New tractor purchase, 30-40k price range, struggling with choice

[swamp monster]

Hi folks,
I appreciate your time and advice. I am torn between a few tractor options in my price range and hope for your thoughts on the choice. My goal is to arrive at the most versatile option, and borrow/rent for the job/s my own tractor can't handle. I realize there is a price to pay for versatility, and that I may not always have the best tool for the job, but my personal preference would be to finesse things for a few more hours/days than take the same time in trip/s to pick up and drop off a rental.

I have a 100 acre timber farm (90% pine, but have transitioned some acreage to black walnut that is proving to grow quite well), alongside 10 acres of mixed fruit and nut trees,*and 2 acre family food plot. Soil is varied throughout, much clay, clay/loam, no rocks. Some hills, 100ft elevation change between one end of property and the other. Nothing extreme but enough to get your attention. And about 20 acres of quite wet swampy areas with trails that need tending/improvement.*
Kubota and John Deere dealers are close at hand and reputable. An hour to 1 1/2 away we have many others, Case, mahindra, kioti, NH.

I have a 40k hard stop budget for the short term, but of course would like to achieve my goals with less
Tasks I need to complete,
-200yd gravel drive maintenance
-Bush hogging logging roads and trails
-rebuilding several long stretches of logging road and trail, torn up by poor water management, both on hillside and in low lying areas, including a few culverts, and several swales.
-3 natural ponds that I hope to redirect water towards, that has not been well managed with poor placement of said logging roads etc
-Regrading along house foundation
-Dragging out the odd fallen tree, I will not be logging myself but will always have use for fallen trees and the odd times I may fell one for some use.
-Assist with building a pole barn and carport, and laying pex water lines and electrical lines either trenching or direct burial with subsoiler.
-Tilling 2 acre family food plot-Spraying and general maintenance for fruit and nut orchard.-other possible*jobs are digging a small pool, digging an underground cistern.
I am most strongly considering a kubota b26 TLB, I like the maneuverability/size and its chassis rigidity. Its at the top of my price range, and may limit the implements I may be able to purchase at the start. My concern is that I may regret not purchasing a tractor with more heft, as there is a fair bit of ground engaging work to be done along the roads etc and clay can be quite stubborn. I feel confident the PTO HP is fine for what I need to do.
I am considering whether a JD 3 series with backhoe could suffice, and leave more funds for implements and the like. Same concerns as above.
I have considered the JD 5D series, it would also top out my price range, and concerned its size would be more of a negative than its lifting capacity etc would be positive. Its turning radius is twice that of the b26tlb. Much of the work is on small trails, and in wooded areas, this would require much clearing to utilize a tractor this size.
and lastly, I've thought much about a skid or better yet a track loader. I have experience working with them and would more than suffice for the earth moving work I plan, but price is hindrance, even used. In my area at least I am hard pressed to find any with reasonable hours for less than 30k. Likewise, it would not suit my needs in regards to attachments, and such would quickly go out of my price range. I feel that I would be better off renting a track loader or excavator if I run into the situation where the above tractors can't handle the work, but I realize asking for versatility may add quite a few hours to my job utilizing the above tractors etc.

 

[fried1765]

Hi folks,
I appreciate your time and advice. I am torn between a few tractor options in my price range and hope for your thoughts on the choice. My goal is to arrive at the most versatile option, and borrow/rent for the job/s my own tractor can't handle. I realize there is a price to pay for versatility, and that I may not always have the best tool for the job, but my personal preference would be to finesse things for a few more hours/days than take the same time in trip/s to pick up and drop off a rental.

I have a 100 acre timber farm (90% pine, but have transitioned some acreage to black walnut that is proving to grow quite well), alongside 10 acres of mixed fruit and nut trees,*and 2 acre family food plot. Soil is varied throughout, much clay, clay/loam, no rocks. Some hills, 100ft elevation change between one end of property and the other. Nothing extreme but enough to get your attention. And about 20 acres of quite wet swampy areas with trails that need tending/improvement.*
Kubota and John Deere dealers are close at hand and reputable. An hour to 1 1/2 away we have many others, Case, mahindra, kioti, NH.

