Western_NYer
New member
I know this question has been asked many times but I am in need of help selecting the proper size tractor for my property and needs. I recently bought 182 acres in Western New York near the PA border as a hunting property. I am in the process of building a cabin on the property and I am starting to think about what type and size tractor I will likely need in the future. My property is very hilly ranging from about 1650 feet at the road up to about 2150 feet at the highest point on my property. I have about 40 acres in fields and the rest is in hardwood forest which was select cut about 12 years ago. I have a gravel road that I will need to maintain that is about 600 feet in length and so snow plowing or snow blowing and grading the gravel road will be my first job. Second job will likely be brushhogging the open fields. I plan to do this at least twice a year but hopefully not much more often. I don't plan to keep more than about half an acre in lawn around the house so I don't think I will need to do much finish mowing. I live fairly far away from the property (although I have family close by) so I won't be able (nor do I want to mow every week).
Because I live far away a primary consideration is getting a tractor that is adequate to get my jobs done as efficiently and quickly as possible so my weekends are not spent entirely on chores. I will also use the tractor to eventually put in and maintain about 10-15 acres in wildlife food plots. I can't think of what else I will need to do at this point but I am sure there are plenty of things that I will find that need to be done along the way. I have never owned a tractor before so I am need something that is fairly easy to operate. I will probably get a FEL since I am sure there will be jobs that require it. I am not planning on getting a Backhoe right away because of the price and the fact that I can't really think of anything I need it for right now. I am curious about different types of transmissions and other suggestions. I am a little familiar from reading posts here on the popular MFG's like Deere, Kubota and NH. I have a Deere and a New Holland dealer very close by and a Kubota dealer about half an hour away.
Please recommend what size and type of tractor might be best for my property and jobs. This is all I could think of now to post but I will be happy to reply with any additional information anyone thinks might be helpful to know.
Because I live far away a primary consideration is getting a tractor that is adequate to get my jobs done as efficiently and quickly as possible so my weekends are not spent entirely on chores. I will also use the tractor to eventually put in and maintain about 10-15 acres in wildlife food plots. I can't think of what else I will need to do at this point but I am sure there are plenty of things that I will find that need to be done along the way. I have never owned a tractor before so I am need something that is fairly easy to operate. I will probably get a FEL since I am sure there will be jobs that require it. I am not planning on getting a Backhoe right away because of the price and the fact that I can't really think of anything I need it for right now. I am curious about different types of transmissions and other suggestions. I am a little familiar from reading posts here on the popular MFG's like Deere, Kubota and NH. I have a Deere and a New Holland dealer very close by and a Kubota dealer about half an hour away.
Please recommend what size and type of tractor might be best for my property and jobs. This is all I could think of now to post but I will be happy to reply with any additional information anyone thinks might be helpful to know.