Buying Advice Need help on Final decision

[jrclark]

So the more aggressive ag tread wouldn't benefit me much in the clay/slime, on the hills in woods etc? thanks in advance for the reply

Just for reference, I have R4s on a machine much smaller than the models you're looking at. Before our driveway went in, we had a spot that was a complete swamp, likely as bad as anything you have on your lot. The only time it got stuck was when the tractor high-centered. Was able to push the machine backward with the bucket. That was the first day I had it, never happened again. The R4s will have a larger contact patch as well, making it more stable in my opinion.

You have woods and hills, I would absolutely go with loaded tires. Our property is littered with glacial rock, so when adding that to the mix, loaded tires made so much sense. I've inadvertently pulled the back tires up when backing over a rock while lifting and dragging a huge log from the bucket. I tend to learn quickly when making these mistakes.

Fwiw, I have a gear tractor and live deep in the woods. Driven enough HST tractors lately to know that I didn't need to spend the money on it. All of my street cars were manual, so I'm stubborn when it comes these sorts of things

 

[paulfun9]

I don't have loaded tires! They as stated before do not offset the weight on the front axel as as many think. They do in some cases help traction but in some cases they actually help you sink into the mud faster and with a big wide tire sinking in rather than floating on top you will more than likely get stuck. Argue if you will but there is a trade-off on loaded tires that many don't even realize.

Now I will give the flip side to going too big with a machine. Yes in most cases it seems folks have a tendency to go too small and without a good dealer to help sway the decision they can end up being slightly disappointed. Now the BUT- but there are many who have gone too big and had to downsize as well. You have to look at this objectively and from a few different angles to determine which of the two you fit into or if you have nailed it right from the start.

Remember that the machine must fit into anyplace you intend to work it both now and future use so judge size accordingly.
Just yesterday I cleaned out a neighbors driveway and walks for him because he couldn't get it done for his family as he was away. My first attempt was to do everything with the DK but ended up having to come home and fire up the smaller JD because the DK simply could not fit into some of the spots they needed open. Now for my homestead everything has been set up to work with the bigger bucket and wider snow blower but trees and forest that need cleared can be a pain for some. The heavy tree line here lends itself well to the DK but anything bigger would be a pain without me actually taking out more than I really wish to.

For those getting upset because of things like loaded tires or time it takes to mount a backhoe sometimes we have to consider that our words are printed without the help of facial expressions or body language to help determine the authors true meaning.
With the words( " the operator has to wrestle the Backhoe on/off to make the Three Point Hitch available.
") Many new folks would read that to mean that they are a true pain to get on and off rather than someone having dislike for changing attachments in general or something due to age and not being able to do things with as much ease as they once did.

Tires will always be a tradeoff as pointed out before. I find that from a combination of my experience and many of my friends experience that Industrial tires are a good balance for my needs Only you will be able to make that decision. Keep in mind that if the machine is already on the lot and dosnt have to be ordered in, keeping the tires that are on it could help with price negotiations.

 

[grm61]

I would take a gear/shuttle tier 3 machine, over a tier4 hydro.
I love the Hydra static drive on my DK, however....You are at a critical time being able to get a tractor that is not tier 4.

Tires....The 14.924 r4s on the DK are the perfect size for the weight of the tractor, between ground pressure=traction, and flotation.

For instance the LS and Massey use a 17.5L24 in the similar sized tractor, this is a wider tire, with a very flat profile=less ground pressure/traction, to much flotation for a tractor of this weight for optimal traction IMO.

My Kioti with loaded rears is a brute, and I don't have any problem in mud, although I try and avoid it, if the ground is soft and muddy, your going to make a mess with r4s or r1s.

When you get your tractor you can get some rock hauled in for your driveway:thumbsup:

If it were me I would avoid tier4 like the plague while you still have a choice....No need for all that crap on a tractor for home use IMO....My DK has mechanical injection, a throttle cable, and a muffler....I like it that way.

Since you have a good Wife, concerned with your safety, comfort, and well being, have you considered a cab model?

 

[TJP89]

You will have to decide for yourself on the tires. I have 25 mostly wooded acres and use the tractor for snowplowing, brushcutting, hauling, and other heavy tasks. No fine landscape work. I have ags unloaded, and wouldn't change. I will say that, although any setup can get stuck, R4s tend to collect mud, muck and snow, while the ags shed it. r4s have been known to cake up solid and just spin. On the other hand they are pretty puncture resistant, although I've pulled a 2in staple out of my tires with no effect on the psi. They also spread the weight better. In your case I would go with R1s because there is no outstanding reason not too. Also, my dealer said that he would rather put turf tires on than industrials for traction. This was with R4s on the unit, and R1s about $100 less each than R4s. On the backhoe, do the cost of renting a machine versus the cost of buying it, factoring in ease of renting. The numbers should help you decide there. I've found attachments are usually had cheaper after market.

 

[grm61]

Also, my dealer said that he would rather put turf tires on than industrials for traction.

That would be your typical sales yapper....ridiculous:confused2:

 

[TSO]

Lots of good posts.

