Buying Advice Advice for first time tractor buyer

[Ecreps]

Hello all, I hope you are doing well. I have come to the conclusion that I need a tractor to do some tasks around my new house, but I am having trouble deciding which direction to go. My main uses will be moving/grading/spreading both dirt and Gravel. I would like to use it to dig a foundation for a barn, but I can hire that out with the concrete work. Secondary use will be Brush hogging, as well as removing stumps, and planting trees. I am located in Ohio, with primarily Clay soil, so I wasn't sure if the smaller tractor would struggle with the tougher clay. I have roughly 5 acres. I have never owned a tractor before.

Originally I was pretty set on a LS MT125 with a FEL and Backhoe. The best price I have gotten on that is $15,500 delivered, or $12,200 delivered without the BH.

I went to look at them at a local dealer, and I also tried out the XJ 2025. It seemed more capable, which the FEL is. Best price there is $19,000 delivered, or $14,200 without the BH. I like that it has a larger frame, and more capable Front end loader, but unsure if it is actually needed for me.

I also went and looked at the Kubota Dealer as well. I looked over the BX2380, which seems roughly the equal of the MT125, but is about $2500 more. I like that the dealer is closer, parts availability may be easier, and resale will likely be higher (unsure if I will ever actually sell it though). The KKubota dealer also had an L2501 marked down to $16,900, which I would have jumped on, but it a GST and not an HST transmission. Does anyone have any thoughts one way or another on this? If I were just doing a bunch of brush hogging or tilling, this wouldn't worry me so much.

My initial thought is to get the XJ2025 with FEL, 5' rotary brush mower, and a rear blade. Wait on the backhoe until I really need it. I originally wanted to buy used, but it seems like most used small tractors are either really beat up, or almost the price of new. I know this has been asked 1000 times, and I appreciate any input.

Thanks.

 

[skipperbrown]

How many acres will you be tending, how many are in grass/pasture and do you have any steep hills you need to navigate/mow? A subcompact tractor is very sub and very compact and not particularly well suited to larger estates/fields. Ground clearance becomes an issue. I like to think of my bx as a riding lawn mower on steroids. It does a great job mowing and is marginal at everything else. A B series size gets you real tractor ground clearance and is much better around the farm but doesn't mow the lawn as well because it is not as nimble and is heavier plus it starts to lack in power. A L series is a nice small farm tractor but not good in the yard. The mx and m series are much better suited to farming work where weight is your friend but you don't want them in your yard. I mowed food plots this weekend with my b and was really, really missing the bulk, power, and ride of my grand L.

 

[Roadworthy]

Dealer and parts availability should play into your decision. I paid about $16000 for a Kubota L2501 new last July and added the FEL for another $4000. I mow ten acres with a five foot mower. The LS dealer is a lot closer but I've dealt with him in the past and found lots of promises but no support. I paid more for the Kubota and thus far am loving it. I did not get more power and thereby avoided the diesel particulate filter. My tractor is four wheel drive which is handy but not used often. It is also HST which I'm getting used to as my old tractor had a regular clutch and gearshift. My Kubota dealer provides excellent support though I understand not all do. Factor the dealer into you decision. That's where the support comes from. My LS dealer sells pet supplies - tractors are kind of a sideline. My Kubota dealer sells farm equipment and supports it.

 

[Ecreps]

How many acres will you be tending, how many are in grass/pasture and do you have any steep hills you need to navigate/mow? A subcompact tractor is very sub and very compact and not particularly well suited to larger estates/fields. Ground clearance becomes an issue. I like to think of my bx as a riding lawn mower on steroids. It does a great job mowing and is marginal at everything else. A B series size gets you real tractor ground clearance and is much better around the farm but doesn't mow the lawn as well because it is not as nimble and is heavier plus it starts to lack in power. A L series is a nice small farm tractor but not good in the yard. The mx and m series are much better suited to farming work where weight is your friend but you don't want them in your yard. I mowed food plots this weekend with my b and was really, really missing the bulk, power, and ride of my grand L.

All 5 of my acres are either yard or pasture, but I will not be doing any finish mowing the the Tractor. I have roughly 2 acres that needs managed. It is currently very overgrown, with small trees (3-4 ft tall), as well as similar height grass and bushes.

Dealer and parts availability should play into your decision. I paid about $16000 for a Kubota L2501 new last July and added the FEL for another $4000. I mow ten acres with a five foot mower. The LS dealer is a lot closer but I've dealt with him in the past and found lots of promises but no support. I paid more for the Kubota and thus far am loving it. I did not get more power and thereby avoided the diesel particulate filter. My tractor is four wheel drive which is handy but not used often. It is also HST which I'm getting used to as my old tractor had a regular clutch and gearshift. My Kubota dealer provides excellent support though I understand not all do. Factor the dealer into you decision. That's where the support comes from. My LS dealer sells pet supplies - tractors are kind of a sideline. My Kubota dealer sells farm equipment and supports it.

