Newbie - need input & help please

   / Newbie - need input & help please #11  
40hp is a good number.
Hydro for ease of use is good. Shuttle shift would be my preference.
SSQA yes, and forks option

Backhoe would be nice but hey you can suffer without for a while.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#12  
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!
Okay awesome advice thank you!!!!!! This is just hobby farm/country living type workload. Square bales, the occasional dead tree, getting brush under control and tilling overgrown ground to plant.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #13  
Dealer tried to talk me into a 35hp after I told him what I planed to use it for.

I bought a 40hp and glad I did I found more uses for the tractor once I started using it.

One other thing using it in the winter you might want to think about a cab with heater depending on the budget.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#14  
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.
I'm not far - Jackson area.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#15  
Dealer tried to talk me into a 35hp after I told him what I planed to use it for.

I bought a 40hp and glad I did I found more uses for the tractor once I started using it.

One other thing using it in the winter you might want to think about a cab with heater depending on the budget.
Yes the cab part has been a consideration regarding snow removal though out of all the tasks, it's the bottom of the list for need.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#16  
40hp is a good number.
Hydro for ease of use is good. Shuttle shift would be my preference.
SSQA yes, and forks option

Backhoe would be nice but hey you can suffer without for a while.
Okay - many have mentioned the SSQA so I had to look that up and YES I don't want to be fussing around with hard to handle attachments.
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#17  
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
I appreciate all the input - thank you!
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#18  
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 !!
Sounds like the 40HP is what many of you think would get the job done. Thank you for your feedback!!!
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please
  • Thread Starter
#19  
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. :)
And there in lies the problem - that stupid budget. HA!
 
   / Newbie - need input & help please #20  
My wife and I have had a 40 acre hobby farm for 17 yrs now after moving from city. Bought a tractor back in 2008 after seeing we wanted to control some of the 4 acre fields with a brush hog, rottotill a 30 ft x 30 ft garden a couple times a year, do the 100 yds of driveway snow drifts with a snow blower( we live 20 miles north of upper Michigan, in Canada ) and , make some trails thru the bush to a sugar bush and retrieve firewood. Make some swales and culverts for clay hill drainage with FEL and rottotiller.....gravel movements to help family with driveways.....etc etc that is all done with Kubota BX 2660. Just be ready to source or borrow the pto attachments to do your chores at your hobby speed, ( makes it fun not work) and be prepared to do your own maintenance, greasing all the pins etc, ( all easy to learn) do your own oil changes, and leave the rare serious mechanical work to someone else you source over time. TBN is a great tractor info source, but at times some tend to go big HP size because maybe speed is their priority , but hobby farm budget and time can manage with small effective tractors too. Good luck
 

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