Advice for first tractor please

[Tharg]

Hi All,
I am looking for a tractor here in Blighty (England). I am new to the world of tractors but have been looking for months so I have built up some useful knowledge about tractors in general.
I only have a small equestrian place (not commercial) with c 12 acres of grazing land. I do not expect to use it much, maybe weekly to empty the trailer onto the muck heap and to push the heap around a bit. Less frequent tasks are listed further down). Consequently, I do not see the need to spend exorbitant amounts on a tractor. Presumably an older second hand one or a cheaper new Chinese or Indian one is where I need to look.
I am trying to work out what sort of tractor I need and what will be enough for the tasks described earlier plus topping (or flail maybe), harrowing, pulling a trailer of manure, rolling, some post knocking and managing the muck heap with the FEL (I definitely need a FEL). (I am also told that I need 4WD.)
The land is divided into c 6, 4, 2 and 0.5 acres so by themselves they are not big fields. They are all ridge and furrow though.
I think the right amount of power is where to start. I was thinking 25HP but now I think that 30 is the minimum and preferably 35 t0 40 maybe.
I ought to admit that I am no motor mechanic but I used to be an engineer so I might stand a chance of fixing things.
All advice gratefully received!

 

[paulsharvey]

So, oist people will say, look at what dealers are local first. In some cases I don't always agree, but being in the UK, your list of dealers, as well as what is considered "close" will be different.

I would expect you probably would be good in the 25-40 hp range. Don't know your norms over there, do you feed round bales, small squares, or large squares of hay? If doing round bales, I think you want about 1500 lbs (750 kg) loader lift capacity. For the other tasks, I think 6 ft impilments are probably ideal, but a 30hp will do that. You could also get by with a 25hp, as long as it lifts your bales. Do you want/need a cab? If you are getting a cab, I would probably side with the 35-40hp side, over the 25-30hp.

On the cab, do your stable center halls have the height to drive a cab machine down the center?

 

[Tharg]

So, oist people will say, look at what dealers are local first. In some cases I don't always agree, but being in the UK, your list of dealers, as well as what is considered "close" will be different.

I would expect you probably would be good in the 25-40 hp range. Don't know your norms over there, do you feed round bales, small squares, or large squares of hay? If doing round bales, I think you want about 1500 lbs (750 kg) loader lift capacity. For the other tasks, I think 6 ft impilments are probably ideal, but a 30hp will do that. You could also get by with a 25hp, as long as it lifts your bales. Do you want/need a cab? If you are getting a cab, I would probably side with the 35-40hp side, over the 25-30hp.

On the cab, do your stable center halls have the height to drive a cab machine down the center?

Thanks for the info. We don't use round bales, just the smaller rectangular ones which are not heavy
Our horses are out 24/7 so no need to get into any stables.
A cab is nice to have but not essential. A ROPs is though.
The thing about a 25 hp machine is the suitability for topping with a topper ( Bush hog I think you call it in the US) or a flail. The local farmers does do it for us but it is not guaranteed so good to have a standby.
In terms of local dealers, there is a few but they are for new / nearly new and that means expensive usually. There are some dealers for Indian and Chinese tractors which are new. They are not cheap but a lot less than the likes of Kubota.

 

[RjCorazza]

The loader capabilities and bale type are important considerations as mentioned by @paulsharvey. I would think a 30-40hp machine would be about right for the other tasks you mention, or smaller if you don't mind spending more time on jobs.
I would definitely stay away from orphaned tractors, or ones likely to be. That would include all Chinese manufacturers in my opinion. See what farmers in the area are using, and look at what those manufacturers offer in your desired size.

 

[paulsharvey]

For the topper, flail mower, bush hog, ect, a 30hp can run a 6 ft on light grass, but a 5 ft would be better if the grass is thick or wet. A 25 hp, you probably should go for the 5 ft. A 40hp would be fine with a 6 ft, even in heavy grass. Mowing is just a question of time, a 4ft, a 5 ft, 6 ft, or 7 ft will all do the same thing, just the larger is faster. At your property size, I think a 6 ft mowing impliment of your choice, and a 35hp machine is probably about right.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, "harrowing", I read that as a disc harrow, but I might be wrong. 25hp should be a 4 to 5 ft disc, a 35hp should be good with a 6 ft. If Harrowing is more like a chisel plow, or something else, soil will be the main factor.

With ground engaging work, like a plow, disc, cultivator, chisel plow, ect, you need the power to run at the speed it works best at; but what works in my sandy soil, may not work in yours.

If harrowing is more of an arena drag or spike harrow drag for breaking up manure, even a 25hp should pull a 7 ft no problem.

 

[Tharg]

The loader capabilities and bale type are important considerations as mentioned by @paulsharvey. I would think a 30-40hp machine would be about right for the other tasks you mention, or smaller if you don't mind spending more time on jobs.
I would definitely stay away from orphaned tractors, or ones likely to be. That would include all Chinese manufacturers in my opinion. See what farmers in the area are using, and look at what those manufacturers offer in your desired size.

Thank you. I share your concerns about the Chinese ones. There is a company here who have been selling Land Legend (donfeng I think) and they seem to be quite popular. It is tempting due to the price. A second hand tractor with fel at c 35 hp is probably going to be 30 years old for a reasonably priced one.

 

[Tharg]

There has been some progress: I am going to see an old Nuffield 4/25 which is in good condition with one owner. I am also in contact with someone selling a international case 695...

 

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[WM75Guy]

We have 14 acres and 3 horses. I have 3 NH tractors, 75 hp, 40 hp, and 25 hp. My go-to tractor is the 40 hp TC40DA we started out with. Loader and bucket are big enough to make quick work of dirt moving as fast as I can tolerate. It pulled a 6' cutter without any issues. Heavy enough to lift stuff with the pallet forks and move trailers without being tippy. It pulls an 8' arena drag with no problems.

The other 2 tractors have their place, the larger one has a cab with AC for mowing and unloads and stacks square bales with a 10-bale hay grapple. The smaller one does close in dirt work in tight spaces and some grass mowing over ground too rough for the ZTR. Neither would be perfect as the only tractor.