Need Tractor Advice...Pics of Land Attached

[jeff9366]

RE: L2501 as a mowing tractor: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...523-warning-those-considering-gear-drive.html

 

[SSF556]

RE: L2501 as a mowing tractor: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...523-warning-those-considering-gear-drive.html

I was going to HST anway, but thanks for the link.

 

[bilrus61]

Hey SSF I found you one at Chattanooooooga. Check your email.

 

[SSF556]

@bilrus61 never got an email. Please resend.

 

[clevalley]

I would first narrow down to what size engine and PTO HP you are looking for and rate the jobs the tractor is going to do the most in order. From there this will put you in a swim lane of what type of tractor which will fit the bill for you (HST, PowerShuttle, etc)

If you go and buy new pick your dealer FIRST based off of how they treat you when you walk in the door. Ask your salesman questions you KNOW the answer to so you can gauge his experience level. In this day and age of the internet, research the dealers service (Google, Yelp, etc) and read the responses both good and bad. This normally paints a good picture of how the service department is going to treat you as well. I did this and am having issues with my tractor, it was a bad build not a bad tractor as others have them - and the dealer is backing me all the way to corporate and it is being replaced with a different model.

If I had 12 open acres to cut I would have nothing less than a 6' medium duty lift rotary cutter or larger (7 - 8) pull-type rotary cutter on the back of my tractor. If you plan on keeping it "mowed" and you do not have rocks growing in your field I would consider a larger finishing mower. I would target somewhere around 35 - 40 HP at the PTO (more is always better) and go from there. With your land being semi-flat I would lean towards the HST and no more than a medium duty rotary cutter. If you are going to be primarily mowing I would consider the Power Shuttle or Shuttle Shift transmissions, once you get the feel for the clutch and how to feather it you can do loader work just as good as an HST.

Right now I am cutting 40 open with a 65 HP cabbed tractor (65 HP engine - 55 HP at the PTO) and a 7' HD Rotary lift type cutter. The replacement tractor is going to be a 75HP model (corporate is sourcing the tractor as I type). Now, eventually we are downsizing the farm to 10 open acres for the horses and I am keeping the big tractor and will sell the rotary and go with a larger finishing mower.

Why not sell the 75 HP when we downsize? Because I want more time riding my horses and less time in the seat of the tractor. I enjoy cutting grass and the cab model makes life great, but I enjoy time with the wife and horses more so if I can get the job done quicker I can get to that extra time quicker enjoying what life has to offer.

But man, pick your dealer first; a tractor is a tractor is a tractor - your dealer makes all the difference. If you go used lean towards the model of tractor of the dealer you would buy from.

 

[bilrus61]

ssf sent it as a private message check and see if it went through

 

[tractorshopper]

Beautiful property in a beautiful area.

 

[ProjectKing]

I was going to HST anway, but thanks for the link.

In my opinion... a HST L2501 pulling a 5' or 6' bushhog is gonna be a dog especially on hills. I owned one. I have a L3301 now. The HST eats a lot of power. Nothing beats a gear drive tractor for bushhog work.

I still think you need something the size of L4701 or bigger. Especially if you want hydro and want to mow with it at a decent speed. Buy once cry once as they say.

 

[SSF556]

In my opinion... a HST L2501 pulling a 5' or 6' bushhog is gonna be a dog especially on hills. I owned one. I have a L3301 now. The HST eats a lot of power. Nothing beats a gear drive tractor for bushhog work.

I still think you need something the size of L4701 or bigger. Especially if you want hydro and want to mow with it at a decent speed. Buy once cry once as they say.

I do not have hills....I do like the L4701 though..

 

[ProjectKing]

I do not have hills....I do like the L4701 though..

The L4701 is a really nice machine. The HST is much quieter too. I think it would be a good fit for your farm. It's very similar to my L3830. Excellent machines. My L3830 is 10 times the tractor of my L3301.