Advice on first tractor purchase.

[starhauler]

From the sounds of it a small bulldozer might come in handy, but in your neck of the woods is a guy that has a few Pasquali tractors for sale. They are italian made but were designed for vineyards. They are 4 wheel drive articulated and narrow doesn't hurt to look.

 

[kg7il]

I have the L3800. I wouldn't go smaller.
I had about 36 slash and stump piles on the property that we bought.
Observations:

• You can never have too much power.
• A bucket works, but not well for slash and mixed tree debris (long stuff extending outside the bucket drags out the rest of the bucket contents.
• A bucket doesn't work real good for removing stumps, too wide, too much dirt to move.
• Heavy CUT is good. You will be dragging crap, the little B's might not cut it.
• Budget NOW for grapple, and other attachments.

 

[newbury]

My opinion to the op...........(and considering we don't have exact acreage), would be a 'B' sized Kubota or equivalent in other brands, get the blade, but also 'consider the snowblower' (front mount blowers are expensive, but save neck strain). A subcut is generally good for up to 5 acres, and the 'B' series or equivalent is good for up to 10 acres..........depending on the usage. Yours sounds like a go for a small CUT tractor like the 'B' series due to the extra ground clearance in the woods.

Either that you listed will work, but you would be happier with the L3800..........even with the 'possible' jerky 3pt. hitch.

Basically - what he said. Steer away from the small front tire BX style. Get a blade off CL. Remember every $1,000 you save on the tractor you can spend on implements/attachments.

I started in August of last year to buy a tractor - 40HP, able to lift a ton on the 3pt, 4WD and $15K or less. HST wasn't REQUIRED. But As I've stated in another thread:

I bought my '95 M4700 w/ 1400 hrs on it in January for $12K (and a comparable MX4700DT goes for about $30K list.)

Of course I had to pay almost $5,000 to get it so I could use it fully:
Plow - $450
PHD w/ 2 augers - $700
8" Jinma Chipper - $1,800
5' tiller - $800
Piranha tooth bar - $300 (just bought)
Clamp on pallet forks - about $250
Hydraulic hose - $40
Diesel fuel - about $100

So I guess I've actually paid about $17K for it now.

And I've used all but the tooth bar so far. If I had paid more for the tractor I probably would have had a lot less to spend on the attachments.

I daresay in YOUR case you'll be a lot happier with a less expensive tractor and more attachments, if you can't really afford both. Especially either a nice front blade or a snowblower.

Remember a FEL is a Front End LOADER, it does very well LOADING, not so well plowing and digging.