Buying Advice Seeking purchase advice - 200+ acres - tractor vs skid steer

[ovrszd]

Tractor first.

Then if you see a specific task that requires a CTL, rent one.

CTLs are expensive to buy, expensive to run and very limited on what they can do when compared to a tractor.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Post and run?

 

[TJP89]

From what I can tell, skidsteers are great for a limited set of jobs. Haying, mowing, hauling etc are not among them. Brushclearing, snow removal, farm chores, all can be done with a tractor. Here it seems that the jack of all trades tractor is needed, and if specific jobs come up, rent or buy later the specialized equipment needed. Also, 100HP+ seems a little over kill. 75HP+ will do all that with no problem. I'd get a loader with it, likely a grapple too. That will be the best tool (and most expensive BTW) you will ever get, and you will have it for a long time I'd imagine. Also, 75HP gives you about 65HP on the PTO, which will run a 12ft batwing no problem.

 

[DML25]

Thanks for all the great feedback - very helpful. Tractor sounds like the right choice, so we will look further into our options there. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond.

 

[jeff9366]

We are looking at a 100+ hp tractor or skid steer (with track).

Skid steers do not have a Three Point Hitch, nor large rear wheels to provide mechanical advantage when working dirt with implements.

 

[foreman Etexas]

My opinion would be go with 80/90hp 4wd with loader then a smaller second tractor could even be 2wd without loader for smaller chores. Mine is kinda backwards from that but just the way it worked out but I have 3. When haying its nice to have another tractor around to at least rake with and for around the place it is just nice say to leave post hole digger on it while your doing a project and not have to worry about needing that tractor. My two Kubota where purchased new but I found a New Holland for good price that's 100hp and 2wd,it's only duties are to pull a 15ft batwing and the baler but I only have 14,000 in it. You don't have to buy new but I liked the dependability of new. Maybe the second tractor could be a used backhoe,they have a lot of uses. I have a small dozer it was useful but needs new UC and I will probably just end up selling it,most my projects I just hire someone to come do it and be done. Good luck with everything

 

[abeal]

I have a similar property - 200 acres in the mountains (Highland County) of VA. Agriculture is limited to grazing cattle but I have 3 Kubotas. A M5640, L3200 and a BX1860. The BX is strictly for mowing grass. The M has a loader and pulls an 8' bush hog. Tractor is mostly used for mowing - not sure if I've really ever used the loader. The L has a loader and a 5' bush hog. This tractor by far gets the most use. Mowing, driveway work, food plots, post holes, and everything other little chore. It's great for just about everything but large scale mowing.

With that said it's difficult to find one tractor to do everything when there are so many different chores.

 

[bdog]

I love my tracked skid steer and use it far more than I do my tractor though there are things like plowing & planting that the skid steer can't do. For stuff like dirt work, pushing brush, digging post holes, etc the skid steer will run circles around the tractor. The skid steers are slow. Moving across 200 acres will take time at 5-7 mph vs 20+ on a tractor. As to steep terrain and mud it is no problem for the rubber tracked skid steer. I take ours through some crazy terrain and have gone through mud holes that ATV's got stuck in.

If I was in your shoes I would buy both. Maybe get used older models of each instead of one new machine.

 

[roadhunter]

A 130 hp tractor is not going to work well for many of those applications. It's simply way too big and will burn much more fuel than necessary. Too big and clumsy for things like fencing.

My suggestion would be to get a skid steer which will do much of what you are wanting to do and be extremely versatile with so many attachments available. Even attachments you don't use regularly can be rented for specific projects.

For the larger work I would put some numbers together for the estimated time you are going to spend on those specific tasks where a 100+ hp tractor will be necessary. I doubt it makes financial sense so possibly working out something with the neighbor or someone else might make sense as he already has the equipment and implements. For things like haying its takes a much larger piece of property to justify purchasing your own equipment IMO. Easier to let someone else do that so you can focus on other things.

I would not consider a CUT for your application. Compared to a skid steer they are toys for getting work done. Especially anything that requires constant flow hydraulics to operate. You will find that a skid steer is easier to change attachments than a 3 point and the hydraulic power is more useful for things like running an auger while fencing than a PTO. Skid steer gives you down pressure for hard or rocky soils as well as the ability to reverse if you get stuck. Those are huge advantages IMO and there is a reason you rarely see tractors 3 point hitches used on jobsites regularly but you see skid steers on nearly all of them. For things like loading hay or moving dirt a skid steer will run circles around a 100+ hp tractor, not even a contest.

You might find a use for something like this
Toolcat 5600 - Bobcat Company
Or this unique piece of equipment
Toolcat 5600 - Bobcat Company

 

[redman135]

Hello DML25,I recommend you use a tractor as you need a multi purpose machine able to do many things.
New or used low hours? you don't say.
Tractor size: 70-90 hp. 4x4 f.e.l. cab or open station is your call. I drive a 140 hp tractor on hay and silage contracting. You don't need this size. Also I mostly park this tractor for the winter as it is to heavy for the wet ground. It rips the ground up and gives weeds a head start next year.
Loader: get 3rd service as you will probably want to use a grapple. Also self leveling loader , nice but not essential.
4x4: essential on hills. 2 wheel drive is a very poor option in wet hill country
Gearbox, look around, as there are several types. Stay away from JD 20 series IVT gearboxes. Very pricey to repair, nz$6700.00 to do $200 solinoid in gearbox. (you disassemble the tractor )JD 30 series IVT are much much cheaper to repair.
Rear SCV 2 pairs minimum. 3 pairs are better. Be aware that some tractor will only "float" on #1 and not the others. Float on all is best. Sometimes I use all 3 and need float on all 3 at different times.
I also recommend setting the wheels to the widest track for stability and load tyre to. Alternative, use dual rear wheels and load the inside tyres. Better traction , stability and tear up the ground less than single tyres.
Haying: Is specialised knowledge. Best to use a contractor(full job). Alternative: contractor to rake and bale, and you do cutting. ( wait for contractors go/nogo) At 70 -90 hp a 9' mower is about right.
Hay size? regular or large round/ large square?
blade: box blade or 3 way?
just a few things to help you sort out what you want.