Need Tractor/Truck Recommendation

[Bavarian]

Don't aim for a backhoe if you just plan on digging holes for plants. Get a post hole auger with a 10 or 12" auger bit. I see a lots of landscape outfits planting that way.

 

[finn1]

Don’t get sucked into a low powered tractor by those afraid of emissions equipment. The DPF has been with us for many years now, and it’s nothing to be afraid of.

With your hills, I would definitely go for at least a 35-45 hp tractor with a cab and mid pto so you can run a decent sized front snowblower. With that much acreage, and hills, something like a DK Series Kioti would do the job, but your comments suggest you may be more comfortable with a CK 3510 or CK 4010, or their Deere and Kubota equivalents.

Stay far away from the subcompacts. Too mush property for those suburban homeowner tractors.

 

[RidgeHiker]

Check out Bucket Spades. Not a backhoe for sure but can do a lot for fraction of the cost. Can use with bucket or pallet forks. Other similar brands as well. Pallet forks are also very handy. Today was using mine to move large, unruly branch piles. I have a Kioti which I am very happy with. Another handy tool is a Ratchet Rake. Been using mine a lot in last week or two. Am pointing these tools out to give you more of an idea of items that are not major costs and do a lot. Important to consider since attachments can add up quick, particularly backhoes, grapples, mowers, etc.

Also, you will get a good amount of different opinions on using a plow on the loader. Do forum searches if you have not already done so.

Another important part of it all for many of us is tractors are big toys to play with and get things done at the same time. Can't put a price on that. Generally not as fast with a zero turn though. Have fun!

 

[ning]

I think you're on the right track for mowing - the ztr is the best mower, keep it and use it.

I'm with you on the truck, I use mine only so much any more but I wouldn't be without, living in the country.

I personally would look father at other tractors as well. A well-built tractor shouldn't need much other than typical maintenance, and you sound up to doing that yourself. My dealer is 100mi away, and in 4 years my tractor hasn't paid him a visit. I did blow up my radiator (my error) but it was easily field-repairable.

On that note, there's a lot of other brands which may suit you just as well. After much research, I ended up with a Branson; others like Kioti, LS, Tym, besides the prevalent Kubota and Deere. As far as I can tell, they're all of similar quality (I'm a bit more than 100hr/year for 4 years now and other than my mistake hogging in the heat and not watching my chaff screen & radiator, zero issues) though some are definitely more heavily built than others (guess which) and you'd be *amazed* at some of the price & feature differences (same heh).

Someone's going to tell you to buy a trailer to be able to take the tractor somewhere (to the dealer, probably). Don't. You can always rent one if you really need to, and you can do a lot of renting without getting anywhere near the price of even a used trailer. Also if you have no trailer, you can't take your tractor to the next county over to help someone...

Backhoe: I got one. It's occasionally used, and I love it when I have to use it. I rented a TLB "locally" (an hour roundtrip from home to rent it and bring it back) so I knew what it could do, and I like being able to put it on or off (5-10min) to do a quick job that would take me all day + a backache (it stays on the tractor until I need the 3ph, then it stays off till I need it again, etc). Yes you can rent, but you won't rent for that one job, and it's tough to wait on jobs to be able to do them all one day when you do finally rent. Big downside: adds about $6-9k, so think that one through well.

Post hole digger: great for fences, maybe ok for trees unless you want more than a 10-12" wide hole... and if it's rocky, a phd is going to have a tough time - a backhoe can work around the rocks and get them out while the phd will snap the shear bolt and say no.

I have to echo the "$200 for a plow?" - each snowstorm? Or all winter? Or is that for driveway maintenance?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I don't doubt the $200 per plow at all.

Around here, if it's in the middle of a heavy snow season (we got nothing this winter), the pirates won't even do a 100' driveway for less than $100.

I look at owning a tractor without a truck/trailer to haul it in the same light as someone who owns a boat, but doesn't own a boat trailer. Makes no sense to me, but I know a lot of people do that.

 

[Blue Mule]

I agree with Finn1, don't get a 25 horsepower tractor. Buy as much power as you can afford. You'll thank me later.

A cab tractor would be nice for you, especially during winter.

Good choice on keeping the ZTR mower. They are MUCH faster to mow with, especially near houses, fences, trees, etc.

