I moved out of suburbs to 6 acres - 3 acres with trees and 3 with lawn.
A tractor weighing 1,500 pounds to 2,000 pounds bare weight is about right.
Ground clearance due to larger wheels and tires is the single greatest difference in tractor specs between (all brands) of Subcompact tractors and the lightest Compact tractors. Small tractor wheels drop into holes, disrupting traction. Larger wheels and tires supplied on heavier tractors bridge holes and ruts, increasing traction. Larger wheels and tires permit higher operating speed over uneven ground by reducing implement bounce and operator perturbation.
One can mow a field faster with larger wheels and tires. One or two mph with larger wheels/tires will significantly reduce field mowing time. With 12" ground clearance you can tractor cultivate a garden until crop reaches 12" to 14" height.
When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire
ballast fourth
I looked at the Kubota B2650 and B3250 with cab. I need a back and front loader, and something to redo my gravel drive way...
For three to six acres a Kubota B2650 (obsolete model) / LX2610 (replacement model) will be ample.
VIDEO:
Why do you need a cab? What tractor work has such a priority in your life that you have to work in inclement weather when tractor will rut the ground? Be a fair weather operator, like most non-professional operators posting here.
Front End Loaders (FEL) are extremely useful. 90% of compact tractors are purchased with a FEL.
Backhoes are exceptional at trenching. For tasks other than trenching, most would use the FEL or a Three Point Hitch (TPH) implement. Forego the Backhoe unless you have a lot of trenching to do. Devote the $5,000 a Backhoe costs on a compact tractor to tractor TPH implements. (You can likely have a pro with a mini-excavator do all the trenching you need for $500 - $1,000)
TRACTOR IMPLEMENTS LINK:
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media...aa214276e14dacb/pub2917tractorimplements1.pdf
Or would a Kioti or Mahindra is better? They seem more economical and has more upgrades without the up charge that Kubota offers.
Tractors have not evolved very far since the TPH was introduced to USA by Ford on the Ford 9n in 1939.
Kubota enjoys around 50% of the market share for compact tractors in the USA.
Mahindra
compact tractors are not made by Mahindra, they are made by another manufacturer, badged and painted for Mahindra. Larger Mahinda tractors are manufactured by Mahindra in India.
Korean manufacturing labor is paid 20% less than Japanese manufacturing labor. Korean tractors can be somewhat less money than Japanese tractors. In my opinion, Kioti, LS and Branson are the top Korean tractor brands. However, Kubota dominates the compact tractor category in the USA.
Which has ones has parts that are more readily available?
See above.
Gas or diesel? I don't want to deal with DEF diesel stuff.
There are no new gas compact tractors; all are diesel. Tractors under 26 - horsepower are exempt from strict Tier IV emission controls. Tractors over 26 - horsepower require somewhat complex, somewhat costly pollution controls. DEF begins on tractors with 75 - horsepower.
A quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important for tractor neophytes. Most new tractors are delivered with a glitch or two requiring correction. My kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment after eight years. Dealer proximity is less important for those experienced with tractors and qualified to perform their own maintenance.
GOOD LUCK with your research and purchase!
