New guy from Texad

[kittyhawk]

New guy from Texas

Good rainy morning from SE Texas.
Well the wife and I are in the process of purchasing 104 acres with house (64 cleared 40 wooded) in the central Texas area for our retirement. Ive just now starting to to my research on tractors and came here to get some advice on my future purchase.
I知 thinking between 50-70 hp, loader, open station tractor. I'm looked at a Kubota 6060, 7060 and a Kioti RX 6620, RX 7320 and to tell the truth I like the Kioti better. I'm going to look at several Mahindra models next week, a 2555, 3555, 5555 and 5570.
I have a set budget right now and thinking of maybe buying a smaller used tractor in the 35-45hp range in the interim till I can save up to purchase a larger machine.
Thanks and Stay Safe!

 

[stingray1]

Welcome to the forum,congrats on your retirement. All that acreage will give you plenty to do.

 

[jeff9366]

I am thinking of buying a used tractor in the 35-45hp range until I can save enough to purchase a larger machine.

Bad idea.

Thirty five to forty five horsepower tractors have a Category I Three Point Hitch.

The heavier, more powerful, new tractors you are considering have a larger dimensioned Category II Threee Point Hitch for heavier implements engineered to the heavier tractors capabilities.
(Kubota 'Grand L' L6060 has a combination Category I/II Three Point Hitch.)

If you buy used, buy a tractor with a Category II Three Point Hitch.

All three of the new tractor brands you are considering are fine. Kubota will have the most refined finish and controls, Mahindra the least; Kioti between. Priced accordingly.

I have never read a T-B-N post by a Kubota 'Grand L' buyer expressing regret at having paid the premium purchase price.

I suggest you check out Korean brand LS as well.

THREE POINT HITCH LINK: TractorData.com - Three-Point Hitch


Welcomad to T-B-N.

 

[TBN Support]

:welcome:

Welcome to the forum!

I'm going to move this thread over to our buying, pricing, and comparisons section. You should find plenty of good advice over there

 

[Thomas]

:welcome: to TBN and congrats on the retirement...enjoy.

 

[jeff9366]

If you are more specific than TEXAS in your T-B-N Profile, someone may notify you of a Category II used tractor in good condition near you.

This occurs regularly.

 

[the old grind]

:welcome: Welcome! Congratulations on being able to retire in Texas. :thumbsup: And what Jeff said ..

The tractors you suggest are big investments and I have a suggestion based on my own experience, and hoping what Jeff said above makes sense to you. Healthy 50hp post-millennial 2WD AND 4WD Cat II tractors are common in the $15-18k range (JD, NH, Massey, Case, __) around here, about what you'd pay for a newer, used 40hp 4WD with little to no power reserve for big acreage.

You wouldn't necessarily buy a new(er) 25' sport-fishing powerboat with the intention of keeping and paying it off. The machines I speak of can be used for a few years and with routine maintenance resold for 80-90% of what one pays ...
(BTDT x3).

Take time, then, to gain a feel for brand, dealer, transmission, power/Cat I,II, even tires that you'd want on a 'keeper'. Easy-in to get a perspective on your patch, and time to save for 'better-equipped' when you sell or trade in. (cab, heat, AC, ++SCVs ..)

I wouldn't over-think 'getting it right the first time'. Check out 'program' units (lease returns) or others returned by a first-timer that guessed wrong. Remember, when buying a tractor vs a car or truck, model year means peanuts compared to 'clock hours' and maintenance history.

Good luck!

 

[rustyshakelford]

Where are y’all at in SE Texas?

For 64 cleared acres I’d be looking at the 75-100hp range so you can run a batwing and also a cab. It’s cheaper to buy it right the first time (if buying new) than upgrading. One option is buying an older tractor to get a feel for what your needs will be and going from there. Often you’ll be able to sell it for what you bought it for.

As for the mower, there’s guys here that would mow that much with a 6-8’ shredder and be happy as can be. Me on the other hand like to get things knocked out quickly and thus the recommendation for a 15’ batwing. In heavy pasture I’m around 5-6 acres an hour. Lighter stuff its around 8 if not a little more.

Now the expensive part, the cab. With the batwing you can keep the cab away from the trees easier. If you have run both and could only get one 99% would get a cab unless they had a specific need for an OOS. You can do tractor work year round in shorts and a tee. You leave the tractor as clean as you were when you got in it, bugs aren’t chewing you up and wasps/hornets/bees can’t get to you. Also, the older you get the easier it is to be affected by the heat.

If I was in your shoes I would be looking on CL for an older cab tractor and batwing combo. There’s been quite a few older Deere 4xxx series for good money selling and always some decent batwings too. Once you figure out exactly what your needs will be and if you have the itch for new equipment you’ll be better prepared to buy new right the first time

Brett

 

[Tractorable]

Re: New guy from Texas

Don't overlook the new Yanmar YT359, probably one of the nicest tractors out there now.

 

[kittyhawk]

Thanks for all the replys. The property is located in Southern Freestone county close to Buffalo. Right now it's leased out to a rancher who is running cattle and dose the mowing. So I think I'll keep the same deal with him for this next year. That'll give me time to figure out what I need more than what I want.