Considering best bang for the buck for acreage

[olPete]

If you are willing to fence off some area, I'd consider getting some livestock to help with the pasture control. Just if it interests you, of course. Not everyone wants or needs animals, but they don't often get stuck or run out of HP. Plus they have the added bonus of encouraging better grass to grow, and go up in value!
With a sizeable piece of land, my vote would be the larger used tractor, I won't repeat what others have said, but there does definitely seem to be a gap in size between the needs of the yard maintenance size tractor and the farmer tractor. You could pick up real value in that sweet mid range. Don't be put off by a couple thousand hours on one.. someone else has ironed out the bugs! That's my ten cents worth, best of luck in your quest!

 

[rockarosa]

Sounds like your biggest priority will be mowing. If you shop around you can get a 4 wheel drive 4540 Mahindra with Fel for around $22,000. It can easily pull a 6 foot bush hog.

 

[mike69440]

Sounds like your biggest priority will be mowing. If you shop around you can get a 4 wheel drive 4540 Mahindra with Fel for around $22,000. It can easily pull a 6 foot bush hog.

I looked at the specs, and the 4550/4550 is a lot of tractor for the money. A beast. If you have a lot of work in a confined area, and do a lot of foward and reverse work that old 8 X 2 straight gear transmission is going to be a real serious pain, but for field work and roading it's no big deal. To bad the 45xx are not a 12x12 shuttle.

 

[rockarosa]

Yes Mike I agree about the Fel work. I bought a 4550 with Fel last Sept. to mow 20 acres. It is a beast and pulls a 6 footer with ease. A shuttle on this tractor would be a dream.

 

[paulfun9]

I do most of my rough cut mowing with my Ford 4630 (50 hp PTO) and Woods dual spindle 8' rotary cutter. I used to do it with my 7' John Deere 709 rotary cutter. The tractor is a 1993, heavier in weight than today's similarly sized hp tractors. When the grass is taller I find myself wanting more hp. I definitely wouldn't want anything with less hp or cutter width. I like mowing, just not that much to go any smaller in size. If I were you, I'd do what others have recommended and go used in a larger tractor. I think with that much land BX, B no way, higher hp L, maybe, but seriously consider a used MX or M if you want Kubota and can swing it, you won't be sorry.

This is pretty much what I was thinking!
My yard is only 5a but when I get into the fields the Kioti is only used for the trim work and to make things nice around the edges close to the roads. The brunt of the fields are taken care of with one of the old internationals and a batwing. So reading here all the different posts an MX sounds about right for the intended use and a good balance between too small and two big.

 

[MikeN836NA]

I just bought a McCormick X1.35 for my 30 acre property. After months and months of researching the new and used market, last Friday I test drove the Kioti CK3510, X1.35, and had plans to go drive the LS XG3125. Well, in person it was pretty clear which one I wanted. I didn't even make it to the LS dealer. The X1.35 was something like 1400 pounds heavier, much larger rear tires, had a wider 6' FEL bucket, and was priced less than the others. Plus, the X1.35 comes with a Cummins engine, which holds some namesake value to me. The dealer offered me one with 70 hours for 15.8k. It's like new, and the FEL is unused. I only paid ~$400 to get the warranty extended to 60 months.

 

[ChugiakTinkerer]

Congratulations Mike!

And welcome to the forum.

 

[mike69440]

I just bought a McCormick X1.35 for my 30 acre property. After months and months of researching the new and used market, last Friday I test drove the Kioti CK3510, X1.35, and had plans to go drive the LS XG3125. Well, in person it was pretty clear which one I wanted. I didn't even make it to the LS dealer. The X1.35 was something like 1400 pounds heavier, much larger rear tires, had a wider 6' FEL bucket, and was priced less than the others. Plus, the X1.35 comes with a Cummins engine, which holds some namesake value to me. The dealer offered me one with 70 hours for 15.8k. It's like new, and the FEL is unused. I only paid ~$400 to get the warranty extended to 60 months.

You did good. Very good for that much tractor for $15.8K

 

[TomSeller]

Congratulations. Pictures? We like pictures.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Thanks again Jeff! Yes, I have read many of those threads today and my eyes are starting to bleed. I may well opt for a 5' RC, was trying to be conservative with 4'.

Seriously consider a bigger tractor and rotary cutter, trust me! You've got a decent chunk of land there. Definitely scratch the BX and the B for sure, even the L will be a little light. I have a little BX with 48" MMM and 42" RC, I rarely use the mowers, but love the BX around the yard. I bought a Kubota F2680 with 6ft rear discharge mower, it's incredible for the lawn. Either one in the field, no way!!

I wouldn't hesitate going used if the tractor is taken care of and hours are right. I really think going new if you're uncertain is a bad investment, not my money, just tying to help. If you want a B or L for the loader and lighter mowing you'd be doing well, but I'd get a decent older 2wd tractor and larger RC for the field. If only one tractor and you want Kubota, MX or M.