grm61
Platinum Member
You should start your own thread, lots of bx owners here....Good tractor, but small and light, don't lift much, nice for working around the yard...beats the heck out of no tractor at all.
Another newbie needing help selecting a utility tractor
- Thread starter ctusdenny
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You should start your own thread, lots of bx owners here....Good tractor, but small and light, don't lift much, nice for working around the yard...beats the heck out of no tractor at all.
varmint
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2003
- Messages
- 2,571
- Location
- Northern Maryland
- Tractor
- Kubota B8200, then a Kubota L3130 HST, now a Kubota L3400 HST
I would simply say that a good used tractor should be within reason, especially if he can take his time looking. I just sold, for $7500, what I think is a very servicable, clean used Kubota B8200- over 20 years old, but maintained and with only 700 hours. It is gear drive, but 4WD, and nicely handled snow clearing, post augering, load moving and whatever else needed to be done. With turf tires, I could drive it anywhere without compacting too much, since it only weighs, with the loader and rear blade, about 2800 lbs. Not too big, not too small. Our new L3130 weighs about twice as much, probably will lift twice as much, but for many jobs, is bigger than needed, and not as easy to use. That said, when it comes to moving snow next winter with its big front blade, I will be much better situated, no doubt. I would love a cab on cold winter nights, but wouldn't want one when I am drilling post holes or doing lots of other chores. I would opine that a cabbed 45 hp tractor would be more than he will need, or even want much of the time. Just my thoughts...
newbury
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2009
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- 14,095
- Location
- From Vt, in Va, retiring to MS
- Tractor
- Kubota's - B7610, M4700
Apparently you would call varmint's B8200 a clapped out POS
Too often on this board "bigger is better" rules. Sure it's nice to have a 40HP cabbed tractor. But if the OP wants to spend about $8K it is possible. For a person with the land the OP described a 30HP, 4wd w/ FEL will probably meet his needs and leave some $$ left over for attachments.
Nothing worse than a tractor without attachments.
grm61
Platinum Member
The OP wants to buy the right tractor the first, time why steer him towards a tinker toy for 20 acres?
Ever been to Cashmere in the winter or summer?
Didn't think so.
The OP has not stated his age, but moving from Seattle to Cashmere to "get away from the city" I'm guessing he's not thirty something anymore.
As you get older being able to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer makes life MUCH more enjoyable and easier as you get older.
Not working on the ragged edge of a machines capability is safer.
When you NEED to do that heavy pick, or move that big rock you can.
Lift height...what if he needs to load over the side of a dumptruck someday, or put some thing up in the loft with pallet forks?
Oh, and what problem would a cab be for using a post hole digger? Just curious, is it because you might get to cold from the AC?:laughing:
I still believe that the 40 horse frame size is the sweet spot for function and capability.
vnbcat
New member
there is no substitute for having the right size tractor that is comfortable to operate for the task at hand - my inclination is to have the most HP possible (further torque to the ground may be more important than the HP) - but that is just male ego and insecurity talking - for sure trying to work with something too small is time consuming, sometimes just difficult and often just plain dangerous - weight, center of gravity, capacity and all those other things are all brought together in using mechanical devices of any kind - most of these are brought together as a unit too - consideration for ground pressure, wet conditions and other such stuff - as a Texas farmer told me a JD 4020 was a "nice tractor but too small to do anything" well for sure a couple of sections of cotton maybe but in the hills of eastern KY it is too big to get around in some of the little flat strips of land which is the reason there were mostly "red belly Fords" pulling 2x14s or a 6' to 6-1/2' disk and no tricycle front ends
grm61
Platinum Member
varmint
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2003
- Messages
- 2,571
- Location
- Northern Maryland
- Tractor
- Kubota B8200, then a Kubota L3130 HST, now a Kubota L3400 HST
The writer had stated:
1. Mow the wild grass and weeds around the property. (Don't need it for the lawn exactly, since I have a mower for that).
