Knowing what you know now...

[Henro]

What would you choose if you had to pick one tractor to use for the next ten years, and could not change unless your circumstances changed substantially?

<font color="blue"> In this thread Bob_Skurka comments about how his needs have changed over time </font>

My guess is that like in Bob's case, as the work I want to accomplish gets done, the my larger tractor will will be used less, and the smaller one will be used more.

I have B2910 and BX2200 Kubota's.

If I could only have had one tractor from the start, and had to go back in time and change (or keep) my decision, I think I would choose something in the middle, like a B7500 Kubota or equivalent other color.

Only one is the operative term. Two is probably perfection in my case… /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

How about you? Did you do it completely right the first time?

What do you have? What do you use it for? Are you happy with it, or do you wish for something different?

Let me say in advance that the warm weather we had today has me wishing for spring real hard... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Henro,
I went from a Yanmar 2WD YM1700 to a TC18 4WD FEL Hydro. Best move I ever made. I do at times wish I could have afforded more. But circumstances would not allow it. But, so far it has done everything I needed it to. I use it to till, mow (biggest use), plow snow, move gravel and stone and mulch around, unload the goodies I find at auction, bring firewood up to the front door.........and so much more.

I only have 2 acres, so thinking I "need" or want a larger tractor is just a fantasy for me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I was limited by the size of my towing vehicle. But if that wasn't an issue I would have probably bought a JD 4310 with loader and BH or one of the new Kioti CK TLBs'. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

Henro I would swear you are laid up with two broken legs and unable to do anything else with these posts, but I'll bite. I bought a Deere 4310 and so far I am happy with it. I bought it to keep for what I hope will be more than 10 years. I think a more appropriate question would have been what would you have bought if money had not been a problem. My 4310 was as small as I was willing to go. Had I more money I would have bought a 4510. I know that I am already the odd man out by not having hydro so here is another oddity. I have R4s on my tractor but I wanted R1s. I don't plan on using it to cut the grass so messing up the yard is not an issue. I wanted more bite with my tires so I figured R1s would be the way to go. I do some aggresive digging with the loader and I get some wheel spin with the R4s. Maybe if I had gotten the R1s they would have spun and dug holes and I would have been no better off. Anyway, the dealer I bought from was going to have to order the R1s and it would have cost me more than the R4s. Either way I am happy with the tractor. I think it will prove to be a good size for me.

 

[NIXON]

Bill
As far as machines . I'd buy the same one (although given the current changes in some of the brand offerings I'd have to look hard) One thing I'd have gotten from the start is tire chains ,a second and maybe third remote .
I got the 513 loader and HD bucket/tooth bar . So far I haven't found anything it won't do . But,the " tim the tool man " in me keeps wondering if the 723 might have been "better ".
So I guess I can answer , Yes I did it right . I'm very pleased with the 3130 . The more I use it the better I like it , and the more I find I can do with it .

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think a more appropriate question would have been what would you have bought if money had not been a problem. )</font> I'm with Tractors4U, if money had not been a problem, I would not only have bought my CK20HST with which I am VERY happy, but also a Kioti DK35, A John Deere, A Kubota, a New Holland and a Mahindra. I don't need them no, but if money were no problem... My CK20 is doing everything I want and need it to do, but there are lots of fine tractors out there, just not enough money to buy them. John

 

[MikeInIdaho]

in 2002 I bought a JD 4710 with mower, tiller and snowblower. last year I bought a blade and a cab. I am happy with my tractor but (if I had it to do over again) I would consider buying a larger one with a factory cab. The larger tractors are a lot quieter. The downside of larger tractors is that they are taller and might not be able to go under some trees. I would also add a fourth SCV valve when I ordered the tractor..

 

[MossRoad]

Too small.
Well, I started with a late 60's Simplicity Yoeman 6HP lawn tractor with a 26" mowing deck, snow blade and snow blower. It gives a great cut on our 1 acre, but takes an hour and a half to do it. The snowblower won't throw wet snow, either. The price was right(thanks dad) and any tractor beats manual labor. It is now resigned to pulling the kids around the yard in a small cart (the most important duty for any of our tractors).

Too big.
Then we bought 20 acres, half woods with an upper and lower field. We had some of it reforested and needed something to cut in a road and brush hog, so we got a late 70's International Havester IH2500B tractor loader. 4 cylinder gas engine, HST, 50PTO HP, 3/4 yard bucket, oversized lift cylinders, 3PT with draft control and loaded industrial tires. It has a full cab with heater, too. 6' box blade and 5' brush hog. Enormously powerful beater tractor. Did the job we needed it to do. But now the jobs are done and it sits in my garage awaiting a rebuild and possible sale. Hasn't run in a few years.

Just right.
Then we got our Power Trac PT425. Just right for our current needs which include lawn mowing(mows the one acre in about 20 minutes), landscaping and snow removal. And just right for our future needs on the 20 acres for the next 10-20 years which will be lawn care, trail mowing and maintenance, driveway maintenance, landscaping, snow plowing and skidding firewood out of the woods. I'm extremely pleased with this size tractor for our needs. I have zero regrets about purchasing it and get a big ol' smile each time I even think about operating it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif We currently have two different size buckets, 60" finish mower, 48" brush hog, 60" power angle snow blade and a set of pallet forks. In the next few years I plan to add a trencher, post hole digger and a small logging arch. After that, maybe a mini-hoe and a self powered tow behind 60" wing mower from Kunz Engineering which will give me a total cut of about 120"(maybe a little less for overlap). /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[GregJ]

Henro,
I've got that B7500 you're talking about and it has been a perfect fit for me. It is my first tractor and I really struggled with stepping up from the BX22, but I am really glad I did. Every now and then I wish that the B7800 was available when I bought mine, but then I remember all the small places I can get my B7500 that would be a stretch for a tractor slightly larger.

I have used my B7500 for a variety of projects.
1. Major landscaping project including 200ft of granite retaining wall.
2. Dropped 15 fairly large alders and removed the stumps.
3. Chipped about 50 yards of mulch
4. Maintain beach access down steep trail
5. Dug "water feature" - 2 ponds with 150ft. connecting river for neighbor.
6. Cleared heavy brush from several areas for myself and neighbors.
7. Palletized about 8 cords of firewood - moved around with my 3pt. pallet forks.
8. Dug misc. trenches and holes for myself and neighbors.

Dang..... now that I put that in writing (and I've skipped a lot of small projects), that's quite a bit of work in just over a year, considering that I still have a "day job". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.... Oh ya, I forgot.... I take the garbage and recycle out every week in my FEL.

If I had it to do all over again..... I'd look at the B7800 and probably buy the B7500 again.... It really is a functional piece of equipment. Not too big and not too small.

Greg

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">Henro I would swear you are laid up with two broken legs and unable to do anything else with these posts, but I'll bite. </font>

Tractors4u,

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Yea, I know... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

But that other thread got me thinking...dangerous, I know /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ...that this might be a "going in the back door" kind of question that could help someone who was uncertain what tractor they really should buy.

Nothing beats experience. And it surprises me that If I had to only have one tractor...it would likely be smaller than what I have now! Sort of a counter message to the "buy bigger" advice that we often seem to give when someone, who is about to buy their first tractor, asks "what do I need?" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif