Rookie tractor buyer neds advice

[Richard3]

Hi. I’m new to tractors but am getting close to buying one. I am a total rookie.

Situation: Have somewhat accidentally ended up with six acres to maintain. Was initially going to get a subcompact and rotary cutter, but have felt like I should try to redeem the land and not just stare at shorter weeds on it. The land is “flat” but there are a lot of bumps and small (3-4 foot) elevation changes that I will try to level out some. I have asthma and need a cab, but our needs seem modest for the six-acres property where we’re going to try to keep a smallish farm. We don’t know what crops we will plant - we are working with the UGA extension team to figure that out.

I have really liked Kioti and a big dealer gave me a quote on a CK2620 shipped to me. I've looked at and come close to buying used DK models. My local LS dealer has given me what seems like a great quote on the brand-new LS 226. I saw one dealer in Oklahoma has what seems to be a great deal on the TYM 4215 which I'm considering. I have gotten an okay quote on a Bobcat 2535 from a brand new dealer local to me but the attraction there is he's so local and we've done other business before so I trust him. I've visited a couple of JD dealers but their cab models are basically double my quote for the LS. Of course, I like the new tractor warranty but I'd be fine with a used tractor that has a good track record.

I feel like as a total rookie it could be smart to get something bigger and more stable than I need. I can pay cash or finance and am making that decision based on how big the cash discount is.

Budget is max around $40k out the door with my starter implements.

Would also be interested in two supplemental questions:
- What are the no brainer early attachments besides some kind of cutter and a box blade to help with the grading?
- Is a flail mower worth the upgrade over a rotary cutter, or put another way under what conditions would you splurge on the flail mower.

I'm very grateful for any help.

1st, (I am lifelong fan of John Deere). Every John Deere facility has a technical assistant to assist with your every need. Explain your purpose for tractor and they will advise on size, type and attachments needed. And there is nothing like having root rake grapple. Takes a 3rd function but well worth it. I love mine, 5075e, root rake grapple, bucket, stump bucket and brush cutter.

 

[Sid Post]

DON'T BUY A KOREAN TRACTOR!!! THEY DON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY!!!!

Anything to back up this statement? Around me, TYM and Branson (Kukje) tractors are hugely popular and highly recommended.

Kioti is a mixed bag for me with limited experience with my sister's and friend's tractors. They work fine but, the dealer network is spotty locally.

 

[Sid Post]

1st, (I am lifelong fan of John Deere). Every John Deere facility has a technical assistant to assist with your every need. Explain your purpose for tractor and they will advise on size, type and attachments needed. And there is nothing like having root rake grapple. Takes a 3rd function but well worth it. I love mine, 5075e, root rake grapple, bucket, stump bucket and brush cutter.

I grew up on John Deere's and had a strong affinity for them for most of my life. Now John Deere IMHO is a different company with a different focus and new business model. They really focus on commercial ag with farming corporations and the family farmer has been largely abandoned, at least around me.

Sorry, when it takes a lawsuit to repair my tractor ("right to repair") and they killed all the longtime 'family' JD dealerships, they lost me as a customer.

I then found Kubota to be a better solution due to less cost and less proprietary JD only requirements. Then right before COVID hit, my attempt to buy an M5-111 went horribly wrong. Post-COVID, they still couldn't get the transmission I wanted. I now own a MF 5711D and it cost $20,000 less than the M5-111 with an 8-speed transmission and the Massey has a much better loader!

 

[shooterdon]

I well echo the concerns of buying a Kubota or Deere. They are good machines, but you will pay a hefty premium for them.

I have 380 hours on my 2019 LS and that is about average for a hobby tractor user. I saved a lot of money buying Korean "crap" and I have no regrets. My dealer is great and has been outstanding the few times I have needed help. A good dealer has value.

If I was buying again, I would look at the TYM offerings. There is a TYM dealer 12 miles from me and their machines look well made. He sells a lot of them and I rarely see any being serviced.

I have a 40 HP HST and the only time I wished I had gone with the 50 HP upgrade is when pulling a 74" inverted snowblower. With cab and loaded tires (standard on LS), I am over 5000 lbs and weight is a good thing.

I think you will regret getting a 25 HP tractor. One option is to have the heavy leveling work contracted out and then the 25 HP tractor could do a decent job maintaining your property. You can rent a bulldozer in some areas and do it yourself, but a good operator will have the work done in half the time. It does not cost anything to get a quote. Heck a local farmer may want a bit of side money and do it at reasonable cost.

