Buying 1st Tractor for 65 acres (with photos)

[jibe717]

Thank you for the advice everyone. Very valuable.

A good friend is a caretaker for several properties nearby and he said he could put in food plots for a few hundred bucks a year. That is compelling since 1.) I don't need to take time doing it, 2.) I don't really know what I'm doing and 3.) He has all the implements to make it happen. Would you do the same? I thought it would be cool to have the implements for hobby farming but the garden will be small enough to do by hand.

Lots of feedback pointing towards 40HP tractors. That looks like a good fit for me and I want to make sure that the tractor is large enough to run a variety of implements over time. Regarding a cab, they seem nice but it seems like it would be a pain getting in and out of the tractor frequently. Plus every cab I've seen on a farm is beat to crap from trees. I don't mind cold weather (I'm a Wisconsin ice fisherman after all) but if I'm missing something here let me know.

What would you recommend looking at in terms of models, both used and new?

I am located in central WI and there are dealers for every major brand within 30 minutes of me. There is a pole barn on the property with a 10-12' door.

If you really don't want a cab Massey Ferguson makes the 1739E. It's 38.5HP. 4x4. I would guess a price of between 20 and 22k with an FEL. I have the 1726E. It is one of the most comfortable tractors I have ever run and I've spent a good part of my life on tractors. The 26E has the same frame as the 39. My 1726E sips fuel. I would recommend the bigger engine of the 1739E if you are relying on only one tractor however.

 

[bspeedy]

I just want to chime in and suggest that the OP not go into debt for a tractor. Use your cash and stick to your budget. Lots of tractors in my area in the 20 grand range that would work. Kubota MX would be my choice, but certainly other brands have good machines as well. I have owned several tractors over the years, as have my brother and father. Over the course of 25-30 years and hundreds of hours, our tractors have been back to the dealership a total of ZERO times. Actually, Dad has started breaking expensive parts on his newer NH cabbed tractor so he did get some dealer help at age 78 after 5 back surgeries.

Don't fear used machines. If you can check out used cars with confidence, you can learn to check out used tractors.

Don't go into debt for a tractor unless it will be making money for you.

Good luck.

 

[manosteel00]

I just want to chime in and suggest that the OP not go into debt for a tractor. Use your cash and stick to your budget. Lots of tractors in my area in the 20 grand range that would work. Kubota MX would be my choice, but certainly other brands have good machines as well. I have owned several tractors over the years, as have my brother and father. Over the course of 25-30 years and hundreds of hours, our tractors have been back to the dealership a total of ZERO times. Actually, Dad has started breaking expensive parts on his newer NH cabbed tractor so he did get some dealer help at age 78 after 5 back surgeries.

Don't fear used machines. If you can check out used cars with confidence, you can learn to check out used tractors.

Don't go into debt for a tractor unless it will be making money for you.

Good luck.

Great advice. I certainly think it's worthwhile to buy used if the cost savings are there. I'm surrounded by farmland and found the dealerships in the area don't have a ton of used equipment. That said, it seems like this is the lay of the land:

Massey Ferguson is the best supported dealer within 15 minutes.
LS and Mahindra 15 minutes
John Deere and Kubota are 30 minutes
Kioti is 1 hour

Very limited used equipment but the Massey/Agco dealer has a great reputation.

 

[IslandTractor]

Here are a couple of ads from your local Craigslist that show why buying a used CUT is not always a good deal. First, a used NH. Excellent low hour 40hp tractor but it is a 2007 model with no warranty and the guy wants $23,500. A local Kioti dealer has a NX5010 (50hp) listed for $21999. Granted the NH is hydro and has a box blade and the Kioti is shuttle but still the new Kioti has more HP and a warranty and zero hours. Used CUTs are generally not such great deals.

New Holland 4 HP Tractor

Kioti NX51 Tractor

I also found this in your area: 4 HP KIOTI 4W/D TRACTOR ,CAB WITH 7 ATTACHMENTS That is essentially a low hour cab version of my tractor with quite a few implements thrown in. Much better deal than the NH tractor linked above. You'd have to compare it to a cab NX4510 to get an idea of what new would cost.

 

[jibe717]

Here are a couple of ads from your local Craigslist that show why buying a used CUT is not always a good deal. First, a used NH. Excellent low hour 40hp tractor but it is a 2007 model with no warranty and the guy wants $23,500. A local Kioti dealer has a NX5010 (50hp) listed for $21999. Granted the NH is hydro and has a box blade and the Kioti is shuttle but still the new Kioti has more HP and a warranty and zero hours. Used CUTs are generally not such great deals.

New Holland 4 HP Tractor

Kioti NX51 Tractor

I also found this in your area: 4 HP KIOTI 4W/D TRACTOR ,CAB WITH 7 ATTACHMENTS That is essentially a low hour cab version of my tractor with quite a few implements thrown in. Much better deal than the NH tractor linked above. You'd have to compare it to a cab NX4510 to get an idea of what new would cost.

Kioti does have a great price. You can likely get more Kioti than a MF for the same price. I was quoted an NX5010 for 29k in MN. About the same size MF, a 1754, I was quoted 35k. Gear shift, cab, no FEL.

