New member; new to tractors

[Gulfmp]

Hello all, My first post.

I have been creeping on this web site for a month or two, just signed up as a member. I feel as I have learned a lot about small tractors reviewing others posts and find the website very informative.

I always wanted a tractor, but never needed one. I just bought a new house that has twice the land than my last one, but still is only just over 1/2 acre! I plan on being here 10 years or so, then off to the north for a larger property that will need (want) a tractor. I'm 50 years old and tired of doing everything by hand.

I know its kind of stupid to even think of getting a tractor for my little lot but: 1. I'm not getting any younger, 2. tractors are not getting cheaper, 3. with interest rates like they are, and some 0% finance options, its like someone else's free money to use instead of just paying for it (or paying for most of it up front), 4. I'm tired of breaking my back doing things, and 5. ******! I want one!

Can someone offer some sound advice and talk me out of this? Or point me to good used tractors, or a dealer that won't pork me because of my limited tractor knowledge. I live in Central Assachusetts.

 

[dickfoster]

This a great place to get info for someone contemplating their first tractor. It was an invaluable source of info for me and made my first tractor purchase much less nerve racking. It really helped me make a more informed purchase. You get to know what you need, what to look for and where to look for it. The time spent here before buying is well worth it. One thing is to be as careful in choosing your dealer as the tractor itself. Poor support can make the best, most expensive tractor a bad experence.
I also tried shopping for used tractors but for the prices they were asking it simply wasn't worth the difference to buy used as opposed to new. Maybe that was peculiar to my area but that's what I found.
Be sure to shop around and test drive before you buy. That will give you a better idea of the tractor and the dealer.

 

[jeff9366]

A sub-compact tractor, 18-horsepower to 25-horsepower, is the size you need for 1/2 acre. A sub-compact tractor will fit in typical garage.

Kubota has the largest market share in subcompact tractor category with the BX line, but every tractor brand (including Mahindra and John Deere) has subcompact competitors.

Almost all subcompact tractors are sold with a front end loader (FEL) which is key to saving your back.

About $15,000, depending on model, plus tax, new. Implements and attachments additional.

LINK: http://www.kubota.com/product/BXSeries.aspx


You will get more respect here if you properly capitalize Central Ma and John Deere in your profile.

If you refine your location to a town, someone may notify you of a good used tractor for sale near you, or a good tractor deal on Craig's List or eBay. This happens regularly.

 

[PJSprog]

I'll echo dickfoster's experience, as mine was the same. The value of this site for a new buyer/owner cannot be measured in simple terms.

Decide what you need a tractor to do for you, and start shopping and comparing what the various manufacturers have to offer. Don't be shocked, though ... new tractors are expensive. Even lightly used tractors, when you can find them, are nearly what you'll pay for new. And yes, test drive everything close to you. That's part of the fun, and important to knowing what you like and what you don't.

I just turned 50 this year, too. So, I feel your pain on the hand labor thing. Once we bought ours and started using it, we instantly regretted not buying one sooner. They are a very handy tool.

 

[dickfoster]

A sub-compact tractor, 18-horsepower to 25-horsepower, is the size you need for 1/2 acre. This size will fit in typical garage easily.

Kubota pretty much owns the subcompact tractor category but almost every tractor brand has subcompact competitors.

Almost all subcompact tractors are sold with a front end loader (FEL) which is key to saving your back.

About $18,000, plus tax, new.

http://www.kubota.com/product/BXSeries.aspx


You will get more respect here if you properly capitalize Central Ma and John Deere in your profile.

Funny I didn't know that Kubota owns the subcompact category. Maybe that's why all the dealers I visited acted so disinterested and why I bought a Mahindra from a dealer with the lights on. However, I did buy a CUT instead of a SCUT but I could have sworn he had some SCUTS on his lot too and in two different brands, neither were Kubota.

 

[BigBoyToys]

Living in MA you can always justify a tractor..."Honey...Farmer's Almanac says it's going to be a bad year for snow! I can't shovel 2 feet of that stuff anymore!!!!"

I can honestly say my tractor is one of the best tools I own. I'm putting up a new storage building and I've used the tractor for everything from digging the foundation, lifting plywood up to the roof as well as lifting the roof shingles up there. I welded up some pallet forks for the bucket and added some stops. I bend and drilled them to mount on the front of the forks to get the shingles up higher.

There's not limit to what you can use a tractor for!!!





EDIT... And of course move snow!!!

 

[BlackOps]

been there done that OP. i have a mahindra max 25 with fel and mmm unit.

use bucket 99% of time and the modmower when i have to due to my garden tractor pooping out.

just replaced my garden tractor 2 weeks ago so hopefully that will be set for a while now.

the tractor is nice enough re: power for what i need and tight enough for smaller spaces and i have a couple of tight lanes and spaces here but it works sweeeeet!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Get the tractor but stay in Mass. NH is done full up... and you wouldn't like it anyways. (Unless by moving North you meant Lowell or Canada; then by all means go for it) :drink:

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site.

Advice as above... but also talk to your neighbours about which local dealerships give the best support in service/parts. Reputation travels fast.

 

[/pine]

All good advice/experience above...

...Can someone offer some sound advice and talk me out of this? Or point me to good used tractors, or a dealer that won't pork me because of my limited tractor knowledge...

Buy a tractor with a FEL (front end loader) and you can kiss your wheelbarrow goodbye...!...add a thumb grapple and amaze yourself (without getting out of the seat)...!...(being intuitive) I also see a 3PH (three point hitch) "carry all" in your future...

I mention these as a couple of the most labor saving and useful additions for a small property owner...then there is the plethora of earth working 3PH attachments (and embellishments) for working larger tracts etc...

My advice for not getting burned...is test drive as many machines that you like and are generally in your budget...then shop, shop, shop...with the archive and readily available answers to new questions here on TBN....you will only be limited in seat time...not necessarily knowledge...

Good Luck...