looking to buy first tractor with loader and backhoe

[Little Red Tractor]

I recommend you rent a machine to do the work you list, then buy a zero turn mower and something else to plow with. Moving 350 tons of stone, a "bunch" of topsoil, and "pulling" trees are not work you want to do with a machine that would also be small enough to mow with.

I must agree. That's a lot of work in a couple years with a small tractor. You're going to beat it up pretty badly. Renting is a good option for that kind of work. Another option would be finding an older, larger bucket/backhoe on a tractor like a JD 310 or something. Use it hard, maintain it well, and sell it when you're done with the heavy work and get what you know you'll have use for.

 

[GeneSimm7]

Whats up guys, im looking to buy a loader, backhoe and mower setup. My yard isnt really large at all but about to add a 42x60 pole barn and roughly 350 ton of stone. total property is 1 acre of open land. i am looking to removing a bunch of top soil, and dig a couple ditches, lay stone, move some engines around. pull a coulple trees and having something to plow a 400ft driveway and decent size parking area. my gf for some reaons likes mowing grass so im looking for something that has quick detachable loader. or maybe even bucket. looking around a 13-15k budget. what are your recommdations? thanks open to all brands

looking at possibly a john deere 2320?

loking at a couple year project. also need to build a retaining wall as well. move a car trailer etc.

What's your location? I may be selling my TLB.

 

[Bushbunnie]

Whats up guys, im looking to buy a loader, backhoe and mower setup. My yard isnt really large at all but about to add a 42x60 pole barn and roughly 350 ton of stone. total property is 1 acre of open land. i am looking to removing a bunch of top soil, and dig a couple ditches, lay stone, move some engines around. pull a coulple trees and having something to plow a 400ft driveway and decent size parking area. my gf for some reaons likes mowing grass so im looking for something that has quick detachable loader. or maybe even bucket. looking around a 13-15k budget. what are your recommdations? thanks open to all brands

looking at possibly a john deere 2320?

loking at a couple year project. also need to build a retaining wall as well. move a car trailer etc.

you need something like a Case 580 for what you are talking about

 

[kenhar]

Hire your initial work done. Then buy a little tractor for your 1 acre playground. Forget the backhoe attachment and get her a lawn mower.

 

[Johno659]

Ignore the advice for 40 plus horsepower. That's going to be extreme overkill on a 3/4 acre lot after the initial work. Instead shop around for a used Kubota BX series subcompact or a similar brand. You probably won't get one with a backhoe for that price, but you're better off hiring or renting a mini-ex for a day or two anyway. I'm not real familiar with all the features of the mid mount mowers, but I'd research the brand(s) available locally on the used market to see how difficult they are to remove or reinstall. Get a 4 or 5 ft box blade to help move spread gravel, as well as maintaining and plowing driveway. Don't let the big tractor guys deceive you. Those subcompact are incredibly handy and capable machines.

I do agree I have small lot of 1 1/4 acre then added 13 acre next door. I have purchased too many toys but they have held their value i have owned bx 25 and bx 24 both TLB with Belly mower. Strong machines and can do equally what my L3400 TLB and Massey 1526 TL with Belly Mower at this point in time wish i had the BX TLB with 60" mower. Takes a little longer but performs as well. Just My Honest Opinion.

 

[torch1]

if your in Snow country, you will want a cab and also a front mounted snow blower. Cabs are very expensive, as are blowers, but they are well worth it if you can find a used unit. I have a 4 x 4, 29 HP MF, diesel and it works well on my acreage, it has 3 point hitch and front loader, the loader and bucket can be removed in about 10 minutes or less.
Another item to look into is a quick attach for the boom, this allows you to quickly change buckets, forks and other attachments. Also nice item to have is a thumb attachment, you mentioned building a brick wall so invaluable for placing bricks, rocks and handling other material. The tractors under 30 hp or in that range should provide a wide option for attachments. You might want to choose your tractor by available local dealers and therefore support. Talk to local owners for brands your interested in. Good Luck

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Kubota BX is the perfect one. Mine has been a real workhorse for chores except mid mount mower. Never needed one, used a riding mower.

Ron

 

[FERLING]

I can always buy a smaller mower for her. They can be had pretty cheap to just mow. Right now this tractor would be put in he house garage until the other one is build. im paying somone to do the ground work for the pad and taking the tree down. i am handing removing them etc. yes, i meant snow. which doesnt really happen too often in northern maryland but i hate being unprepared. right now the 400ft long area is just pure grass, need to remove top soil and lay crush and run, dig ditch to burry electric to building from house. install new culvert pipe, extended retaining wall, and make new retaining wall in the back of the property which will be a total of 50-60 ft long if not more. i fell like spending the money to buy one and then sell it in a 2 years when everything is done ? I would be selling my kodiak 450 and switching to one. If it does snow its about 6k sq or more to plow move snow.

