Buying Advice Looking to buy tractor, have 80 acres, bushhogging, fel work, road maintenance, etc.

[newbury]

I have 150 acres and use a 55hp tractor. While it does most things I want to do, it will not do any real heavy lifting (FEL and TPH). If I had the money I would go for something around 70hp for my needs and make it a cab tractor (it is bloody cold up here in the winter ).
For your 80acres I would think you could use at least 60hp or more - once you have bought it is expensive to change and go bigger. Just something to think about.

This makes a point of spec'ing the tractor.
Looking at Tractordata.com the 55HP Jinma 554 is only rated to lift 2045 lbs on the 3 pt. TractorData.com Jinma JM-554 tractor information (doesn't say where).

In contrast my M4700, 51HP, is rated to lift 3,300 lbs at 24" behind the pivot point on the 3 pt and 4,000 at the pivot point. TractorData.com Kubota M4700 tractor information. My LA1001 FEL is rated for 2,005 lbs.

So the Jinma is at best 2/3 the lifting capacity of the M4700, and maybe half.

I was looking at a Jinma just before I bought my M4700 and it seems from the factory they are a little weak on the 3pt.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/chinese-tractors/268200-whats-3pt-lift-capacity-jinma-2.html

For many people this may not be important because they don't need to lift heavy loads, they just need the pulling HP. But I'm concerned with lifting logs, and green logs are heavy. My LT10 mill has about 18' of bed. An 18' oak log 24" in diameter weighs about 3,000 lbs. I put logs on my mill with 3pt pallet forks.

 

[doxford jim]

This makes a point of spec'ing the tractor.
Looking at Tractordata.com the 55HP Jinma 554 is only rated to lift 2045 lbs on the 3 pt. TractorData.com Jinma JM-554 tractor information (doesn't say where).

In contrast my M4700, 51HP, is rated to lift 3,300 lbs at 24" behind the pivot point on the 3 pt and 4,000 at the pivot point. TractorData.com Kubota M4700 tractor information. My LA1001 FEL is rated for 2,005 lbs.

So the Jinma is at best 2/3 the lifting capacity of the M4700, and maybe half.

I was looking at a Jinma just before I bought my M4700 and it seems from the factory they are a little weak on the 3pt.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/chinese-tractors/268200-whats-3pt-lift-capacity-jinma-2.html

For many people this may not be important because they don't need to lift heavy loads, they just need the pulling HP. But I'm concerned with lifting logs, and green logs are heavy. My LT10 mill has about 18' of bed. An 18' oak log 24" in diameter weighs about 3,000 lbs. I put logs on my mill with 3pt pallet forks.

Very good point and probably most people would not consider - especially those buying a tractor for the first or second time. More lift at both ends would definitely be an asset.