Buying Advice Advice for first time tractor buyer

   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #22  
Don't mind the good Doktor there Pete. He gets kinda disagreeable late in the day. And early in the morning.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #23  
Do not invade other's threads. Start a new thread on your topic. Everything in this thread should relate to ECREPS needs.

A thread "should" be about what the title indicates...in this case "advice for a first time buyer"...since the OP has since made a purchase it is not really hijacking a thread...

Also, once a query has been satisfied everyone on TBN learns quickly it's no holds barred when it comes to O/T comments etc...
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer
  • Thread Starter
#24  
I just joined this site yesterday; looking for first ever tractor purchase now that I am retired. I have 54 acres but over 40 of it is mountain desert and natural with unworkable grades. I am concerned with defensible fire space so I wouldn稚 old basically look to pull out low junipers and thick sage brush plus snow removal, small rock scooping, gravel-driveway maintenance and clearing trails for our ATVs. I have been looking at the Deere 3032 E, Kioti CK3510 or the Mahindra 2638 (all HST). Looking to stay under $25K with some implements. Not looking for a backhoe at this time. Any guidance would be appreciated. I don稚 want anything huge but I don稚 want to buy anything underpowered. If I don稚 use it my wife will kill me for wasting money.

I think those are all reliable tractors with similar performance. I would go test drive them, as well as see how your local dealer support is for all 3.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #25  
The kioti and mahindra are heavier tractors and are more powerful than the jd but any of those three will work for you.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #26  
I've said before that it is way too easy to buy too small. As I stated on one thread, "Buy your 5th tractor first".

Just because a machine CAN possibly do something, doesn't make it a good choice. I used my Ford 1210 with a 3-point dirt scoop to dig a 300 foot swale along one side of our property. Took a lot of time, did wheelies (even with two suitcase weights on the front) when the soil was wet, and it worked the little tractor pretty hard. It was all I had so I made do. Just because it worked doesn't make it a good choice.

I've driven cars, buses, dump trucks and even a Euclid for one job when I was younger. After operating anything for a while you get accustomed to it. For a couple years in the late 80''s my company vehicle was a Ford Bronco II and my daily driver. It was replaced with a full size Chevy 4x4 in '92. My first impression was that the pickup was like driving a school bus. It didn't take long at all to feel at home in it, and driving anything smaller made me feel cramped. In no time at all I was right at home weaving through places like the drive-thru at the local Taco Bell where regular cars were bumping into the curbs. Pretty much the same thing happens with tractors.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer
  • Thread Starter
#27  
Got it in this weekend. Already used the forks, bush hog, loader, and rear blade. Seems like I may need something more aggressive than the rear blade for what I'm doing. May just try to add some weight first.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #28  
Got it in this weekend. Already used the forks, bush hog, loader, and rear blade. Seems like I may need something more aggressive than the rear blade for what I'm doing. May just try to add some weight first.

There are lighter and heavier rear blades, but you are somewhat limited with that size tractor. If you are moving dirt around a box blade with scarifiers does a better job. It can break the dirt loose and then drag it. Your other option is to break the ground up first and then use your blade to move it. You can do that with an inexpensive subsoiler, middle buster or rippers.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #29  
I just joined this site yesterday; looking for first ever tractor purchase now that I am retired. I have 54 acres but over 40 of it is mountain desert and natural with unworkable grades. I am concerned with defensible fire space so I wouldn稚 old basically look to pull out low junipers and thick sage brush plus snow removal, small rock scooping, gravel-driveway maintenance and clearing trails for our ATVs. I have been looking at the Deere 3032 E, Kioti CK3510 or the Mahindra 2638 (all HST). Looking to stay under $25K with some implements. Not looking for a backhoe at this time. Any guidance would be appreciated. I don稚 want anything huge but I don稚 want to buy anything underpowered. If I don稚 use it my wife will kill me for wasting money.

I think for what you are planning to use it for you are on the right track. All three are good machines. The Deere is a little on the light side, but will do what you want. You may find that you get more bang for your buck with either of the other two. You will probably want at least a brush cutter and box blade. There are several options for keeping the driveway up (scrape blade, land plane, box blade), but if you are building trails the box blade is going to be your better choice. It is better at actually moving dirt rather than just scooting it around a little.
 
   / Advice for first time tractor buyer #30  
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.

Go with the Kubota L2501 with gear drive. I find it to be so much better than the HST. The HST will suck up horsepower as well.
 

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