New Farm and Need a Tractor..

[ArmyDoc]

A couple of things for you to consider. I may have missed it, but did you mention a budget?

I own 187 acres of mostly forest (pine) with about 13-14 acres cleared, and plans for clearing more. I own an old (1977) MF 245 - about 45 hp tractor. Based on that, I wanted a) a bigger tractor and b) a CAB. I looked at Case (NH) and their farm-all series had a 75hp tractor for about $50k. That would be as little as I would buy. Jumping up to the 90-100hp jumps you to $70-80k.

Ultimately though, I decided I did not want a tractor. Most of what I am dealing with is forestry related. I decided on a Bobcat v519 Telehandler (just ordered) for about ~70k new. Cant find used yet but, v518 and v417s are out there used for much less. They have all the lift you can use, and the benefit of 21gpm hydraulics for attachments up front. Check out xfaxman's posts for more about these machines. It was his experiences that convinced me to go this route rather than the more conventional tractor route.

 

[chaded]

A couple of things for you to consider. I may have missed it, but did you mention a budget?

I own 187 acres of mostly forest (pine) with about 13-14 acres cleared, and plans for clearing more. I own an old (1977) MF 245 - about 45 hp tractor. Based on that, I wanted a) a bigger tractor and b) a CAB. I looked at Case (NH) and their farm-all series had a 75hp tractor for about $50k. That would be as little as I would buy. Jumping up to the 90-100hp jumps you to $70-80k.

Ultimately though, I decided I did not want a tractor. Most of what I am dealing with is forestry related. I decided on a Bobcat v519 Telehandler (just ordered) for about ~70k new. Cant find used yet but, v518 and v417s are out there used for much less. They have all the lift you can use, and the benefit of 21gpm hydraulics for attachments up front. Check out xfaxman's posts for more about these machines. It was his experiences that convinced me to go this route rather than the more conventional tractor route.

Budget is under 50k.

 

[LouNY]

I don't know your abilities as far as repairs and / or what local shops are available to you. I will suggest quite a bit different then has been mentioned, older large ag tractors 120 hp and above
are available reasonably such as the IH 5140, MX series, 7100 7200 series they are good sized and weighted down even the 2wd models will do good and the 4wd are very good. As far as working in the woods if you are making your own wood roads its up to you how wide to make them. Nice and wide makes it easy to put in your food plots and have nice shooting lanes.
So its up to you what you want expensive new hopefully 60hp and up or moderately priced used 80-150+hp

 

[chaded]

I’m not going to be putting many if any roads in the woods. The property is rolling hills (ravines) and it just doesn’t offer much to be done in that way.

I have a road that goes through the central part of the property that was put there by the power company when they put a powerline cut and lines through. They said they had to pick up the rocks and whatnot and the owner asked if they could just leave it and they did. So that is nice.

That road gives me a lot of access to most of the 100 acres or so on house side of the property. There are also two clearings that are about 3-5 acres this road accesses (food plots).

The other parcel is directly across the road, basically we have one big parcel divided by the road. The 30 acre hay field is over there up against the road. When you get across the hayfield it goes uphil and there is very little that will be able to be accessed over there.

Most is steep and as of right now there is a big creek that runs the length of the hayfield that prevents any type of vehicle from across (for now).

Oh, I am no mechanic by any stretch either.

 

[ArmyDoc]

Budget is under 50k.

You can find a low hour used Bobcat v417 under your budget. Check out xfaxman's posts, or the thread here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ompact-telehandler.html?highlight=telehandler

 

[BMan2005]

There is a New Holland/Massey Ferguson around 35 miles from me that seems to have a good reputation. I壇 rather drive a little ways and deal with that then have to deal with the one close to me being a dud.

Right now, I am thinking about (more like researching) the Kubota m7060 and the New Holland t4.75.

Might want to check out a Massey 4700 series cabbed Tractor while your there. Pretty impressive specs for the price.