New land... need a tractor!!

[Deerherd]

First I wanted to thank everyone for a really informative thread here! Keep it up!!!

Then to answer some questions and ask some too...
I had thought about a grapple, but haven't researched them much. I will go read about them now.
I do have a chainsaw. Stihl MS362-CM with 18" bar. I love this saw. Like tractors, I'm sure everyone has their own favorite, but I have a great dealer locally and am very happy with them and the saw.
I'm definitely zeroing in on the 40-50HP range CUTs... I can see moving to the smaller Utility tractors too... I'll keep looking.
I like that Mahindra package on Craigslist linked on page 6! Seems to have most everything I would want early on. Could someone give me an idea what the implements are worth so I have an idea about how much the tractor itself is of the package price? Its tough for me to judge the price since most everything I look at used only has FEL.

I wonder @abeal... do you wish you would have started with the M5640 instead of the L3200? Would that have saved you in the long run and still be fine (not too big) for all your tasks?

UTV's are how I started down this road... I started looking at them and got good advice that I probably should make the tractor my first purchase and the UTV my second one.

I bought a CUT (KIOTI DK35 with cab) when I moved into my place but sold it the following year for a utility tractor. (88 hp LS 7030 cab power shuttle)

I put it food plots, (corn/soybeans/clover, etc) maintain switch grass and miles of trails through fields and woods. I also do lots of log /tree handling and maintain a 1/4 mile drive.

Not sure how important a doctor's time is but the jump in efficiency for me was huge. When I first moved in I had 35 acres of tillable that had been leased for corn/soybeans. Just turning over the stubble with my CUT with R4's was an ordeal. After my third "field extraction" I knew AG tires attached to a bigger tractor were in order. Plus field work with a whining HST can be annoying!

Implements and attachments are expensive and you don't want to be buying them twice, don't ask me how I know.......

If you had asked your question directed towards people who own more than 75 acres, I bet a utility tractor would be the hands down winner. Plus a commercial grade zero turn. Then add a SCUT with a backhoe, TLB or mini excavator and you will be all set!

Have fun and be safe.

 

[airbiscuit]

First I wanted to thank everyone for a really informative thread here! Keep it up!!!

Then to answer some questions and ask some too...
I had thought about a grapple, but haven't researched them much. I will go read about them now.
I do have a chainsaw. Stihl MS362-CM with 18" bar. I love this saw. Like tractors, I'm sure everyone has their own favorite, but I have a great dealer locally and am very happy with them and the saw.
I'm definitely zeroing in on the 40-50HP range CUTs... I can see moving to the smaller Utility tractors too... I'll keep looking.
I like that Mahindra package on Craigslist linked on page 6! Seems to have most everything I would want early on. Could someone give me an idea what the implements are worth so I have an idea about how much the tractor itself is of the package price? Its tough for me to judge the price since most everything I look at used only has FEL.

I wonder @abeal... do you wish you would have started with the M5640 instead of the L3200? Would that have saved you in the long run and still be fine (not too big) for all your tasks?

UTV's are how I started down this road... I started looking at them and got good advice that I probably should make the tractor my first purchase and the UTV my second one.

Here are some rough estimates on the attachments ....

7' finish mower $1,800
Root Grapple $1,800
Auger $600
Subsoiler $150


There is also value in the loader control being set up to operate the grapple.

 

[94BULLITT]

These two statements contradict one another. First you tell him you recommend a 40-50hp CUT, then you say it makes sense to go to a Utility at 50hp because it will be a more capable machine.

I was giving brand neutral advice. If I would have recommended a Kubota it would have been a crime. I told him to look at 40-50hp CUTs so he would be getting a "large frame" CUT. I told at round 50hp it makes sense to step up to a utlity. Once you get up into the higher hp CUTs they are more money than a small utility. The reason I told him at around 50hp is because every brand is going to be different. On a Kubota it may make sense at after 45hp to step up to a utlity, on JD it may be 52hp.

Read about Eric's experiences in the Michigan woods (My NX6010 thread) to see how many times he has managed to do serious damage to his expensive cab while doing exactly the same work that Docsfarm is planning.

Eric has been careless and cause unnecessary damage to his tractor. The cab may have kept him from hurting himself

First I wanted to thank everyone for a really informative thread here! Keep it up!!!

