Blu82, Sometimes trying to figure what you can "get by with" leads you away from perfectly good or even superior solutions. The cost of ownership of a tractor is not nearly so simple as the purchase price. There is a reason why JD and Kubota are so highly acclaimed by their long time users (there are several other good brands as well, just making a point.) If heavy and strong were overwhelming factors then the Belarus would be an ultimate solution because it is a huge pile of cast iron, and really low tech. The good news is that they are repairable (if and when you can find parts) but the bad news is that you WILL be looking for parts. If your command of Russian is rusty or you are challenged by the Cyrilic alphabet that is another hurdle.
I'm sure there are happy owners of virtually every brand but sticking to the top brands increases youir chances for long term satisfaction. Do you want/need a maint challenge and have to scrounge for parts and devise work arounds?
Name brands have actuall parts availability, service, and support, not just hypothetical but the real thing. There is a reason why NAME BRANDS are in fact known as NAME BRANDS. They got there on actual performance.
The cost of ownership of a tractor includes buying, maintaining, and operating it over its useful life. Loss of use while down for a part from somewhere in the world or maybe no longer available is another consideration. If the tractor is just for fun and you'd be just as happy watching reruns on TV then buy the cheapest brand X you can find and it will keep you busy trying to keep it going, if not immediately then in a few years.
There are lots of quality tractors available. I have owned only one but have sure witnessed the foibles of many friends, neighbors, and acquaintances with brand X. One guy bought a tractor from Atwoods (on price), modified it to operate the clutch by hand as he is paraplegic, and he is down for parts 3 times in 4-5 months. The latest is a broken steering wheel.
I make no claim that Kubota is superior to other NAME brands. I own a Kubota and have been around others (as well as JD, etc.) It works well and I abuse the heck out of it. I have had to get non-scheduled maint performed due to my use of the tractor. I have NEVER had a parts availability problem.
I have 160 acres with 10 stocked fishing/stock watering ponds. I have all the implements the original poster listed plus others. I have used it to support building a new house (see Oklahoma Farm House thread at CBN) I use the tractor to log cedar trees up to 36 inches in diameter. I brush hog brush up to 2 inches in diameter and the odd tree up to 4 inches. I don't have a backhoe and can't fit a Kubota hoe because I have a cab but the A/C is worth it. I maintain gravel roads (maybe a mile and a half or so in total)
I have found a few things that beg for a bigger tractor in order to save time but most tasks are accomplished just fine. I do bring in a dozer or 4 ft bucket track hoe when the job requires. Even a huge tractor would not fit those jobs.
My tractor is 4X4 and with a standard tranny is 40 HP to the PTO but I am hydrostat and get 39 to thte PTO. There is a trade off in size and power. A larger tractor would have NOT been nearly so useful supporting the house building as you need tight manuvering ability. I find the manuverability of this Kubota to be quite an asset. It has good hydraulics, enough so that you have to do more than weight the rear wheels to use the FEL to its capability. I carry the HD box blade for
ballast when doing serious FEL work.
The hydrostat can not be over rated for a general purpose tractor. If you are row cropping a standard is the right stuff but for FEL and general purpose stuff, even just loading and unloading round bales, the hydrostat on the Kubota is miraculous.
No one ever complains about their tractor being too powerful or getting the work done too quickly and sometimes I wish I had a few more HP but if it has to come in a larger package, I'll stay where I am.
Grand L-4610HSTC
I can't say another tractor isn't as good but I can say over time, all things considered, most folks will be ahead with a name brand. If tractor maint is your hobby, you can disregard a lot of the above.
If you expect to spend serious seat time in the heat and humidity the cab model with A/C is a wonderful thing. I get more done with A/C because I can stay at it.
Pat