Aside from mowing, a 40+ horsepower compact cab tractor will do everything else you need for many many years. I would suggest making a drive to other dealers to check out other brands. I would not strap myself down to Kubota just because they are close. JD and Kubota tractors are very expensive when comparably equipped to other brands.

 

[censalata]

JD dealer trying to sell me on 1025r and Kubota dealer trying to sell me on BX23S. Someone on here mentioned the spade attachment, and elsewhere someone recommended me a trenching bucket. These seems like phenomenal solutions to me, accomplishable in the $1k range as opposed to a $5-9K backhoe addition to the tractor. Therefore I can spend the money savings on a bigger tractor instead of the backhoe.

Thanks to everyone's help and input I'm finally getting my options narrowed down:

• Sell current plow truck ($6-$8k) and upgrade to a slightly better one in the 10k-17k range for plowing, dump runs, and moving big purchases
  Keep ZT for whipping fun turns while mowing my lawn
• Aim for a ~$25k tractor that has loader bucket, box blade, and some kind of spade/trenching bucket attachment, and big enough to be able to do other tasks like brush hog or rototill down the line

 

[Username Taken]

JD dealer trying to sell me on 1025r and Kubota dealer trying to sell me on BX23S. Someone on here mentioned the spade attachment, and elsewhere someone recommended me a trenching bucket. These seems like phenomenal solutions to me, accomplishable in the $1k range as opposed to a $5-9K backhoe addition to the tractor. Therefore I can spend the money savings on a bigger tractor instead of the backhoe.

Thanks to everyone's help and input I'm finally getting my options narrowed down:

• Sell current plow truck ($6-$8k) and upgrade to a slightly better one in the 10k-17k range for plowing, dump runs, and moving big purchases
  Keep ZT for whipping fun turns while mowing my lawn
• Aim for a ~$25k tractor that has loader bucket, box blade, and some kind of spade/trenching bucket attachment, and big enough to be able to do other tasks like brush hog or rototill down the line

The 1025r is a good tractor for its intended use, which is basically a glorified riding lawnmower. Same with the BX23.

I wouldn't look at anything smaller than a B2601. An LX2610 would be more gooder but they're in short supply right now.

The 'e' series Deere makes you give up too much. Way too much. Way, way, way too much. Stick with the 'r' if you get a Deere.

As far as bigger engines go, if you need one, get it. But if you can get by without the EPA garbage, you can save yourself thousands of dollars. I mean thousands.

It not only costs about 5 thousand dollars to put that complete and total JUNK on the engine, it can cost even more if it goes bad on you.

I just paid $4k to have $5k worth EPA garbage removed from my truck. Avoid it if you can. If you can't, you gotta do what you gotta do.

You want bigger? The L2501 is a little dated but it's a great tractor from Kubota. Deere is good tractor but pricey.

Tractorhouse.com is your friend. Be prepared before you go in. It can save you a lot of money.

 

[crashz]

I was just going to recommend exactly what you have listed above. I think you are on the right track.

The one suggestion I have is: skip the diesel options on the truck. Diesels are great for folks running them daily and under extreme loads. For the occasional use, gas is just easier. And you'll find a much nicer truck in your budget. A $15k diesel will be pretty rough already.

Summer is the time to find a plow truck and if you have the budget, maybe a 1ton dump! You live in Vermont so you know this already, but rust is the first priority. Judge condition by the amount of rust and pay for the least rust you can afford. Brand is the least of your concerns.

 

[censalata]

I was just going to recommend exactly what you have listed above. I think you are on the right track.

The one suggestion I have is: skip the diesel options on the truck. Diesels are great for folks running them daily and under extreme loads. For the occasional use, gas is just easier. And you'll find a much nicer truck in your budget. A $15k diesel will be pretty rough already.

Summer is the time to find a plow truck and if you have the budget, maybe a 1ton dump! You live in Vermont so you know this already, but rust is the first priority. Judge condition by the amount of rust and pay for the least rust you can afford. Brand is the least of your concerns.

Yes, DEFINITELY not getting another diesel truck! Located a nice little Tacoma yesterday with low mileage in good condition and great price. My mechanic is going to look at it on the lift today. *fingers crossed*