I did it. Roast and discuss my choice. (sharing experience + numbers for others)

[CalG]

As title suggests, I did it. I bought a tractor and paid far more money than I ever thought I would for something that isn't real estate. After many hours of reading, test driving, calling, and spitballing on what I should get I landed on the Massey 4707.

MF 4707
Cab
dyna 2
931 loader with soft drive
4x4
30 inch rears

60k even, delivered.

For reference, my main goal with this is to put a massive snowblower on the back and keep my driveway clear. I have a 500ft drive and the drifts are terrible where I am at. Secondary goals are driveway maintenance, pasture fence maintenance/moving, and managing 30 acres of pasture. I currently rent out my crop land but that might change in the future. Potentially could get into making hay to sell. Land is fairly level.

I'm a suburban dude who just wants to be comfortable while doing work outside. How did I do for a first time buyer?

I don't know how old you are, but if you crunch number for "snow removal", Per foot per year, that's a lot of independence costs. (add 10K for a blower/ blade etc.

But, there is the thrill of having the tools!

Don't look at me... I only have four tractors , two with snow blowers. Two with plows, ;-)

 

[MinnesotaMorg]

Glad to hear that it seems like I didn't get completely ripped off. I got estimates for WM75 (51k), Powerstar75 (59k), M4D-071 (70k lol), 2 other 4707 estimates (65k & 60k both without dyna2). I also got an estimate for a 3039r much earlier in the process for 46k. But after seeing a 5075e in person I kind of wrote off team green in the 75hp category.

As a first time tractor owner I am really attracted to the brake to neutral feature of the dyna 2, makes it easy to know I can always just hit the brakes to stop. Other considerations that tipped the scales to the 4707 was the weight, size of cab, push button clutch (vs workmaster and powerstar). Overall features seemed to be better or equivalent to the competition.

You're right Cal, the price for purely snow removal is extremely high. I'm not sure what it would cost me to hire someone to come snowblow my driveway, the real problem is it often needs to be done even if it didn't snow - the wind can blow my driveway closed just as easily. I bought a 3/4 ton with a plow when I moved here and it got completely overwhelmed. I can't really put a value on knowing I can get myself out of the snow going forward. It's a terrible feeling living in the country and getting your truck stuck with no recovery option, thank goodness for nice neighbors.

I'll post pictures when it gets delivered. Currently I am having them hold onto it for a while until my garage/shop is built. Hopefully not more than 2 months. For now, you can get some pictures of my hellscape from this past winter, give you an idea of what I was dealing with.

 

[MinnesotaMorg]

As far as blower, I need to do more research, but I have been looking at the Erskine 925RM. It's 3 point 90inch width, 35inch height, 540pto. I figure something that size will clear my driveway and turnaround in no time.

I am looking for a bush hog as well to help cut the pasture as I am not having any livestock out there this year as I am moving the fence etc to put in trees and build the shop.

 

[paulfun9]

A lot of folks don’t understand how those drifts work. I have already cleared my road, went in for a shower and came right back out only to have to clear the drifts again before leaving. Sometimes I actually leave a tractor at the neighbors house just to avoid the walk back to the house when I come home to a roadway closed back in by drifts that are much harder to plow than the average pick up can handle.

My friend tried to open it up for me once after an unexpected stay in the hospital. He ended up with 3 Ford f350’s stuck. He had to get someone to come get the keys for the tractor and use the blower to clear everything and dig his trucks out. It’s funny he is one that complained about having a rear mount blower on a tractor, complained that a loader is too slow for any snow removal, and pushed his opinion of having a plow truck as the best and only solution for snow removal out here.

 

[scaredychicken]

Congratulations, I think that will do the jobs.

That is a heck of a lot of tractor - in both physical size and in horsepower (70 hp) for a first tractor purchase. Enjoy it, you are bolder than me

the photos look like our winters here. snow drifts are annoying

 

[dodge man]

I agree, that seems like a lot of tractor for the money. The cab will be really nice in the winter and hot summer.

 

[Torvy]

Congrats. I don't think I could have pulled the trigger on that, but it seems to be a great tractor.

I feel your pain, I grew up a few hours due west of Mpls. Went to UMinn. I remember snow like that. One reason I live in Texas now.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[npalen]

I would want the smallest snowblower possible if I had a nice cabbed tractor like that! (and coffee, radio etc)

 

[CalG]

A lot of folks don’t understand how those drifts work. I have already cleared my road, went in for a shower and came right back out only to have to clear the drifts again before leaving. Sometimes I actually leave a tractor at the neighbors house just to avoid the walk back to the house when I come home to a roadway closed back in by drifts that are much harder to plow than the average pick up can handle.

My friend tried to open it up for me once after an unexpected stay in the hospital. He ended up with 3 Ford f350’s stuck. He had to get someone to come get the keys for the tractor and use the blower to clear everything and dig his trucks out. It’s funny he is one that complained about having a rear mount blower on a tractor, complained that a loader is too slow for any snow removal, and pushed his opinion of having a plow truck as the best and only solution for snow removal out here.

Just to note.

I grew up in North Dakota. Drifts could blow in faster than they could be cleared. and that cold dry wind blown snow sets up like wet sand!

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Glad to hear that it seems like I didn't get completely ripped off. I got estimates for WM75 (51k), Powerstar75 (59k), M4D-071 (70k lol), 2 other 4707 estimates (65k & 60k both without dyna2). I also got an estimate for a 3039r much earlier in the process for 46k. But after seeing a 5075e in person I kind of wrote off team green in the 75hp category.

As a first time tractor owner I am really attracted to the brake to neutral feature of the dyna 2, makes it easy to know I can always just hit the brakes to stop. Other considerations that tipped the scales to the 4707 was the weight, size of cab, push button clutch (vs workmaster and powerstar). Overall features seemed to be better or equivalent to the competition.

You're right Cal, the price for purely snow removal is extremely high. I'm not sure what it would cost me to hire someone to come snowblow my driveway, the real problem is it often needs to be done even if it didn't snow - the wind can blow my driveway closed just as easily. I bought a 3/4 ton with a plow when I moved here and it got completely overwhelmed. I can't really put a value on knowing I can get myself out of the snow going forward. It's a terrible feeling living in the country and getting your truck stuck with no recovery option, thank goodness for nice neighbors.

I'll post pictures when it gets delivered. Currently I am having them hold onto it for a while until my garage/shop is built. Hopefully not more than 2 months. For now, you can get some pictures of my hellscape from this past winter, give you an idea of what I was dealing with.

Beautiful property. I don't see how you guys live in those conditions up there in Minnesota. That has to be rough.