 

[Guttery_Gipe]

While this might be herecy to some - you dont have to start with a $20K tractor.
I use a 2005 JD HPX diesel for most of the jobs you listed.
Low profile for the woods, hauls out what you clear for shooting lanes & trees, face forward snow plow etc.
Obviously no FEL work - but that can be solved several ways.


Afterwards I bought used 48HP with 4x4 Cab and FEL in your price range.
Would not go withouth these 3 features for my application.
Got a feel for the place 1st before I knew what tractor might fit.
Tractor still only gets a fraction of the seat time of the Gator for those jobs.
Could probably sell the Gator for what I bought it for used 5 years ago.
Total cost was to $22K

Hope that helps.

 

[grm61]

I would take up your friend's offer and let him do the food plots for now. In the future when you are more comfortable with tractor operation etc you could take over if you so desire.

Regarding what models to look at, new and used, I would make a few points from my personal experience and other points on general principles.

First, I can highly recommend any of the Kioti DKse tractors from 35hp to 50hp. I own a DK40se and it is IMO still the best bang for the buck in the 40ish HP tractor world. Solid, reliable, strongest loader on any 40ish hp tractor and a pleasure to operate. The DK35se is a bit smaller than the 40, 45 and 50 but excellent. The 40, 45 and 50 are identical except for engine bore and stroke. These DKse series Kiotis were supplanted a couple of years ago by the Kioti NX series. Only major difference is the engine which is Tier III on the DK and Tier IV on the NX. If it were me today I would probably first look to see if there were any old stock new DK's around but wouldn't hesitate to get either a used DK or a new NX.

On general principles I would next look at Mahindra and LS as two other "bang for the buck" brands that are well respected and every bit as good as the Kioti. Compare functional properties like loader capacity, 3PT capacity, tractor weight, ergonomics of operator station etc rather than just selecting on the basis of horsepower.

If I were looking for used then Kubota and JD will be more readily available simply because more of those are sold overall and more therefore show up on the used market. A previous generation Kubota is an excellent excellent tractor. The only real difference between previous gen and current gen Kubotas is the new fangled HST transmission and tier IV engine on the current model. The new electronic transmission is nice but hardly necessary. The older Kubotas have essentially the same generation HST transmissions as the current Kioti, Mahindra, LS etc. My point is not to knock the new Kubota HST but rather to point out that Kubota (and others) made their name with the older generation bullet proof HST and those older models still do the work just fine. Regarding Kubota models in the 40hp range, you will be looking for L or Grand L or MX. I'd personally choose the MX over the Grand L but would be happy with either. The L is a basic no frills tractor but still excellent. Kubotas (and JD) are generally lighter and have lower capacity loaders at a given HP size (exceptions exist) so do compare multiple specs not just HP.

I don't know the JD models and my personal bias is that green paint costs too much but there is no knocking the quality or convenience of having a JD either.

Island tractor pretty much covered it, The later model Kioti DK series were won of the best buys in the business.


Good weight, very strong loader and many deluxe features at a value price...A tractor like his, or mine would serve you well....

Think well before you buy...I don't know your age but I really enjoy my cab tractor.../spend a little more now...save a bunch in the long run...

 

[manosteel00]

I am 32. I split the property with my parents and my Dad is 66. They will be retiring there. I don't mind the cold but he does...so a cab does make sense. Thanks again guys for all your input, I've valued every response.

As an alternative, my friends are all telling me to skip the tractor and just hire the work out. It's cheap labor where I'm at. They said it will be cheaper in the long run and save me time. Tough decisions...

 

[IslandTractor]

I am 32. I split the property with my parents and my Dad is 66. They will be retiring there. I don't mind the cold but he does...so a cab does make sense. Thanks again guys for all your input, I've valued every response.

As an alternative, my friends are all telling me to skip the tractor and just hire the work out. It's cheap labor where I'm at. They said it will be cheaper in the long run and save me time. Tough decisions...

With 65 acres (? how many to mow regularly) and a long driveway in a snowy climate you certainly should consider hiring some part of the work out especially if you are not living on site. On the other hand, even if you don't do all the work yourself, you will want some sort of CUT, maybe a 30ish hp instead of 40+hp, to do general chores and smaller projects.

Trouble with that strategy is that the difference in investment for a 25-30 hp CUT versus a 40-50hp CUT is not as big as you might wish. Hard to get anything new in the 25-30hp range for less than 17-18K. Add about 5K and you have a much larger 40hp tractor that is far more capable.

 

[grm61]

With 65 acres (? how many to mow regularly) and a long driveway in a snowy climate you certainly should consider hiring some part of the work out especially if you are not living on site. On the other hand, even if you don't do all the work yourself, you will want some sort of CUT, maybe a 30ish hp instead of 40+hp, to do general chores and smaller projects.

Trouble with that strategy is that the difference in investment for a 25-30 hp CUT versus a 40-50hp CUT is not as big as you might wish. Hard to get anything new in the 25-30hp range for less than 17-18K. Add about 5K and you have a much larger 40hp tractor that is far more capable.

Absolutely, and the capability difference between the 30 horse frame size vs the 40 to 50hp frame size is huge... a no brainer if the tractor will fit....and I don't find mine large for most applications.