iKloke
Member
Hello everyone,
I would like some help from the more experienced to make a decision on the correct tractor for me. This will be long but this is not a cheap investment for my family so I want to make sure that I have everything here so that I buy enough tractor but not go overboard.
I have spent a few months reading many of the forums and visiting dealerships to try and learn what I need but honestly I have been more confused as I have delved deeper. I worked on a farm growing up so I do know a few things from 25 years ago but nothing with current technology.
A bit of background as to why we are getting a cab tractor:
I died of Heat Stroke years ago and though they brought me back, I have not been right since. I have moved back to Louisiana, smart move I know being heat challenged but family tends to make us do things that are not normally on the options list. Since I have been back in Louisiana mowing and doing things here just are not working for me as the heat overwhelms me quickly. My wife has now started to have heat problems so we have decided to purchase a tractor with a cab on it.
Now the hard part is deciding what we need vs what we want and trying to avoid the regret that I have had in the past by not knowing what options I should have purchased up front. Things like after having a backup camera on my truck, I know that I will always want it on future vehicles if offered. I am hoping that you guys can help me avoid that by letting me know what you would do or what options you would get or avoid if you did it again.
We have decided that going with John Deere is the brand we want but now we need to decide which to get. We are trying to go with the cheapest route while making sure that I have enough power for anything that I need in the future.
The last thing I want to do is buy a $40 - $50k tractor that will not do everything that I need in the future. It will currently be used as a glorified lawn mower but I do intend on buying land in the future that will need to be cleared and kept.
I started with the 3 family tractor as it was the smallest tractor with a Cab and AC but the more I read, the more I wonder if I would it would be enough for projects over the years. Knowing I will not be putting a ton of hours on the tractor, I am hoping that with good maintenance it will last my lifetime.
Things I know that I will be doing over the next 10 years with it.
1. Bringing in dirt and leveling our yard.
2. Fencing and clearing our Acreage (Possibly up to 15) using a Brush Hog.
3. Mowing with a 7 ft finishing mower, this will be the current 3 acres that we sit on now and up to 5 if we do buy land and build on it and it will be a weekly thing.
4. Using a pallet fork to move a pallet of Bags of Salt, concrete or other things I bring in.
5. Planting on 1.5 acres. Just a normal garden, not for profit.
6. Using the bucket or forks to move sections of tree trunk to the road as we clear land.
7. Lord knows anything else once I get comfortable with the Tractor.
My issue is the dealership is telling me that I can get into a 5 series for around the same price as the 3 series and I am wondering which way to go. My main issue with the 5 series is that my wife will not be comfortable in it after sitting in it. She was comfortable with the smaller 3 series tractor. After discussions, with a tractor I will be doing all of the yard work anyway so it really does not matter.
Things I am looking for.
1. Suggestions on which tractor to go with to complete these task with enough PTO to not strain the tractor.
2. Suggestions on what options I might not be thinking about on the tractor that I should consider upon purchase or others that sound great but that you would avoid.
3. Suggestions on whether the Deluxe cab is worth the extra money. The dealer could not tell me the difference other than the Air Ride seat and for the amount of money, I am hoping there are other bells and whistles because I could simply buy an aftermarket Air Ride seat.
I appreciate your input and look forward to your responses and being an active member here.
Thank You,
Aaron Richard
I would like some help from the more experienced to make a decision on the correct tractor for me. This will be long but this is not a cheap investment for my family so I want to make sure that I have everything here so that I buy enough tractor but not go overboard.
I have spent a few months reading many of the forums and visiting dealerships to try and learn what I need but honestly I have been more confused as I have delved deeper. I worked on a farm growing up so I do know a few things from 25 years ago but nothing with current technology.
A bit of background as to why we are getting a cab tractor:
I died of Heat Stroke years ago and though they brought me back, I have not been right since. I have moved back to Louisiana, smart move I know being heat challenged but family tends to make us do things that are not normally on the options list. Since I have been back in Louisiana mowing and doing things here just are not working for me as the heat overwhelms me quickly. My wife has now started to have heat problems so we have decided to purchase a tractor with a cab on it.
Now the hard part is deciding what we need vs what we want and trying to avoid the regret that I have had in the past by not knowing what options I should have purchased up front. Things like after having a backup camera on my truck, I know that I will always want it on future vehicles if offered. I am hoping that you guys can help me avoid that by letting me know what you would do or what options you would get or avoid if you did it again.
We have decided that going with John Deere is the brand we want but now we need to decide which to get. We are trying to go with the cheapest route while making sure that I have enough power for anything that I need in the future.
The last thing I want to do is buy a $40 - $50k tractor that will not do everything that I need in the future. It will currently be used as a glorified lawn mower but I do intend on buying land in the future that will need to be cleared and kept.
I started with the 3 family tractor as it was the smallest tractor with a Cab and AC but the more I read, the more I wonder if I would it would be enough for projects over the years. Knowing I will not be putting a ton of hours on the tractor, I am hoping that with good maintenance it will last my lifetime.
Things I know that I will be doing over the next 10 years with it.
1. Bringing in dirt and leveling our yard.
2. Fencing and clearing our Acreage (Possibly up to 15) using a Brush Hog.
3. Mowing with a 7 ft finishing mower, this will be the current 3 acres that we sit on now and up to 5 if we do buy land and build on it and it will be a weekly thing.
4. Using a pallet fork to move a pallet of Bags of Salt, concrete or other things I bring in.
5. Planting on 1.5 acres. Just a normal garden, not for profit.
6. Using the bucket or forks to move sections of tree trunk to the road as we clear land.
7. Lord knows anything else once I get comfortable with the Tractor.
My issue is the dealership is telling me that I can get into a 5 series for around the same price as the 3 series and I am wondering which way to go. My main issue with the 5 series is that my wife will not be comfortable in it after sitting in it. She was comfortable with the smaller 3 series tractor. After discussions, with a tractor I will be doing all of the yard work anyway so it really does not matter.
Things I am looking for.
1. Suggestions on which tractor to go with to complete these task with enough PTO to not strain the tractor.
2. Suggestions on what options I might not be thinking about on the tractor that I should consider upon purchase or others that sound great but that you would avoid.
3. Suggestions on whether the Deluxe cab is worth the extra money. The dealer could not tell me the difference other than the Air Ride seat and for the amount of money, I am hoping there are other bells and whistles because I could simply buy an aftermarket Air Ride seat.
I appreciate your input and look forward to your responses and being an active member here.
Thank You,
Aaron Richard
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