Buying Advice My Friends first tractor

[bythebay72]

My Friend is retiring! He just bought 30 acres in the Northeast and is looking for the tractor that will meet his needs. He has need for driveway maintenance (800ft) for both winter and summer and firewood harvesting from woodlot to woodshed. This is what I suggested to him:
Given that he is in the snow belt I have guided him toward a 40 to 45hp tractor to run a beefy rear mount blower. Suggested a bucket with grapple or anbo grapple for firewood collection. If he still had cash maybe a york rake or rear blade. Said he should consider going without a cab for getting in the woods.

Do you think I have guided him in the right direction?

I mentioned JD (my bias), Kioti (our local Kioti dealer in Schroon is great dealership), or mabe Kuboto (not really familiar with modern Kuboto tractors)

Any input will be appreciated......

 

[Johndeere3720]

:welcome: to TBN! Sounds like a good size range. What is his price budget? For the Deere, I would suggest a 110. Use the aux. hydraulics to run the grapple easily. With the SS QA system, it will be easy for him to attach and detach the bucket or grapple. rather than a hoe on the back, the hydraulic tilt will greatly help him with maintaining his driveway with a box blade or an angle blade. The open cab allows some protection from limbs and such in the woods and an aftermarket cab can be added easily. with easy to drive hydrostatic tranny, it will make life just a little bit easier, especially for loader work with the bucket and grapple. and it has the PTO hp to throw snow far. :thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

Sounds like you gave him good advice. All the brands make good offerings in that size range, pick one that "fits" and that's the one to get.

 

[RPW]

How much field work does your friend plan on doing? I'd be leaning toward a 5045D or E. Same amount of horsepower and a bit more weight. It is a bit bigger though.

Good Luck.

 

[bythebay72]

price range probably tops out at 30,000 (including attachments)

 

[bythebay72]

His lot is mostly wooded and he says he doesn't plan on any field work.

Thanks for info so far. Will have him look at the JD110 (sounds good)

 

[doall]

don't know much about snow blowing but for the other stuff sounds just right.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Road and woods.....Front snowblower (800' is no easy task with a rear snowblower). Box Blade and Rear Blade for the road maintenance.

Farmi winch, log splitter and chipper for in the woods. And, a cart to carry the firewood.