need advice on tractor needs

[Steve C]

Please let us know how to get a 10% ROI average without being part of an early Ponzi scheme. I agree that paying for services is an option for the OP but would imagine he will need a much greater "nest egg" to pay for such services. I agree with your estimate of $2500/yr for mowing, snow removal and some occasional brush clean up/tree work but I haven't seen such optimistic figures for ROI since Bernie Madoff was thrown in the slammer.

Investing 25K in a new or slightly used tractor and implements would likely be the best way to get a 10% ROI for someone in the OP's position.

If you had purchased 25k worth of Dow Chemical stock on september 10th @ 22.60, as of today in only 4 days you would have alread recieved an 11.9% ROI. It traded at 25.29 in after market trading today, plus you will get the dividend if you hold it untill the end of september, about $166 and the increased value of the stock would have been $2975 for a total of $3141

It is very probably that the anual ROI on this particular stock will be a little more than the 10% since it has exceeded that amount in only 4 days




__________________

 

[Papasmith]

Steve C. was correct. I am not inclined to do mechanical work. I don't know how. Steve C. makes some good points from an economic point of view. But, I am intrigued with "pushing dirt around" and keeping the pasture bush-hogged. Blading the snow off the lane would be interesting also. I am not sure I can handle waiting for the grass to be baled twice a year.

You might want to think about being patient and hiring out the tractor work out for a year and, in the meantime, look around to become really familiar with what tractors are out there and what you can and will do with them. Study the maintenance issues and see how well they mesh with your inclinations and skills. You might find that you will feel comfortable with a good used tractor. I mean after-all, there are a lot of good, low hour tractors out there at significant savings over new.

Think about this. A good tractor should run at least three if not four or five thousand hours if properly maintained. I have seen some larger tractors with as many as 10,000 hours. More than likely, you will not be using your tractor maybe, 50 to 75 hours a year if that much for your 18 acres. With that said, I would look at buying a good used tractor in the 25 to 40hp range. With the money saved you can buy some equipment and a good used commercial mower which are great on hills.

By way of example, let me describe the set up for my 101 acres which I just maintain.

2002 4500 Mahindra 2WD. Has 42hp though some claim it is 45hp. Bought 5 years ago with 180 hours for 12,000 with FEL and 7 foot bush hog. Now has 360 hours which equals 36 hours per year. I know a lot of people push the 4WD but, the 2WD's have been used for a hundred years and they have done the job just fine. I am completely happy with mine.
Commercial Mowers - Presently a Ferris IS3000 because of the suspension. Bought with 396 hours for $3800.00. Number of hours in three years the two commercial mowers I have owned, 160 or 53 hours a year. This includes mowing some fields with this mower in early spring and mowing around fields and barns the rest of the year. Expected life span of a commercial mower is at least 2000 hours if maintained at all. I have seen or heard of some with more than 3500 hours that were well maintained.

Total amount of work done on the above other than normal maintenance - Rebuilt starter on Mahindra.

Other equipment includes Tiller, Scrape Blade and Box Scrape. Total Cost - $1550.00.

Total cost of equipment above - $17350.00.

Whatever way you go, good luck

Dave in NC

 

[IslandTractor]

If you had purchased 25k worth of Dow Chemical stock on september 10th @ 22.60, as of today in only 4 days you would have alread recieved an 11.9% ROI. It traded at 25.29 in after market trading today, plus you will get the dividend if you hold it untill the end of september, about $166 and the increased value of the stock would have been $2975 for a total of $3141

It is very probably that the anual ROI on this particular stock will be a little more than the 10% since it has exceeded that amount in only 4 days




__________________

Just as soon as I withdraw all my funds from my Madoff account I will be sure to put it all into Dow and then use the returns to pay someone else to have all my tractor fun for me.

 

[Steve C]

Just as soon as I withdraw all my funds from my Madoff account I will be sure to put it all into Dow and then use the returns to pay someone else to have all my tractor fun for me.

me thinks you will have to find someone who works for free for that plan to work.