I have a 40k hard stop budget for the short term, but of course would like to achieve my goals with less
Tasks I need to complete,
-200yd gravel drive maintenance
-Bush hogging logging roads and trails
-rebuilding several long stretches of logging road and trail, torn up by poor water management, both on hillside and in low lying areas, including a few culverts, and several swales.
-3 natural ponds that I hope to redirect water towards, that has not been well managed with poor placement of said logging roads etc
-Regrading along house foundation
-Dragging out the odd fallen tree, I will not be logging myself but will always have use for fallen trees and the odd times I may fell one for some use.
-Assist with building a pole barn and carport, and laying pex water lines and electrical lines either trenching or direct burial with subsoiler.
-Tilling 2 acre family food plot-Spraying and general maintenance for fruit and nut orchard.-other possible*jobs are digging a small pool, digging an underground cistern.
I am most strongly considering a kubota b26 TLB, I like the maneuverability/size and its chassis rigidity. Its at the top of my price range, and may limit the implements I may be able to purchase at the start. My concern is that I may regret not purchasing a tractor with more heft, as there is a fair bit of ground engaging work to be done along the roads etc and clay can be quite stubborn. I feel confident the PTO HP is fine for what I need to do.
I am considering whether a JD 3 series with backhoe could suffice, and leave more funds for implements and the like. Same concerns as above.
I have considered the JD 5D series, it would also top out my price range, and concerned its size would be more of a negative than its lifting capacity etc would be positive. Its turning radius is twice that of the b26tlb. Much of the work is on small trails, and in wooded areas, this would require much clearing to utilize a tractor this size.
and lastly, I've thought much about a skid or better yet a track loader. I have experience working with them and would more than suffice for the earth moving work I plan, but price is hindrance, even used. In my area at least I am hard pressed to find any with reasonable hours for less than 30k. Likewise, it would not suit my needs in regards to attachments, and such would quickly go out of my price range. I feel that I would be better off renting a track loader or excavator if I run into the situation where the above tractors can't handle the work, but I realize asking for versatility may add quite a few hours to my job utilizing the above tractors etc.

The B26 TLB is a sweet little machine, but for 100 acres, and the work you describe, it is most certainly...not enough tractor!

 

[3gunr]

I would say 50 or 60 hp minimum 4x4 with loader .Lots of tractors out there to siut your needs. A jd 3 series would not be enough tractor in my opinion. Right now in my area the Jd dealers literally have no tractors on their lots.And i have several large dealers by me. For your size property bigger is better. Even multiple tractors is the way to go . With your budget you could get a smaller used compact and a larger older ag tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

I[ have a 100 acre timber farm.
Includes 10 acres of mixed fruit and nut trees,and 2 acre family food plot.
Some hills, 100ft elevation change between one end of property and the other.

It seems probable you have little or no tractor operating experience.

I feel confident 19 - PTO HP is fine for what I need to do.

A Kubota B26 T-L-B is a nice small rig for those with a Backhoe at the center of their needs. It is a construction machine, not an ag machine.

B26 bare tractor weight is around 2,400 pounds WITHOUT the Backhoe mounted, 54" width.

Downsides: Too narrow for use on slopes. B26 is supplied with an ersatz, minimal Three Point Hitch kit. The ground engaging implements a B26 can pull are puny. In particular a B26 cannot power a heavy duty Rotary Mower weighing 1,100 pounds in 72" size requiring 50 tractor horsepower, which will be essential for a tree farm and orchard. Pretty heavy ground loading on B26 tires. B26 will be bog prone in swamp.

Few here would recommend a B26 or any Kubota 'B' for more than five acres, particularly land with hills.

Selling a used tractor is easy. Selling multiple light implements in order to buy heavier, wider implements for a new, heavier tractor requires a lot of time. Depreciation on implements is worse than depreciation on a tractor.

VIDEO: Comparing Kubota TLB series tractors(B26, L47, M62) - YouTube

Includes 20 acres of swampy areas with trails.
Soil is varied throughout, much clay, clay/loam. The clay can be quite stubborn.
Some hills, enough to get your attention.

Consider a Kubota MX without a Backhoe, well within your $40,000 budget. Bare tractor weight of 3,700 pounds, width of 70". Big tires = more float. Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less operator perturbation. Tractors are inherently unstable. Tractor rear wheel/tire spread, adjustable on the MX, is a critical factor increasing compact tractor stability working sloped or uneven ground. Rear axle is the tractor component on which rear wheels/tires mount. A 6" to 10" wider rear axle substantially decreases tractor rollover potential. Tractor width is an approximation of rear axle width.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kubota+MX

Kubota BX-B-L-MX-M | What series is right for you? - YouTube

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR​

Rent a (tracked) mini-excavator when you project backhoe work. Tracked equipment has much lower ground loading than wheeled equipment. Tracked equipment is much more stable than wheeled equipment.