If the money on your hip backs up your wants then go for it. Expensive play toys are nice when you finally get them paid for. Otherwise, just find a local that needs a little extra cash to pay for his 'toy' and hire him to do it.
Farm toys are nice but they go down with age when they just set around collecting dust in the barn. Mice sure love chewing on those wires and new tractors have plenty of choices to chew on. For driveway care find a nice, older, big tractor (50 hp plus) with scrape and box blade to take care of gravel / snow issues.
(If it helps I bought 50 hp 4X4 with loader, new. I love it, especially when I got it paid for. With price increases I can sell it for what I paid for it in 2016, but as long as I can climb up on it money can't replace it.)

 

[Bill601]

Whats up guys, im looking to buy a loader, backhoe and mower setup. My yard isnt really large at all but about to add a 42x60 pole barn and roughly 350 ton of stone. total property is 1 acre of open land. i am looking to removing a bunch of top soil, and dig a couple ditches, lay stone, move some engines around. pull a coulple trees and having something to plow a 400ft driveway and decent size parking area. my gf for some reaons likes mowing grass so im looking for something that has quick detachable loader. or maybe even bucket. looking around a 13-15k budget. what are your recommdations? thanks open to all brands

looking at possibly a john deere 2320?

loking at a couple year project. also need to build a retaining wall as well. move a car trailer etc.

I have a Boomer 24 and I mow a little under an acre with it. The 60" mower deck is almost too big for the mowing I do. You will need a much larger tractor for what you need to do. For the price of a belly mower, you could get a zero turn that would do a better job faster.

 

[rScotty]

I'd buy an old commercial backhoe/loader like a Kubota M59 or JD310 for the serious amount of big machine work you just listed. Consider a simpleself-propelled lawn mower for the lawn. HD has a Honda single speed HST with electric start, and cost about $800.

When the big work is done, sell both TLB and mower and replace them with a small compact tractor to keep forever..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Think Muhammad hit the nail on the head. He should start a tractor site.

 

[finn1]

Whats up guys, im looking to buy a loader, backhoe and mower setup. My yard isnt really large at all but about to add a 42x60 pole barn and roughly 350 ton of stone. total property is 1 acre of open land. i am looking to removing a bunch of top soil, and dig a couple ditches, lay stone, move some engines around. pull a coulple trees and having something to plow a 400ft driveway and decent size parking area. my gf for some reaons likes mowing grass so im looking for something that has quick detachable loader. or maybe even bucket. looking around a 13-15k budget. what are your recommdations? thanks open to all brands

looking at possibly a john deere 2320?

loking at a couple year project. also need to build a retaining wall as well. move a car trailer etc.

You’re describing construction dirt work, not Scut or Cut work in the original post.. I’m not a fan of construction backhoes, but either that or buy a CTL and rent a mini excavator.

The small tractors are ok for maintenance, but they’re too light for real dirt work. My neighbor is trying to do that type of work with a Kioti CK2610, and it’s painful to watch. My zcTL does four times the work in half the time,mand a mini ex beats a small tractor any time for trenching and stump removal.

Problem with old used construction equipment is initial cost and maintenance. They are expensive to repair, and they will break down. If you aren’t handy, and don’t have a shop….stay away.

 

[coast40]

What's your location? I may be selling my TLB.

What's your location? There is a place for it.

 

[scaredychicken]

FIRST TRACTOR - that tells me that - like me, the tractor experience is limited.
One Acre - better use / function from a smaller tractor, in my opinion. Smaller tractors take more time to do the same work, but you may have the time to tinker away.

I bought the Kubota BX23S (tractor, loader, backhoe) because I wanted an all-purpose tractor for my small acreage (7.25 Acres). I love it. It has done everything that I have asked of it, and a lot more. Perfect for my hobby farm needs. I was going to get a mid-mount mower, but we decided on a rotary pull behind brush mower. I have since bought a separate Zero-Turn mower (cub cadet)
because that was more practical than either the mid-mount or the rotary mowers.

With some operating experience under my belt now, I may be more inclined to get a slightly bigger / heavier B or L series, but the BX was perfect while I was learning to operate the equipment, plus I liked the benefit of the all-in-one package.

Making the decisions is half of the fun, all the best.