Buying Advice I am in the market for my first tractor

[houstonscott]

I bought 65 acres last August. 22 or so acres is in hay (someone else is managing hay for the foreseeable future).
23 or so acres in Pine and the balance in hardwoods.
There are roads through the pines etc. My goal is to buy a tractor that will last me a lifetime and do anything I choose to do in the future or if I add land.
I am looking at Kubota M7060HD12
New Holland T4-75 12 speed
Massey Ferguson 4707

Loader, 4x4 , R4 tires, Canopy , two rear remotes and one on front in case I add a grapple.

MF dealer is closest to me, NH is next and Kubota an hour away.

Thoughts ? Opinions ? Experiences ?

Thanks

I go with a low hour (less then 500hrs) tier 3 tractor in good condition. Ferguson HD with Perkins.

 

[radios1]

I go with a low hour (less then 500hrs) tier 3 tractor in good condition. Ferguson HD with Perkins.

you can continuously over many years harvest pine and hardwood trees without that breaking down after the first or second one??.. personal opinion, no.. it takes a lot of power to topple a tree, then to pull it up from the ground.. young trees ok, but a 60 foot, 20" diameter oak tree, I think would kill anything much less than a caterpillar D10T..

 

[Maharaja]

Bush hogging, mowing, some loader work with grapple , bucket , fork frame. Plowing food plots etc. Generally anything I may want to do over the next 20 years.
I stopped by the MF dealer today drove the 4707. Nice tractor, big and heavy lots of features that I want. Also discussed Woods 96” rotary mower

 

[Mike Madison]

I am continually amazed by how much money people seem to have. Having always been poor (farming is my sole source of income) I generally buy equipment used, both tractors and implements. In your shoes I would be looking for a 60-100hp older Deere, MF, or Oliver. Take your time, find one restored or barn-kept with low hours. Tractors are nearly indestructible; I've bought and sold a lot of tractors over the years, and been impressed with how strong and functional older tractors can be. A 100 hp diesel tractor should have a working life of 12,000 hours. If it only has 5,000 hours on it, there's a lot of life left. That said, I assume that Georgia does not (yet) have the strict emission standards that we have here in California.

 

[Mike Madison]

One other thing to consider is a New Holland crawler, TK series.

 

[Maharaja]

I took some advice , spoke with a couple of more local owners of tractors this afternoon.
One fellow who has a great deal of experience narrowed it back down to one brand .
Mike Madison, thanks for the suggestions I can assure you that I grew up lower middle class and @ 56 years of age after lots of hard work I am starting to enjoy the fruits of my labor. However I remain frugal and not at all well off.
I like the idea of used but I fear the unknown a bit on tractors or trucks. I have bought and sold lots of collectible firearms over the years but they are simpler and I know what I know there.
Thanks again all

 

[rngrrymd]

One fellow who has a great deal of experience narrowed it back down to one brand .

Maharaja, it's great that you talked to others but until you've personally looked at all your options and actually test driven the options out there I don't recommend narrowing down to one brand. People become very biased towards brands and this experienced guy talking you back down to one brand either has real experience only with that brand or could be just biased for them. All 3 tractors you are interested in are good tractors. I recommend collecting all the info you have been given and considering everyone's opinions and experiences but still test drive each one and make sure you get the tractor that fits you and your needs even if it is not what the neighbor recommends. I was leaning heavy towards Deere with Kubota coming second before I started test driving tractors and I went with a Case in the end. If I hadn't kept myself open to all brands and tried out multiple brands I might have purchased a tractor and realized later I didn't like it. Nothing worse than buyer's regret especially for a tractor in the $$$ range you are looking at.

 

[Maharaja]

I agree on buyers remorse. The only dealers within 30 minutes are MF and NH.
How much should that be a consideration?
I’m thinking some but not determining factor. I know me and know that a year after I buy I will know whether I bought right or wrong...

 

[oosik]

Maharaja - you REALLY do not want to narrow your options until you have sat on each one - reached for the controls - test drive, if possible - check with the service manager and see what the service facility looks like. Everybody has their own opinion - remember - - its your money and its YOU that will be spending hours in the seat - not some well meaning fellow.

If I knew back 36 years ago what I know now - - it would have taken me weeks to make a final decision. There are so very many things to consider that you will - probably - not be aware of until some time AFTER you purchase a new tractor.

Examples - how easy is it to get to the filters when you do an engine oil/hydraulic oil change. Do the lower arms on the 3-point have manual extensions for easier implement hook up. Any of the three tractors will take class two implements - - you ARE NOT going to be moving class two implements around by hand to align them for hook up. Does the tractor have a remote 3-point activation switch on the rear fender. How many rear remotes come standard with the tractor - do you need to order the tractor with additional units. Are you going to need the rear tires filled for added ballast weight - what product are you going to want in the rear tires - windshield washer fluid, recreational antifreeze, Rim Guard. What type tires do you need on the new tractor - how much extra will these tires cost.

Some of these examples may be very important - depending upon what you expect to do with the tractor - - some may be meaningless

The challenge is - - First you must know what you need/want and exactly how the tractor will be used now and in the future. Second you must understand how to obtain what you need/want in a new tractor.

Don't restrict your options at the very beginning.

 

[oosik]

The point is - - there is no ONE factor that should be the overall determining point. A tractor is a multitude of compromises. If there was such a thing as the perfect tractor - - all the others would slowly go out of business.