Considering buying MT18 - seeking feedback/advice

[CodeMonkey]

Ok, some years ago when I moved to my current property (17 acres) I felt I didn't absolutely need a 4 wheel tractor, that I could get by with a 2 wheel walk behind and the right attachments.

Well, I was wrong.

Also, I am now 63, 5 years older than when I moved here and I am feeling my age; my hips and back are acting up and I am still out of shape. So I am thinking I want a 4 wheel tractor now.

I rented a dozer about a month ago and did some more clearing and leveling of the 3 to 4 acres nearest the house. It is still not quite where I want the ground; you can only do so much with a dozer (especially if you suck at it like me) - I want it so I can easily mow it with my 2 wheel tractor which has a 28" flail mower. I've been dragging around a harrow behind my small truck, but that only goes so far. I really need something with a scraper/blade/etc. and then I am thinking maybe a mower and also a rototiller (although I don't intend to plant anything except ground cover, a tiller might help level out the dirt).

I've been having problems with both my 2 wheel tractors, and they just are not heavy or powerful enough to do most of the work I want to do, especially dragging the harrow, the tiller and the scraper/blade. I also would not mind having a FEL for moving dirt and firewood around - maybe get a blade for the FEL.

But I don't want to spend too much and I don't really need - IMO - too much of a tractor. Something bigger than a Kubota BX series, but not much bigger. I need some ground clearance and ag tires for my woods.

So I am looking through CL and found a Mitsubishi MT18 with an FEL and taller ag tires - 22 HP with decent taller AG tires.

Thoughts on the MT18?

 

[GAFarmer2]

Mitsubishi/Satoh make good tractors, no doubt. The only problem is finding parts when something breaks. I have a D2000, and it is marvelous... until it isn't. Are you handy enough to fix things, sometimes having to "make do"? Do you have the time to work on it when it breaks?

If not, my advice is go with something with better parts availability. Just my two cents, though!

 

[CodeMonkey]

I used to be an ag mech (that was 30+ years ago) and I have a shop with tools - so yeah, if I can get the parts (and preferably a tech manual) I can usually fix something. Not that I particularly enjoy that.

Time is a different issue - I do work around my place on weekends in the spring/summer/fall. I anticipate that I would probably not use it much. Once I have the ground smoothed out enough to mow it easily then I would just spend a couple of days per year mowing and cutting up fallen trees. Speaking of which - I need to get off my posterior and the internet and get out there and cutup these maple trees:



I do not farm, I just want to keep the brush under control in the thinned acreage near my house. So maybe a couple times a year I would go through and mow it - preferably with a flail mower if I could find one. So I don't think I would put very many hours on it. The one I am looking at has 1300 hours with a FEL for $6300

 

[shinnery41]

How many times could you rent a tractor with a blade or shredder for $6300? Just sayin'. Not have to worry about repairs and is it ready to go now.

 

[GAFarmer2]

I used to be an ag mech (that was 30+ years ago) and I have a shop with tools - so yeah, if I can get the parts (and preferably a tech manual) I can usually fix something. Not that I particularly enjoy that.

Time is a different issue - I do work around my place on weekends in the spring/summer/fall. I anticipate that I would probably not use it much. Once I have the ground smoothed out enough to mow it easily then I would just spend a couple of days per year mowing and cutting up fallen trees. Speaking of which - I need to get off my posterior and the internet and get out there and cutup these maple trees:

View attachment 516908

I do not farm, I just want to keep the brush under control in the thinned acreage near my house. So maybe a couple times a year I would go through and mow it - preferably with a flail mower if I could find one. So I don't think I would put very many hours on it. The one I am looking at has 1300 hours with a FEL for $6300

For what you're doing...I'd say it's up to you. I know I don't use my tractors much...but it's nice to have them right there when I want them. As mentioned previously, though, renting may be a better option for now.

To me, that price seems a little steep...but I'm not familiar with Oregon either!

 

[CodeMonkey]

A 20 to 30 HP tractor with FEL and tiller is $300 per day not including delivery charges. A couple of weekends a month per summer would add up quickly. I rented a dozer for the first week in July when my employer shuts down and got a lot of work done, and that was $2K.

I was talking with my neighbor and he was asking about going in together on buying a tractor. I am more inclined to buy the tractor myself and let him buy implements and working something out that way.

Same seller that has an MT18 has an MT16 with tiller and FEL with 900 hours for the same price. I am more inclined to get the MT16 because of the tiller which I would need/want to get anyway.

 

[GAFarmer2]

Well I wish you the best with either one you get. I think you'll be satisfied either way!

 

[CodeMonkey]

Well I wish you the best with either one you get. I think you'll be satisfied either way!

Thanks. But I think I am going to hold off and take up a neighbor's offer of using his Kubota and scraper. I had another neighbor offer to go in half on a tractor and that is tempting, but I also just had my employer hinting that my position is in jeopardy due to budget cuts at work, so I think I will hold off on big expenses and save what I have for more mundane things like mortgage payments, making do with what I have - there may come a time soon when I have more time than money and I can use that time to do the work in a more labor intensive manner.

 

[GAFarmer2]

Thanks. But I think I am going to hold off and take up a neighbor's offer of using his Kubota and scraper. I had another neighbor offer to go in half on a tractor and that is tempting, but I also just had my employer hinting that my position is in jeopardy due to budget cuts at work, so I think I will hold off on big expenses and save what I have for more mundane things like mortgage payments, making do with what I have - there may come a time soon when I have more time than money and I can use that time to do the work in a more labor intensive manner.

Completely understandable! All the best man!