Do I need a tractor?!

[seaweaver]

Silly Q on tractor website!
I'm moving to NC and we are buying a house on 10 acres of forest. I'll need to cut in a pasture perhaps 1.5 to 2 acres for my brides pony...and If I know my bride..."soon to get" new horse. As my daughter will out grow the pony in 3 years that will be "upgraded" too. Besides the kick of owning a tractor, do I need one for: dragging trees, pulling stumps...ect.
There will not be a lot of extra money laying around after this land purchase so I doubt I can handle the cost of hiring someone to clear it for me(I think).
I have an F250 4x4... should I do what I can w/ that and hire someone to grade it?
I have always liked the idea of a tractor, but have no idea of operating costs. I saw a gas TE20 tractor w/o attachments for 2k ...I guess I would need a box blade and a manure spreader later...
I saw a Case International 234 w/ box,spreader and mower for 3k and it was a diesel which I'm partial to.
Are there small utility tractors that are more inexpensive to own /maintain than others? I'm going to be a "home daddy" for a while so I could really get busy landscaping and adding value to the property.
The idea of a loader gets me ramped up as I could cut my new shop into the hillside.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks
cw

 

[cubcadet69]

look on craigslist,you will find a tractor.for what you are doing a gas machine will work.you can always upgrade later.you can find older fords and ih pretty cheap

 

[brandoro]

A small diesel tractor with FEL and a few other attachments will be one of those tools that you will use more than you imagined you would before you got it. Jobs that would be tough, backbreaking work without will be close to play with the tractor.
I tell people that having the tractor and loader is like having four strong friends who don't get tired and don't drink any beer. :thumbsup: Amazing how much work a tractor will do on a little bit of fuel. A word to the wise, if you get a diesel tractor always call it that, don't ever say it needs "gas", or that you are putting "gas" in it. If you call it "gas" sooner or later someone will help you out by putting "gas" in it.
Having said that, there will still be some jobs where it is more practical to hire someone with a big machine to come in and do the bulk of a job quickly then you can use the tractor to clean up.

 

[Ezlivn]

Silly Q on tractor website!:thumbsup:

Simple answer...YES!!

 

[RadarTech]

Welcome to tbn!

Several thoughts.

1 check your budget. If you can afford 2k cash, check out a loan. Since you are in nc there may be some tax breaks with the horse. Not positive but I have heard the scuttlebutt...


2 many dealers are offering 0 percent loans..

3 the loader is almost a mandate with a horse and farm land.

4 go to a dealer test drive.

5 if you can't go to a dealer, rent and see what you like..

6 Your physical attributes.. Ie.. I have a sometimes tender left knee.
That means alot of clutch work is not fun for me. If you have issues liKe that consider that when making decisions.

7 parts.. If you buy a used older tractor consider what it will take to maintain it.. Tires, spare parts, why is the owner selling it. Can you afford $ 500 or more for random failures?

8 how mechanically inclined are you? Can you repair it yourself?


Lots of things to consider when buying used....


On a side note, where in NC?

I hope this helps!


J

 

[MarkV]

Welcome to the forum!! I think you will need a tractor eventually. My advice would be give it a little time for the monies to recoup and to get a better feel for country life. Clearing two acres and turning it into pasture to support horses is no easy task, even with a tractor. Around here in N. Georgia excavation companies charge $2500 - $3000 per acre to clear, stump and grade. By the way, tractors do not pull out stumps of size easily if ever. Then you need to plant and keep the horses off for a year to let the pasture develop. Without the pasture you will be feeding hay for a good while. That can become a chore to move by hand. Round bales are usually cheaper but require a tractor, of size, to move. Then there is firewood, manure, road grading, pasture mowing and you might even get a snow now and then in NC.

Yep, you need a tractor. Give it some time so you have a better feel for your needs. Also be careful of $2k & $3k tractors unless you are very mechanical.

Good luck,
MarkV

 

[flusher]

Silly Q on tractor website!
I'm moving to NC and we are buying a house on 10 acres of forest. I'll need to cut in a pasture perhaps 1.5 to 2 acres for my brides pony...and If I know my bride..."soon to get" new horse. As my daughter will out grow the pony in 3 years that will be "upgraded" too. Besides the kick of owning a tractor, do I need one for: dragging trees, pulling stumps...ect.
There will not be a lot of extra money laying around after this land purchase so I doubt I can handle the cost of hiring someone to clear it for me(I think).
I have an F250 4x4... should I do what I can w/ that and hire someone to grade it?
I have always liked the idea of a tractor, but have no idea of operating costs. I saw a gas TE20 tractor w/o attachments for 2k ...I guess I would need a box blade and a manure spreader later...
I saw a Case International 234 w/ box,spreader and mower for 3k and it was a diesel which I'm partial to.
Are there small utility tractors that are more inexpensive to own /maintain than others? I'm going to be a "home daddy" for a while so I could really get busy landscaping and adding value to the property.
The idea of a loader gets me ramped up as I could cut my new shop into the hillside.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks
cw

Operating costs--fuel, oil, filters--not that expensive even for a diesel
Ownership costs-
-new tractor: monthly financing payments are the big bites (0% financing is usually available somewhere)
- used tractor: parts (cost and availability), shop labor (less if you can turn a wrench yourself).
-Cutting into a hillside--not a job for your front end loader (it's purpose is to scoop loose material). A utility tractor is not a piece of construction equipment.

 

[jake98]

Ten acres, no doubt you need a tractor. Start with small projects first, like making trails, driveways, etc., clearing forest for pasture is a big project. Good luck, welcome to TBN!

 

[LarryD]

10 acres + horses...You NEED a tractor.

I don't know what type of clearing you're looking at but a 10" stump can offer a lot of resistance. When we bought I hired a guy to turn 2 acres of jack fir and old stumps (24"+) into a pasture. I was ready for seed in a week. It would have taken much longer with my 33HP tractor and the big stumps would still be there since I only have an FEL.

I waited a couple years before I bought mine and all I can say is, WHY did I wait? You NEED a tractor.

 

[whistlepig]

We have horses. Get a tractor with a FEL. The wear and tear it saves on one's body makes them well worth the addition cost. You are going to need a brush hog and post hole digger also.

 

[dcyrilc]

For the land and projects you've described, you could probably do it without a tractor, but having said that...

...if you do get a tractor, you will never regret having it around. The longer you have it, the more you will be amazed at what it can do and that you even considered the possibility of not getting one.

The best advice I could give would be to take your time in looking for one. Good used tractors are out there, but you don't find them every day. It took me a year of looking before I found mine.

Stick around here on TBN, do some reading and ask questions. There's a lot of good people here and a lot of good advice and knowledge. Oh, and did I mention asking questions? Half of the process of learning is asking questions.:thumbsup:


Best wishes to you and your family with the new farm.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[seaweaver]

Friends that don't get tired or drink beer!
Oh that's good.
I have inadvertently put gas in my truck...we use the term fuel!
I think I could sell the bride on a unit w/ a front end loader...If I can get my boat repair business restarted in NC I could use that as a lift.

RT we are moving to the extreme NE corner of Orange county. The Bride is working just into Durham County and I put my foot down to living there.
I'll have ask around about tax breaks, The state seems to like spending $$ so I won't look for much.
I'm very mechanically inclined and as a sailor can fix most things w/ a pair of pliers and duct tape so an older used unit does not intimidate me...except for those things I'm not aware of like internals of gear cases and the brands prone to failure.
I would rather not go into debt on a unit as we have worked hard to become debt free except the mortgage.
Is there a particular brand to look for in a inexpensive used unit w/ a loader?
any to steer away from?
cw

 

[RadarTech]

I did leave off something my good friend Cyril said... Ask questions..

I do alot of training classes.. And one of the first things I tell the class attendees is "there is no such thing as a stupid question"
And then depending on the audience, add "except the one you don't ask and you get fired for it, or causes other problems!"

There is likely over 3000 years of tractor experience on tbn, so ask away!

And Cyril has a significant amount of farm experience...

Just kidding ole friend...



J

 

[radioman]

unless you are an amish- I'd say you NEED a tractor if you are planning to get horses. you are going to feel the pain without one if you have animals on the farm.

 

[dcyrilc]

I did leave off something my good friend Cyril said... Ask questions..

I do alot of training classes.. And one of the first things I tell the class attendees is "there is no such thing as a stupid question"
And then depending on the audience, add "except the one you don't ask and you get fired for it, or causes other problems!"

There is likely over 3000 years of tractor experience on tbn, so ask away!

And Cyril has a significant amount of farm experience...

Just kidding ole friend...


