Advice/thoughts for my situation

[johncanfield]

Yanmar is a quality brand, they build good excavators, tractors, marine engines and probably engines for other applications. Do not make the mistake of buying too small, for one example how much will your loader lift at the pins? My 4720 Deere has a loader rating of about 2500 pounds and 12 gpm hydraulics. I understand you want to keep the tractor garaged but you are really limiting your options.

A popular opinion around tractor forums is buy one size larger than you were considering.

Oh, also you want auxiliary hydraulics front and rear!

 

[Bfgloki74]

Johncanfield: I tend to agree about buying bigger then needed as well, cause its very probable that we can grow into those extra uses that a larger tractor can accomplish. I even went so far as to go back and rework the numbers and drive/research the larger models of each. With that I kept running into more cons then pro for not just the 3 years of storage but also what I refer to as "biting of more then I can chew". I know my limitations and the false sense of having a more capable machine will no doubt seep into thinking I am more capable when it comes to projects. Now that might seem silly since it doesn't always translate that way but I am concerned it would lead me into going too big and over estimating if that makes any sense? Those Aux hydraulics are available on the model I looked at and included in my pricing ( after learning the reason for why it made it an easy choice to add )

As for trails it will navigate, I want to keep the land useable for my intended enjoyment without working/widening the trails and small roads to the point where it doesn't have the blend into the landscape feel. I am a huge fan of ' respect the land ' and as my father keeps telling me, it will provide you with all the joys it did on your last day as it did the first day.


The quality of the company in terms of history was probably the one thing I was looking to hear from folks who have grown up around this equipment etc. I know other companies who used to build a lot for several others but when they went to do it themselves they fell short. It doesn't not seem so with Yanmar.

 

[RalphVa]

Congrats on the nice acreage in Maine.

Sounds as though the yt235 is like a 3 series JD, not a SCUT, and more like you need. Mahinda doesn't have the burnoff thing. Not sure what Yanmar has. I've had 3 JDs but all < 25 hp.

Cab is the way to go for Maine, especially if you don't go into the woods too much where clearance would be a problem.

Guess snow blowing on gravel is fine. A friend has had a rear blower on 3 different Kubotas in Winchester, Va since about 1975ish on his 1/4 to 1/2 mile driveway there.

People are saying you'd be going slow with the hydraulic pump capacity it has. Well, duh, you want to generally go slow for safety anyway.

I'd let that 15 acres out front grow up mostly and maybe mow 1/2 acre or so around the house. Maybe do trails through it and mow the whole thing down once/yr or every 2nd year.

Ralph

 

[Bfgloki74]

The amount I will mow with the Hogger is going to be learned over time. I have about 1/4-1/2 acre around the house that is more traditional grass/lawn and a good Zero turn mower for that. The fields are up for debate on how much I knock down to keep the view looking clean and again provide that natural blend/border with the land. The box scrapper and the snow blower will no doubt see the most use of any of the attachments I am purchasing since the trails that have run off and even my driveway show some light erosion with rain and drainage ( which the drain ditches I want to dig over the next season or 2 should help with as well) but also keep those less used trails from getting out of hand. The back hoe is probably the only item/attachment that is debatable on how/if I will use it to its fullest but I also know I will grow into it and have plans at all phases that could benefit from having it vs going back in a year or 2 to purchase or rent.

 

[johncanfield]

Look up the specs on my 4720, the replacement for it is a Deere 40- something series. Deere calls this a large frame compact tractor; for our ranch it's the perfect size. I have to mow around a bunch of oaks (among other chores), it's extremely maneuverable for that job but large enough to do some serious work.

My previous tractor was a Kubota L2900 which was fine for a ranchette but it had serious limitations due to its lack of size for our ranch. By the way, that L2900 was extremely reliable, simple and no frills - I put 500 hours on it. A new Kubota was on my short list when I was tractor shopping, I came across a low hour 4720 and fell in love.

You are a smart guy for wanting a cab. I would not own a piece of equipment without one - I'm used to being comfortable now compared to an open station.

 

[Bfgloki74]

I like to think my father raised me to work hard and work smart
The Kubota's were phenomenal machines and any farmer or worker of land will have more then one good thing to say about them. I just cant justify the 11k difference in cost which can be used toward getting that barn up sooner. I am grateful for the great responses and insights/comments so far and in such a short period of time. My 'neighbor' ( potato farmer about 3 miles up the road) is going to let me come up and work his Kioti a little and see how it feels. Its his newest tractor which he uses for his front 30 acre parcel around his house and barn. He had some great things to say about Yanmar and the dealership which I was settling on. Being conglomerate of small towns up here, personal experience and treating customers like they live next door is a huge selling point for me as well. Even in these 'pandemic' times when I walked in the owner walked up and said " if me shaking your hand is offensive let me know now" which promptly led to a good old fashion exchange and no rush conversation about my history, his and how much we both loved it up here.

He was very passionate about all his tractors and always was candid about good and challenging things for each brand he had. He also was helpful about getting me all the other dealers in a 40 mile and 75 mile radius so I could be as objective as possible and make sure I was comfortable about whatever machine I purchased. That was not only classy but also shows me a lot about his character. My final decision will be on Monday after I run all my final numbers, and maybe dream a little bigger to make sure I get it right. I look forward to more opinions and insights until then....and the great conversations and advice after I get my machine!