My 1st CUT - Need help - looking to purchase very soon

[boggen]

will jump on band wagon. go for heavier tractor. between the 2 choices you gave.

will also say go for AG / R1 tires. you have dedicated mower, and an ATV.
ya it will take a little longer for yard to dry out before you can get out on it. but *shrugs* it will keep you going with traction, vs being stuck pig wallowing in the mud.

 

[CNYGuy]

Appreciate the comments guys. I definitely started my search color-blind; brand didn't matter; walk in to a dealer & see how I was treated. All have been pretty good with 2 Kubota dealers & the Massey dealers being stand-outs in terms of customer interaction & help. Regarding Kioti, I've read good things but there isn't a dealer close by. My dealer options are JD, Kubota, Massey, NH. The 3 dealers that I've visited that have given me 3 very reasonable quotes on tractor & equipment are Kubota (2) & Massey. Regarding the tractor weight, I'm probably over-thinking things, I am definitely a 'paralysis-by-analysis' type. Talking with a gent last night told me he trades in every 5-6 years. He stays close with the warranty period, tractor values remain really good around here (especially Kub & JD). So I need to stop thinking what I buy is what I'll die with. Again, thanks for reading my long post & responding.

 

[bspeedy]

That's a good point, too. It's your first tractor, not your last.

For the record, I also vote to go heavier. Massey makes a good tractor.

Keep the machine sheltered when not in use, maintain it per the owner's manual, and it will look and perform great for decades.

 

[WVH1977]

I have a New Holland TC40 that I use on my current six acres and it is not to much or to heavy a tractor. I would think really hard about doing the whole trading a tractor every 5 or 6 years. That constant payment can prevent you from buying all the fun attachments you are going to acquire for your tractor. Also, if you keep trading in tractors all the time, especially upgrading in size on a tractor attachments will get bigger and attachments are $$$$.

My personal opinion, if you can afford it buy a premium 40 hp tractor with all the bells and whistles and don't look back. Once it is paid for you will have a nice piece of equipment that will last you a lifetime if you take care of it and you won't need to upsize in the future with another more expensive payment for another 4 to 6 years. I went down the road of 5 to 6 years with my trucks and got tired of having a payment every month that could have gone to other things my house and property needed. My current truck and tractor are paid for. That is a great feeling.

I have stated this before on here about tractor size. I though my tractor was HUGE when I bought it. Once I started working it on my property it did not feel as big anymore. It is repeated on here time and again, find the tractor you like and buy the next biggest one. There is a reason so many folks state that. I personally think a 40hp tractor is a perfect size for a 5 to 10 acre property. Like Brokefarmerjohn stated, I drive my tractor with R4 tires all over my yard everywhere, rain or shine, and my yard still looks great.

 

[TheMadOne]

Go with the Massey. My L3301 with loaded tires, FEL, and 650ish pounds of rear ballast only mark up my lawn if I drive on it right after a storm.

 

[texasranger556]

Another vote for the bigger tractor. The extra ground clearance of a larger frame tractor is also a benefit for avoiding stumps in the woods. Personally I would only consider a sub compact if doing a lot of mowing with a mid mount mower.

 

[Tjdux]

Weight isn't really the bull in a china shop issue, turn radius is. Whichever one can turn tighter will be the winner there. As already said with the FEL it makes for a long beast in tight trees.

Either way go with the massey. With clay and tree removal work you willx need the bigger tractor.