Do It All

Honey Dealer · Aug 20, 2010

I am looking at purchasing a tractor for my 640 acre farm. Currently all four quarters are rented out to a neighbor. Three being crop land and one being hay.
I run an Apiary on the home quarter and I am in the midst of some big changes.

I will build a 2000 sq foot home and a 4000 sq foot shop shortly. The spouse also wants a large Greenhouse and small market garden in the near future. I will eventually purchase a few cattle, pigs and chickens for my own consumption only. I want a tractor for trenching water, power, and a Geothermal system. I also want to use the tractor to make my own pilings and lift building materials.

After completing all this construction I will use the tractor and implements to load barrels of honey on trailers and maintain the farm. I want to use it for snow removal, grading the driveway, many many landscaping projects and possibly fencing. I will also do contract work if anyone local asks. I am not planning on using this machine for lawn care ( I'll get a Grasshopper) or gardening. I will however use it to maintain Dirt Bike trails and a small motocross track.

Typically I like to buy the biggest most powerful machine that I can. Whether it be a television or a vehicle. I drive a 3/4 ton Dodge diesel, and my dirt bikes consist of a 650 four stroke and a 300 two stroke...... I like power and reliability in all my machines. I am new to the tractor game, and at this point I am drawn to the Kubota M59TLB. Am I falling into the typical "One machine to do it all" trap? I hope to be enlightened by this forums wisdom.

nybirdman · Aug 20, 2010

I like your first choice,I have a L4240 HSTC..370 hours so far,zero problems
I run a roto-tiller,two bottom plows,8ft.curtis snow plow,brush-hog ect.It has been great.The loader on the M59 has even more capacity.I would reccommend a tooth-bar on the loader,maybe a grapple(or thumb) on the bucket.My dealer has been great,everyone here will tell you to check out the dealers.Good luck in your choice.:thumbsup:

magicheater · Aug 20, 2010

My local propane dealer just got an M59TLB. I stopped to see his new building in which he installed the septic himself and saved a bunch cause he had the backhoe. What a sweet machine, he got the 3PT arms and power take off options also. He got the canopy instead of the cab and that is what I would do. Less than 45 grand w/0% financing. I still like my B7800 but if I needed a machine that powerful, it is not really that much bigger than my L4350, I would go that route. 4000LB lift.....WOW!!! He's on :cloud9:

RPW · Aug 20, 2010

IMO there isn't a one tractor does it all catagory. The largest bad**s tractor will do wonders but may fail misurably on smaller projects. For my 2cents worth I'd look at the larger tractor for the field work and a smaller tractor or skid steer for the smaller things. As an example something in the 100+ HP for field work to pull appropriately sized implements. This tractor will require x amount of fuel to run per hour. A smaller sized for doing fencing, landscaping etc. will require much less fuel to perform the work.

sweettractors · Aug 20, 2010

RPW said:
IMO there isn't a one tractor does it all catagory. The largest bad**s tractor will do wonders but may fail misurably on smaller projects. For my 2cents worth I'd look at the larger tractor for the field work and a smaller tractor or skid steer for the smaller things. As an example something in the 100+ HP for field work to pull appropriately sized implements. This tractor will require x amount of fuel to run per hour. A smaller sized for doing fencing, landscaping etc. will require much less fuel to perform the work.

I tend to agree with RPR on this one. Ken Sweet

Honey Dealer · Aug 20, 2010

I guess I made my post too long to be thoroughly read. I never mentioned using the tractor for field work. I rent out all my land. I am wanting the tractor for building, trenching, digging and lifting. And then for trail, driveway and property maintenance/projects. I will not be farming with the tractor.

RPW · Aug 20, 2010

Then it looks like a TLB is in your future

Good luck.

MarkV · Aug 20, 2010

My thoughts went to a used industrial tractor loader backhoe for your building projects and something in the 40 hp range for long term use. You just can't beat a commercial backhoe for what you are talking. Water, power, geothermal, 6000 sqft of buildings, greenhouse, material moving all scream commercial. I do think the M59 is a great machine, I have an L39 and a B21. I just think a true commercial machine, you do like powerful, and a maneuverable maintenance tractor would serve your needs and holdings better than one do it all tractor.

MarkV

Honey Dealer · Aug 20, 2010

MarkV said:
My thoughts went to a used industrial tractor loader backhoe for your building projects and something in the 40 hp range for long term use. You just can't beat a commercial backhoe for what you are talking. Water, power, geothermal, 6000 sqft of buildings, greenhouse, material moving all scream commercial. I do think the M59 is a great machine, I have an L39 and a B21. I just think a true commercial machine, you do like powerful, and a maneuverable maintenance tractor would serve your needs and holdings better than one do it all tractor.

MarkV

Can you make some make/model suggestions in both regards?