37 Hours Until I Have Own My First Ever Tractor, Thank You TBN!

[arrow]

Arrow, that's a great question. I immediately discarded the 2538 and saw the Max series but what I didn't share is the mental back and forth, back and forth, back and forth between the 1500 series and the Max. I honestly don't know if I made the right decision yet, but in the end felt more comfortable with the Max. I won't know for sure until I actually have the tractor on the trails on the property. What finally got me comfortable with going smaller (thus the Max) was that I had rented a kubota bx from the local home depot a few times and it was about the right size for these trails I keep talking about. Since the Max is slightly bigger than the BX, I just decided the 1500 would start to put me dangerous territory when I finally start the trail reclamation project.

And a point of clarification on the 40 acres in TN... there's a 1/4 mile gravel (rain washed) driveway from the road to a ~3.5 acre clearing. The entire rest of the property is a heavily wooded hill nestled between two creeks.

Boy I understand your plight WW. I only wish I had more pictures to look at on how people were using their machine when buying mine. I always worried if I were buying enough tractor or too much. If I had the pictures that I've taken with mine but from somebody else, it would have been a no brainer and would not have fretted nearly as much. When i was logging, the owner of the company had 3 skidders. An old Clark, a Tigercat and a diminutive JD 540. I much preferred using the JD as it maneuvered woods many times without having to cut skidding trails that the other two behemoths needed,
I am not in the he camp of "buy the biggest tractor you can afford" but more in line with "buy what you need to do what you want". As experiences grow, mindsets change. As I am a visual type learner, I like pictures to help the process and is why I like to include them to elucidate points being made.

 

[brasco426]

Arrow fwiw I bought mine with the mindset of it being able to do what I want. Not the biggest tractor I could afford. I ended up with the Max 24 and love it. Both Max tractors are stout for their class and size. Mahindra builds awesome tractors imo.

 

[Omega Woods]

Congrats from a fellow Tennessee homesteader. I predict your Max will do everything you want it to, maybe not as fast as a bigger unit but life at home isn't about speed.

 

[oldpilgrim]

my 3016 (which is a bit smaller than the 1526)

the 1526 is the 3016, with a differently positioned fel control...other wise it's virtually identical.

The 1528 & 1533 are slightly larger. I don't know why they put the three models in the same 15xx class as the 26 is definitely smaller than the others.

btw, congrats to the OP, you will love your new machine.

 

[arrow]

the 1526 is the 3016, with a differently positioned fel control...other wise it's virtually identical.

The 1528 & 1533 are slightly larger. I don't know why they put the three models in the same 15xx class as the 26 is definitely smaller than the others.

btw, congrats to the OP, you will love your new machine.

Thanks for that Pilgrim. I thought that entire line was based on the larger 28-33 series. I'm glad they've kept the 30 series tractor in some fashion but wondering why they felt compelled to move the joystick. I find it right handy when they had it off the floor.

 

[dickfoster]

the 1526 is the 3016, with a differently positioned fel control...other wise it's virtually identical.

The 1528 & 1533 are slightly larger. I don't know why they put the three models in the same 15xx class as the 26 is definitely smaller than the others.

btw, congrats to the OP, you will love your new machine.

Do you think maybe all the 1500s are built by Misu and that's why they have a common series number while the 2500s are all TYM made? Just a guess.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Do you think maybe all the 1500s are built by Misu and that's why they have a common series number while the 2500s are all TYM made? Just a guess.

it would only be a wag on my part.

 

[webweary]

Here she is... 4.5 hours already, permanent smile affixed...

 

[oldpilgrim]

Treat her well and she'll treat you well.

Congratulations.

 

[brasco426]

You did good, that's a nice looking tractor.