Buying First Tractor & Looking For Suggestions On Size.

[lonegunman]

$40K would get something in the 60 hp (pto) range, which would be overkill for 3 acres and the smaller work around the house.

Aim your search at tractors in the 35-45 hp (pto) range with hydrostatic tranny, 4WD, power steering, ag or turf tires filled with liquid, double rear hydraulic remotes, 6-ft wide front end loader with the skid steer attach option. Ag tires are better for high traction. Turf tires are better for work around the house (less damage to the grass). Your cost would be in the $25-30K range.

Good luck

What he said. I needed less tractor and bought an L-3200 Kubota a couple of years ago. I use it to mow and the FEL is handy just about anything. I have 120 acres of scrub land that is mostly a rifle range and picnic area and a few acres around the house. The skid steer type bucket is really handy as well. Quick detach anything is a feature I've grown to love.

 

[AxleHub]

Willysmb . . Your original post said some things that confuses some of the logical thinking. And because you don't want brand thinking . . Then don't start "fitting" a brand into your logic just yet imo.

1. You say this is your very first tractor.

2. You have 2 different properties with travel distance between them.

3. You have up to a 40k budget.

A. I'd look for a new sub compact tractor with a 25 hp engine . . not a 22/23 hp engine. If no backhoe you shpuld be able to get a fel and mmm for less than 16k plus sales tax. Thats with a 5 or 6 year warranty and 0% interest choices. Make sure your manueverability and fel lifting capacity are focuses in a 25/26 hp sub compact. Turf tires for winter gripping benefits and summer/spring/fall lawn issues.

B. Add a remote and a sub compact based grapple and forks. I'd prefer a very narrow lightweight but strong (lets say a foot wide and less than 100 lbs. With at least a 24 inch opening capacity).

What's my logic? Tight maneuverability for lawn and garden/food plot activities AND able to move between the trees in the woods much easier. Combined with a narrow grapple . . You can work in areas a compact tractor can't . . Yet your fel would still have a 700 lbs + payload AFTER either bucket or forks or grapple. Thats with a 4 foot tractor width.

Logic #2 . . Easy to trailer andbvery fast to load and unload and trailer/truck is easy choices.

Logic #3 . . At less than $ 20,000 with tax included for 25 hp sub compact tractor, fel, mower, remote add and grapple as described you can learn and then determine what else you may need in the future when you better know your extended plans for the hunting land and all the sub compact can do for you and if you desire to have someone else do a part of it for you.
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