Newbie - need input & help please

   / Newbie - need input & help please #1  

RVivian

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Sep 24, 2024
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I have been reading for weeks, but the bottom line is that my husband and I are newbies, totally not educated in any of this and don't want to be guided wrongly by a salesperson. I figured asking people that actually use such machinery would be a good place to get feedback.

We own 13.5 acres in Michigan. 4-5 of those acres are swampy lower level creek lands. The remainder is high, mostly field and a tiny bit wooded. Sadly this property was neglected and ignored for easily 10-20 years. Think overgrown, weedy fields, dead trees here & there, overgrown everything really. After a couple of years, we are getting the feel of what we would love to do around here. We have goats and would like to expand that pasture area, have started a small garden that we now realize needs expanding and loads of underbrush/growth to begin to tame. We do have a 40x60 barn for storage of any machine we buy.

Tasks to be done with the help of a machine:
clearing overgrown fields
clearing some underbrush areas
moving dead/cut trees
maintaining gravel drive
snow removal as needed (a handful of storms, nothing too horrible)
organization/movement of hay bales (sometimes up high)
tilling for planting
movement of barn pen/goat bedding (this is the hardest one)

As I've been researching and reading, I'm seeing that horsepower is probably #1 on the list followed by the weight of the machine as #2. My husband tends to focus on the cost of something even if it cannot do a job perfectly - he would rather save money. Funny bit on that is that he isn't the one that does about 90% of the tasks (think city slicker). I'm more concerned with the ability to take care of those tasks listed above but cost is also a factor in my world too. I want the best of both worlds - affordable but enough machine to do the tasks needed. But again we don't have a dang clue so he's not wanting to go overboard when the needs aren't big time farming and I'm afraid of paying for a machine that won't do what we need. We do have access to a very old tractor that would need significant work to get it running and likely new tires. It's a 1949 Ford 4N but I don't think a loader can be used with this.

So all of that in mind - please help narrow down what we should be looking at. Here are some that seemed to possibly be options. I feel like I could spend a lifetime researching and never make a decision without info from people who have handled tractors...I'd so appreciate your input. Also to consider that we would likely be looking at needing a tractor with a loader and the ability to use attachments: snow plow, angled blade for driveway, forks, possibly conveyor for hay storage, tiller the width of tractor, bush hog.

John Deere 430 (used 2002 model, no cab, 1600 hours, fork blades, snow plow included)
Kioti CS2520
Yanmar SA series
Mahindra emax 20S
John Deere - something newer like a 2025R
John Deere 1026R (used 2012 model)
Kubota BX2380 or BX2680
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #2  
The first thing to check is your resources - money, knowledge and time.
Can either of you wrench on a tractor? Or do you have someone nearby that can fix it quickly?
Can your critical tasks be delayed because of minor problems?
If you can't fix simple problems reliably you may need newer equipment and dealer support.

It can be a long process finding the right tractor. But fall is a good time to start looking.
Go to at least your 3 nearest dealers and get some sitting in the seat type experience.
All the tractors you list would be useful, but to me the BX's are basically glorified lawnmowers, like my B7610.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #3  
1st question would be; who is going to work on w/e you purchase?
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#4  
1st question would be; who is going to work on w/e you purchase?
I would likely be the primary, and my husband would be the secondary.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#5  
The first thing to check is your resources - money, knowledge and time.
Can either of you wrench on a tractor? Or do you have someone nearby that can fix it quickly?
Can your critical tasks be delayed because of minor problems?
If you can't fix simple problems reliably you may need newer equipment and dealer support.

