Rookie tractor buyer neds advice

[Martin Roper]

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.

I would recommend older, used, smaller agricultural tractors, Ford, Massey, John Deere etc, they will have more power (particularly if considering a flail), more stability and far more robust than the compacts which I consider for home use only plus not plastered with electronic junk which will give trouble meaning a visit to the dealer before you can even move it. Flail over rotary mower, I have both and the rotary has disappeared in the brambles, the flail takes more power and slightly slower but the finish is so much better. Good luck.

 

[Sid Post]

OP states he needs a cab due to Asthma. That will rule out most older AG tractors in his size range and leaves him with mainly newer utility tractors as options.

Yes, you can get good deals on older cab tractors but, the vast majority of them will be massively oversized for the OP's needs.

 

[paulsharvey]

OP states he needs a cab due to Asthma. That will rule out most older AG tractors in his size range and leaves him with mainly newer utility tractors as options.

Yes, you can get good deals on older cab tractors but, the vast majority of them will be massively oversized for the OP's needs.

As someone who doesn't have Asthma, I was assuming he could tough it out a few times a year for the heavy work, and have a small, new, cab machine for the day to day stuff.

There really are some options in 35-45hp, cab, with a couple impliments in the $40k range; and then that's a single machine for all tasks.

 

[ChubbyButtNinja]

As someone who doesn't have Asthma, I was assuming he could tough it out a few times a year for the heavy work, and have a small, new, cab machine for the day to day stuff.

There really are some options in 35-45hp, cab, with a couple impliments in the $40k range; and then that's a single machine for all tasks.

I would pay a week. I can't even get on the riding mower for more than 15 minutes without masking up.

 

[ChubbyButtNinja]

I am so incredibly grateful for everyone's help.

As much as I want to support my local LS guy, he does not do a great job communicating and can't produce the actual tractor I would buy so that angle is fading.

I got a chance to sit in a TYM 574 and it impressed me a lot more than the 3515 they also had. Cash price around for the 574 is about $35k. I have a Kioti DK4220 option at about $36k cash but I do better to invest the $$ and pay a little more to finance at 0% for 84 months. That's where I'm leaning at the moment.

I assume there's a big difference in attachment brands. The Kioti guy doesn't have a lot of Kioti attachments in stock but has Iron Craft and says he can get some others. I think the DK4220 would be okay with a 6 foot cutter, right?

I'm going to search this forum as well, but who has a favorite cutter and box blade brand?

 

[paulsharvey]

I am so incredibly grateful for everyone's help.

As much as I want to support my local LS guy, he does not do a great job communicating and can't produce the actual tractor I would buy so that angle is fading.

I got a chance to sit in a TYM 574 and it impressed me a lot more than the 3515 they also had. Cash price around for the 574 is about $35k. I have a Kioti DK4220 option at about $36k cash but I do better to invest the $$ and pay a little more to finance at 0% for 84 months. That's where I'm leaning at the moment.

I assume there's a big difference in attachment brands. The Kioti guy doesn't have a lot of Kioti attachments in stock but has Iron Craft and says he can get some others. I think the DK4220 would be okay with a 6 foot cutter, right?

I'm going to search this forum as well, but who has a favorite cutter and box blade brand?

IMO, box blade, I would rather a used 6 ft (maybe 7 with that 574) Frontier or other medium duty one, than a brand new light duty. Bushhogs, seems lately people want 75% new price, for some pretty question stuff.

Keep an eye out for a Brown Tree Cutter, 6 ft cutter. They are 5x the attachment of a King Kutter/Bushog, ext. They aren't cheap, but if you're cutting 3"plus stuff routinely, they are the way to go

 

[aesanders]

Woods makes a decent box blade for a medium duty model. They make a lot of OEM box blades as well. Catawba attachments has some pretty nice heavier models. Worth checking out. Just stay clear of the county line models. They are ok for light occasional use, but sounds like you will be needing a beefier model. Several good makes out there though. Just look at weight for a god starting point.

The 4220 will do fine with a medium duty cutter. If you are looking at a heavy duty deep cutter like the larger Bush Hogs or Brown cutters, you will need that 57hp TYM. The Iron craft are decent cutters and reasonable priced.

Those new LS MT2 series tractors are flying off the shelves so not surprised that your local dealer has issues getting one. My local dealer got a big shipment in a few months back and they are all gone and they haven’t gotten many more in. I think that bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor really affected their shipping schedule. There are some good prices on the MT3 series as well. they are comparable size wise to the TYM, and slightly larger than the DK Kiotis’s.

 

[paulsharvey]

Something like this, although far from cheap, when you compare vs a brand new, light-medium duty bushhog, is miles ahead. New, I think it's in the $6-8k range.

Overkill if we are talking grass and not small trees/heavy brush.

 

[aesanders]

Something like this, although far from cheap, when you compare vs a brand new, light-medium duty bushhog, is miles ahead. New, I think it's in the $6-8k range.

Overkill if we are talking grass and not small trees/heavy brush.View attachment 879346

Yes, Brown Tree cutters are awesome. Need a bit of PTO horsepower though to operate one. Probably minimum of 50-60 PTO horsepower (haven’t looked at the specs to confirm though).

 

[paulsharvey]

I know the main direction of this thread is size of tractor; and me and others locked onto the smoothing ground, and future cultivation; However; I don't know that we really discussed what you would be using the tractor for day to day. Are you sure a Box Blade is needed? There is an extensive thread about Box Blade vs Land Plane vs 6 way rear scraper blade. Yes, a box blade is a good tool, but is it the tool for you?

What is the existing brush/trees/undergrowth, or are we 'mowing' with the bush hog. I'm not really a big fan of my flail mower, but for grass/weeds/woody growth under 1", others seem to love them.

Are we building a driveway, grading a driveway, or do you have (or plan to hire) a good all weather drive?

I know people mentioned a grapple. Sure, they are great, but I haven't seen any task mentioned that specifically needs a grapple.