Newbie Sayin Hi and Trying to Figure out what, and who to buy from.

deerslayer303 · Jul 13, 2011

Hello All From Lex. SC,

Let me start by saying the site is great and thanks to all who offer your freetime and knowledge to helping folks like me. I am new to the site and to tractors. I live on a small lot with a privately maintained road that I need to privately maintain. Only because I can't get my cheap neighbors to pitch in for motor grader service, so I will buy a tractor and scrape the road ONLY to my driveway hehe j/k. That and I lease my own hunting land, I probably have all together about 700 acres that need tending too. So I'M SHOPPING YAY! Now I have ALWAYS LOVED and Wanted a FORD 8N. So for the price I would pay for a nice restored 8N I have also been looking at newer diesels in about the same hp range as the 8N. I live about 10 miles for Rinehart Tractor and Supply in Salley SC, but after reading you guys' reviews of them I think I will stay away. I also found these guys Tractor parts, Tractor tires, Mini Trucks, mini truck accessories, mini truck tires, mini truck wheels, used compact tractors, heavy equipment parts, three point kits, tractor manuals They claim the refurb the Yanmars here in the U.S not in Vietnam and they say they install ROPS etc. Have any of you dealt with these guys? Anyway any advice is greatly appreciated.

Take Care,
Shawn

TripleR · Jul 13, 2011

Shawn, it sounds as though you have a very nice setup as far as land goes. I personally stay away from refurbished equipment, but will buy used. With as much land as you have to maintain, I would be looking at something bigger and more powerful than an 8N equivalent and of course I would want 4WD and a FEL, sorry I cant be more specific.

acme97 · Jul 13, 2011

What besides the road will you be doing? Is the land mostly for hunting with trails etc? You might want to consider a grapple on your FEL to assist in moving things (trees, stumps, rocks etc). I agree on looking for something bigger the 8N. Do you need Cab? Want a Kubota L35? Thinking of getting rid of mine.

PapaPerk · Jul 13, 2011

If you are buying used stick with Ford, John Deere, or Kubota. If you want a big tractor 40 hp+ get Deere or Ford. You can buy a nice "farm grade" John Deere for 8 to 10k. Ford also made rugged tractors. I would look at a Diesel and stay away from the antique 8Ns. Get something maybe from the 60s to early 80s.

I would certainly stay away from Chinese tractors and all the other junk out there. Keep it simple.... what do the farmers around you buy? What do they use and how long have they had that brand of equipment. If you are buying new... Deere or Kubota. Kubota for sure if less than 45 hp.

Good luck!

deerslayer303 · Jul 13, 2011

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I will mainly be doing road maintenance at the house and at the deer farm, along with preparing and planting food plots. As far as what the farmers around here have? Well this is Deere and Massey Ferguson country out here. I went and looked at a nice 2040 farm grade deere this afternoon. Man that thing is built like a tank I believe it was mid to late 60's. I'm definately not looking at a new one, I have to spend less than 10K or SWMBO will make me LIVE on the tractor :thumbsup: I think I will buy from this place though (Fogle's Farm Machinery, Neeses SC) They are super helpful been in business since the 60's and come highly recommended from the locals here. I also saw a MF 165 today too, I also liked that one, but man I'm baffled to be honest, I just don't know enough about what to look for as I've NEVER owned a fractor before.

TripleR · Jul 14, 2011

Is your property flat, rolling, steep hills?

It would be hard to go wrong with a good used John Deere, Massey Ferguson, IH, Case, Ford etc. Since JD and MF are predominent in your area they will probably be easier to come by.

Good luck

PapaPerk · Jul 14, 2011

Deer,

That John Deere 2040 is a size I would recommend. Of course if you want a loader and need to drive over steep hills, etc... it may not be the right tractor. In that case you would want 4wd and a roll bar.

But if you're just grading a driveway, etc it would be an awesome machine.

One other question. Are you hauling your new tractor to your hunting land? If you have to transport the tractor on the road then the size of the tractor is going to be an issue depending on your hauling equipment.

deerslayer303 · Jul 14, 2011

Yeah I will be hauling this tractor around for sure, so that is in my mind also, being as my Truck is only a half ton. I'll just keep poking around and see if I can score one with a bucket too thats in my price range.

deerslayer303 · Jul 14, 2011

Oh yeah and why is it that a tractor needs to be 4wd to have a bucket on the front. I know tracton is good, but is it because the 4wds are heavier in the front?

mjncad · Jul 15, 2011

Welcome DS303:

4WD gives you much needed extra traction for digging in the dirt or scooping up a load of rock. On my little rig, I sure can tell the difference in digging/scooping ability if I forget to engage 4wd. 4WD is also better when it comes to maneuvering on hills more safely.

Unless you have a crap-load of rear ballast, a full bucket is going to make your tractor's rear end light. With 2WD only going downhill with a loaded bucket and a light rear end; if you lose traction, you lose braking ability. Your only recourse is to drop the bucket to the ground ASAP.