First tractor - did you buy too big or too small?

[jk96]

How many TBN'rs bought too small of a tractor on first purchase? How many bought too big? Just curious what others experience was since most advice here seems to be buy bigger than you think you need.

I bought a DX24 case and traded it back in after one year and 240 hours on a bigger case DX33.

 

[Oleozz]

Quite a few years ago I started with a Farmall H, then a Ferguson 30, next came a 4wd JD 870, and now have a Kioti cab tractor with 45 hp. I used these tractors to maintain 100 acres and at the time I was satisfied with each one. I don't think I will ever go bigger than the 45 hp., it seems to fit my needs.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I would say I bought the right sized tractor
But i definately made some mistakes
So

8x8 is not enough gears. Get at least 12x12 or HST
There's just a huge gap between 4th and 5th.

Get a quick attach bucket, it would be totally worth the extra money just for the flexibility and other options.

If you have the option to get more HP is exactly the same chassis (one up is turbo'd for example), do it. extra HP is always useful and the size you already decided on.

My neighbor has a SCUT and it has the stupidest 3point hookup ever. Make sure the 3point is easily adjustable to move the arms back and forth (esp on Cat 1 where you tend to have to do that a lot). Mine takes 5 minutes, his takes 30 minutes or more. terrible design. Make sure the 3 point is easy to use and change out.

Buy all your attachments with the tractor, they are way more willing to deal.

 

[Doc_Bob]

I almost bought a NH TC40D (lovely tractor) but fell into a NH TN70A (used at a great price) that I bought. I would have been happy with the TC40D, but I am glad I went with the TN70A. The extra weight and HP of the TN has been wonderful.
Bob

 

[oscer]

I've only ever bought 1 tractor,a JD 4110,after a year and a half,I think I made the right choice. I only have 4 acres to play on.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Still have mine some 36 years after first buying it. It must fit in OK.

 

[RalphVa]

My first tractor, a Gravely, was too small after I got used to what I wanted to do. Bought a 4010, smallest with full Cat 1 hitch, at the time. It's a perfect fit for what I need to do on 8.5 acres and across trails of another 100 acres or so.

Neighbor asked me about digging up some stumps. Advised him that a FEL is not good for that: needs to rent a back hoe. Exactly what I'll do if I need one. Same for a trench digger, etc. A tractor you use all the time doesn't have to do everything, like my Tacoma won't do all the truck things one needs to do. You can rent stuff for the infrequent things. No sense wasting the planets limited fuel resources in lugging a big tractor or big truck around, just because you need to RARELY need some big power.

I'm against bigger, badder stuff. Most of you probably buy them just to brag. Think about the earth and its resources. Smaller is better, unless it just won't do your everyday work.

Ralph

 

[shvl73]

Mine is a 28hp and at times it's too big and other times too small. It must be about right. We have 11+ acres and lease another 6+- with mostly rough mowing.

 

[john_bud]

I originally started looking at the little grey market tractors that go for a couple thousand. Then the uncertainty of spare parts, etc got me to looking at the JD 790. Then the JD 4300 with HST VS the Kubota 3010 both HST. I wound up buying the L3410HST with R4's and loader.

Looking back, I should have gotten the L3710 HST with R1's and loader. That would have only cost a few hundred more (cheaper tires) and would be a better fit to many of my tasks.

But, the 3410 has muddled thru some awfully big jobs. Just takes a different approach and 2x the time.

Now there is an old Ford 4140 4speed with sherman combo in the barn keeping the Kubota company. It has a much bigger loader and a hoe. But 2wd. It is really truly stunning the difference in capability between the two when using the loader. The Kubota has 1/2 the bucket capacity, but can move dirt faster. Much faster.

So, the smaller Kubota can out work the larger Ford in some cases, so bigger alone isn't the end all.

Last point, If you are contemplating using the tractor at 90+% of the rated capacity, try and buy one size larger that puts it at 80% of capacity. For instance, my 5' cutter needs 25-30 pto hp. The tractor has 27.5. It's at 98% of capacity (or over it's head). A larger tractor with 35 pto hp would be at 70% or 85% and would not have to struggle. It may have greater longevity. Or you have room to grow into new uses.

jb

 

[slowrev]

You need an assortment of tractors, sort of like your footwear. One pair of footwear does not fit all your needs does it ?
A man cannot have too many tractors

 

[Wesdor]

I began looking for a tractor more than 3 years ago. Started with the Chinese tractors in the $8,000 area and if I recall correctly about 20 hp. I didn't want a FEL and only wanted something to do light work around the farm (87 acres). I soon realized this would be too small and began looking at Kubota and John Deere. But still no loader.

Then my brother bought a Kubota 3400 with a loader and I used it one day. After using the loader, I realized I needed that as well. When I went to the dealers, I found that I could purchase a Deere 4310 cheaper than the Kubota L3400 my brother had purchased.

