Tractor Weight and PTO Lift

[Dargo]

For your listed uses, weight would not be my first choice. As a matter of fact, I think it would be flat silly to buy a tractor based on what it weighs. You can always add weight for not much money, and you can then take it off when not needed. You can't take weight off when it's built into the castings of the tractor, and you can't add quality later. It may be a shocker but, believe it or not, not every tractor is of identical quality. I guess I just don't agree with the general thought here to first buy on whatever is the heaviest, then the least expensive heavy tractor, then on listed PTO hp. Based on that advice, here is the tractor you should purchase: A tractor for Rs 99,000! (it translates out to just over $2100 U.S. dollars for the new tractor) That is the tractor you should buy based on advice given. It's heavy, cheap, and has reasonable PTO power for the money. As many say, it's the most tractor for your dollars. After all, all tractors are of equal quality, right?!

[john_bud]

Comp,
For some reason, I thought you only had 8-10 acres from your first note. Now I see you have 53, that changes things a bit.

Since you have time on your hands, I would suggest looking for a good used tractor. If you go to a real utility tractor in the 45-60 hp range you can get a good machine with powershift transmission, 4wd, an FEL with 1-2000 hours for 8-12,000 dollars. That would be many times the machine of the ones you listed. Then you could buy some larger implements either new or at auction. If you want to do some serious BH work, it would be a very stable platform and would allow for a 10-14' hoe. A new 10' hoe would cost the same as the tractor, but you wouldn't have to diddle around with new bushings, pins, hoses, repacking cylinders etc. Trust me -> either buy a new hoe or PAY someone to check out a used one for you. Hoes and boats are both money pits once that new sheen wears thin.

Again, since you have time, if you ask for recommedations in the brand specific areas for good used utility tractor models you will learn a lot and find out a lot about the options available to you. You can get a nice new 25 hp, 2-3000# tractor and a 7' hoe for the money you list. Or you can get a nice used 50 hp, 8000# tractor and a 10' hoe for the same money. Won't bother me a bit no matter which way, just wanted to point you in all the directions that are available.

Happy Hunting!
jb

On edit:

I went ebay shopping for tractors to see if I was right. Not saying these are great machines go buy them, but they are examples of what is available. Interesting to see what amount of machine you can get for the same or similar money.

eBay: 1986 DYNAHOE 160 SERIES 3 TRACTOR LOADER BACKHOE DIESEL (item 260063936893 end time Dec-20-06 15:51:24 PST)

eBay: 2003 BOBCAT B100 LOADER BACKHOE, TRACTOR, BACKHOE (item 300057795241 end time Dec-13-06 12:55:27 PST)

eBay: John Deere 410 Backhoe Ldr; New Engine, 4n1 Bkt, 2WD (item 110066035496 end time Dec-14-06 19:36:47 PST)

eBay: John Deere 110 Tractor Loader Backhoe (item 330059110569 end time Dec-13-06 08:57:44 PST)

eBay: New Holland TN65 Tractor w/32LA Front Loader & Sims Cab (item 230064746255 end time Dec-19-06 08:40:29 PST)

eBay: John Deere 3130 (95 HP) Self Leveling Loader (item 160062048424 end time Dec-17-06 12:56:53 PST)

eBay: 6640 FORD/NH CAB,MFWD, LOADER (item 230062225942 end time Dec-16-06 11:26:00 PST)