It can be a long process finding the right tractor. But fall is a good time to start looking.
Go to at least your 3 nearest dealers and get some sitting in the seat type experience.
All the tractors you list would be useful, but to me the BX's are basically glorified lawnmowers, like my B7610.
Our tasks can be delayed, we have someone or we would need to have a dealer. Thank you for the advice of sitting in multiple tractors and the input of the BX's. I appreciate that.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #6  
The one task that may require a larger tractor loader is your hay bale jobs. If you're referring to stacking large round bales, that will dictate a substantial machine. If you're talking small squares, then practically any loader tractor will be adequate.
The remaining stated tasks can be chipped away at with a smaller tractor and appropriately sized implements.
I prefer having a larger tractor than I may really need to get jobs done faster, and having fewer limitations. Most folks here recommend getting a slightly larger tractor than you think you'll need, and I am in that camp. My personal opinion is that a 30-40hp tractor is a good size for brush hogging, loader work, plowing, and tree handing on a property such as you describe.

On a related note, definitely consider the following:
Get a tractor with a loader and SSQA .
For dealing with dead wood, get front 3rd function hydraulics.
If money allows, a grapple makes working with wood much easier.

Happy shopping!
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #7  
First thing, go to every dealer that is within whatever you consider a reasonable driving distance. Look at, set on any and all tractors that they have, just because tractors are cool. :cool:

From there start asking questions.
If you want to get these tasks completed in a reasonable time, you should be looking in the 40-60hp frame size range. Yes you can get things done with the smaller tractors, but how much time do you want to take to get things accomplished? With this size of tractor, you can get a decent amount of work done in a reasonable time frame IMO.

You need to have a budget in mind, or all the help in the world may not help you. And a realistic budget, something that you can afford. Don't say $30k and then end up spending 100K, or all you can allot is $20K. All that has happened in that scenario is a whole lot of everyone's time has been wasted. If it's low, then people can recommend good used equipment. If it is a bit higher, then you can start considering newer or even new equipment.

Good Luck. :)
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #8  
Where in Michigan ? If close by, I can show you hands-on for all of your needs. Same as mine & a friends. Brighton & Stockbridge area.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #9  
Good Evening RVivian,
You have about 3 acres more property than me. I have been taking care of my property with an almost 40 yo Massey Ferguson ! My tractor is only 32 hp, it is fwd, but I wish I had a bit more hp. I cut 7 or 8 acres with a 5 ft bush hog and at times I wish I had a 40 hp machine that would run a 6ft mower. I also maintain 800 ft of DW. As one of the other posters mentioned, a front grapple can be very handy working at clearing brush and other wood related chores. My recommendation would be at least a 40 hp machine for what you have described so far ! There are also a lot of good used equipment out there, I bought my Massey 22 years ago for $6000 , and it only had 1300 hours on it. So far this machine has served me well !

Best of luck in your hunt for a tractor that suits your needs !!
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #10  
i m just like you, a city man 3 years ago purchased 60 acres of property and started from scratch.
Here what i learned. you need about 40HP tractor or larger frame 25HP (Branson/TYM). My Branson 2515R is a lemon i have bad experience, but no one else had. So, you might consider. I bought this because even it is only 25hp it performs like other manufacturers 40HP in terms of weight, lifting capacity etc. After my warranty runs out i can tune it to 35-37HP in 10 minutes.

In terms of saving, i havent found any need for a 3rd function nor for grapple to pay such money. Yes, it is convenient, but not so much to drop 3-4K. What i found really helpful is the rear remotes to control box blade or angle grinder. It was $700 installed myself.

What are the most used attachments:
1. Front Loader, has to be SSQA
2. Backhoe, I dont understand why no one mentioned it, it is the second or first used attachment. I use it sooo much!
3. Forks, also can be called poor man's grapple, so many uses
4. Box blade
5. Rotary cutter(bush hog/ brush cutter)
6. Tiller, i dont need one, but if you have garden it might be useful, might not.

I bought my 2515R four of the above no bush hog and no tiller with loaded tires for less than $25K, Remember, you do not pay taxes since you have more than 10 acres

And my advise, buy ones cry ones, buy something new, as my father always was saying: "i'm not so rich to buy in someone's trouble". PPl usually do not sell good stuff.

Only my limited experience and $0.02
 
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