Buying Advice One of many, searching for advice

Bavarian · Oct 11, 2017

@jeff9366, hydrostats are available up to 500 hp. Fendt 1050 for example. It's just a question of the budget.

To the OP, I would check in the 35-50 hp range. Colour doesn't matter. Dealer support is the big factor.

Buying now might give you a bit of a lever to negotiate the price. Dealers want to get rid of the machinery before winter and might be willing to drop a buck more.

Don't max out your budget with the tractor itself, you need attachments and those might add up more than planned.

rScotty · Oct 11, 2017

What you need is some seat time on a 30 hp modern 4wd HST tractor. That would answer a bunch of your questions and a lot more you haven't asked.
But how to get it done? Maybe lease a machine from your local dealer's used machines? At any rate, I'd take your question to a couple of dealers and see what they might offer. That way you get to learn about available tractors and dealers both.
rScotty

airbiscuit · Oct 11, 2017

I agree with those that recommend the 30hp to 5o hp range, however I think frame size is an even better consideration. I wish the industry had "standards" for what they call frame size, but the best example I can give is John Deere

1000 Series - Sub-Compact Utility Tractor 22-24 hp
2000 Series - Small Frame Compact Utility Tractor 25-38 hp
3000 Series - Medium Frame Compact Utility Tractor 25-38 hp
4000 Series - Large Frame Compact Utility Tractor 44-68 hp

Get to a dealer and try out all of the sizes. Visualize yourself on that county road in the drifted snow and think about what you think will work for you. (hint, I don't think it is the first two). There is a big difference in traction between the frame sizes.

edgarrian · Oct 12, 2017

Go to the dealers and play with the tractors. They will certainly let you test them out at their facility. You should go to a bobcat dealer and tryout a tool cat. I also considered this for my needs as well. However price and practical were factors I couldn't get around. Id say this is you want to clean up that area with dead trees quickly then a bigger tractor is in your path. IF its something you don't mind chipping away at then a smaller machine will get it done. Keep in mind todays tractors and loaders are not as stout as they use to be and guys are springing the loaders.

Bavarian · Oct 12, 2017

@airbisquit, you are right. Everybody is talking about HP but not weight which comes with framesize.
I would recommend 3500-4000 lbs of bare tractor weight. Which would point to the JD 4-series. Since the OP wants to have a cab, it's pointing towards the 4R.
A brand sparkling new 4044R might be over the OP's budget.

Dadnatron · Oct 12, 2017

Tractorable said:
Haven't you heard?.....the new rule is 10hp per acre of land. The OP needs a L6060!!......

YES !!!!!

Where is the nearest 800+hp dealer... I am shorting myself by 8X

check · Oct 12, 2017

check said:
Holy smokes, he only has 6 acres! I tend 25 acres, plus another three-quarter acre property with a BX25, and that is more than enough for me.

On the other hand, Dazedandconfused, I just reread your original post, and holy smokes again, I see that you have $68 grand to spend!

You can get A LOT of tractor for that, my fellow Albertan (I grew up in Calgary). So, go big or go home, as they say. Just make sure that whatever you buy can maneuver around the buildings and what not that you have. And read the postings in various threads about front mount versus rear mount snow blowers. I have a rear, and the key reason is that it allows me to use the FEL for pushing back big snowbanks and what not towards the end of the snowy season. On the other hand, some of these newer machines and associated contraptions allow you to detach a front blower very quickly and put the FEL back on, so do check that out for each of the tractors that you are considering.

Do keep us posted. There are many of us who will vicariously enjoy seeing you spend $68,000 on a new tractor!