Buying Advice First Time Tractor Buyer Advice

GrouseHunter · Jun 24, 2020

Hi All,

New member here and soon to be first time tractor buyer. Recently moved to rural Vermont on 60 acres and have been on the hunt for a new tractor to not only maintain the property, but eventually do some small scale farming. I've looked at a few tractors locally but I've been trigger shy on purchasing one on craigslist/FB marketplace with some of the conditions i've seen and my relative lack of tractor buying experience. I'm hoping to get something in the 30-40hp range with 4wd and a FEL for around $15k, and debating on whether or not i should consider spending a bit more and going to a dealer to purchase used.

Some of the tractors i've considered that are still listed:
-Kubota L3650 ($14k with FEL and brush hog) with 1700 hrs, but was concerned when I tried to lift the front tires off the ground with the FEL and it didn't seem to lift as easily as I had anticipated.

- I am planning to check out MF 1260 ($12,500 with FEL) in the next day or two with only 800 hrs on it, but i haven't been able to find much about the model compared to others I've researched.

-NH TC35 with 2k hours and brush hog, needs rear tires ($13,500).

Looking for advice on if any of these sound like a good value, things i should be looking out for when purchasing, and if anyone has any general recommendations for me given the criteria i have.

Thanks in advance to all!

jeff9366 · Jun 24, 2020

GrouseHunter said:
New member here and soon to be first time tractor buyer.

Recently moved to rural Vermont on 60 acres and have been on the hunt for a new tractor to not only maintain the property, but eventually do some small scale farming. I'm hoping to get something in the 30-40hp range with 4wd and a FEL for around $15k, and debating on whether or not i should consider spending a bit more and going to a dealer to purchase used.

Some of the tractors i've considered that are still listed:
-Kubota L3650 ($14k with FEL and brush hog) with 1700 hrs, but was concerned when I tried to lift the front tires off the ground with the FEL and it didn't seem to lift as easily as I had anticipated.

Did you have the bucket curled?
VIDEO: YouTube

An L3560 is a deluxe tractor, suitable for pulling 60" wide implements. I have one. Enough tractor for 15 acres of level field.
If you are planning to farm more than 15 acres of flat land, or any sloped land, I would buy heavier and 66" wide in order to utilize 72" wide implements.

RE VERMONT HILLS: Tractors are inherently unstable operating on sloped ground. Tractor rear wheel/tire spread, adjustable on a Kubota 'Grand L' L3560, is a critical factor increasing compact tractor stability working sloped or uneven ground. Rear axle is the tractor component on which rear wheels/tires mount. A 6" to 10" wider rear axle substantially decreases tractor rollover potential. Tractor width is an approximation of rear axle width.

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.

Kubota L3560
2013 - L60 'Grand L' Series
Compact Utility tractor
Previous model: Kubota L3540
Series next: Kubota L4060

Manufacturer: Kubota

Variants:
L3560DT: 4WD
L3560GST: 4WD 12-speed
L3560HST: hydrostatic
L3560HSTC: hydro cab

Kubota L3560 Engine:
Kubota 1.8L 3-cyl diesel
Kubota L3560 Power:
Engine (gross): 37 hp [27.6 kW]
Engine (net): 35 hp [26.1 kW]
PTO (claimed): 29.5 hp [22.0 kW] (gear)
28 hp [20.9 kW] (hydro)

Capacity:
Fuel: 13.5 gal [51.1 L]

3-Point Hitch:
Rear Type: I
Control: position control, draft control optional
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 2646 lbs [1200 kg]

Power Take-off (PTO):
Rear PTO: independent
Rear RPM: 540 (1.375)
Mid PTO: optional
Mid RPM: 2000

Dimensions
Weight: 3483 lbs [1579 kg] (DT ROPS)
3494 lbs [1584 kg] (GST ROPS)
3505 lbs [1589 kg] (hydro ROPS)
3880 lbs [1759 kg] (hydro cab)
Wheelbase: 71.1 inches [180 cm]
Length: 115 inches [292 cm]
Width: 59.8 inches [151 cm] (min)
Height (ROPS): 97.2 inches [246 cm]
Height (cab): 90.6 inches [230 cm]
Ground clearance: 13.5 inches [34 cm]
Rear axle: Flange
Front tread: 45.5 inches [115 cm]
Rear tread: 47.2/51.2/54.5/58.3 inches
[119/130/138/148 cm]

Mechanical:
Chassis: 4x4 MFWD 4WD
Steering: hydrostatic power
Brakes: wet disc
Cab: Two-post foldable ROPS. Grand Cab with air-conditioning available with hydrostatic.

