Buying Advice 40-90 hp tractor please

[EHR]

For several years I have been looking for a larger tractor. I own a Kioti but am leaning towards an American made cab tractor with a loader. Kubota, Massey and Ford are options as well but Deere is my 1st choice. Basically I use the tractor for about 100 hours a year and I want to buy parts in the future easily.

While I am frugal I am a cash buyer in the Manchester NH area if anyone wants to sell. Please pm with ideas. I am looking in the 40-90 hp 4wd range.

 

[newbury]

I'm an advocate for setting definite required parameters, buying used and looking long.

Are your only parameters cab, parts availability, hp and 4wd?

For instance for my M4700 I had parameters (in approximate order of importance)
Good mechanical condition
< $15K
FEL AND 4WD
Able to lift a ton on the 3 point (I move trees for my little sawmill)

I searched Craigslist, auctions, online dealers, B&M dealers, word of mouth etc. for 3 months and was just about to buy an L3830 from Barlows for approximately $15K when I bought my M4700 for ~$11.5K at a local government auction. It's 50 HP and 4WD Kubota with great parts availability, lifts 2 tons on the 3pt and had good maintenance.



Can you do the "easy" things like replace hoses, filter, lubricant, battery change?

Tell us more and TBN will help.

 

[EHR]

Yes I can do the basics. I have owned several Japanese tractors that after 15 years parts became an issue. Really like Kioti but the company seems to say "see ya" after the purchase. I want loader lift capacity of 40 hp plus and a cab would be nice.

Small scale logging is one reason I want larger than 28hp that I have. A cab is a drop dead issue but in January it means a lot.

Thx

 

[engine29]

Do you realize that most 40hp tractors are not made in the US? There is nothing wrong w/ Kioti. Price the competitors and see who is less for in many cases more tractor. Deere will be way higher as well as Kubota. The New Hollands are made in Korea or Japan depending on model. Massey is either Brazil or France. Kubota, some assembled in US as Deere.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

For several years I have been looking for a larger tractor. I own a Kioti but am leaning towards an American made cab tractor with a loader. Kubota, Massey and Ford are options as well but Deere is my 1st choice. Basically I use the tractor for about 100 hours a year and I want to buy parts in the future easily.

While I am frugal I am a cash buyer in the Manchester NH area if anyone wants to sell. Please pm with ideas. I am looking in the 40-90 hp 4wd range.

Gear tractor? Then a 2012 or newer cab-on Deere 5083E. Under 40K used with a loader if you look around.

 

[RollingsFarms]

40-90hp is a pretty wide range. I just upgraded from a 56hp tractor to a 67hp and I swear my new tractor is physically half a size larger then my old one! It's also 1,000 lbs heavier. My point being is tractors really get big between 40-50, much less 40-90.

 

[redman135]

Ergonomics.
Can you just put your hand out and the control (scv lever, 3ph, or powershift etc) lever is there or do you have to stretch slightly.Makes a big difference at the end of the day.eg some tractors have a low roof (MF6290 last generation),JDjd6920for me is a good fit,everything to hand. An MF5465 is proportioned for someone with longer arm than me, so I get a sore arm, particularly the loader control.

 

[coobie]

Yes I can do the basics. I have owned several Japanese tractors that after 15 years parts became an issue. Really like Kioti but the company seems to say "see ya" after the purchase. I want loader lift capacity of 40 hp plus and a cab would be nice.

Small scale logging is one reason I want larger than 28hp that I have. A cab is a drop dead issue but in January it means a lot.

Thx

Have you had some type of issue with Kioti?IMHO you will be hard pressed to find to many 40-50 hp tractors made in the USA.

 

[boggen]

For several years I have been looking for a larger tractor. I own a Kioti but am leaning towards an American made cab tractor with a loader. kubota, Massey and Ford are options as well but Deere is my 1st choice. Basically I use the tractor for about 100 hours a year and I want to buy parts in the future easily.

While I am frugal I am a cash buyer in the Manchester NH area if anyone wants to sell. Please pm with ideas. I am looking in the 40-90 hp 4wd range.

Yes I can do the basics. I have owned several Japanese tractors that after 15 years parts became an issue. Really like Kioti but the company seems to say "see ya" after the purchase. I want loader lift capacity of 40 hp plus and a cab would be nice.

Small scale logging is one reason I want larger than 28hp that I have. A cab is a drop dead issue but in January it means a lot.

Thx

besides, small scale logging and 100 hours usage per year... give some more descriptions of usage for the tractor....implements used, primary usages of the tractor. slopes on hills / amount of hills. maintaining any major length of driveways / trails / roads. dealing with tree stumps? fel trees an dragging them out of the woods?

any backhoe usage? if ya going with cab, and backhoe. getting a tractor with a 180 degree seat that just turns around and you use backhoe. can be a big thing, vs getting out of tractor and hoping onto backhoe seat. then when needed, taking backhoe off, so you have a workable 3pt hitch.