I am afraid that you will just have to continue having your tractor fun yourself.

Having fun is a tough job but someone has to do it!

This my latest tractor fun project.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ar-blade-box-blade-project-2.html#post1757873

I think my $200 box blade has paid for itself with this one little job.

 

[Steve C]

You might want to think about being patient and hiring out the tractor work out for a year and, in the meantime, look around to become really familiar with what tractors are out there and what you can and will do with them. Study the maintenance issues and see how well they mesh with your inclinations and skills. You might find that you will feel comfortable with a good used tractor. I mean after-all, there are a lot of good, low hour tractors out there at significant savings over new.

Think about this. A good tractor should run at least three if not four or five thousand hours if properly maintained. I have seen some larger tractors with as many as 10,000 hours. More than likely, you will not be using your tractor maybe, 50 to 75 hours a year if that much for your 18 acres. With that said, I would look at buying a good used tractor in the 25 to 40hp range. With the money saved you can buy some equipment and a good used commercial mower which are great on hills.

By way of example, let me describe the set up for my 101 acres which I just maintain.

2002 4500 Mahindra 2WD. Has 42hp though some claim it is 45hp. Bought 5 years ago with 180 hours for 12,000 with FEL and 7 foot bush hog. Now has 360 hours which equals 36 hours per year. I know a lot of people push the 4WD but, the 2WD's have been used for a hundred years and they have done the job just fine. I am completely happy with mine.
Commercial Mowers - Presently a Ferris IS3000 because of the suspension. Bought with 396 hours for $3800.00. Number of hours in three years the two commercial mowers I have owned, 160 or 53 hours a year. This includes mowing some fields with this mower in early spring and mowing around fields and barns the rest of the year. Expected life span of a commercial mower is at least 2000 hours if maintained at all. I have seen or heard of some with more than 3500 hours that were well maintained.

Total amount of work done on the above other than normal maintenance - Rebuilt starter on Mahindra.

Other equipment includes Tiller, Scrape Blade and Box Scrape. Total Cost - $1550.00.

Total cost of equipment above - $17350.00.

Whatever way you go, good luck

Dave in NC

Good advice Dave, a lot of quality equipment for about half of what it would cost new. I would like to move up to something like that some day. I started at the very bottom of the barrel when it comes to tractors, but so far I have been pleased with the results. Although I expect to have to work on it some day.

2005 Farm Pro 2524 4wd. The tractor had 47 hours on
it when I bought it, it now has 80 hours on it. Tractor
came with 5 foot brush hog, cultivator, 7 foot back blade and
1500 lb lawn roller....................$4000 (used)
6 foot Dark Horse tiller................$300 (used)
30 inch King cutter dirt scoop.......$100 (used)
Dark Horse middle buster plow........$50 (new)
Dark Horse chisel plow..................$50 (new)
Dark Horse 5 foot box blade..........$200 (new)

Total.......................................$4700

I wouldn't recomend this to someone who doesn't want to
work on stuff though, but it works for me.

 

[taborekle]

Critical Parameters:
spend up to $20k to $25k.
"I am not inclined to do any mechanical work on equipment" - means new or darn near
6 ft. bush hog - forces about 30+HP tractor, plus $1,000?
front end loader
box blade - about $500 plus
tiller - $2,500

To get all this new (basic Kubota B7800/B3200) would be about $20K. For snow - if you want a front mounted snowblower add another $2K to 3K.

For Kioti or Bobcat probably less.

Whoops - forgot - add about $25 for the first fill up

Perhaps you're prices are less, or you were dealt a better deal, but a more realistic appraisal of this is about $25K. Snow blowers about right.

Just don't want the OP to have a un-realistic idea of what he can get.

My B2920 + 48in bushhog + 5 foot blade + 48in tiller + FEL + Tax was $22K.

Larry

 

[rstipp]

You might want to think about being patient and hiring out the tractor work out for a year and, in the meantime, look around to become really familiar with what tractors are out there and what you can and will do with them. Study the maintenance issues and see how well they mesh with your inclinations and skills. You might find that you will feel comfortable with a good used tractor. I mean after-all, there are a lot of good, low hour tractors out there at significant savings over new.

