Tractor Sizing Sizing help for 7 acres

[jeff9366]

Eighteen used tractors for sale near Zip Code 71037:
-garden in Industrial Tractors | eBay

I like this 2,500 pound (bare tractor) Kubota at an offer price of $15,500. Low price because this tractor is GEAR. Pre-Tier IV. Rotary Cutter available.
213 Kubota L38DT 4WD Tractor with LA524 Loader and ONLY 97 HOURS!!!
TractorData.com Kubota L38 tractor information

 

[gladehound]

I also vote to go used and pre-Tier IV emissions. You just get more for your money used and potentially less emissions headaches.

Hydrostatic vs gear is money vs convenience. The hydrostatic crowd will say it's only 1-2 grand more. The gear crowd will disagree and say you can get in to a tractor that is far larger for the same money. This is especially true on the used market. I think this comes down to preference and what you want to spend your money on.

Tractor size: If it's not too big for the job, it's the right size. Tractors get small fast once you start using them. Do you want to yank out a stump or move a boulder? Carry that 36" diameter log to your wood processing area? Only you can determine what you might want the tractor to do. Most people buy too small the first time and trade up later and you rarely hear of somebody buying too big. And if you buy used, there might not be a penalty to a "do over". You can often sell for what you paid if it's not the right size. Not the case if you buy new.

 

[TheMan419]

Manure is in fact not too heavy. I can lift a heaping bucket in my Boomer 24 with no issues. Of course if I do I want good counter weight hanging off the 3 point. But the FEL will handle it no problem. Same with a big bucket full of dirt. To me that is the heaviest thing I will be doing with the bucket on a regular basis.

As for hydro v. gear, I went hydro because I was a total newbie when I bought. HST is certainly much easier to use, less of a learning curve and conceptually very similar to driving an automatic transmission vehicle. I do not thing Mrs. TheMan would have ever gotten on the tractor if it was gear. With HST she can operate it if needed. Same with my 75 year old father. He has never driven a tractor in his life. He came over to "play" and now routinely likes to come over and mow pasture for me.

Ultimately as to what color to buy, in real estate it is location location location. For tractor it is dealer dealer dealer unless you are the type that can do all the repair work yourself.

Have fun with the journey!

 

[gladehound]

As for hydro v. gear, I went hydro because I was a total newbie when I bought. HST is certainly much easier to use, less of a learning curve and conceptually very similar to driving an automatic transmission vehicle. I do not thing Mrs. TheMan would have ever gotten on the tractor if it was gear. With HST she can operate it if needed. Same with my 75 year old father. He has never driven a tractor in his life. He came over to "play" and now routinely likes to come over and mow pasture for me.

Have fun with the journey!

This is a very good point about HST. Even though I myself am a gear guy, I'd be much more comfortable with my wife or kids jumping on an HST tractor and doing some work.

 

[Rmart30]

The responses have been great and I certainly appreciate everything everyone said.

From what I read, 26 to 30 HP would be about what I need, but another 5 to 8 HP would give me a stronger loader for when I really need it and allow for a larger brush hog to cut down mowing time.

I believe what I'm going to concentrate on looking for is a good 2007 or newer 30 to 38 HP Kubota or Deere with FEL. I'm also going to go to both dealers and get a sense of how they are with customers. I believe they both have used tractors and a couple other places in town also sell ones they pick up from auctions. I will need to do some research on specific models to find out when the Tier 4 emissions change went into effect.

Does anyone have experience with the Kubota B vs. L series?

One other question is transmission type. What advantages/disadvantages of HST vs. synchronized gear? Is the additional cost of hydrostatic worth it?

Thanks again.

L series 30-38 hp are the most abundant on the used market here in central Alabama.
Baton rouge CL has this nice looking L3200 4x4 with FEL for $13k. Kubota L324 Tractor 32HP 4WD Front End Loader HST Transmission - farm & garden - by dealer - sale

 

[MESSMAKER]

L series 30-38 hp are the most abundant on the used market here in central Alabama.
Baton rouge CL has this nice looking L3200 4x4 with FEL for $13k. Kubota L324 Tractor 32HP 4WD Front End Loader HST Transmission - farm & garden - by dealer - sale

That is a nice looking tractor. Not a bad deal.

 

[bspeedy]

That is a nice looking tractor. Not a bad deal.

That's a really good deal. I'd move on that one if you can. That is a Kubota Grand L. Much more tractor than the L3200, L3800, L3901, L3301, etc.

 

[anewuser]

Eighteen used tractors for sale near Zip Code 71037:
-garden in Industrial Tractors | eBay

I like this 2,500 pound (bare tractor) Kubota at an offer price of $15,500. Low price because this tractor is GEAR. Pre-Tier IV. Rotary Cutter available.
213 Kubota L38DT 4WD Tractor with LA524 Loader and ONLY 97 HOURS!!!
TractorData.com Kubota L38 tractor information

That is about what I think I'm looking for. Does the live PTO mean the shaft stops spinning when the tractor is stopped? I'm not sure which is more desirable, the live or independent.

 

[anewuser]

That's a really good deal. I'd move on that one if you can. That is a Kubota Grand L. Much more tractor than the L3200, L3800, L3901, L3301, etc.

The model number is confusing. Is it a L3240 or L324? I looked for an L324 on TractorData, but couldn't find one.

 

[jeff9366]

Grand Ls are four digits: L3240.