Let me add something to consider that I don't believe has been mentioned yet. If you decide to stay with HST, then it is wise for you to choose a tractor this size as this is the largest frame of the compact tractors. However, if you decide you can stay with a shuttle transmission, then you can forget staying with that compact class and step up one more size to a utility tractor. In my opinion, there is very little reason to get a standard transmission in a compact tractor. The only reason would be size limitations. But you have a large piece of property, and your capabilities would increase dramatically by stepping up to the next sized tractor. I believe for Kioti that would put you in the RX series. You could also try to find a leftover, or slightly used, DK 55. That tractor will be much more capable and stout then the others you are looking at. You will also have the option to look into a power shuttle transmission. That is kind of a mix between HST and standard shuttle.

 

[serenityseeker64]

This is all helpful.
2 different dealers, and a sawmill owner close to me (king of all things outdoors..just knows tons) all suggested 45-50 HP for my perceived needs, most leaning towards 50.

Road actually likely has a decent amount of gravel buried in it, hence my desire for the planer (bionic blade type). My sawmill friend swears by them. Will likely still need to have track come out and spot some gravel at minimum.

Discussed the backhoe issues with my dear bride. If I need to rent equipment 30-45 min drive to get it. Not the end of the world but requires some planning. How often will I use it? No real way to say this early, knowing me I will "find" plenty of ways to use it lol. I will admit it is toward the dream end of my must have list. As it will be just me and the bride trying to figure the things we need to do what we can by ourselves. That drove the choice for FEL---a bizzillion it can help with. Same with 4wd, when u need it u need it.

Am I going to see appreciable difference b/w 45-50 in these models?

If I just deal with what is on the Kioti Lot that I described at the beginning, neither would be HST, so then Tier 4 consideration and the difference in specs become deciding factors to look for price package. Seems like most here would go with DK45?

I will say that my gut feeling is that I would want to work with this dealer but it is mostly my gut guiding me.

 

[TSO]

This is all helpful.
2 different dealers, and a sawmill owner close to me (king of all things outdoors..just knows tons) all suggested 45-50 HP for my perceived needs, most leaning towards 50.

Road actually likely has a decent amount of gravel buried in it, hence my desire for the planer (bionic blade type). My sawmill friend swears by them. Will likely still need to have track come out and spot some gravel at minimum.

Discussed the backhoe issues with my dear bride. If I need to rent equipment 30-45 min drive to get it. Not the end of the world but requires some planning. How often will I use it? No real way to say this early, knowing me I will "find" plenty of ways to use it lol. I will admit it is toward the dream end of my must have list. As it will be just me and the bride trying to figure the things we need to do what we can by ourselves. That drove the choice for FEL---a bizzillion it can help with. Same with 4wd, when u need it u need it.

Am I going to see appreciable difference b/w 45-50 in these models?

If I just deal with what is on the Kioti Lot that I described at the beginning, neither would be HST, so then Tier 4 consideration and the difference in specs become deciding factors to look for price package. Seems like most here would go with DK45?

I will say that my gut feeling is that I would want to work with this dealer but it is mostly my gut guiding me.

What else do they have on the lot?

 

[serenityseeker64]

What else do they have on the lot?

Need to go back and look. I kinda walked up, told them what I was looking for and we ended up at these two. Several models smaller and larger but I didn't get specs/details. I hesitate to go much larger because I know I will be out in the woods with this and maneuverability was a concern to me to some degree. They did have New holland on the lot, but to get in the 50 hp range required a beast of a tractor in terms of side, at least in my mind.

Now again...this is all based on remote experience and my perceptions. I have had mission creep already LOL. Started out looking 30-35 hp range. I think I am in a more realistic range here but obviously tapping the collective brains here for free advice. I spent a few years on a "gentleman farm"...not a full time operation but we bailed a lot of hay, prepared a cpl of house sites, built barns, worked on ponds, road maintainence for the place etc. Did some construction in a former life so had some brief experience with bobcats, dump trucks, front end loaders and the tractors we had at the farm. Figured I would throw that out there for frame of reference.

Also, speaking with cpa here locally, all of this equipment will be fully tax deductible in my state as we will set ourselves up as forestry/farming-all legal and on the up and up.

 

[TSO]

Need to go back and look. I kinda walked up, told them what I was looking for and we ended up at these two. Several models smaller and larger but I didn't get specs/details. I hesitate to go much larger because I know I will be out in the woods with this and maneuverability was a concern to me to some degree.

Now again...this is all based on remote experience and my perceptions. I have had mission creep already LOL. Started out looking 30-35 hp range. I think I am in a more realistic range here but obviously tapping the collective brains here for free advice. I spent a few years on a "gentleman farm"...not a full time operation but we bailed a lot of hay, prepared a cpl of house sites, built barns, worked on ponds, road maintainence for the place etc. Did some construction in a former life so had some brief experience with bobcats, dump trucks, front end loaders and the tractors we had at the farm. Figured I would throw that out there for frame of reference.

Ok. Just keep in mind my previous post regarding slightly larger tractors if you stay with gear. The overall size and footprint is not dramatically larger to go up to the next size, but the capabilities and ruggedness will increase quite a bit.