Buying Advice Bought a farm, looking for a tractor...and help choosing!

[curdy]

That is what I found to work the best separate lawnmower with 4x4ws, 3pt and 540 pto the X749 is great for close in work. The 110tlb works great as the loader/backhoe and can also handle 3PH work if necessary, the 820 for light field work and the 4520 as my main 3PH machine.

Curdy,
It can take quite awhile to get this all figured out, thats why I recommended starting with the lawn and close proximity of the house(s). Get that figured out and then evaluate your needs for the rest of the place. Plan what to do and what you need to do it.

Well, if its one thing I can very comfortably say I do know...its that I take my time figuring these things out just as you say. Some times to a fault I will be big enough to admit, but most of the time I end up much happier taking my time and figuring out where my resources are best invested. (Not to mention that when taking my time and figuring out just what will suit my needs I usually come across a great deal and things just fall into place)

If I had purchased a running farm, knew exactly what was needed and had an existing balance sheet with an equipment budget all figured out, it would be pretty obvious. It would also help if I actually knew what I was doing, but its part of the fun to figure it all out.

 

[jenkinsph]

Well, if its one thing I can very comfortably say I do know...its that I take my time figuring these things out just as you say. Some times to a fault I will be big enough to admit, but most of the time I end up much happier taking my time and figuring out where my resources are best invested. (Not to mention that when taking my time and figuring out just what will suit my needs I usually come across a great deal and things just fall into place)

If I had purchased a running farm, knew exactly what was needed and had an existing balance sheet with an equipment budget all figured out, it would be pretty obvious. It would also help if I actually knew what I was doing, but its part of the fun to figure it all out.

One of my friends who is a Psychologist told me I was overly analytical, I have been called worse things. I agree that it can be a puzzle and is fun to figure out, hope you enjoy the process.:thumbsup:

One thing I have found in working with this small equipment is that it pays to buy the right tool the first time. On a place such as yours alot can be done with a good mower setup and a good used tractor. Alot more can be done with a full blown mower with the proper attachments and a tlb with the proper attachments. If I could only have two machines of the five I have listed in my signature it would be the X749 and the 110tlb, the others while helpful and great to have are not essential. Having the 4520, 820 and L130 make everything a little easier to do and for landscape work make the jobs go faster.

 

[dapper]

Curdy,
Lot of good advice offered. Take your time and figure out what your needs are. I have done exactly what you're talking about. Don't rush...
First the mower: What exactly are your plans for "landscaping"? Mine started with a small yard and grew each year to a large yard because it was so pretty!!! :laughing: Now I mow about 4-5 ac with a ZD21. If you have ANY thing to mow around, the ZTR is the way to go. I have done it with a JD110, and an old ford 600 and rear deck, but you always need to TRIM. Not with ZTR :thumbsup: I just wouldn't consider doing any LARGE yard without ZTR again. Plenty good ZTR's out there, but IMHO the mower for this size yard that will last, will be in the $10K range "new". But it will cut all the grass for 10 + yr if taken care of, and...will give you plenty of time to see what feels right for the FARM and how you want to FARM it.
Granted all this GRASS can be cut with a 3pt rmm, but the tractor becomes very LONG and cumbersome, and with filled tires HEAVY on wet clay soil. Tracks will remain for years believe me. :ashamed: Also plan on spending 2X the time with a tractor vs. ZTR.
That said, I think there are plenty of good tractors out there in the 10k price range and if it were me, I would look more at the UTILITY size tractors rather than a compact. Lots of good old iron that goes undervalued in the 75hp utility tractor range. This size tractor is too big for the small acreage, and is too SMALL for the big farmers now. But for what you're talking about up to 75hp is not excessive. Probably 40hp minimum. Trick is, you have to have the room to be able to use the UTILITY size tractor. If you can't turn it around then it is of no value. HP is not the qualifier here as others have said. Plan on what you will do next year and the next... I personally think size does matter..... Tractor wise anyway.
I have maintained a 50ac park/farm for the last 20yrs and I started with the Ford 600. (Always wanted a loader, but never $$$) it took me 15 yrs to find a tractor that I thought would do a better job. (& the $) I finally did, and for me that was "2" tractors. First new was a NH TN65 with loader. (60hp). Kept the 600 for quicker tighter all around gofer tractor. Love the TN and would work well for most of what you're after I believe. 5 yr ago it was about 2x what you have to spend, but is getting closer to you now. I put an 8ft bush hog on it and mow the fields and fence rows regular, but I sure wouldn't want to mow the YARD with it. Have since replaced the Ford 600, (would have kept for sentimental, but no barn room) and now have a NH 3430, 2wd, no loader, filled tires. 45hp. Both tractors are gear tractors and I wouldn't want any different. Shuttle shift on the older gear models is nice, but hard to find a low hour tractor that is in good shape. (most were loader models and the wear on the front end can be an issue.)
I most often put a 3pt 6' finish mower on the back of the 3430 and mow my BACK yard with it. Then just finish trim with the ZTR. (I have lots of obstacles):thumbsup: Good solution for my park type farm setting. Difference in these 2 tractors is huge. One nimble and quick, (3430) & other powerful brute when I need the muscle.
Won't go into color issues here, although I am partial to blue, there are many good machines out there if they are taken care of they will last the 50ac farmer well into his sons life if the parts hold out. There has been a lot of good advice posted, but on here there usually is. Sorry for the long post. Let us know what you decide.

