chevymanar
New member
Let me start by explaining what I intend to use the tractor for.
I have purchased 8 acres of timber (pine tree plantation with trees around 10" diameter). A logging crew is thinning the trees out and will also clear out a 1-2 acre area for landing. I plan to use this cleared out landing spot to build a house on. I plan to use the tractor to clean up the landing and prepare it for a house. The area is fairly dry and flat. I also will use it for gravel and driveway purposes. I will have a track hoe at my disposal for digging up stumps or other jobs the tractor shouldn't be doing. The tractor's second use will be for bush hogging and planting at my deer lease.
My budget is really around $15,000 and I want a tractor in the 3,000lb-4,000lb range with HST and around 35hp. This may be over kill for my immediate needs, but something tells me to get a little bigger than what I think I will want. I intend to keep this tractor for many years.
I am a mechanically inclined person and work on my own things when it doesn't involve tearing into an engine or transmission (haven't tried that stuff yet). Dealer location is great, but not a deal breaker for me.
The tractors that I have found semi-locally are below.
2014 Mahindra 1538HST 138hrs
tractor is 212 miles away
$15,500
dealer is 20 miles away
2016 Branson 3520H 170hrs
tractor is 58 miles away
$16,000
dealer is 110 miles away
Case DX35 (not sure on year) 1200hrs
tractor is 162 miles away
$14,000
dealer is 53 miles away
The Branson is appealing because it is still very new and much closer in proximity than the others, but the Branson name is not a common name for me. I have done some research and realize they were bought by TYM. They seem to be really well made tractors from what I have read.
Thoughts??
I have purchased 8 acres of timber (pine tree plantation with trees around 10" diameter). A logging crew is thinning the trees out and will also clear out a 1-2 acre area for landing. I plan to use this cleared out landing spot to build a house on. I plan to use the tractor to clean up the landing and prepare it for a house. The area is fairly dry and flat. I also will use it for gravel and driveway purposes. I will have a track hoe at my disposal for digging up stumps or other jobs the tractor shouldn't be doing. The tractor's second use will be for bush hogging and planting at my deer lease.
My budget is really around $15,000 and I want a tractor in the 3,000lb-4,000lb range with HST and around 35hp. This may be over kill for my immediate needs, but something tells me to get a little bigger than what I think I will want. I intend to keep this tractor for many years.
I am a mechanically inclined person and work on my own things when it doesn't involve tearing into an engine or transmission (haven't tried that stuff yet). Dealer location is great, but not a deal breaker for me.
The tractors that I have found semi-locally are below.
2014 Mahindra 1538HST 138hrs
tractor is 212 miles away
$15,500
dealer is 20 miles away
2016 Branson 3520H 170hrs
tractor is 58 miles away
$16,000
dealer is 110 miles away
Case DX35 (not sure on year) 1200hrs
tractor is 162 miles away
$14,000
dealer is 53 miles away
The Branson is appealing because it is still very new and much closer in proximity than the others, but the Branson name is not a common name for me. I have done some research and realize they were bought by TYM. They seem to be really well made tractors from what I have read.
Thoughts??