One of the reasons for the 4310 was that it was the biggest I could purchase without having a big price jump. I've run the tractor for more than 450 hours and still feel very happy with it.

But, I did spend a lot of time looking before I bought and also drove different models. Give yourself some time to enjoy the buying process and you will probably make a better choice.

 

[N80]

I started with the idea that I wanted as much HP as I could get with the money I had available. Almost everything else was secondary. I ended up with a Kubota L4400 which is 45 HP. So far it has been nearly perfect. I think a fancier tractor would be wonderful but with a fixed budget, the fancier they got, the less HP I could afford.

I've had the 4400 for 1.5 years. Still love it.

Doesn't mean I don't _want_ a bigger tractor because I do. I would love a 5040 or 7040.....but I don't _need_ a bigger tractor at all.

 

[3RRL]

You need an assortment of tractors, sort of like your footwear. One pair of footwear does not fit all your needs does it ?
A man cannot have too many tractors

Well, you can't argue with what slowrev said.
On the other hand, after much research about tractor use on my land, and compromised with a smaller budget, I opted for a 55hp Kama 554. It is rather Spartan like but a real warrior of a tractor, as my description eludes to. I have maxed out the power and challenged all it's capacities. Additionally, I have made many upgrades to it and also to my implements to meet my needs. Some chores could have been done with a smaller tractor and then again, some needed a larger one. However, my thought is rather than getting an additional tractor, perhaps a used dozer or excavator would be better suited for some of the work. Having only the one tractor though, I think I bought the right size. I have 27 acres of wilderness property with meadows, ravines, rocks, gullies and plateaus. I am improving it from scratch.

Some thoughts on convenience...
A QA bucket.
An EZ change system fro the 3pt.
Front and rear hydraulics for additional implements.
A hydro trans for loader work
Plenty of weight, traction and hp
Various implements as you need them and can afford them or build/make them.

 

[Slacker]

I bought too small, but could have managed with the 20hp JD750 if I had weighted it down to the absolute max. I upgraded to a 39hp for additional stability on slopes, the additional gpm hydo flow and the weight to handle a backhoe. Its nice to have a warrenty also.

 

[Farwell]

My first and only real tractor is a 1965 John Deere 2010. On occasion I wish I had a little bit more horse power but the tractor size I am happy with. I was wishing for 4 wheel drive on occasion, especially in the Winter but since I bought tire chains I am happy with the two wheel drive.
Once in a while I think about a back hoe but the LOML says it is not a good idea because I would have trenches dug from one end of my property to the other. Anyone out there have a problem with trenches?
David B

 

[jeffinsgf]

While I truly love my 4410, it is just a tiny bit too small. The only time this really shows up is when I use it as a forklift, which is fairly often. We own our own business, and the warehouse is right next to our home. The 4410 has to be our forklift when we get a shipment in, and it just barely will lift our standard pallets off the back of a semi. I looked at trading up to a 4x20, but it was more than I wanted to spend for a marginal increase in capacity.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Needed something smaller than the 8N and Ford 600 for bushhoging and cultivating boxwoods. Needed to use a 4' hog and small frame tractor. Ran across a Kubota L185 MFWD.

Perfect size all I would need and could bushhog a few lots we had.

Acquired a 42 ac tract and since I was always having to work on the 8N or 600. Thought a 30+/- HP (L3130)4x4 with FEL in the future would be all I would ever need .

Acquired another 100ac and now need 50-70HP and this should be all I ever need

Was going to sell the 3130 with FEL and get M5040, M7040, TN65 or TN75. Had a buyer and ready to buy bigger when wife said lets go ahead and build on the 42ac site now. So I figure the 3130 will be better for landscaping around the house. So I'll keep it for another year then sale.

The next tractor should be all I will ever need at least thats what I tell my wife!

 

[Paul2000]

Thanks to this site, I purchased just the right size. New Holland TC45D. I wanted enough horse power to run a good mower and 45 was a good size. I wanted to be able to run a tiller, the hst transmission is a perfect match. I wanted it small enough to trailer when I need to, and the Large compact utility size is perfect. I wanted to be able to use different attachments on the FEL, and the skidsteer universal quick attach was the answer. I researched a lot before my purchase and the research was mostly done right here. Thank you to all who shared in thier experiences. I have read many posts here that helped me choose the right size and features. I have tried to share with others so they can make an informed decision as well. I know I love my quick attach FEL but don't know if I would have paid to change it out if it wasn't already on it. Getting what you need or want at the time of purchase can save you in the long run.

 

[LBrown59]

No.
Just to few.

 

[dcondo]

Bought a used IH 454 utility (40 hp diesel) with a 2050A HD loader. It was a real good machine, but the loader could easily lift more than the fromt end and it was 2 WD (not good for getting around the hills and woods). It was too big.