Absolute tractor newbie, help/opinions needed

[12VOLTMAN]

I agree with Roy on this one. A backhoe is way too many $$$ on your budget.
You would be much better served with a bigger tractor and bigger loader for your purposes.

I use to own a Ford backhoe and found that it was much better to hire out larger work than to have that much money invested in a piece of equipment you don't use everyday. Besides, a good operator can do the work in a third of the time it would take someone inexperienced to do it.

In regards to your power reverser question, go drive one, you will see the advantage of that style tranny. And don't forget about a tooth bar on your loader bucket. It will help you break up compacted soil.

In my area there are some really good deals on used equipment right now,
so keep your eyes open.

Hey Roy,
Search the internet for "Tempo WP". It is a powder insecticide that you can mix with water and spray on your house to control carpenter bees. I also use it for those pesky Asian lady beetles that I get swarmed with every fall. It helps quite a bit.

 

[mstewart44]

I have been following your post for a few days and I would recommend looking at the 5000 series. There a lot of people on this board who talk a lot about the smaller tractors, 90 series, 2000, and 3000 series. I have never understood the fascination toward these smaller tractors and even placed a post recently titled "what's the deal?" The replies I got made a lot of sense: most people own less than 10 acres and people are buying a tractor to fit their particular needs. I own 160 acres and last fall bought a 2wd model 5103 and have been very happy with it. The 5000 series tractor is more of a base model with no frills. It has a sync shuttle transmission, not a hydrostatic, which, again, is more of a basic feature. But, according to the Deere website, the base price of a 3120 tractor is $17,499. Now, I will conceede that you get 4wd w/ hydrostatic transmission. But, you only get 29.5 engine hp and 22 PTO hp. A 5103 has a 45 hp engine with 38 hp at the PTO. If you configure a 5103 w/ 4wd the base price is $18,696. But, you get a much bigger machine that can do bigger jobs. Where I am in GA, there are dealerships that advertise a 2wd 5103 for $12,999 (list price $14,366). Naturally, I have a bias to my machine. I'm sure a smaller tractor would do most any job you would want to do, but you wouldn't buy a Ford Ranger when you really want the full size F-150!

I agree that the backhoe should be deleted from your order. You can always rent a backhoe for the weekend and for $7,200 you can probably rent that backhoe for six months or longer!!

If you have 10 acres of a field to mow, you can easily pull a 6 or 7 foot rotary mower with a 5103. The biggest rotary mower you can pull with a 3120 is a medium duty 5 foot mower (MX5). A visit to the dealer to discuss your particular needs might let him match your needs and budget to the right machine. Good luck.

 

[DPic105]

Just my 2 cents- I, like you started with a 790. I quickly realized that it was too small for the jobs that I had in mind, so, I went and purchased a 990. That was a great machine, that I vowed to never sell. Well, I just sold my 990 and purchased a 5203. I NEED the hp that the 5203 has because I now am into haying and my operation continues to grow.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is buy the biggest tractor that you can afford (maybe even bigger than you can afford) because sooner than later you'll wish that you had bought it in the first place!

 

[RWolf]

I would also suggest the 5000 series. For you I'd go for the MFWD because of your soft soil conditions. I got the 5103 2WD (I mostly have the opposite, dry,dry,dry). I would suggest that you also go with the wider tires for better traction. I went with the 14.9 over the 13.6. You might looke at the 16.9. So far I've been very happy with mine.

 

[mstewart44]

I would second RWolf's comments about the wider tires. I am actually talking with the dealer right now about new wider tires. The skinny tires tend to slip and spin a little easier.