Looking for first tractor

WoodChuckDad · Jul 15, 2015

My first hello.
I am closing on 55 acres of land in at the base of the blue ridge mountains in Albemarle County, VA in one month. Currently it is wooded. The plan is to clear about 30 acres total and plant an apple orchard on about 15-20 acres, and 5+ acres of hops. We will also be building our home there. I've had the timber evaluated by both a professional forester who I hired and a rep from a lumber company. I won't get rich from the timber sale but it should be enough to fund the purchase of a decent tractor. Something along the lines of a Kubota L3901.
I have read hundreds of pages on this site about comparisons, and recommendations.... I still haven't even started a tractor up yet so I don't know what I will like and what I won't.

jeff9366 · Jul 15, 2015

Specs on the L3901 are good.

Specs on the L3560 are better and efficiency enhancing. Five inch greater width will make L3560 noticeably more stable on your piedmont ground. (They may share the same quiet engine.)

I would want the more powerful LA805 FEL for your tree and orchard work, and the L2296 Heavy Duty, Round Back bucket with SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) attachment. You can mount a <$400 Bucket Spade on the L2296 bucket for planting trees. I have all three. With the SSQA attachment you will be partially set up for a grapple, which would be imperative for 15 -20 acres of orchard. (I believe LA525 FEL on L3901 is 60" wide, not 72" wide.)

The telescoping Lower Links standard on the L3560 make mounting implements much easier relative to fixed Lower Links on the L3901.

When you have the timber taken off include stump removal in the contract. Timber companies have large excavators for efficient stump removal. Stumps are usually burned on site.

For secondary root removal before planting, a grapple/root rake, or a Field Cultivator, are good.

LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

I had a John Deere 750, I had a Kubota B3300SU; now I have a Kubota L3560 but I am on record that there are a lot of good tractor brands out there.

Wagtail · Jul 15, 2015

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site.

PS: Nice pictures & advice Jeff.

The Deerslayer · Jul 15, 2015

Welcome...much to be gained here. Definitely go to a dealership and try out a few and see what you like. The research of what is out there and talking to others is half the fun in buying a new tractor. I have the L3901 and am extremely pleased with it.

jeff9366 · Jul 15, 2015

Here are LINKS to relevant threads in the T-B-N archive.

LINKS (2): https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Tractor+for+forty+acres+site:tractorbynet.com

https://www.google.com/search?clien...tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl

WoodChuckDad · Jul 16, 2015

I appreciate the advice and links. It gives me more to read and think about. We are trying to get some offers on the timber to start this fall,weather permitting. So I probably won't be buying the tractor till spring. Getting stump removal included in the contract would be fantastic. I will have to make sure I discuss that with the Forester I hired. I didn't even know it was an option.

TBN Support · Jul 16, 2015

Hi and welcome to the forum. :welcome:

I'm going to move your thread over to the buying, pricing and comparisons section to see if we can get you some more insight into what tractors you should be considering.

flusher · Jul 16, 2015

WoodChuckDad said:
My first hello.
I am closing on 55 acres of land in at the base of the blue ridge mountains in Albemarle County, VA in one month. Currently it is wooded. The plan is to clear about 30 acres total and plant an apple orchard on about 15-20 acres, and 5+ acres of hops. We will also be building our home there. I've had the timber evaluated by both a professional forester who I hired and a rep from a lumber company. I won't get rich from the timber sale but it should be enough to fund the purchase of a decent tractor. Something along the lines of a Kubota L3901.
I have read hundreds of pages on this site about comparisons, and recommendations.... I still haven't even started a tractor up yet so I don't know what I will like and what I won't.

My neighbor has a nice Kubota L4630 tractor with an FEL (6-ft wide bucket). He uses it for hay production on his 10 acre ranch. It would handle your jobs nicely. Cost is in the $25K range.

Check TractorData.com website for the specs on thousands of tractors.

Good luck

WoodChuckDad · Jul 16, 2015

I have a question on that bucket spade . I looked online and don't really see people using them for planting, more for digging things up. I don't imagine it could completely replace a post hole digger. I'm wondering which one wins for efficiency. I'm looking at 300-600 holes per acre.

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 16, 2015

WoodChuckDad said:
I have a question on that bucket spade . I looked online and don't really see people using them for planting, more for digging things up. I don't imagine it could completely replace a post hole digger. I'm wondering which one wins for efficiency. I'm looking at 300-600 holes per acre.

Post hole digger. But what size diameter holes do you need to dig? And what kind of soil will you be digging in? Jeff likes his bucket spade in his sandy soil, but I think it would be useless in the thick, gummy clay soil we have here.