Buying advice

[jrouss28]

Hello, first time poster looking for advice, as I am new to tractors I have gained a lot of knowledge reading through this forum and have gained a lot of knowledge but, all concept at this point.

I have a 3+ acre property, 1 acre is cleared but, I want to clear up the rest and put in some drainage. It's a mix of small trees with some larger pines.

I have started looking at 25 HP but, am concerned I may regret later if I need more PTO HP for something later so, have entertained 33-40 HP units. I also have been concerned that the Kubota might be limited by the lift capacity as all the other choices have quite a lot more lift capacity.

I have looked at Mohindra (2123,2126 1635), TYM (T25,2515, 4815, T474), Kubota (L3302) and Kioti (CK 2620 and CK 3520), both Kioti and TYM make more HP more appealing from a cost perspective, the Kubota is the most expensive option by a little.

The closest dealer is Kioti which is 20 minutes, by Kubota 25 minutes then Mohindra which is around 35 minutes away then TYM is around an hour away. Every dealer seems to have a pretty good reputation but, I have no experience to prove it.

I have been thinking if I need a backhoe and woodchipper, I could rent one so, it could negate the need for extra PTO power which is one of the reasons I was going up in HP.

Attachments:
Grapple
Forks
Landscape rake
snow pusher

Any thoughts appreciated.

John

 

[dodge man]

I live on 3 acres of which about half is cleared. I own a John Deere 2025r. It’s 25 horsepower. The advantage of that is 25 hp and less don’t require add on emissions.

I use mine for mowing with a 60” mid mount mower and also have a front end loader, rear blade, a box blade, rear fertilizer spreader and a couple other implements that mount on the rear. I’m never lacking in power. The only time you would wish for more power is if you were wanting to run a larger mower, chipper or tiller.

I generally don’t wish for a bigger tractor but I owned a Kubota BX and I did wish for a bigger one. What I own now is one size bigger than a BX so to speak. One of the advantages of going bigger is more lift capacity as you’ve discovered. It seems no matter what you’ve got a time comes up you wish it’d lift more. You have to study the lift capacity carefully, they rate them differently at times, such as at the pins, so many inches in front of the pins, full lift height, partial lift height etc.

What brand? Everybody will push what they own. I’ll say John Deere and Kubota are usually the most expensive. Depending on your opinion they are often considered the best. They definitely have strong dealer networks and parts. I’ve never sat on or run a Kioti but when I’ve looked at them and always thought they looked good. When I bought my John Deere I almost didn’t check with them. This was 6 years ago and I got more discounts than I expected. This was pre Covid and prices have increased a lot but my impression is most makers are starting to offer some discounts again.

Have you ever run a tractor before? You might just sit on a few and tool around the lot and get a feel. You might discover one that just feels better to you. Good luck and it can be stressful but try and enjoy the process.

 

[ultrarunner]

My BX23 is my first TLB and will probably be the last one I part with… currently also have Deere 110 and L3800

The BX transformed my 3 acres because I could go places the larger ones couldn’t and the small size fits easily inside and it’s very easy in fuel…

There is a lot of merit renting bigger machines like an excavator for one time projects… and keeping a small to maintain…

The L3800 is used at the 65 acre Christmas Tree Farm and the 110 bought for its excellent backhoe.

 

[Roadworthy]

I opted for my L2501 Kubota to avoid the extra diesel pollution stuff and the computer that goes with it. I prefer simple. I've only got ten acres and the biggest implement I've got is my five foot brush hog which works well with 25 horsepower and only 20 at the PTO. Watch the loader capacity. Some loaders exceed the frame capacity of the tractor and can break it. All the bigger tractor buys with a back hoe is a bigger hoe and a little more digging speed. Depending on your area you may prefer a cab tractor. I'm cheap so I just dress warm or stay inside in really bad weather.

 

[jrouss28]

I opted for my L2501 Kubota to avoid the extra diesel pollution stuff and the computer that goes with it. I prefer simple. I've only got ten acres and the biggest implement I've got is my five foot brush hog which works well with 25 horsepower and only 20 at the PTO. Watch the loader capacity. Some loaders exceed the frame capacity of the tractor and can break it. All the bigger tractor buys with a back hoe is a bigger hoe and a little more digging speed. Depending on your area you may prefer a cab tractor. I'm cheap so I just dress warm or stay inside in really bad weather.

Lol, I am starting to feel you.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[2manyrocks]

Part of this depends on the actual work to be done. A 25hp tractor could do all that needs doing on some types of 3 acres unless you mean to skid out some huge trees. Why not hire out the clearing to a forestry mulcher or dozer and save yourself the time, work and expense of clearing?

 

[rScotty]

Part of this depends on the actual work to be done. A 25hp tractor could do all that needs doing on some types of 3 acres unless you mean to skid out some huge trees. Why not hire out the clearing to a forestry mulcher or dozer and save yourself the time, work and expense of clearing?

Hello jrouss28, welcome to TBN. That's good advice above about having a pro do the initial heavy work on your land - while you buy a tractor sized to do the cleanup.
It took me way too many years to realize just how good advice it is.

BTW, modern tractors tend to be sized by HP, and that leads to the conclusion that HP along with tractor size & weight are related more than they are. However, if you look back a few years at older tractors all over the countryside, you will realize that what you are seeing is power of marketing at work on your wallet.

What you will see is that older tractors in the 25 to 30 HP range used to be up to twice the size of the compacts today, and more than twice the weight. They worked just fine. It turns out a tractor really can do a lot with 25 hp. So keep in mind that the limit on work is likely to be the size and weight of the tractor at least as much as how much HP it has.
Think of it this way: if you have a 40 hp utility tractor that you are working hard at quarter throttle, it probably isn't making 15 HP. The advantage is in stability, comfort, and traction.

Over the years on this site we've seen a lot of enquiries from first time tractor buyers. Most are initally astonished by the high prices, and that pushes them towards smaller size tractors from the lesser-known manufacturers. That's a fine way to get a start, but also consider that veteran tractor users here seem to go the other way - towards the next larger size and towards well-known makes. That's a pivot worth thinking about.

My advice is to go to your local rental yard or Home Depot and rent a small compact tractor for the weekend. Invent some chores, put a few hours on it, drive it to a neighbors house, move some dirt.....just get a feel for what it does. Then next weekend do the same with a different size or make. Maybe both. In a month you'll have spent a few hundred dollars that is gone forever.... and have gotten an inexpensve and worthwhile education.
Luck,
rScotty

 

[airbiscuit]

I like the Kioti options (CK 2620 and CK 3520)
I would also consider a Kubota B2601 or a LX2620

 

[edgarrian]

I have 8 acres of woods. I have a 25hp tractor that i build driveways with. cut firewood, move countless loads of stone and dirt, mow. I rent an excavator once about every three years to handle bigger trees that have fell and tile that i may decide to put in. I come from heavy operator background and farming. So i know backhoe attachments are just not that great when you can use an excavator. If I was you Id just rent every so often. You will be money ahead

 

[jrouss28]

Part of this depends on the actual work to be done. A 25hp tractor could do all that needs doing on some types of 3 acres unless you mean to skid out some huge trees. Why not hire out the clearing to a forestry mulcher or dozer and save yourself the time, work and expense of clearing?

Good advice, I will for the bigger stuff. I just like doing what I can myself.