Another Newbie looking to buy a tractor

[rScotty]

Two wheel drive works for 10k+ pound ag tractors, but it’s limiting in a 4k pound compact tractor.

That's exactly the point. What works for heavier industrial and Ag tractors doesn't apply to lighter compacts. The lighter tractors need 4wd, the heavier can use 2wd effectively.
A full size 2wd backhoe can work in slop that a compact tractor would need 4wd just to drive through.

Back to the OP's original question. I think he would do better to have a contractor put in as much of the drive as he can afford, and buy a nice smaller handy compact "chore" tractor to do work around the place. The driveway can be improved over time. It doesn't have to be done all at once.

There's a lot to learn

 

[tacticalturnip]

I hadn't researched the JDs too much but it felt like the 1 series was a (significant) step up from a regular "tractor mower" as they like to say at Home Depot. Haha. From there, it was like each series improved 50-75% in terms of capabilities. The 4 series is their biggest compact tractor. The 5 is considered a utility tractor.

I did watch some videos today about the JD series and it seems like they split each level into almost an A and B up through the 3 series- then the capabilities are more equal.

Almost certainly not going the JD route but figured I'd stop there first to get at least a broad prospective of the whole process.

The closest Kioti dealer to me looks a little suspect if I had any issues. The nearest real Massey dealer is about 2 hours away. My next stop (next weekend?) is going to be a Kubota dealership and then likely the Kioti dealer (they also have Mahindra but I think they mostly work off brochures and not in-stock items). There is a similar situation at a LS dealership nearby as well. There is also a bigger TYM dealer that has various used brands that I'll make my way out to.

Driving somewhere to look for brochures isn't exactly ideal but if they have any models on hand, I can at least get a baseline feel for the brand.

Look into Topsham Tractor if you're looking seriously at Kioti. What is your closest Massey Dealer?

 

[MaineBarn]

Look into Topsham Tractor if you're looking seriously at Kioti. What is your closest Massey Dealer?

Topsham tractor does look legit. The other place near me looks like they have a Kioti sign and not much else.

I saw Kioti extended their free loader and 84month 0% APR to include the CK series. If the NS was included with the free loader, they'd be my first choice at the moment. That being said, will check in at Topsham Tractor.

The nearest MF dealer is Waterman Ag & Turf. Well there's another but based on street view and their own shop photos they don't have larger machines on site.

 

[hkbirdman]

I suggested the Kubota L47TLB. It's a tough machine. The new one is $70K, but that one is $42K, a good deal. They run for 4000 hours, so it's barely broken in at 500 hours.
- On your lake side well - I installed a well on our house on a lake in MA in 1980 20' off the lake after our sand point well failed. dug down 8', cased it with 2' plastic culvert, and that well produced 7 GPM and passed all the water quality tests when we sold the house.
- On SF of expansion of existing structure, its usually a % of the total current Sqaure Feet - usually not more than 30% but there are different exclusions you need to look into - here is some info Footprints on the Shore: Waterfront Home Expansion Rules Update - Murray Plumb & Murray

I agree with Carl NH. That L47TLB at $42K and 500 hours is a good deal. If you are nervous about buying used - ask around to see if you can hire a mechanic from a Kubota dealer "on the side" to come with you to view the used machine. However - at $42K, I don't think it will last too long. I have an L47 with appx. 350 hrs. and this past summer I put in a road of appx. 1000 ft. in my back woods with myself, 1 helper with chainsaw, the L47 with a grapple and the front bucket. We did this in appx. 8 days of 6 hrs. each. I would suggest you make brush and branch piles along your 800 ft. road with the grapple and then cut flat any stumps over 18" dia. and dig out the smaller ones with the backhoe. Your closest MB Kubota dealership will rent you a 12" dia. chipper for around $300/day and also a track mounted stump grinder for appx. $300/day. Based on my recent experience - you and a helper could get all of your chipping done in 1 day and then figure 1 more day for stump grinding. I think you would be impressed with the L-47TLB and find it to be more capable than an AG tractor with a loader and backhoe. Just remember - it's not a bulldozer.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Waterman is right down the road from me. You're looking at the 28 series, roughly, is that right? Or would an 18 potentially work? They typically have a few of each. This is rural Maine, Lord knows when that Street View was taken lol.

 

[paulsharvey]

Waterman is right down the road from me. You're looking at the 28 series, roughly, is that right? Or would an 18 potentially work? They typically have a few of each. This is rural Maine, Lord knows when that Street View was taken lol.

The 2850M is heck of a nice machine, but the cabbed version is like a $12k upgrade i think?

 

[tacticalturnip]

The 2850M is heck of a nice machine, but the cabbed version is like a $12k upgrade i think?

That wouldn't surprise me, but I've never priced one out. I like the 18M a lot too.

 

[paulsharvey]

I could be getting models mixed up; but on the large CUT, small Utility cabs, I Think the 2850/2860 have external 3 point controls. Not sure if TYM or some of the others do, and you definitely want that. External PTO switch, IMO (and my use) is not as important.