 

[dara1989]

Rent a B26 before you buy. They are nice little machines with a strong backhoe but likely on the small side for what you are doing. A l3560 with hoe will likely be in the same price range and will give you much more tractor.

 

[nybirdman]

Kubota MX series and rent a mini-ex when needed.

 

[jeff9366]

If you enter your LOCATION into your T-B-N PROFILE, so it appears with every post you make, you will receive replies better tailored to your circumstances.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

At 100 acres in size your proposed tractor size is much too small for the project list.

You need to be in the 50-75 HP class machine IMHO. If it was me I'd be on the search for a used machine to stay in budget range.

 

[oosik]

I have 80 acres. A mile long gravel driveway and live in the "snow belt". My trees are all large ancient Ponderosa pines. I have a 2009( pre tier 4 ) Kubota M6040 - 64 engine hp and turbo charged.

There are times I wish I had a smaller tractor - use in and around tight spaces. There are times I wish I had a larger tractor - large rocks & chunks of pine tree trunk.

So ....... I guess, I hit a fairly happy medium with my Kubota.

Swamp Monster - you will need a larger tractor if you plan on hitting a happy medium. A tractor with 19 PTO hp just isn't going to do it. As a bare minimum - Kubota MX 5 series or larger.

Otherwise - get yourself a good hauling trailer and plan on plenty of rental time.

 

[dodge man]

First off, the size of your property may or may not dictate what you need, it’s your intended uses. A B26 like already said is more a piece of construction equipment, it’s got a much stronger loader and backhoe for its size compared to a tractor with that equipment. I personally am not sure s 3 series John Deere wouldn’t work for you, but might be on the small size. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer, but after you have had the tractor a year, you will probably know if it was the right choice.

 

[fried1765]

First off, the size of your property may or may not dictate what you need, it’s your intended uses. A B26 like already said is more a piece of construction equipment, it’s got a much stronger loader and backhoe for its size compared to a tractor with that equipment. I personally am not sure s 3 series John Deere wouldn’t work for you, but might be on the small size. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer, but after you have had the tractor a year, you will probably know if it was the right choice.

and .......then you can go buy a bigger one!

 

[swamp monster]

First off, the size of your property may or may not dictate what you need, it痴 your intended uses. A B26 like already said is more a piece of construction equipment, it痴 got a much stronger loader and backhoe for its size compared to a tractor with that equipment. I personally am not sure s 3 series John Deere wouldn稚 work for you, but might be on the small size. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer, but after you have had the tractor a year, you will probably know if it was the right choice.

I appreciate everyone's time and thoughts. This has been helpful to steer me in the right direction. This is a large purchase for me, and as such am just trying to learn as much as I can before pulling the trigger. I am thankful for the above thought in particular, as I often see folks recommending a tractor based on acreage, but I am not intending to pull much in the way of implements other than a bush hog to keep trails and lanes clear, keeping brambles/blackberries in check, and this was all hard to balance in my mind. That said, I absolutely realize the benefits of a larger/heavier tractor, but have had concerns about limitation in certain wooded tight spaces. I appreciate the though of renting a mini skid loader or the like if I truly am limited in such a situation.

All in all I am now leaning towards the JD 5045e or a Kubota MX as many suggested. It seems I have many more options nearby for a lightly used 5045e than a kubota, and may be able to get all the attachments I could want and stay within budget.

 

[sea2summit]

I appreciate everyone's time and thoughts. This has been helpful to steer me in the right direction. This is a large purchase for me, and as such am just trying to learn as much as I can before pulling the trigger. I am thankful for the above thought in particular, as I often see folks recommending a tractor based on acreage, but I am not intending to pull much in the way of implements other than a bush hog to keep trails and lanes clear, keeping brambles/blackberries in check, and this was all hard to balance in my mind. That said, I absolutely realize the benefits of a larger/heavier tractor, but have had concerns about limitation in certain wooded tight spaces. I appreciate the though of renting a mini skid loader or the like if I truly am limited in such a situation.

All in all I am now leaning towards the JD 5045e or a Kubota MX as many suggested. It seems I have many more options nearby for a lightly used 5045e than a kubota, and may be able to get all the attachments I could want and stay within budget.

If you plan to primarily brush hog the B is absolutely not the right machine, you're not likely to turn a 5' brush hog through any type of dense grass and have enough power to go uphill. That MX is probably absolutely the way to go IMHO, love mine and it's done a ton of work for me.

