First tractor questions

fhfarms · Jul 4, 2005

First, let me thank everyone on this forum for their contirbutions. It has been a most valuable research tool! I am developing a 100 acre parcel into 10 acre equestrian "farmsteads" in north Florida ( Tallahassee). The property is an old cattle farm, and has all of the features one might expect to find on an old farm ( overgrown pastures, old fencing, piles of rusted implements, dead trees, brick piles, etc.).

I am hesitiant to call in the heavy equipment any more ( tracked vehicles) as I don't want to damage the land any further. I have done a basic clean up with the heavy stuff. The lay of the land is 80 acres of rolling pasture and 20 acres of slopes, ponds, sinkholes, big oaks and brush. I'm looking for a good all around tractor to do clean-up, basic road work, cutting and future maintainance.

I'll also be keeping 20 acres for long term investment , so I'll be mowing pasture for at least one year.

I'm looking at the Branson 4720/FEL, 6' cutter, 6' box blade, boom pole, post hole digger ( pto auger), and a 18" dual axle trailer. Price quote was $23,000 and change, which was about 10K cheaper than a similar Deere.

Will this be enough tractor/package to do the job? I have had most of the debris removed and the field bush-hogged already, so much of the heaviest work is done.

I'll eventually want to buy a larger finish mower also. How big of a finish mower will a tractor in to 40-50 HP range pull with satisfactory speed/results??

Are there other brands and sizes I should look at? Sorry to bombard the forum with so many questions, but this is my first tractor ( woooooo-hooooooo!!!!) and I don't want to make a mistake.

Thanks in advance for all your help! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

frank_f15 · Jul 4, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm looking at the Branson 4720/FEL, 6' cutter, 6' box blade, boom pole, post hole digger ( pto auger), and a 18" dual axle trailer. Price quote was $23,000 and change, which was about 10K cheaper than a similar Deere.
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that seems like a lot of tractor and attachments for that $$$$ i imagine you are getting an 18' trailer and not an 18" DBL axel trailer. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif think with all the land you have, and all the jobs you need done you stay in the 50 hp range at least. look at all the name brands that have dealers in your area, and try them all out, you might find one fits you better than another.

LarryD · Jul 5, 2005

I think you've probably got a good handle on HP for your plans and that price is going to be hard to beat looking at the big 3, you should still look at as many comparable brands as possible if for no more than evaluating your dealer.

As for the property, I'm not sure I would be very motivated to put my horses around sinkholes. Are they substantial or can the be filled in? Just a thought when you go to market your parcels.

Cowboyjg · Jul 5, 2005

I believe that LarryD is on target. It would be a good thing to review the dealer situation. However, I suspect that you could be percieved as a "Player" and will get a little "latitude" with whomever you work with.

fhfarms · Jul 5, 2005

Thanks for your answers. The price I was quoted does include a double axle trailer. I'm really quite shocked at what a good price it is, however the price is from a dealer that is about 2 hours away from me. I have a Branson dealer in my back yard, but they can't touch the price I've been quoted ( and have a deposit on as of today!). The New Hollands were also much higher too!

I'm sincerely hoping I won't have to spend too much time at the dealer for repair work on the tractor, I do need something dependable. How much dealer maintenance does a compact tractor need?

I've considered going bigger and stronger on the size, but I just think its going to be overkill, since within a year I will be used mostly for cutting grass ( or unitl I can aford a new development project).

And the sink hole situations are fine for the horses, one is a 5 acre sink/pond, there is one 30' wide dry sink with 12-16" diameter oaks growing from it, and a 15 foot wet sink on the property. We get these things in floridia, and its no big deal, unless you are unfortubate enough to have one open up under your house!