Need Tractor Advice...Pics of Land Attached

[SSF556]

Hello everyone....here is what we purchased. I have had the fields cut and the guys cutting them have used 2wd tractors with 6ft bush hogs. Takes them about 5 hours to cut everything. I do want a FEL/4wd.

17 acres total....frontage road to the rear tree line. Tree lines on side define side property lines.


4 acres front field is slightly angled towards the woods away from the road.



5 acres of hardwoods..gravel driveway will go through the woods to connect road to back field.



8 acres back field is flat





Might get a cow or 2 but we will for sure be getting a donkey(s).

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[jeff9366]

Hello everyone....here is what we purchased. I have had the fields cut and the guys cutting them have used 2wd tractors with 6ft bush hogs. Takes them about 5 hours to cut everything. I do want a FEL/4wd.

Presuming you will be happy spending five hours mowing your land with a six foot Bush Hog, however many times per year, you need a tractor of 45-horsepower gross. If you want to pull a wider Bush Hog, or cut unusually long grass, you will need more horsepower. Tractors in 45-horsepower to 60-horsepower range weigh 4,000 pounds bare and are about 66" wide.

A wider mower will preserve your time for other tasks and be somewhat more fuel efficient per acre cut.


In Kubota that would be the spartan MX series or the de Luxe four cylinder 'Grand L' series.

In my opinion the MX and four cylinder Grand Ls share the same chassis. However, kit is entirely different; MX minimal, Grand L maximal.

Having owned two spartan tractors before a three cylinder Grand L3560, my Grand L money was well spent.


Consider tractor storage dimensions before entering too far into selection process. New tractors are prone to theft.


Kubota Web Site:

MX: http://www.kubota.com/product/MX4800/MX4800.aspx

GRAND L: http://www.kubota.com/product/LSeries/L60.aspx

 

[SSF556]

@jeff9366 we are building a 36'x36'x12' barn with a 8'x36'l lean to. roll up doors will be 12'W x 10'H We are also putting in a front fence and gate. So not overly concerned with theft. What about the L4701?

 

[jeff9366]

What are your personal dimensions? What is the max length of grass you expect to cut?

L4701 would do fine for a 6' (possibly 7') mower but I find the operating station cramped when sitting on standard L models at my Kubota dealer. I spend a lot of time on my L3560, so L4701 ruled out for me on accomodation basis. L4701 may accommodate you comfortably.

Heavier tractors are more stable and more capable. What width mower you decide to buy should influence whether L4701 is enough tractor or whether you should purchase a heavier model. Hogs are heavy and they protrude far to the rear, that 'hog weight wants to lift the front of the tractor, especially when mowing up a slope.

If in doubt after getting many opinions here, buy the one increment heavier tractor.

(There are many good tractor brands. I have purchased two new Kubotas in seven years from my excellent Kubota dealer six miles away, so Kubota is the brand I am familiar with.)

 

[SSF556]

5'10 175....front field grass if left uncut can get to be 8' tall but once we move to the property I will not let it get that tall....

Budget around 30K new or used.

 

[jeff9366]

@jeff9366 we are building a 36'x36'x12' barn with a 8'x36'l lean to. roll up doors will be 12'W x 10'H

Research height of all tractors you consider with ROPS up. I have to fold ROPS every time I put L3560 in the garage. ROPS is pretty heavy after a five hour session on the tractor on a hot Florida summer day. Tractor should enter barn with ROPS up, if possible. Take a tape measure when you visit tractor dealers.

Eight foot grass would be a "tall order" for an L4701 in my opinion. My 37-horsepower L3560, mounting a carefully maintained 60" Land Pride RCT2060, will cut 5' grass in HST/LOW, full throttle, very slow. (One gallon of diesel per hour.)

How tall was the five hour grass in Post #1?

$30,000 is a pretty good budget.

 

[SSF556]

5 hour was 8' grass but I would never let it get that tall again. Once we move in I will keep grass short.

Looks like Rops up H for the l4701 is 91.7 inches. Well under the 120" I have for the 10ft opening.

 

[jeff9366]

Looks like Rops up for the l4701 is 91.7 inches. Well under the 120" I have for the 10ft opening.

My L3560 ROPS is 86" FOLDED. Take a tape measure when you visit tractor dealers. MEASURE TWICE.

Specs in brochures and web sites are for ROPS folded. Tractor widths are always with (narrow) R1/ag tires.

 

[bilrus61]

Jeff is hitting on all 4 cylinders with his advice. Only thing I might ad is two or three donkeys will lower by a HUGE amount how much you'll need to bush hog. Those guys mow all day long.

Man, with the burros I would think about a cheap Kubota L2501 with the no EPA engine, and a nice 5 foot cutter. For just a cheap cut some grass machine that is hard to beat. If your really going to use the loader for lots of work might go up to the MX with more HP and hydro.

I like my GL 5040 for the GST tranny and loader. I just can't get to loving the newer engines with all that stuff. They look like the Borg out of star trek. Just don't trust them to last and be repairable down the road.

 

[Gary Fowler]

With full 10' tall garage doors, you should have no trouble with any tractor up to 70 HP fitting inside. From the one photo of the man bush hogging, it doesn't look like you have anything very thick to deal with so 40 HP PTO should well handle a 6 foot bush hog even if it is tall grass.
It does take a long time to cover 17 acres even with 60-70 HP and 10 foot mower. I think I would opt for a cabbed tractor with AC and heat even if I had to go with slightly used to fit in the budget. You wont regret having a cab on those hot summer days when you are bush hogging. I doubt you have much snow to contend with in S.C. but it is nice to have some heat for those winter chores.
I have Kubota and LS tractors (LS has the cab) and I haven't had any issues with either. I am way over equipped with tractors for my 11.29 acres but each has a place so I wont be getting rid of either of them soon. I had lots of disposable income when I bought them otherwise one 45HP would have done fine for most jobs although now I wouldn't be without my B26 TLB. It is used more than any other tractor. I cant believe I got by without a back hoe for so many years.