 

[EdZachary]

My Kubota is cheap to run fuel wise, has a front end loader and the diesel has never failed me. My only complaint is getting onto the dang thing takes acrobatic ability to fit my size 14 feet into the step and then cross over and get in the seat.

Same here. My Kubota seems to have been designed for somebody with Itty bitty feets and short little legs.
Mine's an HST so there is next to no room for a big foot on the right hand side to get leverage to get off.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, not bashing any brand, but the budget you have will probably get a 25hp compact in JD or Kubota, with a cab and some starter impliments. That same $40k will fully equipped a 40ish hp TYM, LS, Kioti. It will also get a very nice MF1840M I think. Heck, I saw a local dealer selling a brand new (open station) MF 2860M power shuttle, with loader, for like $38,750. I would fully expect a cabbed MF2860M to be in the range of $55k, but the MF1840M cab should come in around $35k, and leave you 5k for impliments. That buys a Box Blade, Bush Hog, and Tiller, or more if you hunt used stuff.

Didn't catch your location, but I think you referenced UGA, so Georgia. Consider this, there is an absolute ton of used 6/7/8/9ft equipment through out the SE US, that is too small for 'farming' but to big for 'hobby' and you can get some screaming deals on a 3 bottom plow, or a 7/8ft disc. Sure, maybe it's a 4 hour drive to pick it up in Valdosta if your in Athens, but to save $1000 on a impliment....

Where I was trying to go with that; your not going to use a CK2620 or L2501, or TYM264 with a 6 or 7 ft disc. If you go to a DK or higher HP MF1840 or so class machine (TYM357), you open some older but actual agricultural tools to your inventory.

Another option, I haven't seen mentioned, if you really want to do pumpkins or whatever; a small cab machine for every day use; and something like a Ford 4000/MF165/265, or whatever for tillage work?

Edit: I'll add, I'm not really that familiar with the 1980s JDs/IH-Case stuff; came from a Ford/Massey area

 

[paulsharvey]

So; if it helps our OP at all; I started out wanting something like an open station RK37 (think that's the same as a TYM 357), but money and reality didn't fit it. Then almost talked my self into a Sub-compact RK24 (after all, I'm not farming). Then very nearly got a MF1526 or Rk25, the larger sub compact. Ended up getting a Kioti CK2610, after checking everything out. Now, sure it does what I need too; but after moving a couple hundred cubic yards of dirt up and down a hill, there is plenty of times I think, another 10/15 horse power would have been nice. All this, and I'm only on 2 acres (although i do work on another about 4 or 5 acres), and the soil is all very light. sandy soil.

If I had talked my self into that RK25 or worse yet, that RK24 subcompact, or a Massey GC or Kubota BX, I really would have been disappointed.

 

[paulsharvey]

For tires; I have had Ag on my old Kubota, and R-14 on the Kioti. I dont regret the R-14s; but I wouldn't want R4s. I know others love them; I've found on construction equipment, they are OK, cause you have a 18,000 lbs back hoe or loader, they are fine; but on lighter machines, they somehow combine a lack of traction, with a tendency to cut up yard grass.

If you really see tillage in your future, Ags or R-14s are the way I would go.

 

[scootr]

Same here. My Kubota seems to have been designed for somebody with Itty bitty feets and short little legs.
Mine's an HST so there is next to no room for a big foot on the right hand side to get leverage to get off.

And don't even get me started on that goofy treadle pedal with my size 13s

 

[Jaygyver]

It sounds like you don't need to lift -a lot- of heavy stuff and your mainly going to use it for ground engagement so the only other variable would be how much time do you have to do your "farming"?

If you have patience and time then the larger frame 25hp should be fine. It would take a little bit longer. If you want to speed it up and want to have more options for implements then I would get a 30/40hp tractor. You wouldn't be using the whole 6 acres anyway so anything more would just be over kill unless you have the extra money to spend.

You also have to think of where you're going to store the tractor and the implements. Not so much the implements but the larger the tractor the more room you will need. Having a shop or lean-to would be nice to grease or work on it and it would be out of the weather for the long run.
There's also the worse case of a break down, do you have a large enough trailer and tow vehicle to tow it to the shop and it does make a difference in price it the dealer has to send a trailer or a semi to pick it up.

Best case would be to rent the tractor size or brand and see just how much room there is inside while in use and if it will fit your needs.

Just My thoughts...