 

[airbiscuit]

I think your sweet spot is a 40-60hp large frame CUT

Kubota Grand L60 or MX series
John Deere 4xxx or 5xxx series
Kioti NX series
40-60 hp New Holland/LS/Yanmar

Maybe buy one of these for your trenching work

 

[mx1alex]

FYI - I just bought a new cabbed MX5400/loader with fluid in the tires, and 3 remotes for right at $40K

 

[jeff9366]

I am not intending to pull much in the way of implements other than a bush hog to keep trails and lanes clear.
Soil varies: much clay, clay/loam. The clay can be stubborn.

Tasks I need to accomplish:

-200yd gravel drive maintenance BOX BLADE or LAND PLANE/GRADING SCRAPER (LPGS)

-Maintaining logging roads and trails. BOX BLADE, HEAVY DUTY ROTARY CUTTER

-rebuilding several long stretches of logging road, trail and three ponds torn up by poor water management. BOX BLADE, "DIGGING" BUCKET TOOTH BAR, MIDDLEBUSTER, RATCHET RAKE BUCKET ATTACHMENT

-Regrading along house foundation BOX BLADE, RATCHET RAKE BUCKET ATTACHMENT

-Dragging out the odd fallen tree. REAR/CENTER DRAWBAR, CHAIN FOR ATTACHMENT
Rear/Center Drawbar included standard on MX tractor.

-Assist with building a pole barn and carport, and laying pex water lines and electrical lines. SUBSOILER, CHAIN GRAB HOOKS ON FEL BUCKET, REAR/CENTER DRAWBAR, PALLET FORKS

-Tilling 2 acre family food plot- TANDEM DISC HARROW

-General maintenance for fruit and nut orchard HEAVY DUTY ROTARY CUTTER, TANDEM DISC HARROW,
PTO-POWERED WOOD CHIPPER, RATCHET RAKE BUCKET ATTACHMENT, PALLET FORKS

-Digging a small pool, digging an underground cistern. BOX BLADE, "DIGGING" BUCKET TOOTH BAR


"LOAD" REAR TIRES 50% TO 75% WITH FLUID FOR TRACTION AND STABILITY.


Purchase implements and attachments one at a time as you have a need. Research each implement carefully, BUY HEAVY.

 

[buck12]

TBN is always good at helping one spend money. Acreage alone does not dictate tractor size. I have 72 acres plus an adjoining lease hunting lease of 615 acres. I kept this up with a 26 hp tractor for 12 years. I don’t remember the PTO hp put it had no problem with a 5 foot bush hog.

Last year we decided to build a weekend cabin on the land which changed my needs and I stepped up to a 54 hp tractor to match my needs.

My point is look at your primary needs. Then decide on the implements you need. Then match a tractor you like to the implements. You may have the majority of your 100 acres in timber and only need to maintain a few trails which is much different than maintaining all 100 acres.

 

[jeff9366]

I have a 40k hard stop budget for the short term, but of course would like to achieve my goals with less

4WD HST FEL MX5400 TRACTOR W/FOLDABLE ROPS - OPEN STATION - NO BACKHOE

Base Price $29,975.00
[+] Selected Attachments $6,136.00
Manufacture's Suggested List Price
$36,111.00

Available Manufacturer Rebates:
Cash Customer Instant Rebate Up To($1,000.00)
Finance Customer Instant Rebate Up To($500.00)
Orange Plus Implement Discount Up To($500.00)

 

[fried1765]

4WD HST FEL MX5400 TRACTOR W/FOLDABLE ROPS - OPEN STATION - NO BACKHOE

Base Price $29,975.00
[+] Selected Attachments $6,136.00
Manufacture's Suggested List Price
$36,111.00

Available Manufacturer Rebates:
Cash Customer Instant Rebate Up To($1,000.00)
Finance Customer Instant Rebate Up To($500.00)
Orange Plus Implement Discount Up To($500.00)

Then too: There is the 20% Equine discount, which seems to be relatively easy to get.

 

[sea2summit]

4WD HST FEL MX5400 TRACTOR W/FOLDABLE ROPS - OPEN STATION - NO BACKHOE

Base Price $29,975.00
[+] Selected Attachments $6,136.00
Manufacture's Suggested List Price
$36,111.00

Available Manufacturer Rebates:
Cash Customer Instant Rebate Up To($1,000.00)
Finance Customer Instant Rebate Up To($500.00)
Orange Plus Implement Discount Up To($500.00)

Just enough left over for a grapple.