Then to answer some questions and ask some too...
I had thought about a grapple, but haven't researched them much. I will go read about them now.
I do have a chainsaw. Stihl MS362-CM with 18" bar. I love this saw. Like tractors, I'm sure everyone has their own favorite, but I have a great dealer locally and am very happy with them and the saw.
I'm definitely zeroing in on the 40-50HP range CUTs... I can see moving to the smaller Utility tractors too... I'll keep looking.
I like that Mahindra package on Craigslist linked on page 6! Seems to have most everything I would want early on. Could someone give me an idea what the implements are worth so I have an idea about how much the tractor itself is of the package price? Its tough for me to judge the price since most everything I look at used only has FEL.

I wonder @abeal... do you wish you would have started with the M5640 instead of the L3200? Would that have saved you in the long run and still be fine (not too big) for all your tasks?

UTV's are how I started down this road... I started looking at them and got good advice that I probably should make the tractor my first purchase and the UTV my second one.

The 362 is a good all-around saw.

All of the major tractor manufacturers sell UTV's. If you bought a new tractor and UTV at the same time they should cut you a deal. I always thought that a Japanese mini truck would be cool to have instead of a UTV. You can get a nice one for $6-8k. The all have cabs and heaters. Some even have a/c. A lot of them are 4WD and you can get them with a dump bed. One with a lift and ATV tires would probably go pretty good. I don't know much about UTV's but I have seen several Kubota RTV's with over 4,000 hours on them forsale so they must be pretty good. I know some of the RTV's have the same engine as the BX2660.

That's not a contradiction. Consider this analogy: A Toyota Tacoma is enough truck to pull a 5000lb trailer but a Ford F-250 is a larger and more capable machine.

I think Bullitt's point is that a 40-50 hp CUT is all that's needed but if you want/need more power it makes sense to move up a frame size rather than just tune the engine for more horsepower. I agree. The Kioti NX4510 is virtually identical to the NX6010 except for engine tuning. Same loader, same nearly everything including engine except for engine control module programming and $4000-5000+ price tag.

Thanks, IT. You understood exactly what I was saying.

 

[GManBart]

I was giving brand neutral advice. If I would have recommended a Kubota it would have been a crime. I told him to look at 40-50hp CUTs so he would be getting a "large frame" CUT. I told at round 50hp it makes sense to step up to a utlity. Once you get up into the higher hp CUTs they are more money than a small utility. The reason I told him at around 50hp is because every brand is going to be different. On a Kubota it may make sense at after 45hp to step up to a utlity, on JD it may be 52hp.

Leaving the matter of brands aside, if you say "I'm recommending a 40-50hp CUT" and then say "at 50hp is makes more sense to go to a Utility" it's a contradiction.

If he follows the first part of your statement and buys a 50hp CUT, he's not following the second part of your statement that it makes sense to go to a Utility machine at 50hp. :confused2:


As I said, I only mention it because it's could be confusing to someone looking for advice.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

:banghead::banghead::banghead::duh:

 

[ovrszd]

:banghead::banghead::banghead::duh:

You'll have that......

 

[94BULLITT]

Leaving the matter of brands aside, if you say "I'm recommending a 40-50hp CUT" and then say "at 50hp is makes more sense to go to a Utility" it's a contradiction.

If he follows the first part of your statement and buys a 50hp CUT, he's not following the second part of your statement that it makes sense to go to a Utility machine at 50hp. :confused2:


As I said, I only mention it because it's could be confusing to someone looking for advice.

IslandTractor understood what I was saying and you are the only one complaining about what I said so you are the only one that does not get it. If you find my posts confusing put me on your ignore list. I don't need someone critiquing everything I say.

 

[GManBart]

IslandTractor understood what I was saying and you are the only one complaining about what I said so you are the only one that does not get it. If you find my posts confusing put me on your ignore list. I don't need someone critiquing everything I say.

There was no complaint, just a comment that your recommendation contradicted itself, which might confuse someone looking for help, which is what the thread is about. If you go back and look, your had a fairly extensive post, and I didn't say anything about the overwhelming majority of it...just one point that was only intended to be helpful to the OP.

If the guy follows the first part of your recommendation, he's not following the second. If he follows the second part, he's not following the first part.

I guess it doesn't matter because he's started another thread where he's narrowed it down to CUTs over 50hp anyway....he's not following either part. :thumbsup:

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I guess it doesn't matter because he's started another thread where he's narrowed it down to CUTs over 50hp anyway....he's not following either part. :thumbsup:

Really? I just clicked on docsfarm and it only shows 8 posts, all in this thread.

 

[gladehound]

...a 40-50hp compact would handle these jobs good. ...
Congratulations on the property.

"... would handle these jobs well" I didn't comment on the majority of your extensive post. I just wanted to clarify this point for the OP... :laughing:

Sorry, I couldn't resist!