Tractor Buying Advice for 1 acre Lot

[Tractorable]

Also, since you’re frugal, which is a good trait, most tractors have such good resale it’s almost like you’re not losing money on it, just redirecting the funds into a mechanical investment for a while.

 

[Stussy1035]

I have done the same journey. I have a garden tractor that I decided to equip with a Johnny Products sleeve hitch, which allows me to electronically raise and lower a rear implement. (Unfortunately, it turns out my garden tractor did not have a strong enough frame to accept a Johnny Bucket.) I now also have a real tractor.

Some thoughts. If money is no object, buy the toys you want and enjoy them. However, if you need to justify the $$$, that may be difficult with just one acre. The pool infill sounds like a one-time job better hired out unless it costs the same as a tractor.

The Johnny Products implements will do more than you think. I have done many jobs with my garden tractor + sleeve hitch + box blade that folks here STILL say can't be done. Takes a bit of time because it must be done in smaller bites. When I bought the real tractor ($16.7k) I thought I would sell the garden tractor + sleeve hitch (cost around $4.5k) but find I still need it (or want it) for small quick jobs, or where I don't want to destroy or compact turf, or in tight spaces where the big tractor can't easily fit, plus it MOWS well. I have 15 acres. If I only had 1 acre I'd probably be happy with a Johnny Products - equipped garden tractor. Folks here will disagree but tractors are not the best mowers for standard, nicely landscaped lawns. I hate to take my tractor on my *lawn.*

All that being said, one of the smallest *real* tractors--LS MT125, Massey Ferguson GC1715, Mahindra eMax 20S, kubota BX23S--are a kind of swiss-army-knife that I would enjoy having on a small property. Light and small enough to mow well (although I still think you need to remove the FEL for mowing around the house) but still capable enough to do a lot of tractor tasks. YMMV but I found the new Deere tractors inferior to other brands in every way except price. JMO, I was shopping with zero brand loyalty at the time.

Finally, I don't own the Johnny Bucket, but several years later I am very happy with the product quality and customer support from Johnny Products for my electric sleeve hitch.

Life is short. If your dream is to own a real tractor and you can afford it, do it. If you change your mind, you can always sell it.

You mentioned in your post that the John Deere tractors are inferior. Can you please explain in what areas? Are you referring to the larger tractors or the John Deere 1025R. I have look at many sub compact tractors and they all look pretty similar, but there is some slight differences and think the John Deere is pretty well built when looking at the loader and backhoe construction such as it is larger loader arms compared to others and it is well attached to the tractor. I have been leaning towards towards the John Deere 1025R and maybe I am missing something that I should checkout. So I am curious if I am missing something that you may have seen otherwise with the John Deere 1025R being inferior?

 

[finn1]

The small wheel/tire setup on a scut pretty much kill them as far as usefulness for me, along with the limited fel lift and capacity, and child like snow blower capability.

My Kioti ck4010 cab tractor is at the lower end of usefulness for my ~3acre lake property and ~2 acre shop property.

 

[atsah]

The small wheel/tire setup on a scut pretty much kill them as far as usefulness for me, along with the limited fel lift and capacity, and child like snow blower capability.

My Kioti ck4010 cab tractor is at the lower end of usefulness for my ~3acre lake property and ~2 acre shop property.

A SCUT maybe useless for you but a lot of people including myself find them to be very useful for many things. Considering what the OP has outlined what he wants to do with it, a SCUT is more than adequate.. As far as "child like snow blower capability", I run a 3pt 54 inch rear blower that clears a 250ft driveway of 30 inchs of snow in short order..

There are many people that consider your 4010 a useless toy, it's all in the task at hand..

 

[4570Man]

Also, since you’re frugal, which is a good trait, most tractors have such good resale it’s almost like you’re not losing money on it, just redirecting the funds into a mechanical investment for a while.

That’s the way to look at things. Unless it’s a one day use that I’ll never use again I tend to buy things over renting. And after I own the tool I usually find way more then the original use for it and the day to sell it never comes.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

You mentioned in your post that the John Deere tractors are inferior. Can you please explain in what areas? Are you referring to the larger tractors or the John Deere 1025R. I have look at many sub compact tractors and they all look pretty similar, but there is some slight differences and think the John Deere is pretty well built when looking at the loader and backhoe construction such as it is larger loader arms compared to others and it is well attached to the tractor. I have been leaning towards towards the John Deere 1025R and maybe I am missing something that I should checkout. So I am curious if I am missing something that you may have seen otherwise with the John Deere 1025R being inferior?

I am only talking about their new SCUTS, as those are what I shopped.

Comparing specs on comparable models, the Mahindras beat JD in virtually every category. Don't take it from me; print out some spec sheets and do your own research (make sure you're comparing apples to apples; the 1025R is larger than some of the other models on your list).

Additional things I didn't like when I shopped JD: plastic everywhere--fenders, hood, etc.--instead of metal. Aluminum underparts instead of cast iron. Tall, narrow, and long when I was looking for a wider tractor for stability. Small tires (big tires are a big advantage on rough ground). Lack of SSQA. Being forced to buy only JD implements.

there is some slight differences and think the John Deere is pretty well built when looking at the loader and backhoe construction such as it is larger loader arms compared to others and it is well attached to the tractor

You might want to double-check this. The loader arms are reinforced with aluminum plates, making them look beefy; the actual hydraulic cylinders are smaller, and I believe the BH is 3PH attached.

Of course your criteria are likely completely different from mine. Compare specs, test DRIVE them all, and buy what suits YOU. If you're in love with green, buy green.

