Another newbie posting about Tractors!

[martidoll]

We just bought a farm (five acres) in Manor TX. It is plains like land, with pretty flat land, about an acre is yard around thehouse, the rest is pastures for horses. We need to find a tractor that will possibly cut all the grass. We have been looking at garden tractors vs utility tractors. Any feedback or suggestions would be great!! Thanks!!

 

[skivt]

Welcome to TBN! Can you give a little more info about how you intend to use the tractor? You mention a little farm, are you tilling or cleaning out stalls, etc?

Also, are you looking for a FEL (Front-end loader) and a BH (Back hoe)?

I have a Massey Ferguson 2300 and I love it. It was priced better than the New Holland TZ24, Kubota 2230 and JD 2210. All of these models are the starter series for each manufactur.

skivt

 

[martidoll]

Hi thanks for the reply

We won't be tilling, we will have some horses (2 or 3 at the most so manure moving will be essential!) Also, need to shred the pastures, mow the front and back lawn, and haul a few odds and end when needed.

I have looked at the JD 2210 and we tried to look at Kubota but they were closed.

Thanks for any info!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I think an ideal small horse farm tractor is a Power Trac. You can get the smaller units up and down the barn aisles and even into the stalls to help clean the out.

If you want to stick with a traditional tractor, any of the brands would do you fine. I'd look for a small frame CUT for 5 acres, something about 25 hp. My favorite is the NH TC24, being replaced now by the TC26, it has a great loader, is a small tractor but with plenty of power. Kubota makes the B7610, it will come it at a lower price but is a nice machine. Check out the Deere models, I think the 4115.

 

[To20Chris]

Consider this - Get a lawn tractor for the lawn, and a used Ford 8N (or other utility tractor equiv. - Ferguson TO20/30) to run a brush hog. A small ground-driven spreader is all you need for the manure. We also have 3 horses, and use a small Mill-Creek unit. If your lawn/garden tractor is big enough (14hp, and large rear wheels), you can pull it with either, which is handy when you have an attachment on the tractor. Although when you pull it with the lower lawn/garden tractor, it'll clock you in the head with an "apple" or two now and then! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

$3000 for the spreader
$3000 for the lawn/garden tractor (or find a nice used Wheel Horse!)
$3500 for an 8N with a 5' hog

$9500 for the whole thing - and you'll need the speader and brush hog anyway. If you need the FEL, then get a SCUT or CUT - but if you buy one of the little ones, you'll have to drop down in size on the brush hog.

 

[bdog]

I love my tractor, and all the goodies I have for it, but if all you want to do is cut the grass, I would buy an older model as mentioned like an 8N or something similar which can be had for $3000 or less.

If you get a new tractor figure on $15,000 or more. Lets asssume you mow your 5 acres every three weeks during the growing season or about 10 times a year. Lets look at it over a 15 year period. You would be spending $1000 a year, or $100 every time you cut the grass on your tractor. You could probaby hire somebody to do it for that and not have to mess with it yourself, or have to worry about maintaining the tractor. I think if you did get a tractor you would use it for a lot of other things, or at least I do. I till up a garden, plow and plant 4 acres of wheat, haygrazer or millet, level my driveway with a box blade when it rains, pull out out vehicles when they stuck on the muddy county road, did fence post holes, shred, spray for weeds, move round bales for the horse, etc, etc, etc. I could nto see my self without a tractor, but at the same time I could not justify the purchase if all I was going to do was cut grass on 5 acres.

 

[martidoll]

Thanks for your suggestions! The probelm is twofold with getting an older tractor. A) I can't seem to find any locally (we live outside of Austin TX) and B) since we just moved into our place and had to buy a new A/C system right off the bat we are a little cash poor right now. We are approved for JD Credit already so that is why we looked at them.

If anyone has ideas on how to find used tractors I would appreciate them! Thanks!

 

[Soundguy]

I can tell you that the first time you cut 4 or 5 ac on a riding lawnmower, you will go attack the salesman that sold it to you. I set out on my back porch and watch my neighbors mow thier 3 ac fields with riders.. takes em all day... I can mow 10ac in less than 3 hours on my tractor... what would you rather do? Also.. i can tell you.. maneuer clods will ruin a finish mower.. that is.. it's hard on the blades, belts, and spindles when you hit a nice hard pile..

Get a scut, and a 4' rough mower keep it a tad sharper than you would for cutting brush.. then get a 99$ push mower and mow a couple strips around the house, and around the patio furniture.. etc.. mow the rest with the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[martidoll]

THANK YOU! That is what I have been telling my husband! (yeah i am the one who wants the tractor!) I have emailed your reply to him HEE! thanks for saying exactly what I have been saying!

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( then get a 99$ push mower and mow a couple strips around the house, and around the patio furniture.. etc )</font>

My DR string trimmer/mower worked even better for that and the big wheels made it real easy to push. Of course, since I got the biggest one they had, and electric start, it cost a little more than $99, but I needed it for fence rows, borrow ditches, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif