Tractor Sizing Newbie Requesting Advice

Snakebit12 · Mar 4, 2012

Hello everyone,

Long-time lurker, new poster.

My wife and I have recently purchased a 100-acre farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It is 50% woods/50% pasture, hilly terrain. There is a 1/2 mile long gravel driveway with probably a 2% grade. Half of the pasture is fenced and will be managed by the wife's 4-legged lawnmowers. The rest is my responsibility. Some of the unfenced pasture will be used for hay - we have neighbors who will cut/bale in exchange for some of the hay.

Outside of some lawn manicuring, I fear that my reliable Kubota G1800HST is badly over-matched.

4WD is a must (for cars, trucks and tractors in this area). Am thinking of a FEL and a 6' (minimum) mower. We are pretty set on orange..so I would appreciate your thoughts on what size utility tractor I should be targeting.

Thank you in advance - I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

TripleR · Mar 4, 2012

There are a lot of different tractors that will work well on your property. Without looking at the property, my two top considerations would be a GL52/5740 HSTC or M8540 HDC 12/12. I have a 6' cutter on our 5030, but really like how much I can do with the 10' Woods DS1260.

Like I said several others will do, it is just hard to decide without knowing specifics of tasks, weight capacity needed for the FEL and time allowed for these tasks.

wmonroe · Mar 4, 2012

How many acres will you be maintaining with a brush hog? Will you be working in the woods at all, cutting trails, etc? Are you doing any ground engaging work? Do you think you will ever take over the hay making? There is big change in tractor size depending on the answer to some of these questions.

Snakebit12 · Mar 4, 2012

Thanks for the prompt replies.

We are early-retiring (55) so there are no time constraints per se.

Upon further review...I think that the grade on the driveway is more like 4-5%...from reviewing a Google topo map, the elevation rises about 200' from the road to the house via the 1/2 mile driveway. The Valley can get some snow (12' recently) so keeping the driveway passable will be my job. We also have a 13-acre pasture another 200' above the house that will probably be used for the hay.

We have lived on 6-acres for the past 25 years so I am not exactly a "Billy Crystal city-slicker type" but I acknowledge this is a step-change. I would consider taking over the hay production if I knew what I was doing and had the right equipment.

My wife will certainly want some trails cut through the woods for her to ride.

The (2WD) G1800 can handle about 2-3 acres of the property - flat, lawn around the house. It may also be able to knock down the fenced pastures like I do here...weeds once/twice a year since the horses won't eat them. It is flat enough that I am not worried about rolling over - plus I have weights.

That leaves about 25-30 acres of very rolling, unfenced pasture (with some large rocks) for me and a brush hog.

I envision spreading gravel, hauling sawdust to/from the stable, pulling a manure spreader, pulling stumps and drilling a post hole or two...but I don't envision digging dirt per se.

Maybe I should just get some cattle

.

TripleR · Mar 4, 2012

"Retiring":laughing::laughing:"No time constraints":laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

Sorry, but I have been retired four years and my wife about two and we are still looking for all the "spare time", "leisure" I keep hearing about. I do know what you mean though and HIGHLY recommend it especially if you have something to keep you busy.

Based on no haying or heavy work, I would be looking at something along the lines of a L3540 to L5740 with FEL of course and a minimum of two rear remotes. I prefer a cab, but there are lots who need or like open station. And of course your equipment, I like our Land Pride RCR2672, but Bush Hog, Woods and others make good cutters to, some like flail mowers, but I have no experience with them.

Someone with snow can advise you on that, we rarely have any and I just push it off with the FEL; some use a blade and some a blower.

My wife has learned to operate our 5030 quite well, so I really like the HST on anything you get.

You might want to see about renting something for a weekend to establish a point of reference.

Good luck, sounds like a great life.:thumbsup:

Snakebit12 · Mar 4, 2012

I know what you mean...

People have asked me, "How are you going to keep busy?" My reply is that Momma's "Honey-Do" list will be much longer than anything that I prepared for myself at work.

Thanks to you and everyone for your opinions.

NativeSon · Mar 5, 2012

If your going to be working in the woods around trees you might want to forgo the cab. Limbs play havoc on roof & widows. Also a 6 ft bush hog is about as big as you need in the woods.

You are going to find out like RRR sez you will have lots to do, so the more horse power the faster you get to move to the next project. There is no substitute for horse power, and once you figure out how much is enough you may want to jump up to the next level. You don't want to find out after you've gotten your tractor that you wish you had just a little more power sometimes.

Have fun and be safe

Charlie
Quitman, Tx

TripleR · Mar 5, 2012

Yeah, I worked six years past my eligibility date and every time I went to a funeral or retirement party, people would tell me not to retire that I would be bored to death, marriage would fall apart being around my spouse all the time etc.

Of course at that time I was working all day to come home and get on a tractor or grab a chain saw and worked on our properties on weekends.

With as much land as you have, you and your spouse will never run out of things to do and enjoy.

abeal · Mar 5, 2012

Amazing coincidence. My parents just bought something almost identical. In Highland County though or I would have thought you were my parents posting. I think they are closer to a 75% woods mix. The horses will take care of most of the grass but my brother and I just ordered a L3200 for the property. Will do a little bush hogging but mostly just general maintenance (driveways, trails) around the property. The equipment shed is only 14' deep so that also played a role but all we really need is something small. If the need for something large arises we can always borrow from a neighbor. Best of luck with the place!! Beautiful area!!

flusher · Mar 5, 2012

Snakebit12 said:
Thanks for the prompt replies.

We are early-retiring (55) so there are no time constraints per se.

Upon further review...I think that the grade on the driveway is more like 4-5%...from reviewing a Google topo map, the elevation rises about 200' from the road to the house via the 1/2 mile driveway. The Valley can get some snow (12' recently) so keeping the driveway passable will be my job. We also have a 13-acre pasture another 200' above the house that will probably be used for the hay.

We have lived on 6-acres for the past 25 years so I am not exactly a "Billy Crystal city-slicker type" but I acknowledge this is a step-change. I would consider taking over the hay production if I knew what I was doing and had the right equipment.

My wife will certainly want some trails cut through the woods for her to ride.

The (2WD) G1800 can handle about 2-3 acres of the property - flat, lawn around the house. It may also be able to knock down the fenced pastures like I do here...weeds once/twice a year since the horses won't eat them. It is flat enough that I am not worried about rolling over - plus I have weights.

That leaves about 25-30 acres of very rolling, unfenced pasture (with some large rocks) for me and a brush hog.

I envision spreading gravel, hauling sawdust to/from the stable, pulling a manure spreader, pulling stumps and drilling a post hole or two...but I don't envision digging dirt per se.

Maybe I should just get some cattle .