2. Basic tasks around the property (gardening work, etc)
3. Snow removal in the winter (driveway is about 300 ft to the road)
which is why I thought considering something like my old tractor would work- I cleared snow over a 1000' of gravel lane, on a slope, sometimes of over 24" of snow, graded the same lane too many times, put in many, many black locust fence posts, lifted/pulled a lot of stuff, and used a 4' bushog without issue. Sure, a bigger tractor will serve him well, but for what he talked about spending, I don't think he's going to get much. If he's going to mow 20 acres, then he will want a bigger machine, and be spending more... I was just trying to offer a point of view, within parameters.
1. Mow the wild grass and weeds around the property. (Don't need it for the lawn exactly, since I have a mower for that).
2. Basic tasks around the property (gardening work, etc)
3. Snow removal in the winter (driveway is about 300 ft to the road)
which is why I thought considering something like my old tractor would work- I cleared snow over a 1000' of gravel lane, on a slope, sometimes of over 24" of snow, graded the same lane too many times, put in many, many black locust fence posts, lifted/pulled a lot of stuff, and used a 4' bushog without issue. Sure, a bigger tractor will serve him well, but for what he talked about spending, I don't think he's going to get much. If he's going to mow 20 acres, then he will want a bigger machine, and be spending more... I was just trying to offer a point of view, within parameters.
doxford jim
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2007
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- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
- Tractor
- 1959 MF-65 sold, 2007 Jinma 554 diesel.
Don't rule out the Chinese tractors - they can be good value for your money. I would like to have a major brand but money was the deciding factor. Instead I got a new 55hp diesel tractor and Front End loader for around $14,000 - open station.
Check out this link for China Best Products - which is where I purchased mine.
http://chinabestproducts.com/
Here is a Chinese Tractor website that will help if you are interested.
Chinese Tractor Owners Association
There are a number of good Chinese tractor dealers around in the US - a couple in both Washington and Oregon. It might very well be worth your while to check the Chinese tractors out before spending $10,000 on someone else's worn out machine. Of course each person's situation is different, but if you do buy new, I would go with a cab tractor as you won't regret it. You can always take the doors off in the summer if no AC, but keeping out of the snow and rain in the winter is a big plus.
PM me if you need any more info.
HTH
Jim
Check out this link for China Best Products - which is where I purchased mine.
http://chinabestproducts.com/
Here is a Chinese Tractor website that will help if you are interested.
Chinese Tractor Owners Association
There are a number of good Chinese tractor dealers around in the US - a couple in both Washington and Oregon. It might very well be worth your while to check the Chinese tractors out before spending $10,000 on someone else's worn out machine. Of course each person's situation is different, but if you do buy new, I would go with a cab tractor as you won't regret it. You can always take the doors off in the summer if no AC, but keeping out of the snow and rain in the winter is a big plus.
PM me if you need any more info.
HTH
Jim
YardBikeBob
Silver Member
Under $10k and don't mind learning new maintenance? I'd be looking at Fords from the 60's & 70's. A 4000 or 5000 series have stood the test of time.
It wouldn't be hard to filter in Craigslist and see what comes up.
Bob
Thank you. Good info and I appreciate the links. I had originally set a budget for a used tractor, but did that in no real scientific way. My hopes were that folks like yourself would help me refine my budget and choices, which many have done. So thank you all.
At the moment, I'm going to spend this week talking to some local dealers and researching some sites like you have provided. It's a big decision, so hopefully I make the right one. My budget is flexible to some degree, but I probably won't be able to spend the "big bucks" as I like to buy things outright (no financing). That being said, I would consider something in the $15k range if it looks like it will fit my requirements. I'm sure I'm going to have to compromise on what I get since I don't have unlimited funds. I just don't want to buy something where I will regret the purchase 6 month later.
It is fun learning about all of this, though. I never realized there were so many variables to consider when looking for a tractor. Makes sense, though.
