sea2summit
Elite Member
Trust me.
Attention first time tractor buyers some really good helpful advice.
- Thread starter Nb707
- Start date
- Views: 7678
Trust me.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,335
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Bear or beer? Either one sounds fun.
chim
Elite Member
We usually recommend what works best for us. (Or what we have convinced ourselves we need). I do.
My perceptions and needs both changed over the past 30 years.
Built and moved in - started with 2.25 acres of yard. The Cub 154 LoBoy with a MMM and front dozer blade for the 300 driveway was the GREATEST!
A couple years later, got tired of fighting when swapping MMM and blade (difficult to imagine the process if you have not done it) sent me searching for a tractor with a 3-point hitch so I could get a rear blade and RFM. The Cub went away and the Ford 1210 4WD diesel was the absolute ultimate tractor.
Ten years later, in 2002, Wifey somehow thought it would be nice if I had a tractor with a loader. That came in the form of a Kubota B7500. At the same time, my youngest son and I began mowing at the in-law farm. The Ford was going to be sold, but came in handy. SOP was to leave the Ford at the farm and road the B7500 so we could double team it. Having two tractors seemed like an absolute necessity. Note - the old Ford is still here.
Then in 2012 we added some land so there are 3.5 acres of grass. The old farm was sold, and that mowing duty went away. However, at the same time, I started taking care of snow removal at our church. The B7500 was replaced with an L3200. That meant building a heated cab. Wonderful! Refurbed a rear blower and was in business. Short story - the blower was fun at times but worthless for parking lots. Used the FEL more than the blower. Still needed two tractors and the L3200 HP and loader capacity made it seem like a beast compared with the L3200. I would park the Ford there for the Winter and road the L3200. Woohoo! The bigger tractor allowed me to go from a 5 RFM to a 6 footer.
After a half dozen years of L3200, Summers seemed hotter and pollen worse. Dear brother in law told wifey that chim should probably have a cabbed tractor with A/C since he was getting long in tooth. Not wanting to let an opportunity go to waste, we spent the best part of a year searching for a clean used pre-Final IV and found the L4240HSTC. Of course that meant a 90” RFM. The first project was an 8 power angle plow to do snow. Super comfy year round. Reasonably quiet and will pick darn near anything I need to with the FEL.
Point is that during any of these periods I have been convinced beyond any doubt that I made the best possible tractor choice.
My perceptions and needs both changed over the past 30 years.
Built and moved in - started with 2.25 acres of yard. The Cub 154 LoBoy with a MMM and front dozer blade for the 300 driveway was the GREATEST!
A couple years later, got tired of fighting when swapping MMM and blade (difficult to imagine the process if you have not done it) sent me searching for a tractor with a 3-point hitch so I could get a rear blade and RFM. The Cub went away and the Ford 1210 4WD diesel was the absolute ultimate tractor.
Ten years later, in 2002, Wifey somehow thought it would be nice if I had a tractor with a loader. That came in the form of a Kubota B7500. At the same time, my youngest son and I began mowing at the in-law farm. The Ford was going to be sold, but came in handy. SOP was to leave the Ford at the farm and road the B7500 so we could double team it. Having two tractors seemed like an absolute necessity. Note - the old Ford is still here.
Then in 2012 we added some land so there are 3.5 acres of grass. The old farm was sold, and that mowing duty went away. However, at the same time, I started taking care of snow removal at our church. The B7500 was replaced with an L3200. That meant building a heated cab. Wonderful! Refurbed a rear blower and was in business. Short story - the blower was fun at times but worthless for parking lots. Used the FEL more than the blower. Still needed two tractors and the L3200 HP and loader capacity made it seem like a beast compared with the L3200. I would park the Ford there for the Winter and road the L3200. Woohoo! The bigger tractor allowed me to go from a 5 RFM to a 6 footer.
After a half dozen years of L3200, Summers seemed hotter and pollen worse. Dear brother in law told wifey that chim should probably have a cabbed tractor with A/C since he was getting long in tooth. Not wanting to let an opportunity go to waste, we spent the best part of a year searching for a clean used pre-Final IV and found the L4240HSTC. Of course that meant a 90” RFM. The first project was an 8 power angle plow to do snow. Super comfy year round. Reasonably quiet and will pick darn near anything I need to with the FEL.
Point is that during any of these periods I have been convinced beyond any doubt that I made the best possible tractor choice.
Last edited:
Diggin It
Super Star Member
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,335
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Perfect! :thumbsup:
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,335
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
I think I'm one of the few TBN members who downsized because my first machine was way too big for our needs.
It was a late '70's IH2500b tractor loader. 8000# machine with permanent FEL and 50HP PTO on a 3PT hitch. Full cab. Gas engine. HST.
We used it to cut in a road from the highway and brush hog for about 5 years between rows of planted trees. Then it was just too big. Couldn't go through the tree rows, the existing woods, or on most of the slopes because it was 2wd with R4 tires and the soil was sand. It was fun to drive up to 10" diameter trees and pretty much drive over them, though.
We bought the little PT425 and it's much better suited to our needs of trail mowing, brush clearing, lawn mowing, snow removal and firewood gathering.
So for us, a little 1500# machine is perfect for 20 acres.
It was a late '70's IH2500b tractor loader. 8000# machine with permanent FEL and 50HP PTO on a 3PT hitch. Full cab. Gas engine. HST.
We used it to cut in a road from the highway and brush hog for about 5 years between rows of planted trees. Then it was just too big. Couldn't go through the tree rows, the existing woods, or on most of the slopes because it was 2wd with R4 tires and the soil was sand. It was fun to drive up to 10" diameter trees and pretty much drive over them, though.
We bought the little PT425 and it's much better suited to our needs of trail mowing, brush clearing, lawn mowing, snow removal and firewood gathering.
So for us, a little 1500# machine is perfect for 20 acres.
nybirdman
Super Member
I have a 44 HP cabbbed tractor for 100 acres and works fine;hated the stump bucket and sold it quickly,never needed a quick hitch(extendable end links work fine).IE.what works for you doesn't mean it will for everyone else.
Good point you don’t need a quick hitch or hydraulic top link. You don’t even need an automatic, you don’t need air conditioning, you don’t even need a cab. By that standard you don’t need a cell phone just a landline would be fine if you’re just making phone calls. It just depends on the person. But there’s a lot of people who liked a quick hitch I find it a huge benefit . There’s always practical people in this world and the tolerances inconveniences always very from person to person.
It all boils down to your personal needs but you’re an experienced tractor owner. You figured out your needs and you purchased a tractor what best fits your needs. Many new owners have no clue
the truth is until you’ve owned a tractor for a while and worked on your farm, or land Ect you’ll figure it out. it’s impossible to to be right for every single circumstance of Tractors owners needs. It’s all very personal my suggestion was just as it was suggestions and based upon my personal experience. And hopefully it was helpful for some people who are new tractor owners
the truth is until you’ve owned a tractor for a while and worked on your farm, or land Ect you’ll figure it out. it’s impossible to to be right for every single circumstance of Tractors owners needs. It’s all very personal my suggestion was just as it was suggestions and based upon my personal experience. And hopefully it was helpful for some people who are new tractor owners