J

Who you calling old? Oh, that was ole.:laughing:

As for "over 3000 years of tractor experiance"...
...I'll bet that number is way over 30,000.:dance1:

 

[windy acers]

Any tractor with a perkins 3cyl deisel would fit you and your budget.Massey fergeson,David Brown,an english ford dexta,or the ford 2000. skip the 8ns 9ns and the simular massey fergeson t30 ithink. You will need a 3or 4 speed trans with a high and low range for a creeper gear.Even with 4 wheel drive you are limited what you can dig. stay above 30 hp. a35 to 40 hp kubota 4 wheel drive would be ideal.With a bucket and back hoe.

 

[kendive]

look on craigslist,you will find a tractor.for what you are doing a gas machine will work.you can always upgrade later.you can find older fords and ih pretty cheap

He is right... Just keep looking. I found a 2005 Kubota B7510 276 hours on it with a loader and box blade and a Trailer for 6K... Yesterday I bought a used 4 foot J-Bar Bushhog for $300... All on Craigslist.

There are deals out there to be had. Just keep looking...

 

[EE_Bota]

Welcome to TBN. Also, welcome to NC, that is, when you actually arrive.

Where are you moving in from?

If you are coming from the North, and people start reminding you of smart dogs, it is because you are talking too fast. Talk slooooower.

As for the tractor, having reread your questions, I would say go slowly. Getting from where you are to where you want to be will take a long time, done right, and will be a source of fun and pride, again, done right.

Once you buy your tractor, tractor shopping is over, and cannot be restarted easily. Never underestimate the fun of tractor shopping, and the importance of getting it right.

Read posts from people actually doing the work you hope to do. See their safety concerns, their methods, their equipment, and their comments about the equipment. Look at the photos, and see the actual trees and stumps they are dealing with, and compare them to yours.

You will pick up most of what you need to know, and before long, you may even be running your tractor deal by the group to see if they think you are getting a "steal."

Avoid tractors without modern safety features such as a ROPS.

Good luck, and welcome again.

 

[seaweaver]

Welcome to TBN. Also, welcome to NC, that is, when you actually arrive.

Where are you moving in from?

If you are coming from the North, and people start reminding you of smart dogs, it is because you are talking too fast. Talk slooooower.

As for the tractor, having reread your questions, I would say go slowly. Getting from where you are to where you want to be will take a long time, done right, and will be a source of fun and pride, again, done right.

Once you buy your tractor, tractor shopping is over, and cannot be restarted easily. Never underestimate the fun of tractor shopping, and the importance of getting it right.

Read posts from people actually doing the work you hope to do. See their safety concerns, their methods, their equipment, and their comments about the equipment. Look at the photos, and see the actual trees and stumps they are dealing with, and compare them to yours.

You will pick up most of what you need to know, and before long, you may even be running your tractor deal by the group to see if they think you are getting a "steal."

Avoid tractors without modern safety features such as a ROPS.

Good luck, and welcome again.

What's ROPS?
I assumed the FEL is not a hill cutter, but I was thinking w/ a flat fork(s) it could break up the ground if I need to.
I'm coming from Wilmington Island outside of Savannah. I have been on an island all my life and am looking forward to being in hill country...for 3-4 years. It could be longer...
The hunting looks much better(cept no hogs)

I started my boat building career w/ German transplants on an old wooden ship. They also built docks and they were the most ingenious guys I ever met. We Built machines and tools as we ran across applications and I see a tractor as a base from which to build on.

I just stopped and looked at a JD 700 series in the neighborhood where they are building a bike path. The FEL said 490 so I was guessing the FEL is suitable for different platforms. In looking at the hinge points for the accessory, they looked a bit weak as it appeared all bucket load was in one vertical section on both sides, which in turn was attached to a simple cross beam to the frame. This cross beam seemed to be the only point to resist torque. On a construction loader the "hinge" point and the piston or drive are at two different locations along the frame.
Is this a standard set up for a small FEL and is it not weak?

 

[RadarTech]

Thickness of the steele on the compact tractor line is all calculated and engineered to meet a spec and profit line..

Rarely have I heard or seen typical use failures of a loader.
Abuse or trying to lift to much its a different story.. The hydraulics have pressure releases that prevent lifting too much...

As for the loader vs the tractor model.. Yes.. For example:
The kubota 3400 and 2800 use the 463 loader..


Hth,
John