Buying first tractor, opinions and insight welcome

[n4807g]

I would agree that a snowblower is a good choice if you have a relatively small amount of clearing to do and the snow is light and dry. I live on the side of a small mountain 5 miles N of Monadnock in NH. The drive I clear is over 1/4 mile in length and one grade is about 7% for 800 feet. I've been using a Belarus 572 with loader and blade. I just bought a Farm Pro 8240 with a Koyker 310 loader and a 96" rear blade with an 18" tall mold board (I can move a lot of snow in a hurry). When the snow is heavy and wet and deep I can still plow at a good clip. I can do the entire drive in about 1 1/4 hours. The snow piles can be a bit of a nusiance but I've learned to push'em back quite a bit to allow for more snow. The other issue I have with snowblowers is rear mounts...Ouch my neck would kill me after about 10 minutes. If you mount in front (Skid steer) you've got to detach the loader.

The only person I know with a snowblower mounted on a Kubota has it mounted up front and it takes him about 30 minutes to clear about 250 feet of driveway.

I have learned one thing about snow removal....a heated cab is worth it's (the tractor's) weight in gold. No bunny suit required.

 

[MFL]

ttowne66,

I won't re-chew all the great advice you've gotten so far, but let me add two things.

When talking about tractor implements, never say "one time"! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif When I bought my B7800 I also said one time on the PHD, the disc harrow, etc. I had no clue!!

Look at the Kubota B3030 with the cab. It's the only tractor in this category that comes with a factory cab ( air and heat), and would be comparable to the Mahindra (less weight but same hp, tranny, options). With the weather you put up with, the cab would come in very handy!!

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

 

[otus_branch]

Howdy Tom,

I'll second all those recommendations for the cab.

I'm mighty fond of the Tug Hill Plateau. I got my master's from SUNY-ESF, and the few times i got away from the books and hit the x-country ski trails around your neck of the woods were all good ones. We get a bit of snow around here, but nothing like you guys. Right now, I clear my 1/2 mile road/drive with a 4-wheeler...

My sister and b-i-l are in Utica these days, and he speaks of good dealer support for Mahindra in Central New York. He also knows a few full-time farmers there who rave (in a good way) about their Mahindra machines. There is a dealer just down the mountian from me here in WNC, so I may check them out as my traqctor search progresses.

But since I'm not much of a wrench-er (basic maintenance is about all I'm capable of), I know that a full-service shop is a prereq. for any future tractor (& brand) I buy.

Good luck,
-otus

 

[BoneheadNW]

Tom-

I have only had my Kubota for a few months now and, except for the snow, my needs are similar to yours. I have a neighbor with a Deere and another that just bought a Kioti. The neighbor with the Kioti has been on his tractor seems like morning through night. I haven't had a chance to talk to him, but either he loves it or the seatbelt broke! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will be happy.

Bonehead