Need help deciding on proper compact tractor size

johnsopa · Mar 13, 2012

Hi folks. I hope you can help me determine the proper size compact tractor I should be looking for.

While I did some tractor operation during summers on my grandparents' dairy farm as a kid (scraping manure, baling hay, scooping feed, etc.), I'm a relative newby in terms of shopping for a tractor.

We live in south central PA and are purchasing a house that has a 1/4 mile, more or less straight, gravel lane that I'll have to maintain. The driveway has about a 1:10 slope, rising linearly about 120 or so feet over the length of the driveway. The driveway is in the middle of woods, so I doubt there will be much drifting. Near the house is a parking/turnaround area of about 100' long and 20' - 40' wide.

I will NOT need the tractor for lawn mowing -- we only will have 1/3 of an acre of grass and already have a little JD LT155.

We also need to take the trash down to a neighbor's dumpster once a week.

The main operator will be me (I'm comfortable with clutch/gears) but my wife and kids (oldest is 15) will probably be occassional users, so I think hydrostatic drive is in order.

The tractor will be stored indoors.

So, as I see it, here are the tasks I have to do:

Clear snow from the area near the house and on the lane (only one 6" snow this year, but 3' - 4' total last year)
Scoop, dump and smooth gravel every two years
Maybe rake and smooth the gravel once or twice a year
Let the kids use the FEL to take trash down to the dumpster once a week -- this should make the chore fun, right?

The technical requirements as I see it:

Hydrostatic
Diesel (I prefer this in a tractor)
Front end loader
Rear straight blade with manual angle
Rear landscape/stick rake
R4 tires
Ideally a relatively heavy tractor

The previous owner had a JD 4410 but he said he could have gone smaller but got this size since he drove 3 miles to clear snow from his brother's place.

I'd love suggestions for the size (HP) and weight (seems important to me but maybe I'm off-base) that you would recommend given the tasks I'm listing.

I have most dealers within 15 miles (JD, Kubota, Kioti, Massey, New Holland, LS, Cat), excepting Mahindra which is 60 miles away.

I was originally thinking of around 30 HP and 3000 lbs -- something like a Kioti CK30ST, Kubota L-series, Massey Ferguson 1500 series or the like -- but was surprised to see that pricing would be $16k - $25k for what I've spec'd out.

I'm wondering if I could go smaller and be satisfied. Ideally, I'd love to be in the $10k - $15k range new, or slightly less for lightly used.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Canada_CT230 · Mar 13, 2012

I have a Bobcat CT230 (30 HP) with a FEL (front end loader). I also have implements for dirt work & snow removal. We have 17 acres here in Manitoba Canada. I paid $18,400 for the tractor and acquired implements as we went. I have about 1000' feet of driveway.

I wouldn't consider anything smaller. It is a great size. Big enough and small enough.

The Bobcat is made by Daedong which makes the Kioti.

Make sure you get a quick attach bucket. That way you can get pallet forks and other attachments for the front.

BC has incentives on right now.

rsewill · Mar 13, 2012

You can get by with a 20 HP tractor with 4 wheel drive.

KennyG · Mar 13, 2012

You don't need a large tractor for what you are describing and you won't get a new or lightly used tractor above the lowest power models for $10K - $15K.

I think you should look at the 24 - 26 HP tractors. Weight is good but you can easily add ballast to these nominal 1600 lb models to get the weight you need. You will notice that the "entry level" models often have smaller rear tires which limit ground clearance, so, unless the tractor is used primarily for mowing, I recommend you move up one notch to the larger frame models.

On one hand you don't have a lot of needs here that require much tractor. On the other hand, if you get a fairly new one, it should last almost forever.

Guesseral · Mar 14, 2012

You mentioned that LS was in the area did you try to price them, there pricing has been pretty good and they have been around for a while. The models that would possibly be of interest would be the compact R3039H 38 HP and 2780 lbs, the R4041H 41 HP and 3800 lbs, or the R4047H 47 HP and 3800 lbs. No matter who you look to the HST is more $, and if you wanted a cab for the long cold ride down the driveway plowing or snow blowing I think you would have to go to a utility unit but they are more also. But I do think I would stay in the 30 + HP range. Just some thoughts.