Buying Advice 6 acre hobby farm plus mowing - smaller premium brand or larger regular brand?

[Taymar]

I've done a bunch of research, and there's just so many variables I could use some advice please.

I've got about 6 acres of pasture to mow, it's flat. Currently using a zero turn but a rotary or finish mower on a tractor would definitely help with the larger open areas.

edit: It'd help because I could have two people mowing at once, zero turn + tractor.

In addition to regular mowing, I'll also need to do some front loader work. Moving dirt around for grading work, carrying logs, feed, hay bales and so on. Would like to add a grapple eventually and need to pull a small trailer as well.

Hydro transmission is going to be necessary due to the operators preference.

Within budget it looks like I could get a 25hp unit from Massey, Kubota, maybe Deere (I haven't looked at Deere in detail).

I might be able to stretch budget to a 35hp model if I go with LS or Bobcat. I have dealers for all of these close by except LS, which is around 100 miles away. Probably TYM and Kioti are in that group as well.

What concerns me is the PTO HP on the 25hp models seems right on the limit for the attachments, especially since I need the Hydro transmission which saps more power.

Pretty much all of them have similar front loader capacities except for the LS 35hp, which has about 1000lbs more.

With all that in mind, would you advise going with a 25hp unit from one of the premium brands, or go with a 35hp model from one of the lower end brands? If I'm not considering a brand that I should, very open to advice as well please.

At this time I'm leaning towards a new model but would maybe consider something lightly used.

Thank you for any advice.

 

[careyo63]

Mow way to much for a zero turn also! Brother has a nice model. It does well for a small lot or Subdivision. I'm 24Hp. Yanmar and the 1963 Ford 2000 has a FEL.. 10 acres in all. I like older equipment myself. Easy to work on for me. And paid for.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

A 25hp tractor isnt any faster to mow with than a ZTR... Your mower will be no larger, and the ZTR more maneuverable.
For other work, Id personally go a bit larger than you think you'll need, because it will do more, and faster, than a lower HP unit.

I could have gone with a 35HP unit, but went to 48hp to make the work easier and faster.

 

[riptides]

Completely different machines, for different jobs.

The ZTR is the optimum "lawn" cutter. IMHO. you gain nothing with a sub-compact trying to mow your acres.

 

[Eagle1]

I've done a bunch of research, and there's just so many variables I could use some advice please.

I've got about 6 acres of pasture to mow, it's flat. Currently using a zero turn but a rotary or finish mower on a tractor would definitely help with the larger open areas.

edit: It'd help because I could have two people mowing at once, zero turn + tractor.

In addition to regular mowing, I'll also need to do some front loader work. Moving dirt around for grading work, carrying logs, feed, hay bales and so on. Would like to add a grapple eventually and need to pull a small trailer as well.

Hydro transmission is going to be necessary due to the operators preference.

Within budget it looks like I could get a 25hp unit from Massey, Kubota, maybe Deere (I haven't looked at Deere in detail).

I might be able to stretch budget to a 35hp model if I go with LS or Bobcat. I have dealers for all of these close by except LS, which is around 100 miles away. Probably TYM and Kioti are in that group as well.

What concerns me is the PTO HP on the 25hp models seems right on the limit for the attachments, especially since I need the Hydro transmission which saps more power.

Pretty much all of them have similar front loader capacities except for the LS 35hp, which has about 1000lbs more.

With all that in mind, would you advise going with a 25hp unit from one of the premium brands, or go with a 35hp model from one of the lower end brands? If I'm not considering a brand that I should, very open to advice as well please.

At this time I'm leaning towards a new model but would maybe consider something lightly used.

Thank you for any advice.

What hay bales? Anything other than small squares you'll want enough lift and weight for your bales. My 35hp LS with backhoe installed will lift and carry 4x5.5 round and unload double stacked 4x5, not enough reach for 5.5 bales on a second row.

 

[careyo63]

Hay is what the Prev. owner used this for. Thinking about it I need to go weld and fill in the holes the FEL. Hay Forks was attached to it with. After going through everything and in working order there's not much doubt that's all it was used for. Had to split it. Stuck Clutch Etc.. 48Hp. with some serious height of the FEL...

Attachments

• 
  000_0290.JPG

  1.6 MB · Views: 225

Made by Wagner but you can clearly see the Red paint and Raised letter International on the Loaders Arm! That was my guess also what it was and came off of?

 

[Taymar]

What hay bales? Anything other than small squares you'll want enough lift and weight for your bales. My 35hp LS with backhoe installed will lift and carry 4x5.5 round and unload double stacked 4x5, not enough reach for 5.5 bales on a second row.

Thank you, probably 4x5 or so. I don't expect I'll have more than a couple on hand at any given time so probably won't need to stack.

 

[Eagle1]

I get them delivered 2 high on flat bed, we use 40-50 per year. The top row takes a bit of finesse
If you figure a 4x5 bale is 600 to 800 pounds plan for that and leave margin for wet bale. Sooner or later.

 

[Taymar]

I get them delivered 2 high on flat bed, we use 40-50 per year. The top row takes a bit of finesse
If you figure a 4x5 bale is 600 to 800 pounds plan for that and leave margin for wet bale. Sooner or later.

This is awesome, thank you!

 

[KennyG]

Most 25HP tractors have instructions that specifically say don't lift large bales. Get the size tractor you need and then get the best your budget will allow.