Need a <$15k tractor for random work on the 40 acre ranch.

[Repickrel]

Hello fellas. Just bought 40 acres w/ a house. Mostly hills and trees with a pond and nice flat spots. Won’t be farming it. Might run a few steers on it at some point. My main tractor needs would be road grading, snow plowing, some landscape leveling, cleaning brush and weeds around the pond, some digging. No haying or tilling. Maybe some mowing. I’d like to keep under the $15k mark.

I’m starting to think a subcompact will be too small. So looking used in the 30+hp range. Found a ‘99 Kubota L3600 in great shape, 600hrs, with the FEL and box blade listed at $13.5k. I’m sure there’s room to negotiate. I’d like a backhoe attachment sooner than later too though.

Located in NE Wyoming. Do you think this would be a good route to take? I’m new to the tractor life but not the ranch/country life.

 

[2manyrocks]

A well maintained, low hour, 38hp Kubota without the DPF system would be a contender for consideration. How steep are your hills?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I use our L3800 a lot. It's a practical small size, I think, and the hydrostatic transmission makes work quick.

That price sounds quite good - unless it is a basic stick shift.

 

[Repickrel]

A well maintained, low hour, 38hp Kubota without the DPF system would be a contender for consideration. How steep are your hills?

Educate me on what a dpf system is? And does this have it?

A well maintained, low hour, 38hp Kubota without the DPF system would be a contender for consideration. How steep are your hills?

educate me on what a dpf system is and if this has one? Here’s a photo of the general landscaping. Obviously this is a small snapshot of the acreage.

 

[Repickrel]

I use our L3800 a lot. It's a practical small size, I think, and the hydrostatic transmission makes work quick.

That price sounds quite good - unless it is a basic stick shift.

Basic stick like in a car?

 

[2manyrocks]

Educate me on what a dpf system is? And does this have it?

educate me on what a dpf system is and if this has one? Here’s a photo of the general landscaping. Obviously this is a small snapshot of the acreage.

Diesel particulate filter is a gizmo the tractor manufacturers started putting on tractors to satisfy EPA rules for emissions on 35+hp tractors. They trap the emissions in a filter on the exhaust and then the tractor goes into a regen mode where it runs at high RPM for a while to burn off the trapped particles. All adding a new layer of something else to go wrong for tractor owners.

Can't say if this particular tractor has DPF. If it doesn't, that's actually good news.

I see some areas that may be too steep for a tractor like the bank circled in yellow. Note where they haven't mowed on the bank and around the pond. The pond may not be something you could mow with a tractor depending on the slope and whether you'd mire up in wet soil.

 

[Torvy]

Some basic rules of thumb...

The size/hp of your tractor is more about the time it takes to get things done. It can also mean a reduction of manual labor (such as making fewer cuts on timber to be able to lift).

I have 1/2 your acreage, mostly timber, and a 55 HP machine. If you have more time than money, get something small, but you will likely be frustrated.

If you are mechanically inclined, you can maybe find an old tractor that can do that type of work. $15k is pretty low in today's market. Realistically, double your number.

 

[jfsawatzky]

That sounds like a good price and reasonable specs for what you want to do. One other aspect is how cold is it on winter? How much snow? How often? How far do you have to plow?
A cab is probably asking asking too much on your budget but it might worthwhile considering adding a bit more money now instead of looking for a tractor with cab later.

 

[paulsharvey]

I highly doubt you will find a 30-50hp machine, with a back hoe, in decent shape, for under $13.5k. I think that Kubota has lot going for it; but if you need the hoe; have you considered one of those Kymco mini hoe's?

That Kub, has ag tires, which may come in handi, a loader, sufficient size/power for 6 ft impliments. I would do some googling on if those had SSQA or a different loader attachment.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, if you need the tractor, loader, and back hoe, and a way to mow; I see several approaches that could work, with a limited budget.
A: something like that Kubota, and a Chinese Mini hoe
B: an old back hoe, and a zero turn
C: an older loader utility tractor, probably 2wd, but much heavier, and cheap an eye out for a used subcompact with a back hoe, when you need it