3rd functions for say a Grapel on the FEL, or a hydrualic thumb for a backhoe, to TNT (top N tilt) for 3pt hitch.

width of tractor to perhaps deal with hills better?

heavier weight class for pulling? lower running gears to creeper gears?

higher choice of road gears?

trailering the tractor? weight overall plus trailer size and pulling truck can be an issue.

40-90HP, your up to the point were you are hitting upper range of CUT (compact utitly tractors) and getting into a straight utitly tractor or perhaps specialized tractor for specific things.

 

[newbury]

Ergonomics.
Can you just put your hand out and the control (scv lever, 3ph, or powershift etc) lever is there or do you have to stretch slightly.Makes a big difference at the end of the day.eg some tractors have a low roof (MF6290 last generation),JDjd6920for me is a good fit,everything to hand. An MF5465 is proportioned for someone with longer arm than me, so I get a sore arm, particularly the loader control.

This may not be too critical if the tractor will only be used for 100 hours a year.

Yes I can do the basics. I have owned several Japanese tractors that after 15 years parts became an issue. Really like Kioti but the company seems to say "see ya" after the purchase. I want loader lift capacity of 40 hp plus and a cab would be nice.

Small scale logging is one reason I want larger than 28hp that I have. A cab is a drop dead issue but in January it means a lot.

Thx

Figure a 10' 20" DBH log will weigh about a ton. Cabs and BIG tractors don't usually blend well with small woodlot management in the mixed hardwoods of NH. You need wide spaces between the trees.

besides, small scale logging and 100 hours usage per year... give some more descriptions of usage for the tractor....implements used, primary usages of the tractor. slopes on hills / amount of hills. maintaining any major length of driveways / trails / roads. dealing with tree stumps? fel trees an dragging them out of the woods?

any backhoe usage? if ya going with cab, and backhoe. getting a tractor with a 180 degree seat that just turns around and you use backhoe. can be a big thing, vs getting out of tractor and hoping onto backhoe seat. then when needed, taking backhoe off, so you have a workable 3pt hitch.

3rd functions for say a Grapel on the FEL, or a hydrualic thumb for a backhoe, to TNT (top N tilt) for 3pt hitch.

width of tractor to perhaps deal with hills better?

heavier weight class for pulling? lower running gears to creeper gears?

higher choice of road gears?

trailering the tractor? weight overall plus trailer size and pulling truck can be an issue.

40-90HP, your up to the point were you are hitting upper range of CUT (compact utitly tractors) and getting into a straight utitly tractor or perhaps specialized tractor for specific things.

And the REALLY big question is PRICE.

I had a heck of time finding offerings below my $15K ceiling, and was amazed I got what I did for $11.5K. If you've got a $40K stash to spend on just the tractor it should be quick and easy. If you need to stay within a $10K budget it might take a while.

Also start considering what implements you will HAVE TO get, you will WANT TO get, and what you WON'T EVER NEED. And place values on them.

Used tractors are often sold by private parties "bundled"

For example it seems that a snowblower will be a HAVE TO for you and may be worth $3,000. In my area in Mississippi it would be a WON'T EVER NEED and be worth $0.

And consider the cost of adding remotes if you need them. My M4700 came with 2 rear remotes Adding them would cost $1,000 or more probably. And I definitely planned on needing them.

 

[EHR]

Thanks for all the replies. Do be more specific I am leaning towards the utility tractor size. An older American made like 20 years is fine. I work different hours so when I see one posted I can't get to it until it is gone. My tractor is a Kioti LK3054xs that has given me trouble when I first got it and Kioti wasn't responsive. I recently replaced the boom cylinder on the backhoe and that turned into a mini nightmare because of a part redesign. I want more lift capacity and more nuts overall. 40 to 60 hp would be great but allowing more range allows more options.

A skid winch, back blade, snow plow and brush hog would be about all the implements I need.

 

[boggen]

www.tractorhouse.com
and
craigslist.org (hint) use SearchTempest: Search all of Craigslist nationwide & more to search multi cities near you from craigslist all at once

http://www.machinerytrader.com/ for industrial loader/backhoes, that you most likely see local cities and townships using to repair roads / clean up
sister site of tractorhouse.com

if ya buying used, look up the three / four sites above,
get a GPS to enter addresses, and take a day trip to go look at a dozen or so tractors. all walks of life every used tractor is different, and would give you an idea of used and abused and ready for the junk heap, vs a tractor that has some life in it, and with a little loving care be a nice unit for years to come.

the tractors will be spread out, any were from a few minutes to a few hours away, from dealerships, to owners selling them. i would just take what ever comfy vehicle you have, and not worry about pulling a trailer or like. once you find what you want, then work out deal, and see about a third party if need be hauling the tractor to you. multi companies out there, that haul tractors to everything else.

 

[EHR]

Very familiar with both Tractorhouse (My Kioti was found there) to Craiglist.(3 of my four car were bought on CL). I have seen several that I would have probably bought but my job isn't flexible ,,,