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Frogmore
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There has been lots of good advice here. Some of it might even be applicable to your situation. Many people new to tractors come in with either little idea of what they are going to do or too many ideas for one machine. They also come in with too little budget for the desires. That means it is REALLY important to prioritize the needs and wants. There isn't one machine that will do ALL the things you want really well.
For a tractor size, weight, features, comfort, horsepower all matter, but for different tasks.
Many people say bigger is better. For many tasks that is true. Weight is really important for getting traction, so more is better. Unless, you have a lot of soft ground that you don't want messed up. My B2620, which is on the small size of tractors, will mess up the lawn just by riding over it a few times. It takes weeks to get back to normal. So, get something that is heavy enough to provide the traction you need for the tasks you have in mind and plan on not driving over soft areas that matter to you.
There is also the physical size. As you get bigger, the ground clearance is greater. This is good for many tasks. But, it can make the tractor feel/be tippy. This can be very dangerous on any kind of side slope. My B2620 feels unsafe on anything greater than about 10 degrees, which is not very much on my property.
Length and turning circle get bigger as tractors get bigger. If you have a wide open property, it might not matter. I have 4 to 8 feet wide trails on my property. That is not enough room to turn around. My tractor needs at least 18 feet (assuming I lift the bucket and have nothing on in the back) to turn around. I have to travel to the turnaround spot or drive backwards.
Horsepower, you don't need a lot for many tractor tasks. You do for things that use the PTO, like snowblowing or mowing. I have 26HP and never felt I needed more, but I don't have a snowblower or mower for my tractor.
It is a difficult choice and you will likely discover things you wish you knew/had considered before your purchase. For me it was position control and quick attach for the bucket. I finally purchased a quick attach for my bucket and highly recommend that. Position control is not possible to add after the fact, but is potentially helpful for using 3PH grading implements.
Implements are the other thing that add cost, but can be added later. I love my grading scraper for my driveway, but I now also have a rear blade and am getting another one that tilts and extends.
For a tractor size, weight, features, comfort, horsepower all matter, but for different tasks.
Many people say bigger is better. For many tasks that is true. Weight is really important for getting traction, so more is better. Unless, you have a lot of soft ground that you don't want messed up. My B2620, which is on the small size of tractors, will mess up the lawn just by riding over it a few times. It takes weeks to get back to normal. So, get something that is heavy enough to provide the traction you need for the tasks you have in mind and plan on not driving over soft areas that matter to you.
There is also the physical size. As you get bigger, the ground clearance is greater. This is good for many tasks. But, it can make the tractor feel/be tippy. This can be very dangerous on any kind of side slope. My B2620 feels unsafe on anything greater than about 10 degrees, which is not very much on my property.
Length and turning circle get bigger as tractors get bigger. If you have a wide open property, it might not matter. I have 4 to 8 feet wide trails on my property. That is not enough room to turn around. My tractor needs at least 18 feet (assuming I lift the bucket and have nothing on in the back) to turn around. I have to travel to the turnaround spot or drive backwards.
Horsepower, you don't need a lot for many tractor tasks. You do for things that use the PTO, like snowblowing or mowing. I have 26HP and never felt I needed more, but I don't have a snowblower or mower for my tractor.
It is a difficult choice and you will likely discover things you wish you knew/had considered before your purchase. For me it was position control and quick attach for the bucket. I finally purchased a quick attach for my bucket and highly recommend that. Position control is not possible to add after the fact, but is potentially helpful for using 3PH grading implements.
Implements are the other thing that add cost, but can be added later. I love my grading scraper for my driveway, but I now also have a rear blade and am getting another one that tilts and extends.
Going to keep the zero turn and, for now, the crappy plow truck. It's in stock at a sister dealership 90min from my house so should be delivered soon. YAY!