Think about this. A good tractor should run at least three if not four or five thousand hours if properly maintained. I have seen some larger tractors with as many as 10,000 hours. More than likely, you will not be using your tractor maybe, 50 to 75 hours a year if that much for your 18 acres. With that said, I would look at buying a good used tractor in the 25 to 40hp range. With the money saved you can buy some equipment and a good used commercial mower which are great on hills.

By way of example, let me describe the set up for my 101 acres which I just maintain.

2002 4500 Mahindra 2WD. Has 42hp though some claim it is 45hp. Bought 5 years ago with 180 hours for 12,000 with FEL and 7 foot bush hog. Now has 360 hours which equals 36 hours per year. I know a lot of people push the 4WD but, the 2WD's have been used for a hundred years and they have done the job just fine. I am completely happy with mine.
Commercial Mowers - Presently a Ferris IS3000 because of the suspension. Bought with 396 hours for $3800.00. Number of hours in three years the two commercial mowers I have owned, 160 or 53 hours a year. This includes mowing some fields with this mower in early spring and mowing around fields and barns the rest of the year. Expected life span of a commercial mower is at least 2000 hours if maintained at all. I have seen or heard of some with more than 3500 hours that were well maintained.

Total amount of work done on the above other than normal maintenance - Rebuilt starter on Mahindra.

Other equipment includes Tiller, Scrape Blade and Box Scrape. Total Cost - $1550.00.

Total cost of equipment above - $17350.00.

Whatever way you go, good luck

Dave in NC

I had thought a little about a commercial mower (zero radius) as an option. This might actually do the mowing quicker than a tractor/bush hog set-up-you think?
I have a flat bed trailer I pull with a bumper hitch. I would like to pull that around the farm and pick up limbs, etc. Could I set-up the tractor to do that?
Thanks, PapaSmith, for the thoughts.

 

[Steve C]

I had thought a little about a commercial mower (zero radius) as an option. This might actually do the mowing quicker than a tractor/bush hog set-up-you think?
I have a flat bed trailer I pull with a bumper hitch. I would like to pull that around the farm and pick up limbs, etc. Could I set-up the tractor to do that?
Thanks, PapaSmith, for the thoughts.

I have one of these, 60 inch Zero turn. It is by far much faster that anything else I have tried for mowing. These things can be a little hair raising on steep hills however. One of my properties has a house on top of a hill with a walk out basement on one side. The lawn slopes down very sharply on that side of the house, and about 1 acre of the 5 acre parcel has a slope of around 10 degrees. My basement floor is about 6 foot above the center of the road. The nature of the zero turns is they will "crab walk" if you try to mow side hill. It can be done but it isn't a lot of fun since they require constant steering correction to go in a straight line. They are much better going up hill. Down hill is O.K. but they tend to gather speed quickly and the steering gets a little vauge as the weight transfers off the drive wheels to the front casters. Mine isn't as fast as a true comercial mower, but the 26hp motor seems to be a good match for the 60" deck. My local farm supply store has one of these on clearance for $3400. If I didn't already have one I would buy it in a heartbeat. A lot of mower for the money. Nothing fancy but heavy gauge metal all around.

It also has a bumper that you can mount a hitch to to pull a trailer. It has very good traction because most of the weight is over the drive wheels and the dual hydrostatic drives gives it a great amount of power for pulling a heavy load.

Swisher Max Z ZT2660B zero-turn mower Review: Powered by ConsumerGuide and HowStuffWorks

 

[rstipp]

Interesting thought about pulling the trailer with the mower. I will research that further.
Thanks

 

[Steve C]

Interesting thought about pulling the trailer with the mower. I will research that further.
Thanks

I forgot to answer your origional question about the tractor pulling a trailer, yes, most of them have a drawbar that you can attach the hitch ball to. The delux way is to mount the hitch on the 3 point so you don't even have to lift the trailer to connect it, just back under the trailer and raise the hitch.