 

[toddol1971]

curdy if I had the money I'd have a 50 hp tractor with 4x4 & fel, a 90 or so hp tractor with fel and a backhoe or excavator. If frogs had wings they wouldnt bump there azz on the rocks either. I know that for me an 80hp tractor with fel, 12' bushhog and other imps would be ideal but I think I can only afford around 50 hp or so. It all depends on year of tractor. If I go to big I cant get around the woods. To small and it takes 40 days and 40 nights to do field work. Thats why I think a 40hp cut, fel, 4x4 with a old cheaper 70, 80 hp ag tractor for field work will be what I get. Even after all of that I still wont know what to get until I start pricing.

Todd

 

[curdy]

There's a Westendorf TA 25 loader for sale locally for $1500. Does it make any sense at all to consider getting a loader separate and then track down a good deal on a tractor?

 

[TripleR]

There's a Westendorf TA 25 loader for sale locally for $1500. Does it make any sense at all to consider getting a loader separate and then track down a good deal on a tractor?

We had a Westendorf loader on our Case CX 80 and it did not hold up well. I don't know if they are all like this, but I would make comparisons with OEM loaders or other aftermarket models. Some aftermarket like Quicke are really strong.

 

[DAY]

Something to take into account, this is tractor SELLING season. The used equipment that has been sitting at the dealers all winter suddenly are finding new homes.

 

[curdy]

About 2 hours away in the town we just moved from, there's a 1976 JD 2040 with loader and 1650 hours. Its listed for $4500.

Another option not too far away is a 1975 Ford 4500 TLB diesel. Also $4500.

 

[DAY]

Another option not too far away is a 1975 Ford 4500 TLB diesel. Also $4500.

The "Yellow Fellow" in my avatar is a Ford 4500 TLB.
Everything works, and it is great for occasional use, but too big and unwieldy for many tasks.

 

[fowllife]

About 2 hours away in the town we just moved from, there's a 1976 JD 2040 with loader and 1650 hours. Its listed for $4500.

Another option not too far away is a 1975 Ford 4500 TLB diesel. Also $4500.

Personally I think that you are on the right track looking for separate tractor and mowers. At this point in time I would not get a backhoe. You are going to need the 3ph and pto more then the hoe. I also think that you are on the right track looking for an older used utility ag. tractor instead of something newer. You are not going to know what you need until you work your farm for a bit. With the plan that you have in mind I can see 3 tractors in your barn in the future. A 30-50hp utility type ag tractor being one of them.

Unless you plan on buying feeder animals in the spring and selling them in the fall, you are going to want to make your own hay. Yeah you can buy it, but it may be much more cost effective to make it. If you do it yourself your first tractor will be a good rake tractor. If you hire it out it will still work for a wagon tractor.

As has already been mentioned also, if your buy someting in this size/age/price range and decide to sell it, you will more then lickly be able to get your money back out of it.