Choosing my First Tractor

[Aquabird]

You might want to consider FEL lifting capacity. If you plan to use the FEL much, you do not want to fall short in that area. When I bought my 2nd tractor, that was one of the top 5 things that made me choose what I bought.

 

[redman135]

Re FEL lift capasity. ASK if the lift is measured at the bucket pins(looks good ,but artificial) or at 18' (approx front of bucket and REAL WORLD accurate lift numbers)

Old tractors like Ford 2000/3000 and MF 135 have small hydraulic pumps and slooww loader lift.Also low lift capasity. Very easy to work on.

Kubota in narrow track are very tippy, if you have wide enough trails/gates I recommend you widen the track for sideways stability. NOTE some tractors have 1 piece rims and don't adjust and others will have 2 piece rims to allow track adjust ment. Makes a surprising amount of difference.

 

[etpm]

I have 10 or 12 acres but only about 2 of that is cleared and maintained. My tractor is a 1980 Yanmar YM2310. It is only 2WD and I have rarely wished for 4WD. It has 23 HP at the PTO. I have Yanmar 5 foot wide tiller and the tractor has no problem powering it. The tractor has a "Power Shift" transmission which means I can change gears or change into reverse without using the clutch. The tractor has a 5 speed transmission that must be shifted using the clutch and this feeds the Power Shift transmission which has 3 speeds. So I have a 15 speed tractor. The tractor also has a FEL. Do not even consider a tractor without a FEL. The FEL is unbelievably useful. So you need one. And don't consider buying one later, get a tractor with one. You will not regret it. My Yanmar is a Grey Market machine but there are parts available and Yanmar tractors have a great reputation. My tractor is a beast for its size and I use at least once a week.
Eric

 

[Texasmark]

As posted, I have a 20 HP and 84 HP and 5 more of varying HP in between. All 7 have their assigned task. Size your tractor for the upper end of the required task...If an implement is rated for 45 HP, get a 45 HP tractor. Have to be careful overpowering gear boxes...like on shredders....as the gearbox rating is there for a reason......BTDT

 

[JorgePR]

I can not tell you what you could buy but, perhaps by reading what I use may help with your endeavor I have 3 acres just outside city of San Antonio, TX northeast corner. Very rocky and wooded with mesquite, oak, cedar and various other trees. Topography fairly flat, I do have a lawn tractor (JD D160) for mowing chores about 3/4 acre. I maintain about 1 acre with a Kubota 2008 B2620 4WD HST at first w/FEL later I added a QA to the FEL and added pallet folks very useful specially when moving piles of branches and other things around the yard. Done some grading for walkways, cleared extra area for usable yard. Move furniture added a hitch adapter and move a 16ft trailer, pull/push an old 1956 in and out of garage. Use as a high platform with a pallet on the folks (about 8+/- ft to reach branches for cutting etc…) added recently a 3rd function to the loader and added a small grapple better at picking up debris. Mostly all add-ons due to health issues. Machine very reliable on change batteries, fuel, oil, hydraulic filters and keep it greased.