 

[atsah]

OP, if you would like, read my thread, I did some hands on research yesterday. Hope this helps..

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...s/402461-started-my-search-tractor-today.html

 

[shooterdon]

I agree with you on many points.. If it were me I would keep a close eye out for something in good shape and low hours, it is hard to justify a SCUT for the money they want for them.

I justify mine because of snow removal, I could pay someone to plow but my place needs a loader to remove snow in my large fenced in area and the snow that's comes off of my roof. 15,16,17,20 thousand dollars is a lot of money for most people. In my area I see a lot of older JD 755, 855, 955 tractors in the $7000 range, if you could find something like that, I would think it would suit you well for what you need to do..

Good advice. I recently bought my first tractor...a JD855 with FEL. I have about $6500 in it including a mmm. brush hog, tiller, back blade, York rake. boom, spare set of Ag wheels and tires, and carry all. It takes a while to find a deal but they are out there. Mine was rough but with only 1104 hours on it and I paid $3500 for it. Repairs were $2500. I need to repair the FEL cylinders and that should give me a serviceable machine for well under $7500.

I agree with GWWT...keep your lawn tractor to mow the grass. If you buy new, use the money for the mmm and buy something else. But I could not justify $17+ to work a one acre lot.

 

[newbury]

1 acre. You can do a lot of work with a 20 hp (engine) SCUT with hydrostatic tranny and a 4-ft wide FEL. My first tractor was a 2005 Kubota B7510HST bought new for $12.6K.

My first tractor

2007 B7610HST w/FEL, 23HP. Hudson 12K equipment trailer, Woods 48" box blade, 240 hours $12k 2009.

My second tractor

1995 M4700 gear w/FEL. 50HP 1400 hrs $11.5K, 2013.

<snip>
I own a house and a car which are both big expenses so owning a tractor is hard since it is another large purchase item and am I going to get the use out of it. <snip>
Since I have never owned a tractor it is harder for me to imagine all the possible uses that I can use the tractor for.

So how do you justify the large expense of a tractor?

Depends on your uses.
I've 4 houses and about 400 acres of woodland.
I'm making trails

and lumber

I am looking for some buying advice and if a sub compact tractor will be to large for my needs now and in the future. I tend to buy things that keep them for life. I am wondering if a sub compact tractor will be overkill and I should get something such as a John Deere X700 or X500 series. I currently have an old Craftsman 1994 GT6000 garden tractor and I was looking for a loader / Johnny Bucket to do the work below. I came to the conclusion that I could not find a loader for the tractor and it would still be limited in that it does not have a locking rear differential and not 4 wheel drive.

So I started to look at Sub compact tractors and trying to justify the cost and if it will fit my needs now and in the future. I would like to own more land in the future. It seems like I am always working in the yard and not much is getting done because I am trying to do it with manual labor and I have a lot of projects that I would like to complete. I had some quotes for the landscaping, just to remove the debris from the above ground pool area, and bring in dirt and remove the deck, rock and dirt they quoted $8,500. This does not include any of the actual landscape work which will be approx $15,000 which will total about $23,000 if I were to hire someone to do all of the work.


I have the money to spend, but trying to justify the cost and will I get my use out of the tractor. Is a sub compact tractor to large for a 1 acre lot in the future. I tend to wrench on my own tractors, cars, do oil changes, and maintenance. I am not looking forwarded to another item (tractor) to keep up, repair and maintenance, so not sure how much work or how often the tractors break and require repairs? I would like to have an all electric tractor with electric attachments as it seems simpler and less maintenance but there really do not exist yet and it will probably some time. So it would be new for be working on diesel engines, dealing with hydrostatic trans and fluids, etc.



Any advice would be greatly appreciated with the size of tractor to fit my current lot size and needs below.

Lot Size: 1 acre, would like to own more land in the future but not sure if it will happen.
I live in northern IL so we get some snow. I currently have a newer Ariens snow blower for our 75' driveway.

Current needs and projects:
1. Move and fill in above ground pool that was removed and turn it into a vegetable garden. There is about 30 yards of rock, dirt that needs to be moved and compost / soil that need to be brought in to turn it into a vegetable garden.
2. there is a above ground deck that needs to be removed, and rocks under deck that need to be removed, to make room for a patio.
3. Landscaping around house bushes and rocks need to be removed, ground needs to be regraded and new landscaping installed.
4. I have several trees that need to be removed, large logs of 30" dia that need to be split and wood piles that need to be stacked

Long Term Needs:
1. Mowing most of the lot. the lost is mostly grass with 10+ trees, landscape bushes, etc.
2. Moving tree trimmings and brush to the front for our annual brush pickup.
3. vegetable garden work (size 30' x 30' currently), maybe using a Brinly-Hardy Plow, cultivation disks, etc
4. Laying down mulch around landscape
5. any future projects


thanks again for any advice and help.

If you are sure you are going to buy more land in the future GO BIG, no less than 30HP. Any 4 wheel tractor will be overkill for a 1 acre lot.

If "more land" could be a pipe dream wait until it firms up.

You've got the lawn mower, you've got the snow blower.
I would strongly suggest you rent for moving the 30 yards of material and "get er' done". If you are industrious that should be a long weekend job.
For the several trees a tractor would be nice, but not necessary if you plan making them all firewood anyways. A GOOD heavy duty garden cart will help you move firewood.
Invest in a GOOD chainsaw.

As GWWT wrote:

<snip>
Life is short. If your dream is to own a real tractor and you can afford it, do it. If you change your mind, you can always sell it.

but justifying it for a few weekend projects is a bit of a stretch.

 

[atsah]

John Deere chainsaw? I have a couple of those, I like them..