pipetrencher
Member
This is my 1st post. So, hi all.
As my "greeting" message indicated, I never would have thought that I would ever say "I need a tractor", but a few months after trying to settle into a rural property.......... well............ "I need a tractor". And looking forward too .. (pretty long post, sorry!)
From what I have read, whether a Kubota, JD, MF, Mahindra, Kioti etc.... I don't think it really matters, or at least they all seem to have very similar models to one another. What I do think matters, is matching the tractor capability & possible dealer support to your needs and beyond. But of course most of us don't have money trees in the backyard, which may, in the end, hinder the optimal preference.
So, in the hopes that the above paragraph that makes sense? below are my terrain & storage details, tractor needs, budget preferences and buying opinions & final thoughts.
Terrain details & storage
Tractor needs (Immediate)
Budget preferences & buying options
Final thoughts
If you made it this far? Thanks!!
As my "greeting" message indicated, I never would have thought that I would ever say "I need a tractor", but a few months after trying to settle into a rural property.......... well............ "I need a tractor". And looking forward too .. (pretty long post, sorry!)
From what I have read, whether a Kubota, JD, MF, Mahindra, Kioti etc.... I don't think it really matters, or at least they all seem to have very similar models to one another. What I do think matters, is matching the tractor capability & possible dealer support to your needs and beyond. But of course most of us don't have money trees in the backyard, which may, in the end, hinder the optimal preference.
So, in the hopes that the above paragraph that makes sense? below are my terrain & storage details, tractor needs, budget preferences and buying opinions & final thoughts.
Terrain details & storage
- 5.5 acres which consists of mostly grass. The land is relatively flat in the front other than the drainage ditch by the road which is a bit steep, dips and dives a bit in the back yard, But nothing severe. The ground seems pretty stable soil, normal grass
- Driveway is in front which again is mainly flat(ish) but does dip down about 6'-7' over 50'-60' at road
- Will store unit inside drive shed. Drive shed is connected to (soon to be) heated shop.
Tractor needs (Immediate)
- Dig several trenches totaling 400-500' long, by 2' deep, and about 1' wide
- Dig up a 1300 sq/ft driveway about 8" deep (Currently thin cover of stone, soft underneath, I can dump dirt down hill on property, so do not need to load into truck)
- Move whatever tons of stone needed and grade driveway
- Possibly move recycled asphalt into place to be rolled (New Hot asphalt drive.... $$ no way) But I may stick with just stone?
- No grass cutting as I already purchase 2 used 42" & 46" craftsman ride-on's
- Dig down about 5' at front of raised bungalow to address water seepage in a cold cellar
- Once a year move 7-8 Bush cord about 75' from open area to sheltered dome
- Clear new driveway of snow (keeping in mind the finished result will be either 5/8 limestone or cold rolled recycled asphalt which from what I have been told is relatively stable but delicate)
Budget preferences & buying options
- I would like not to spend more than 15k all in. Total
- I have good credit so I would can put down 8-10k and finance the rest./ I would much rather buy outright though. If I have a <10k option?
- If private sale I could save the HST? Cheaper than dealer. But would a good dealer ensure I get a good unit? or do they "really care"? IMHO, I doubt they do!
- I'm pretty sure I can do most of the regular maintenance myself. I may even be able to change a part or two.
Final thoughts
- I was thinking of a compact? certainly not a sub compact? I say this because I have read about the backhoe limitations of subcompact tractors? Especially when one doesn't know what the future holds? What are your thoughts?
- I was thinking used (Obviously, based on my budget)? But I am anything but a tractor expert
- Is dealer support important?
- Should I heat drive shed? Will be quite simple to do so. I will be heating everything with a Outdoor wood furnace (hence, the trenching)
- Do not want chains on tractor for pushing snow. Is included loader on 4x4 TLB good enough?
- Do I need shoes on the loader to push snow? So I can keep stones "on" the driveway? or not to rip up cold rolled recycled asphalt?
- How many hours per use, per year would indicate normal usage? I don't think I would want to buy a used tractor from a contractor who pushed it everyday.
- How old is too old 19XX?
- How many hours is too many hours?
- Any signs to look for when looking at a used tractor?
If you made it this far? Thanks!!