 

[rScotty]

I agree with Carl NH. That L47TLB at $42K and 500 hours is a good deal. If you are nervous about buying used - ask around to see if you can hire a mechanic from a Kubota dealer "on the side" to come with you to view the used machine. However - at $42K, I don't think it will last too long. I have an L47 with appx. 350 hrs. and this past summer I put in a road of appx. 1000 ft. in my back woods with myself, 1 helper with chainsaw, the L47 with a grapple and the front bucket. We did this in appx. 8 days of 6 hrs. each. I would suggest you make brush and branch piles along your 800 ft. road with the grapple and then cut flat any stumps over 18" dia. and dig out the smaller ones with the backhoe. Your closest MB Kubota dealership will rent you a 12" dia. chipper for around $300/day and also a track mounted stump grinder for appx. $300/day. Based on my recent experience - you and a helper could get all of your chipping done in 1 day and then figure 1 more day for stump grinding. I think you would be impressed with the L-47TLB and find it to be more capable than an AG tractor with a loader and backhoe. Just remember - it's not a bulldozer.

Sounds good. Congrats on your road construction. The Kubota TLBs sure are special. Hard to find one at a reasonable price. Has anyone looked at it?
rScotty

 

[MaineBarn]

That's exactly the point. What works for heavier industrial and Ag tractors doesn't apply to lighter compacts. The lighter tractors need 4wd, the heavier can use 2wd effectively.
A full size 2wd backhoe can work in slop that a compact tractor would need 4wd just to drive through.

Back to the OP's original question. I think he would do better to have a contractor put in as much of the drive as he can afford, and buy a nice smaller handy compact "chore" tractor to do work around the place. The driveway can be improved over time. It doesn't have to be done all at once.

There's a lot to learn

A much more permanent and finished solution would be to have someone put in the driveway. But where's the fun in that? I'm totally in agreement that the tractor possibly used for attempting this would be overkill for day to day things. However, don't think anyone at a stoplight has ever thought a Ferrari is too much car to beat the person next to them off the line.

Kidding aside, the only potential two potential downsides I'm seeing to getting, lets say a TYM 574HC over a Kioti 2620SEH cab for at home use: yard damage when driving the bucket into the ground if digging with the FEL and the increased monthly cost. Total weight for both with FEL and backhoe is 6923lbs (TYM) and 5205lbs (Kioti). The Kioti, with their 0% APR for 84 months would be $439 a month and the TYM (with their 3.99% APR) would be ~$630 for the same duration.

 

[MaineBarn]

I agree with Carl NH. That L47TLB at $42K and 500 hours is a good deal. If you are nervous about buying used - ask around to see if you can hire a mechanic from a Kubota dealer "on the side" to come with you to view the used machine. However - at $42K, I don't think it will last too long. I have an L47 with appx. 350 hrs. and this past summer I put in a road of appx. 1000 ft. in my back woods with myself, 1 helper with chainsaw, the L47 with a grapple and the front bucket. We did this in appx. 8 days of 6 hrs. each. I would suggest you make brush and branch piles along your 800 ft. road with the grapple and then cut flat any stumps over 18" dia. and dig out the smaller ones with the backhoe. Your closest MB Kubota dealership will rent you a 12" dia. chipper for around $300/day and also a track mounted stump grinder for appx. $300/day. Based on my recent experience - you and a helper could get all of your chipping done in 1 day and then figure 1 more day for stump grinding. I think you would be impressed with the L-47TLB and find it to be more capable than an AG tractor with a loader and backhoe. Just remember - it's not a bulldozer.

I'm kinda curious if it's actually still available. It was posted a month ago and hasn't moved. Potentially it sold and the listing hasn't been taken down. Or alternatively people have looked at it and run.

That sounds like a good system you had in place. I'm thinking renting the stump grinder is the best course of action. Besides potentially using at the lake, my house only has a few to grind down. I could check with the neighbors as there's quite a few that have stumps that need to come out and just share the rental cost for a day here too.

Did you find anything that seemed like it would be a good idea when you were doing your driveway which turned out to slow you down?

 

[MaineBarn]

Waterman is right down the road from me. You're looking at the 28 series, roughly, is that right? Or would an 18 potentially work? They typically have a few of each. This is rural Maine, Lord knows when that Street View was taken lol.

I believe I'd be limited to the 18 based on the prices I'm seeing online. I have no clue if dealers are publishing their competitive prices. The cabs on the MF add a ton to the cost. The (and I think this was for the 28 series) backhoe was an additional $18k from the one seller I saw listing it solo. The Massey's look like really nice machines but feel like they have a high profit margin once you get beyond the basic setup.

It's really funny you say that about the Street View images because Tuesday I wanted to see a photo of the front of my house before I put in a parking space. Looked and was pretty confused to see an updated photo from 11/2024 as they had last updated in 2023 but prior to that it was 5years.

 

[arrow]

Reality vs imagination. Maybe so in totally saturated clay. Even in sloppy dirt the industrial tires provide enough flotation to work. Two wheel drive has worked for Ag tractors for a long time.

