Thinking about buying a new/used compact

[WIshane]

Hi Guys/Girls I am back to this board after a 2 year hiatus. I used to visit this board a fair amount but I got to the point where I thought it would be quite awhile before I could see the need to buy one of these machines. Alot has changed for me and my family in the past 6 months the sale of my house on 27acres of farm land and the purchase of our new home with 40 acres of woods. I live in north central Wisconsin and we have bought a home that has an outdoor wood burner so I have a new hobby (making wood). I currently own a 1964 Ford 4000 gas tractor with a FEL and a fork-set that I made this past summer. While this tractor does the job I find that I would like to have something a bit more reliable/agile in the woods and 4wd would be a plus. My future plans are to start a small christmas tree farm, I also have numerous creeks on th property that I would like to work on along with some trails that could use some work. I have been told that it does not pay to have a compact under 35hp for what I would like to do out here. I currently load 8ft logs on to the hydraulic dump trailer that I built this past summer and bring them up to the house to be cut/split that is the main task that this machine will need to preform. Everything else will be for fun or like I tell my wife bettering our investment. I would like to buy something in that 12-18k range I think but I am just starting to kick tires right now. I am interested in any suggestions in brands, attachments anything that you fine folks can help me out with Thanks in advance!

[Thomas]

Morning WIshane.
"I would like to buy something in that 12-18k range I think but I am just starting to kick tires right now."

You may want to check out TractorHouse.com...there are dealers which offer many type models old and new both 2WD & 4WD,plus offer magazine once you sign on there mailing list.

[roxynoodle]

Is your new tractor going to have a loader too? I'm thinking it might be hard to come up with a new tractor over 35hp with 4wd and a loader in your price range. I haven't shopped for one that big, so I'm not sure. Perhaps a Mahindra or Kioti would fit the bill nicely. Of course there's always the Chinese tractors if you don't mind working on them (Jinma or Kama). You might be able to find a Yanmar 3110D. As long as you buy it from a reputable dealer that would take care of your needs and get you a reliable tractor on the cheaper end.

I'm guessing you would like a 3ph log splitter if you don't already have a stand alone type that is doing a good job. Several people on my road heat with firewood at least as much as we can to save on propane costs. One of the neighbors has a good gas powered stand alone splitter so he does splitting for me, but there have been a lot of threads on TBN lately about 3ph splitters. Check those out if that interests you.

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Sounds like you know what you want. Your price range would be for a used "major" brand or possibly new chinese tractor. While your 4000 is not a huge tractor, a 35 hp or more compact would be a "younger brother". You mention nimbleness, the JD large compacts turning circle is maybe a foot bigger than the midsize. For hilly slopes, I recommend hydrostatic tranny, R1 tires and 4wd. These will keep the price at the high end of your budget. I think a JD 4710 would really fit your bill but I don't think they have come down that low yet, you might get lucky.

[wolc123]

If you could scrape up another $5K, a JD 4120 with R1's and loaded rear tires would be just right for you. A new JD 990 would be a couple grand less but you would be marginal on hydraulic lift capacity and tractor weight to handle logs of significant size. I would look at Mahindra which has earned a reputation for quality rivaling JD, Kubota, NH, but may get you into a heavier tractor with the hydraulic power of a JD 4120 for around the cost of a 990. For many jobs, 4wd will let a smaller tractor do the job of a larger one, but for making heavy lifts, you need a heavy, proper balasted tractor. Obviously however, 4wd makes a huge improvement in manuverability with a front loader because you gain traction instead of lose it as you add weight to the front end. Concerning tires, many will argue that R4,s are better for use in the woods as they have somewhat greater resistance to puncture damage. This slight advantage is greatly outweighed by much reduced traction in mud and soft ground. A 4wd with R4's would not have much more traction ability in these conditions than your 2wd 4000 with R1's. I think you would be sorry if you pay a lot for a new 4wd and are not able to pull any more than you could with your 4000, so getting the right tires is a critical part of your purchase, especially because 75% or more of the CUT's out there have R4's.

[IslandTractor]

I don't know if they have released pricing on it yet but Kioti just announced a CK35 which might fit the bill. If you don't need hydro then the DK series are pretty good deals if the dealer discounts reasonably. Like Roxynoodle said, Mahindra would also be worth checking out.

[coasterez]

Isn't Kioti now offering the 45 in hydro now? Not sure about price. Would expect it to be very close.

[lhfarm]

I replaced my '64 Ford 4000 w/FEL for a NH TC40DA. The 4000 was a real work horse, but I'd never go back. The only thing I lost was running my baler. Based on advise here, I won't be doing that. Everything from the hydraulics to the way the tractor handles in the woods is such a vast improvement - and your Ford is a great old tractor.
As you already know, there is great information on all the brands here. I won't be afraid to look at used to stretch your budget a little.

[Agro-oti]

With your price range,I'd look for a new CUT in the 30-50 hp area. The Kioti CK and DK along with Deutz-Fahr Agrokid are all within reach. You'll get a warranty,and financing if needed also by buying new vs used.

[Glowplug]

I love New Holland tractors. That way it could be more closely related to the Ford you already have. It could be its newer, bigger, stronger cousin. Everyone on this board has their views on tractors and you will likely receive numerous recommendations on what you should get. But you have to get what works for you, what brand you feel comfortable with, what dealer you feel comfortable with, and what specific tractor you feel comfortable driving.

Good luck! Don't forget to update your "Public Profile".