Buying Advice Please Help a City Slicker in Buying my First Tractor

[JoltinJoeC]

I have recently purchased 15 acres of waterfront wooded land where my wife and I plan to build a home and retire. I have recently had an access road (not finished) along with a house plot cleared. I have read that if you own land you need a tractor so I'm ready. I know zero about operating. My buddy who has land just down the road from my property has a Mahindra 3325, 2WD with no FEL but with 5' cutter and box blade and has said that I could use his but I want my own.

I would need a tractor, I think for grading, some loading, some small tree knockdown, hauling, along with alot of brush hogging. I have ravines that border each side of my 15 acres that I'm going to want to brush hog. My land does slope down to these ravines. My wife, son, and I will use this tractor.

I have narrowed my research to a Kubota L3800 HST, Mahindra 4025 gear, and Mahindra 3616 Shuttle. All with FEL and 5' cutter (4025 has 6'). I can get the Kubota for $23458, Mah 4025 $22400, and the Mah 3616 for $20000.

I like the HST, turning radius, and smaller size on the Kubota and the price and smaller size of the 3616. I like the larger size on the 4025 because I think I need the weight and wider frame for the slopes but could hurt on the tighter areas that is most of my land.

Everytime I read a review or watch a video on each model, I come away with that model being my decision. I just can't pulled the trigger.

As I am a complete novice, I am pleading for the forum's help on which one to choose.

 

[Bird]

There's a lot of personal preference with tractors, just as with cars and trucks. I did a lot of hay cutting and baling with a big geared tractor (Oliver) and one day baled some hay with an air-conditioned powershift tractor (John Deere), but what I owned was small Kubotas with FEL, brush hog, box blade, finish mower, tiller, etc. The choices you listed would be a no brainer for me; I'd get the Kubota. I like the HST and in my area, I had, and have, good Kubota dealers. You may or may not ever need dealer service or parts, but the availability of such is important to me.

Others may strongly disagree, and that's OK, too. I have a definite preference, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone.

 

[murphy1244]

I would start out with a list of Tractor Jobs. A list and a visit to every brand of Tractor within a reasonable distance. Talk to the Sales people sit and Drive some tractors and peak in at the Service department. And have fun doing this, don't let it become a chore and pick what's not right for you.

 

[Tompet]

Since you stated you have narrowed your search, it sounds like you have made progress in your decision!
Maybe you should take your buddy's offer and borrow his tractor for a few hours to get a feel for what you can do. I do think you will be happier with HST in the long run. Sounds like a nice property!

 

[Utopia Texas]

In my opinion the Kubota line is a better quality than Mahindra. If you want to see a huge selection of Kubota Tractors go to Virnau & Sons in Sealy, Texas. It is a great third generation family operation and their service is A+. On Hwy 36 just north of Sealy towards Bellville. If you are lucky you might get a peek at their warehouses with 500+ antique tractors, automobiles, and military machinery dated from the 1890's to the 1960's.

 

[DB Pilot]

JoltinJoeC,

I have the L3800 and am very happy with it. My dealer never mentioned RimGuard Tire Ballast so I had to go back for that. If you want to move a bucket of dirt wet or dry, you will need the ballast. I like the orange color when working near the road also. For the brush hogging I am working with a gear driven tractor and when working in small areas like near a ravine it is not fun. You want the ability to change direction quick, like with the HST. Also I am on very hilly land and the L3800 is not a problem. Any tractor you get your going to like so I would go for best service and location of the dealer.
If you are going to build you will find more uses for a tractor and FEL than you can believe. Like moving building materials, shrubbery, landscaping, etc., etc.. :thumbsup:

 

[GManBart]

Welcome!

Just by looking at the wide range in capability you have in the three machines listed I can see where you're having trouble. You simply can't compare a 2,500lb machine to a 4,500lb machine and have things make sense. Throw price into the equation, and it gets even more complicated.

For brush hogging work on slopes, especially when you factor in wives and kids running the machine, I think HST will be faster and safer. With a gear machine it's easier to make a mistake and wind up rolling in the wrong direction, and that's when things get ugly.

It appears you may need to settle on the size/capability of machine you need, then think about specific models and compare features.

 

[jeff9366]

I need a tractor for grading, some loading, some small tree knockdown, hauling, along with alot of brush hogging. I have ravines that border each side of my 15 acres that I'm going to want to brush hog. My land does slope down to these ravines. My wife, son, and I will use this tractor.

I think the best tractor purchase decisions are made mostly ignoring 'brands' and concentrating on tractor capabilities and matching them to the tasks you will perform.

With your tasks, wife and son using the tractor too and SLOPES the three firm recommendations I give are for HST transmission, Four-Wheel-Drive and that most useful of tractor options, a Front End Loader. (FEL)

What are you going to do with the land? Have a garden? Pasture/animals? Plant a crop? Orchard? Game food plots?

Bush Hogging does not require too much power because the implement is mounted and has a supporting tail wheel.

Ground contact implements, such as a Disc Harrow and Roto-tiller require more tractor weight to operate satisfactorily and safely.

 

[628pm]

You can't go wrong with a Kubota, I've owned or own 5 kubotas. You might want to also look at what maintenance is needed on each vehicle. To properly maintain your vehicle you should follow their recommendations, it can get expensive especially when changing all of your fluids, but again you pay for what you get. If you don't get a FEL (which I would definitely recommend), be sure and get weights for the front of the tractor if you are mowing ravines, it doesn't feel very good when you are going up an incline and your front wheels feel like they are coming off the ground. Extra rear remotes are well worth the extra cost also. If I bought a new tractor today, I would add the 3rd remote on the front and 2 extra remotes on the rear. Normally cheaper to have it thrown in the deal unless you are able to install the remotes extra yourself.

 

[nybirdman]

Good luck with your search,HST tractors will be much safer for new operators for sure,let up on the pedal and they stop,no need to brake.Standard answer is to "buy" the dealer,as new owners you will need their service and advise.On hills 4WD in these small tractors is a must,I prefer R1(AG) tires and a FEL is a given.Our choice is Kubota and have had good luck with the three we have purchased.