, be easier to put on and take off, and you preserve ground clearance without the MMM.

VIDEO: tractor finish mower - YouTube

PRICING: Finishing Mowers For Sale

So a SCUT (Sub-compact Utility Tractor) of 20-hp to 25-hp/4-WD with a Front End Loader and a Finish Mower should fix you up.

Kubota has the largest market share in this category but there are many good brands in the market.

I operate Kubota because I have an excellent Kubota dealer six miles from my home.


A Kubota L2501 is a relatively heavy, roomy, tractor: Compact Tractors | L2501 | Kubota Tractor Corporation


Here are two LINKS to tractors on eBay: NH 4x4 Tractor | eBay

Industrial Tractor | eBay

 

[murphy1244]

Don't get too caught up in brands as some do. Go do some looking and talking to some dealers and above all else get some seat time. Cause if your butt ain't happy I don't care how nice your dealer is you will not like it.

 

[brasco426]

Welcome Dave! Lots of great advice to be had on these forums. I'll agree with what you've already been advised this far. A Sub Compact sounds like a nice fit for what you may need.

Landscaping/grading-Loader, BoxBlade, Rake,etc
Moving lumber/logs-Loader
Tree service (maybe)
Hauling mulch/gravel-Loader
Mowing and other lawn care tasks-3pt finish or mid mount. Pros and cons to both. 3pt can come from anyone, and might be a quicker hook up. The mid mount can get into tighter places, and mostly proprietary to the brand tractor you pick.

As for brands, they all make great competitors. I agree with Murph pick what fits best. However Dick has great advice on the dealer too! A terrible service center can take the nicest tractor and turn it into a PIA to own. Your best bet is to look around and see what's out there. Not gonna lie, I like my Mahindra Max 24. Stout tractor for a SCUT. Excellent little tractor in a small package. I grabbed the mid mount mower and a BoxBlade both of which qualified for a $750 rebate. I got the box blade for just a few extra bucks basically. Happy Hunting. Donnie

 

[jeff9366]

I may be starting a tree service in the near future and know there will be times I would save large portions of certain trees for milling. So, the jobs I plan to use the tractor for are:

[*]Tree service (maybe)

Tractor operators are dangerously exposed doing tree service work. And a SCUT is much too light.

Skid steers, usually armored, are universally used by Tree Service venders around me, 8,000 to 12,000 pound machines.

 

[dave3NC]

Thanks everyone! That all is extremely helpful!! I'll plan on visiting several dealers this week and flesh them out. And I'll ask around and see if I can find some people that have direct experience with any of the local dealers.

Jeff - I wouldn't be using the tractor during any cutting of trees, only afterwards to load the pieces I'll keep. It may be loading them directly into a sawmill because if I go down this road, I will most likely purchase a portable sawmill as well. Still working out details and deciding if this is something I want to do professionally. Up to now, I've always taken trees down by hand and sometimes use a lift to start up top. Easy to do this way, I've just never been able to keep anything too large since I had no way to move/load it.

 

[sea2summit]

1,000# is a over or maxing out the capabilities of a lot of the smaller tractor's FELs. What are you lifting that is 1k?

 

[2ndhalf]

Welcome!

Agree with Dick and Murph... you need a SCUT but go sit on them all ... the dealers you listed all have great SCUTs.