New land -> New house -> New tractor (soon)

[rus_geek]

We are nearing completion on our new home, so it's time to start planning the tractor purchase. I've used assorted borrowed/rented tractors and skid-steers as needed for projects thus far.

The land is 52 acres, with about 30 acres of woods, 14 acres of hay and the rest is a spring creek, small pond and surrounding wetlands. Primary uses for the tractor will be making the lawn/garden next spring, plowing/blowing snow and making wood. Of course, once it's there, I'll have a hundred more projects for it.

What initial considerations am I missing, and how do I go about sizing the tractor? I know I want the FEL, and won't get the BH for now. My friend with the *real* backhoe is cheaper than the maintenance on my own.

-rus-

 

[unreconstructed]

you'll get a bunch of replies. Don't know what you want to spend. I have 2 places-one ag and the other grass and trees. Ag place is rented out except for 20 acres but have found more uses for tractor as you stated than I thought going in. Total of 120 acres to fool with--300 acres rented out which I will never farm.

On the JD side, for good utility and price in the 50-70 horse range look at the 5x03 series. If you want more options look at the 5x25 series but these are more money.

I think with 52 acres you will find a lot of projects hence why I would look in that horsepower range.

My 2 bits.

 

[JiminGa]

for the money a 5603 is hard to beat in my opinion. but if you want to put it in the woods I wouldn't get a cab. maybe a 5225 if that's the case.

 

[flusher]

We are nearing completion on our new home, so it's time to start planning the tractor purchase. I've used assorted borrowed/rented tractors and skid-steers as needed for projects thus far.

The land is 52 acres, with about 30 acres of woods, 14 acres of hay and the rest is a spring creek, small pond and surrounding wetlands. Primary uses for the tractor will be making the lawn/garden next spring, plowing/blowing snow and making wood. Of course, once it's there, I'll have a hundred more projects for it.

What initial considerations am I missing, and how do I go about sizing the tractor? I know I want the FEL, and won't get the BH for now. My friend with the *real* backhoe is cheaper than the maintenance on my own.

-rus-

If you plan to continue haying that 14 acres yourself, then I would recommend a larger tractor in the 50-60 hp (engine) range. I have a new Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, partial constant mesh gear tranny) with the ML250 FEL (6-ft bucket, 2950 lb lift to full height at pivot pins) that's my main tractor for haying on my 10 acres. It has plenty of power to handle my MF-124 two-twine square baler, the 7-ft tandem disc, and my 2-14 moldboard plows (pull type and 3pt). I have a 1964 MF-135 diesel tractor (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny) for handling the grain drill, sicklebar mower and the side delivery hay rake.

You may prefer 4WD and fully synchronized gear transmission or 4WD and a hydrostatic tranny. I had a 2005 Kubota B7510HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto) outfitted with a LA302 FEL (4-ft bucket) that had 4WD and hydrostatic transmission. It worked great for installing landscaping, paver block sidewalks and a patio around my new house. Traded the B7510 for the Mahindra after the landscaping, etc was completed.

For my 1/10 acre veg garden I use a middle buster plow and 1970s-vintage 14-hp Bolens G1453 garden tractor with a 32" wide rototiller that I found locally on craigslist for $600. My neighbor's veg garden is about 1/2 acre. He does the heavy tilling with his old JD 2640 (70 hp engine) Field of Dreams tractor and a 6-ft rototiller. He tills between the rows using an old Allis Chalmers 714H garden tractor with a 32" wide rototiller that he picked up for $400.

I only have about 1/2 acre of lawn so a Huskee riding mower (18 hp engine, 42" mower) is all I need. And with the lingering drought here in northern CA, I'm planning to replace most of my tall fescue lawn with gravel and desert plants (the average rainfall here is about 19" per year).

With 52 acres I would guess that you'll eventually have two tractors and several riding mowers.

 

[rus_geek]

JiminGa:
I don't see a 5603 on JD's website? Since you mentioned the 5225, maybe you meant 5203 for the first one? I think the 5203 is looking like a good starting point. Good point about the cab in the woods, too. I may forego the cab, in favor of a removable (homemade) cab later for dealing with Wisconsin winters and clearing snow.

flusher:
I don't see haying in my future. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but currently I rent out the hay fields, and plan to plant trees over most of it in the future.
I'll have to see if I can locate a Mahindra dealer nearby. I'm not sure who/what is around, since I haven't needed a tractor dealer yet.

 

[ScottFarm]

My advise. How many dealers do you have in your area? Go look at them find out the options, test drive them. Price them. Then i'd come back to these forums and read as much about each brand. Educate yourself. There are lots of good tractors out there. I've owned 3 different brands of tractors over the years. All three were different, I liked some things I didn't like others, but no major complaints. I've owned Deere, Case, and now a Montana. I truly had no major complaints about any of them. For me when I test drove tractors, I couldn't get past how loud the Deere 3cylinder diesel clammered compared to how quiet kubota and Montana's 4 cylinder diesels were. I have a friend who bought the Deere and he's very satisfied with it. Just my first impression. Weight does matter especially if your using a FEL often.
Good Luck,

 

[Soundguy]

Normally.. for that size land.. I'd want 50-70+ hp.. however.. with your wooded area.. and the fact you want it to maintain lawn.. that complicats the issue if you can only have a single machine. I might then say 45-50 hp rang.

Ever gonna make hay with it? I'd want 50hp minimum.

other possibility is to get a used ag tractor in the 50-100hp rang.. and then a good CUT inthe 30hp range.

soundguy

We are nearing completion on our new home, so it's time to start planning the tractor purchase. I've used assorted borrowed/rented tractors and skid-steers as needed for projects thus far.

The land is 52 acres, with about 30 acres of woods, 14 acres of hay and the rest is a spring creek, small pond and surrounding wetlands. Primary uses for the tractor will be making the lawn/garden next spring, plowing/blowing snow and making wood. Of course, once it's there, I'll have a hundred more projects for it.

What initial considerations am I missing, and how do I go about sizing the tractor? I know I want the FEL, and won't get the BH for now. My friend with the *real* backhoe is cheaper than the maintenance on my own.

-rus-

 

[AndyMA]

I agree with others about the size for your property. I would go with utility rather than compact. I have a large compact Ford 2120 which is same frame size as New Holland TC55 and added a cabbed New Holland TN75D (75hp, 16 speed electro hydro shuttle) about 5 years ago. I have 75 acres and find they boyh have uses, but the 2120 with only 2000 lift capacity is maxed out too ofter. It has served me well for over 20 years.
In the utility size range, the New Holland TN's see New Holland North America: Products are excellent tractors used by many on this board.

Andy

 

[pitt_md]

Your going to have to make a decision as to are you going to get into rasing large livestock (horse's, cattle, etc.). If you go the livestock route then your going to need 50hp min. with a high capacity FEL. Do not underestimate what you MIGHT do with the tractor. If money is not a big issue then go big. If your not going to be getting some ponies for the kids or something like that then I think you can get by with something like a 30hp unit.