Hydraulics:
Gear Pump flow: 8.3 gpm [31.4 lpm]
Hydro Pump flow: 8.1 gpm [30.7 lpm]
Gear Total flow: 13.2 gpm [50.0 lpm]
Hydro Total flow: 12.8 gpm [48.4 lpm]
Gear Steering flow: 4.9 gpm [18.5 lpm]
Hydro Steering flow: 4.7 gpm [17.8 lpm]

Electrical:
Ground: negative
Charging system: alternator
ROPS Charging amps: 40
Cab Charging amps: 60

Page information:
Last update: August 1, 2019
Copyright: Copyright 2019 TractorData LLC
Contact: Peter@TractorData.com

oosik · Jun 24, 2020

This is what I did when I prepared to purchase my first tractor. I have 80 acres and a mile long gravel driveway.

I made a list of projects. Considered the type/size tractor based upon tasks/projects.

1) year round maintenance of my driveway
2) firewood and all its requirements
3) running a chipper
4) constructing and maintaining on-site landfill for personal use
5) grading and leveling many areas on the property

This resulted in purchase of a brand new 1982 Ford 1700 4WD.

After 27 years I upgraded to my current 2009 Kubota M6040.

I have replaced the bucket on the FEL with a grapple. This is used to relocate large rocks and specific lengths of my gigantic Ponderosa pines.

The bigger tractor and HD rear blade mean I no longer need my 3-point blower for winter driveway maintenance.

Basically - after 27 years, all the smaller projects have been completed. The larger tractor allows me to tackle larger projects. It makes #4 & #5, above, much easier also.

Bullwinkle123 · Jun 24, 2020

GrouseHunter said:
Hi All,

New member here and soon to be first time tractor buyer. Recently moved to rural Vermont on 60 acres and have been on the hunt for a new tractor to not only maintain the property, but eventually do some small scale farming. I've looked at a few tractors locally but I've been trigger shy on purchasing one on craigslist/FB marketplace with some of the conditions i've seen and my relative lack of tractor buying experience. I'm hoping to get something in the 30-40hp range with 4wd and a FEL for around $15k, and debating on whether or not i should consider spending a bit more and going to a dealer to purchase used.

Some of the tractors i've considered that are still listed:
-Kubota L3650 ($14k with FEL and brush hog) with 1700 hrs, but was concerned when I tried to lift the front tires off the ground with the FEL and it didn't seem to lift as easily as I had anticipated.

- I am planning to check out MF 1260 ($12,500 with FEL) in the next day or two with only 800 hrs on it, but i haven't been able to find much about the model compared to others I've researched.

-NH TC35 with 2k hours and brush hog, needs rear tires ($13,500).

Looking for advice on if any of these sound like a good value, things i should be looking out for when purchasing, and if anyone has any general recommendations for me given the criteria i have.

Thanks in advance to all!

Hi there, welcome to VT! You didn't say, but it sounds like you're basically looking for used equipment under $15k.

I'm also a first time tractor owner, also in VT, and bought it last spring. I didn't see much in the used market when I looked, and as someone new to the whole tractor thing I wanted some assurances that I was getting what I wanted, in good shape, with some guarantees, so I bought new. (Hey, so you just have to wait another year to retire, right?)

Where I am, the John Deere dealer in Greenfield MA and the Kubota dealer in Walpole NH are about equidistant, and with a new purchase I definitely wanted to hedge my bets about possible resale value if anything didn't work out. (Illness, wrong tractor, whatever). Having a dealer nearby is good for resale value I think, and for service if you need it.

I bought a Kubota from PinnacleView, but Town Line Equipment is also a bit further north (and may be closer to you, I don't know).

Anyway, I suggest you describe more about what you want to accomplish with the tractor, new or used, for the expert advice others can offer.

For me, I started looking at the L3901, but finally upgraded to the MX5400 for a number of reasons, including the fact that it's over 20% wider for increased stability on my very hilly VT property.

Good luck!