New Farm and Need a Tractor..

[chaded]

It seems your driveway work, winter snow clearing and spring/summer maintenance, is your challenge. This is ground contact work, where tractor weight, 4-WD and loaded rear tires are most important. Horsepower is almost irrelevant.

You can always install tire chains for the winter. Some, who do not road their tractors, use tire chains year around in field work. High quality chains on those big rear wheels are amazing. Tractor tire chains come in steel and rubber.

What PTO powered implements do you foresee operating?

Beginning at 80-horsepower tractors are equipped with a Category III Three Point Hitch. I would stay with Category II equipment which is readily available and competitively priced. When you get to Category III implements it is a relatively small pond and implement prices escalate.

My tractor is Category I. I like being able to order implements from the internet, often from everythingattachments.com or Iowa Farm Equipment.com, and have said implements arrive on a semi trailer three or four days later. Almost all Category I implements are available in Category II from the same venders. Not so, Category III implements.

As you described land conditions as very hilly, the MF 247 almost certainly has loaded rear tires.

Realistically, PTO uses would be mowing brush mostly, small food plot stuff (spreading fertilizer/seed, etc.), occasional post hole, and I have a PTO generator for my house. I would also like to look into a winch to get logs out of some of the ravines I have. I don’t know much about them and their capabilities though?

Seems to me I need a little more heavy duty tractor than something like the MF 1700 series and similar.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Welcome to tbn. We use a 50 hp kubota on our SE ohio farm.

 

[jeff9366]

Seems to me I need a little more heavy duty tractor than something like the MF 1700 series and similar.

You are the one close to your conditions and it is your money.

If you think you need a heavier tractor, shop for a heavier tractor.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR​

 

[jeff9366]

Realistically, PTO uses would be mowing brush mostly, small food plot stuff (spreading fertilizer/seed, etc.), occasional post hole, and I have a PTO generator for my house. I would also like to look into a winch to get logs out of some of the ravines I have. I don’t know much about them and their capabilities though?

WIDE rotary cutters require considerable PTO power. Mowing grass over 24" tall requires more power than mowing grass less than 24" tall. Mowing saplings requires a heavy duty cutter, which requires much more power than a light duty cutter used for cutting grass. The behemoths of Rotary Cutters are branded BROWN TREE CUTTERS.
LINK: 217 Catalog | Brown Manufacturing | 8.633.899

PTO powered log winches are geared down. They can draw large trunks on level ground to even a moderate weight tractor. To pull trunks out of ravines you need a tractor with the weight you are considering. There are numerous "tractor log winch" "tractor timber winch" videos on U-tube.

All of the tractors you are considering can operate a PTO powered 12" earth auger on the Three Point Hitch.

I have no experience with PTO electric generators.

 

[chaded]

Kubota can now be added to the list. After looking some more I guess there are a couple dealers 40-45 minutes from me.

Im not up on all the pricing but just looking around on the internet Im thinking I probably wont be able to get into a heavier, new John Deere and Kubota (with loader, etc.) for my price range of 45k?

I could bump it up a little but going into 50k and above probably isn’t likely. I plan on using cash.

 

[jeff9366]

Every tractor web site allows you to select options and determine MSRPs for tractors optioned the way you wish.

In the recent past dealer discounts from MSRP have been 8% to 10%. With the US dollar continually weakening, that may not be true in the future, or, alternately, MSRPs may be increased. When state sales tax is added, out-the-door tractor price is about equal to MSRP.


It is costly to have a dealer trailer a heavy tractor to the shop. One shop service requires two round trips.

35 miles X 4 = 140 miles X $2.00 per mile = $280 transportation only. Warranty repairs usually do NOT include transportation. Insurance claim coverage usually does include transportation.


From all you have communicated I suggest buying from a dealer with a good reputation within twenty miles of your property.


Assuming you buy new, have an average investment in implements, and have the dealer perform tractor and implement service other than fueling and greasing, your operating cost will be around $40 per engine hour.
When researching dealers, also research welding shops which do the best work.

(FEL should be greased every ten operating hours.)

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When i bought the new L5030hst in SE ohio, 50hp in 2005, was $26000 with loader, no cab.

Pricing "equivalent" L5060, (cant get hydro at 50hp now), loader, hd bucket at$39310. Can probably get for under $35k.

I would add 3rd function, at least 2 rear remotes. Now at $42312, so probably $38k

 

[Turbys_1700]

If you can afford a cab go for it. If you will be in the woods a lot don't.

Just for reference sake you can get into a NH WorkMaster for mid to upper 20's. One poster on here does not like them. I've owned one and had no issues going on 2 years. They are an economy model with shuttle shift and synchronized gears. The FEL is the strongest in it's class. It is a compact utility with a 77-1/2" wheel base and base weight of 5100#.

Personally I would look at the T 4.75 in New Holland, M7060 in Kubota, or E series in Deere. Lots of info and post about them. They are all good. Go with the dealer and support you feel best with. All are extremely capable.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Unless you go into young brush trees, a cab is ok in mature trees. The other area to watch is trees along the edge of fields, as limbs grow down. A cab is nice, i have one on my L3940hstc.


L5030, do not get R4 tires, they do not hold on hillsides.

 

[Grandad4]

Kubota can now be added to the list. After looking some more I guess there are a couple dealers 40-45 minutes from me.

Im not up on all the pricing but just looking around on the internet Im thinking I probably wont be able to get into a heavier, new John Deere and Kubota (with loader, etc.) for my price range of 45k?

I could bump it up a little but going into 50k and above probably isn’t likely. I plan on using cash.

Buying enough tractor is sound advice.

M6060 or M7070 are the full-featured "utility" sized Kubotas... popular and well-regarded models. Not to be confused with the L6060, which is a "compact". According to the internet, the M6060 + loader sticker price is in the low-mid $40's, depending on options. Might be able to do better with some haggling. That would be a healthy step up from any "compact" model. Don't know the M-F models all that well, but the M-F 300 series seems comparable in size.

Other commenters emphasize finding a good dealer, and I'd agree. I'm a Kubota guy but there are many other excellent machines from the other top manufacturers. You wouldn't go wrong with just about any of them, but it is worth something to have an honest, solid dealer behind your equipment. Shop the dealer as much as the brand.