The backhoe works like the tail of a brontosaurus. Plenty of ballast for its long front.

 

[MaineBarn]

I feel over the last couple weeks researching I have somewhat of a grasp on what I should be looking for in a quote but would like to check with the knowledgeable group here.

Would ask for prices (including labor) on:

• Tractor + FEL + backhoe
• Third function (if not already installed): Not a diverter style
• 2nd rear remote
• Liquid ballast (depending on the machine, may not be able to tow with liquid ballast)
• Rear tire spacers (especially if not getting liquid ballast)
• Removable tooth bar
• Removable UHMW (or equivalent) bucket guard
• Chain hooks welded onto bucket
• Engine block heater (is this necessary if the tractor has glow plugs? Keep in mind, this will be in Maine and the first year at least it will live outside)
• Thumb

For attachments (and would not get them all as some are redundant for my application):

• Grapple (appropriately paired to the machine- have been looking at the threads about designs)
• Rear blade
• 42" pallet forks
• Stinger tree puller
• Snow bucket
• Box blade

I also would want to get the dealer to throw in the 50hour service as that's something that they might bite for, correct? I did see Messick's say that you need to cut a lot of PTO shafts as they're designed for various tractors: is this something the dealership would do automatically for attachments purchased with a tractor? Outside of that, the other add-ons (edge tamers, grill guard, and extra top link pins) would be things I could source myself.

I'm intrigued by the lane shark too. I was watching a video where the person wasn't using that attachment, but instead a mini clip, in woods similar to where I'll be working. Much of the tree line is 2-3" diameter saplings. There may be 4" ones so think the tree puller would be better as the recommended lane shark only does up to 3". However, it seems much more versatile.

 

[MaineBarn]

And for the tractor itself, just sticking with TYM for this example, would be considering something like the T264HC (24.1HP, 18.3 PTO HP, and 3920lbs for tractor + FEL + backhoe) would be fine for home and only ~$29k vs the T554HC (55hp, 45 PTO HP, and 6923lbs) at ~46k.

I'm going to ask for quotes for both tractors appropriate for just at the house and for "likely to not succeed, but not guaranteed to fail" for the trail project. Would be doing that with Kioti, TYM, Kubota, and Massey Ferguson. May seek out New Holland as well.

 

[Carl_NH]

Reading between the lines for cash flow, you want to finance the equipment for the project vs cash or financing a decent used machine.

I cannot comment on the Kioti $37K vs TYM $53K for 7 Years but IMO either rent a machine for a week, or buy a used machine and start the project.

I know the ground and rocks here - you will beat up a new machine in a few weeks in the woods - whereas an older experienced TLB like a CAT 416, JD 310, Case 580 can be had for $15-25K, The benefit, tough and heavy - a closed cab - can stay out in the weather, has heat and or A/C, can take a beating in the woods and rocks and get a lot more done for your $.

Then sell it for close to what you paid when you are done and buy the new smaller machine.

 

[paulsharvey]

Ok, so, on PTO shafts, many (most?) do not "set up" the inpliment for the tractor. They will sell the impliment and pto as it's uncrated.

On the MF2850M, I see them with cabs as low as $45k new online. I dont know on a BH.

For cutting upto 4" saplings, a Brown Tree Cutter will do that. They are too expensive to really justify purchasing new, like $11-13k. It may be possible to rent? or buy used, but those are still $4.5-6k. A Braumalite tree saw would do it for $4.3k new, but the width is pretty narrow for mowing after?

 

[paulsharvey]

Also, with JD, Massey, and maybe Kubota? there will be a Economy model (Massey 1840E for instance), and a premium model (Massey 1840M), and JD E/R, and they share very similar model numbers; but they are different machines, not Trademan vs Larime in truck trims.

 

[jyoutz]

I'm kinda curious if it's actually still available. It was posted a month ago and hasn't moved. Potentially it sold and the listing hasn't been taken down. Or alternatively people have looked at it and run.

That sounds like a good system you had in place. I'm thinking renting the stump grinder is the best course of action. Besides potentially using at the lake, my house only has a few to grind down. I could check with the neighbors as there's quite a few that have stumps that need to come out and just share the rental cost for a day here too.

Did you find anything that seemed like it would be a good idea when you were doing your driveway which turned out to slow you down?

If you buy the L47, be sure to get the 3ph lift arms.

 

[jyoutz]

Reading between the lines for cash flow, you want to finance the equipment for the project vs cash or financing a decent used machine.

I cannot comment on the Kioti $37K vs TYM $53K for 7 Years but IMO either rent a machine for a week, or buy a used machine and start the project.

I know the ground and rocks here - you will beat up a new machine in a few weeks in the woods - whereas an older experienced TLB like a CAT 416, JD 310, Case 580 can be had for $15-25K, The benefit, tough and heavy - a closed cab - can stay out in the weather, has heat and or A/C, can take a beating in the woods and rocks and get a lot more done for your $.

Then sell it for close to what you paid when you are done and buy the new smaller machine.

Best idea yet.