Tractor Sizing Need Help Picking Out A New Tractor

[nybirdman]

My vote is for the Kubota L2501 also,tractors shrink with use!About the same physical size as your 861 but much more capable.I use an L3130 Grand L for a garden tractor and it worked great,just make your rows a little wider if needed.

 

[cathy liebchen]

around here, unless one enjoys doing firewood work, it is much easier and more cost efficient to buy it already split. 8 face cords of oak and hickory seasoned, dumped in our drive runs about $450

 

[seeder]

Thanks for the help guys! It seems I have a lot to think about.

George2615, thanks for the heads up on the fairgrounds show, only 10 miles from my house! My wife and I are doing a road trip down to New Orleans from Feb 9th to the 24th, but I may be able to convince her to come home a couple days early so we can attend the show. It would be useful to have a bunch of tractors in one place to look at. It seems most of the dealers close around 5 here, and it's tough with my schedule to get there before they close with the exception of the one close to work.

I did make another trip to the dealer near work and my Father in law met me down there. I drove the 1726E which I think is comparable to some of the L series models you guys were recommending? Dealer was pushing the 26 for emissions reasons. I didn't love it and it didn't seem to fit me if that makes any sense. I'm a small guy 5'5" and my feet didn't even touch the floor. I will say it was way easier to operate than the ford! It was also way more maneuverable than I expected.

Anyways, Ideally I would have 2 (or 3) tractors of various sizes at some point in the future. I do use that little craftsman lawn tractor most days, and it feels like it's on its last legs, but I know a smaller tractor won't do everything I need it to do.

In regard to buying wood. yeah it's way cheaper, but most of the wood I get is from trees that fall on the property and need to be cleaned up anyways, or from trees that we've decided we don't want anymore.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Jchonline]

Seeder, your experience with the 1726E is exactly why we always recommend demoing a bunch of machines. Sometimes just sitting on 5 of them helps you eliminate a few. You are going to be spending hundreds of hours on this machine. It needs to fit you well. It makes perfect sense. I looked at the LS XR4155 and liked it a bunch. However, as others have reported for me the steering column was too short. Even though the wheel angle and seat could be adjusted...the pedals cannot. So I could not get the seat and wheel in a place that also didnt crunch my feet on the pedals. It was either feet comfortable, or I was reaching forward and down to steer. I knew in 5 minutes it would not work for me.