Can you compare and contrast the HST vs GST for things such as loader work, or tending driveways and snowplowing?

 

[Diggin It]

For frequent direction or position changes, Hydro will work out better. Gear is better for long runs at near constant speeds where you need more guts.

If you want a BH, it's better to get it with the tractor so they're manufacturer matched. Adding one later will be more expensive also.

 

[seville009]

My advice would be get one with hst vs geared.

I had a Kubota B7500 hst for my 7 acres; did about 5 acres of finish mowing, some loader work, and tilling. Was also my primary snow removal equipment with a front blower.

Later bought 7 acres of contiguous field acreage; too much for the B7500. Bought a MF1540 and decided to not get hsr to save some money. Big mistake. Hated it. Ended up trading it in for a hst model.

 

[Roadworthy]

I bought the HST even though it was $1000 extra as Kubota has NO warranty on the clutch. Then I learned the HST has a clutch, too. I do like the way I can set the RPM for PTO and get more or less travel speed via the HST. My terrain is not all level and it's nice to vary speed while mowing. With my old tractor I set the engine speed for PTO then picked the best gear combination for desired speed. I couldn't speed up or slow down without stopping and changing gears. HST works well for loader work as you needn't continually shift from forward to reverse. I got the tractor in July and have not seen snow yet but think HST would work well at that, too.

 

[jeff9366]

I have never owned a tractor before. I have roughly 5 acres.

My main uses will be moving/grading/spreading both dirt and Gravel.

Secondary use will be Brush hogging, as well as removing stumps, and planting trees. I am located in Ohio, with primarily Clay soil, so I wasn't sure if the smaller tractor would struggle with the tougher clay.

I went to look at them at a local dealer, and I also tried out the XJ 2025. It seemed more capable, which the FEL is. Best price there is $19,000 delivered, or $14,200 without the BH. I like that it has a larger frame, and more capable Front end loader.

My initial thought is to get the XJ2025 with FEL, 5' rotary brush mower, and a rear blade. Wait on the backhoe until I really need it. I originally wanted to buy used, but it seems like most used small tractors are either really beat up, or almost the price of new.

XJ2025/FEL/HST is a subcompact tractor. Subcompact tractors are best regarded as wonderful lawn/finish mowers with the ability to do light landscaping tasks. However, finish mowing is not among your contemplated tractor applications. Nor is moving/grading/spreading dirt and gravel light landscaping. Some find a subcompact tractor enough for five acres, others want more tractor. I believe you will be happier with a 2,600 to 3,000 pound bare tractor weight machine, rather than a subcompact. Selling a used tractor is easy. Selling multiple light implements in order to buy heavier, wider implements for a new, heavier tractor requires a lot of time. Depreciation on implements is worse than depreciation on a tractor.

You can use a FEL Bucket Spade attachment on a 2,600 to 3,000 pound bare weight tractor for tree planting.
MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/328798-bucket-spade-today-fel-bucket.html

Digging tree stumps >3" is not work for a subcompact nor compact tractor. When you negotiate the barn foundation contract, include stump removal.

The small wheels and tires on a subcompact tractor will give you a rough ride mowing pasture.

Five reasons owner/operators trade up from Subcompact Tractors:​

More tractor weight increases tractive power pulling ground contact implements and logs, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow.
More FEL lift capacity.
More ground clearance.
Three-range (3) HST (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH) ~~ rather than two-range (2) HST.
Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less operator perturbation.

New tractor operators are often intimidated by how unstable tractors with small front wheels and large rear wheels feel therefore tend to buy too light, too small as a result. ((Tractors seem to shrink after about twenty hours of operating experience.))

My main uses will be moving/grading/spreading both dirt and Gravel.
Can you compare and contrast the HST vs GST for things such as loader work, or tending driveways and snowplowing?

90% of new subcompact and compact tractors are sold with HST transmissions. HST excels where there will be a lot of maneuvering or when precise speed control is important, as in dumping gravel in a particular spot or mounting tractor implements. Other family members can be taught to operate HST tractors fairly easily.

GST and other gear type compact tractor transmissions are more suitable for long pulls, which would normally be in fields.

MORE: Advantages HST transmission tractor - Google Search

 

[Diggin It]

Digging tree stumps is not work for a subcompact nor compact tractor.

Several of us have proven (with pictures) Doktor Orange wrong on that point.

 

[Rebeldad1]

Dont expect a lot with a small tractor and a small backhoe.
If its something you can dig with the reach and capacity of a shovel a small backhoe would make it so much more enjoyable.
Dont expect much reach. Even a mini excavator with a 12-14' reach gets to seem pretty small at times. But either would be a lot of fun!