Am I thinking to big?

[RandyinTN]

Started thinking about buying a tractor a few months after moving to our new home and it's surrounding 42 acres of timber. Plan to have a tractor on our property before the end of this year. First it was a 25 hp model, then, 30, then 38, and now my first choice is a 45 (NX4510 Kioti HST). The pretty universal post is "go bigger than what you think you will need".

I can afford the 45. But like most people would be happier spending less. The tractor will have a FEL and backhoe on it. Main uses would be helping me cut and move wood for our wood stove, digging up stumps, and helping clear and plant mini food plots for deer and digging the occasional hole to plant new fruit trees. It will also be used to resurface our 550 foot gravel road when needed with a box blade. It will never be used for mowing. Would also like to plant food plots on old logging roads that go thru our property. Maybe 1,000 feet of old roads that havent been driven on in at least 30 years. Most lumber will be cut where it is dropped and then carried to the house in the FEL. Majority of stumps that will come up held trees no bigger than 18 inches in diameter. At some point might dig out an area and fill with good soil for another garden plot.

Is the 45 hp for me or would a less powerful model fit the bill? I am retired and have plenty of time on my hands.

 

[MossRoad]

With that many acres of woods, you should not have to cut down any trees for firewood. Storm fall and wind damage will probably provide you with 3-5 cords per year easily. I can get that much out of a 10 acre patch on our place.

Why dig up the stumps? Unless they're in the way of construction or you want a lawn, let them rot. They provide homes for insects and critters that turn the stumps to dirt that nourish the forest that, in turn, provides great habitat for the wildlife you're trying to attract.

With that said, 45 is a nice sized machine. I had a used 50 for about 10 years. Once I got the large tasks out of the way, it was no longer needed, so we sold it and downsized to a much smaller, but more efficient machine just to maintain the place.

 

[RandyinTN]

I dont plan on cutting down trees for firewood. Only will cut the one's that should be removed to improve the overall forest. Had a Forester come by and we walked through the property and he pointed out examples of trees that should be removed. We already have enough trees on the ground from last years tornado to last a decade if I get them bucked up soon.

Many old stumps all thru our property. Removing some gives me more places to plant food crops for deer.

 

[MickeyDBC]

We have been on a cleanup project on our place that has involved cutting down some trash trees and some older dead ones and my advise is go as big as you can. I have a 73HP Kioti with a heavy grapple/root rake on it and being able to pickup a whole tree (or at least a big part of one) is very handy and a lot safer than running a saw in heavy brush and branches. This way I just move them into the burn pile or cut them up in the open where I have less worry of tripping over something with a running saw. I have had all of my extremities for over fifty years and I am fond of them.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

One thing I will point out is the rear blade backhoe situation.

Ever tried to take a backhoe off and store it? Some of us like separate machines instead of wasting a bunch of time swapping things like backhoes. If it’s too difficult it might not get used as much.

If I wanted a back hoe, I would buy a true TLB with controls accessible from the rear, makes backhoe work a lot nicer for big projects. The one TLB that comes to mind is a JD 110 but there’s many others.

Then a 8n or smaller yet cheap tractor can handle all the driveway maintenance. 2n, 8n and 9n’s can be bought for $1500-$2000.

On a JD 110 the backhoe still comes off and you can put 3pt back on if needed.



Those old ford tractors are fun to scoot around on, that’s a 62hp 861 Powermaster in front of a 2n. I like driving the 2n around more lol.

 

[Oldoak]

I never felt the number of acres owned should weigh much into the decision process when it come to purchasing a tractor. What matters most is what planned use you have for the tractor. And as soon as you mentioned backhoe and stumps along with the amount of roadway you intend to improve and maintain, if it were me, I would stick with "now my first choice is a 45 (NX4510 Kioti HST).

Sure you could make do with less by working a smaller tractor longer and harder with smaller implements, but why?

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

To answer your question, I bought a 48hp cabbed tractor used for 3 acres because I had cattle lol.

I have actually outgrown it and have considered picking up a 80-100hp tractor, I’m doing hay now, my tractor will still get it done but it’s slower and it seems to be working it a bit more than I like.

 

[CobyRupert]

Yeah, I wanted a 25-30-35 hp tractor to do some small logging on a few acres, basically to cut and skid a few hundred 10"-12" pine trees, maybe brush hog and move a round bale.
Looking at Deere, seemed like the 30 hp hydrostatics, with cup holders (a.k.a. CUT's) were close in price to a 45 HP utility tractor with more "real" features.
And back then, the Deere dealer didn't have the 45 hp utility E-series on hand, so for a "little more" they had the same tractor (frame/engine), but in a 75 hp version.
So yeah, I went shopping for a 25Hp tractor & ended up with 75Hp!!
I've never run out of power yet (just room to turn it around sometimes )

 

[oosik]

I have 80 acres - mile long gravel driveway and large stands of ancient Ponderosa pines. Started with a 28 hp - 4WD tractor. After 28 years all the small projects were completed. In 2009 I traded up to my current M6040. Bigger tractor - heavier ground engagement implements - allows for summer maintenance of the driveway. Just enough fines in my gravel that the driveway "sets up" in the summer like concrete.

Sounds like a good sized tractor. I would do some serious thinking about the backhoe attachment. That is MAJOR $$$$ and I would wager that in the near future you will be looking for a good place to store it because all the "digging chores" have been completed.

Leave the stumps where they are on your acreage - they aren't hurting a thing. Hey - the wife and I planted over 350 trees by hand digging the holes over the first five year we were here. A backhoe might be nice for that but certainly not necessary.

Remember - you are going to need to buy other implements for projects around your property. The cost of a backhoe attachment buys several other attachments also.

 

[RandyinTN]

Storing the backhoe isn't an issue as I will be buying a carport to house the tractor and backhoe. Tired of digging holes using a digging bar as the ground here is very rocky. Might end up using the backhoe as much at the FEL. Plus I want to make a higher dam for our pond.

I do not want to buy two different machines.