Hello,
I'm looking at purchasing a tractor in the next week or so and am torn between bigger tractor vs cabbed tractor. I've never owned a tractor and am not sure if the HP will limit my usage (I've often bought smaller than I should have...I get the job done, but it takes me longer). We have 159 acres split into 9ac of hay fields and lawn, 100ac semi managed woods and pasture and 50 acres crop. The crop land is leased and that will continue. While the kids are in school, we use the property for the family on the weekends (2-4 days per week) and will, in 5-10 years, start a business on the property. The work I have on the property is partially for pleasure, and partially to get it ready for the long term plan.
1. Cutting hay fields, up to 6 acres after the initial cut that will be done by the farmer for hay. I'll cut them every few weeks to keep them down.
2. The existing wooded area has some old horse trails that have not been properly maintained in a few years. They are relatively flat, even though they vary in elevation, and can be easily walked by kids, grandparents and our neighbors horses. I have an ATV that I've been running slowly on the trails to push down some of the overgrown and keep them nicely matted and have restored some to approximately 8-10ft wide. The trails run through some patches of hardwood but mostly open areas. The hardwood canopy is generally high (8-10 ft) and pushed back from the main trail, and the trees will be well spaced again when I'm done. The property is fenced, but the fence line trails have overgrown and I would like to restore them around the entire property. Once that is done, I will have 3+ miles of 10ft wide walkable trails that I want to mow a few times/year.
3. Cutting about 2 acres of "grass" with few obstacles that is close to the house.
4. Clearing snow in winter. We will also show up after what may be a couple of days of snow and have to clear out a pile where we are. I have covered storage in front of the drive where the tractor will be kept, facing out, ready to go, but will also be keeping the 500ft cleared to the entrance of the forest. Plan on using the loader for this.
5. Till up a small plot behind the house for a garden. I'm sure this will grow every year.
6. Spread and grade about 500ft of gravel and keep it maintained.
7. Building a couple of large patios and a firepit.
8. Landscaping yearly...which will get bigger over the years.
9. General maintenance around the property (moving trees when they fall, burn piles, tearing out some old fencing etc).
I will be getting either a lawn tractor or ZT to cut the 2 acres near the house, so I'm not looking for a MMM.
Being in Ontario, winter can last a long time here, and bug season is from May/June until August. Heat is not fun in July/August, but I'd be ok with a canopy most of the time.
I'm looking at the B2650 cabbed, or a JD 2 (possibly a 3) series both with either a rotary cutter or flail mower, rototiller, scraper etc Most of the fields are clear, but I may have to move some stones, or work around them.
I won't go into CAD prices, but depending on exact options, the JD 2038r is 5-6K cheaper, the 2032r is about 7-8K cheaper (maybe add a backhoe
) or the 3039r is 2-3K more than the B2650 with cab. I even priced out the 2025r with everything including a MMM, but I think that's going to be to small for what I'm looking to do. I could put an aftermarket cab on the JD for not much more (or maybe even less) than the B2650 but I wouldn't have AC in the summer.
Both dealers are close, and both have stock, and both dealers are fairly good. It seems that there are about 3 JD dealers for every 1 Kubota dealer in the area, but I'm not sure if that matters.
I'm leaning to the JD in either the 2038r or even 3033/9r (I know, much different tractor but...) with after market cab and figuring something out for summer, but thought I'd get other opinions.
Thanks
I'm looking at purchasing a tractor in the next week or so and am torn between bigger tractor vs cabbed tractor. I've never owned a tractor and am not sure if the HP will limit my usage (I've often bought smaller than I should have...I get the job done, but it takes me longer). We have 159 acres split into 9ac of hay fields and lawn, 100ac semi managed woods and pasture and 50 acres crop. The crop land is leased and that will continue. While the kids are in school, we use the property for the family on the weekends (2-4 days per week) and will, in 5-10 years, start a business on the property. The work I have on the property is partially for pleasure, and partially to get it ready for the long term plan.
1. Cutting hay fields, up to 6 acres after the initial cut that will be done by the farmer for hay. I'll cut them every few weeks to keep them down.
2. The existing wooded area has some old horse trails that have not been properly maintained in a few years. They are relatively flat, even though they vary in elevation, and can be easily walked by kids, grandparents and our neighbors horses. I have an ATV that I've been running slowly on the trails to push down some of the overgrown and keep them nicely matted and have restored some to approximately 8-10ft wide. The trails run through some patches of hardwood but mostly open areas. The hardwood canopy is generally high (8-10 ft) and pushed back from the main trail, and the trees will be well spaced again when I'm done. The property is fenced, but the fence line trails have overgrown and I would like to restore them around the entire property. Once that is done, I will have 3+ miles of 10ft wide walkable trails that I want to mow a few times/year.
3. Cutting about 2 acres of "grass" with few obstacles that is close to the house.
4. Clearing snow in winter. We will also show up after what may be a couple of days of snow and have to clear out a pile where we are. I have covered storage in front of the drive where the tractor will be kept, facing out, ready to go, but will also be keeping the 500ft cleared to the entrance of the forest. Plan on using the loader for this.
5. Till up a small plot behind the house for a garden. I'm sure this will grow every year.
6. Spread and grade about 500ft of gravel and keep it maintained.
7. Building a couple of large patios and a firepit.
8. Landscaping yearly...which will get bigger over the years.
9. General maintenance around the property (moving trees when they fall, burn piles, tearing out some old fencing etc).
I will be getting either a lawn tractor or ZT to cut the 2 acres near the house, so I'm not looking for a MMM.
Being in Ontario, winter can last a long time here, and bug season is from May/June until August. Heat is not fun in July/August, but I'd be ok with a canopy most of the time.
I'm looking at the B2650 cabbed, or a JD 2 (possibly a 3) series both with either a rotary cutter or flail mower, rototiller, scraper etc Most of the fields are clear, but I may have to move some stones, or work around them.
I won't go into CAD prices, but depending on exact options, the JD 2038r is 5-6K cheaper, the 2032r is about 7-8K cheaper (maybe add a backhoe
) or the 3039r is 2-3K more than the B2650 with cab. I even priced out the 2025r with everything including a MMM, but I think that's going to be to small for what I'm looking to do. I could put an aftermarket cab on the JD for not much more (or maybe even less) than the B2650 but I wouldn't have AC in the summer. Both dealers are close, and both have stock, and both dealers are fairly good. It seems that there are about 3 JD dealers for every 1 Kubota dealer in the area, but I'm not sure if that matters.
I'm leaning to the JD in either the 2038r or even 3033/9r (I know, much different tractor but...) with after market cab and figuring something out for summer, but thought I'd get other opinions.
Thanks
