Buying Advice Small tractor advice

[shortthrow50]

You need a 3x20 for 20 acres at least. Your gonna wind up losing money and trading up to a 3x20 in the future if you get anything smaller. I'm thinking I should've stepped up to a 4x20 on my 10 acres. I keep having unforeseen jobs I want to do pop up.

 

[murphy1244]

You need a 3x20 for 20 acres at least. Your gonna wind up losing money and trading up to a 3x20 in the future if you get anything smaller. I'm thinking I should've stepped up to a 4x20 on my 10 acres. I keep having unforeseen jobs I want to do pop up.

You need a 4x20 to cut grass?

 

[cmore]

In addition to JD would recommend u look into Massey Ferguson, Kubota, New Holland and Mahindra tractors. U might find one of those that fit your needs better.

 

[Beaglenut]

After reading all the responses so far, it looks to me like the key question (which many have specifically stated) is whether an all-in-one machine is really going to be what I want long term for both mowing and doing real "tractor work" on a property the size we're buying. Right now it sounds like the answer from pretty much all of the responses is a resounding NO. Since there's no question I'll need to mow grass, that has to be my first priority. I think that puts the x749 back to the top of the list, with a "wait-and-see" being my decision on a tractor. I'd still be looking at buying a tiller for it and I guess that means some weights on the front for balance along with a trailer of some sort. Then I can live on the place for a while and decide whether I want to join the "big tractor" crew after that. Make sense?

 

[joshuabardwell]

After reading all the responses so far, it looks to me like the key question (which many have specifically stated) is whether an all-in-one machine is really going to be what I want long term for both mowing and doing real "tractor work" on a property the size we're buying. Right now it sounds like the answer from pretty much all of the responses is a resounding NO. Since there's no question I'll need to mow grass, that has to be my first priority. I think that puts the x749 back to the top of the list, with a "wait-and-see" being my decision on a tractor. I'd still be looking at buying a tiller for it and I guess that means some weights on the front for balance along with a trailer of some sort. Then I can live on the place for a while and decide whether I want to join the "big tractor" crew after that. Make sense?

As much as I'd like to encourage you to get a big tractor, this sounds like good sense.

 

[firefighterjrm]

Whoa Beaglenut, I don't think any one is saying in all in one sub or compact tractor is the wrong way, I think everyone is saying way your options, I can not comment very well on the X749 but to say I have seen them at the dealership and looked at the price. With that being said look at the price and then compare to the 1 seris the 2 seris and the 3 seris, from the prices I have seen on the X749 dropping a couple more grand and financed over period of time is not a whole lot and you will do better with a sub compact-compact tractor. The only thing I will tell you about the drive over deck is like I said before, the price of that and set up you could get a decent JD lawn tractor which would give you lawn mower to cut grass and a tractor to do your other work but then again thats just me. I know from the past it can be mind boggling when you pull up to the big green store and you see ALL the nice little toys out there on the lot and trust me I have been there but go there knowing what uses you need plus FUTURE needs trust me look to the future too, at the end of the day the dealer will sell you anything you want.... I think for the size of your land you will be selling your self a little short on a X749 and at some point you will want to upgrade or buy another tractor. Here is what I think 1. Figure out a budget how much money do you want to spend. 2. Figure out what you are going to do with your machine now and Possibly down the road. 3. Go to the dealership look at the different machines and get one that fits you best. Trust me when I say this I think there is alot of people on here that will tell you that you will find more and more uses for you sub-compact-compact tractor and it is an investment. I hope this helps

 

[shortthrow50]

You need a 4x20 to cut grass?

No you idiot. Read the last sentence. Unforeseen jobs I want to do that will be coming up.

600 foot of driveway. New horseback riding ring. Excavate for equipment barn into side of hill with retaining wall. That's just for starters by next summer. List goes on and on more I look around my property will be starting late winter or next spring when I have more time

 

[meburdick]

This recommendation seems completely over the top. What are you basing that on? I have a 2520 with a 62D On Ramp deck, and that thing is absolute overkill for my 1 acre of property. The only reason I bought a machine "that big" was to get the FEL capacity of well over 1,000 pounds because I move firewood in log lengths and stacked on pallets.

The 1026R is a well-rounded machine that will do a lot. If you don't need a loader, don't get one. If you decide in the future that it's useful, add it then (my absolute, hands-down most used function on my tractor is lifting / moving with my pallet forks).

Ballast the rear tires for extra stability and traction when pulling, and you'll be able to do just about any basic task you need. Adding a loader with a bucket would give you a means to move snow when necessary, too.[/QUOTE



The 2720 is a good choice for twenty acres the OP mentions. For one acre I doubt I would have more than an x320 and a cart. Lots of new property owners start out thinking they will just mow the lawn around the house but soon they usually want to get more involved with the whole place and are on TBN looking to trade up which is costly. Better to get it right the first time.

While the OP indicated he has 20 acres, he also indicated he's only interested in directly caring for about 3 of them... And most of that will be able to be addressed with something like a rear finish mower. Brush hog work he's looking at contracting out, and his possible needs for a loader are not necessarily solid as of yet.

Now... With that said...

The 2720 is an excellent machine (as is the 2520 - little better hydraulics on the 2720 and a little more engine HP). And its loader capacity is double what the 1026R will deliver (the 2320 is somewhere in between what the 2520/2720 and the 1026R). My posts have thus far been essentially "food for thought" type things to help the OP consider what additional things he could potentially do with a machine. But, for his stated purposes in the first post, the 1026R is more than capable.

 

[Beaglenut]

OK everybody please get tunnel-vision for a second and just think about mowing. Would the x749 really be significantly better than the 1026R for just for that one task? Looks to me like the price for the 2 would not be much different after adding a mowing deck. I've been watching Utube videos (amazing how many there are) and the quick connect / disconnect feature on the 1026R looks better, and even with the 4-wheel steer it looks like I'm still going to need a weed-trimmer around trees after mowing with the x749. Again please just think about mowing - I was thinking the x749 would be alot better but now I'm beginning to wonder.

 

[meburdick]

Advantages to the dedicated mower would be smaller size for greater maneuverability and tighter mowing against obstacles. Aside from that, I doubt you'll find any real-world difference.

I sold my riding mower and bought a mowing deck with my tractor (at 3x the cost) because I wanted one machine for everything. Storing the extra machine is a downside detractor for me.

 

[firefighterjrm]

Beagle, just quick looking at the priceing between the 749, 1026r and 2320 they are in the same park once you add the deck so with that being said I would go with 1026r or the 2320 both are great little units and opens up so many more options down the road for you. When I had my 2320 I used it with the drive over deck and the turning radius on it was great either way you still are going to have bust out the old weed trimmer. I know with my drive over deck it cut great and went through it like a champ. Remember the pricing you see on John Deere's web site is the MSRP not the real price when you narrow it down to what you want get a price check on here there are alot of people that can give you the going price's. John Deere is offering 0% intrest on the 1 seris for 60 months rite now which is nice it may free up a little money for you to get some extra impliments. As I have stated go the dealer get in the seat and ride it around see what fits you. With the 0% intrest on the 1 seris I would consider getting the FEL and rotitiller thrown in you can't beat no intrest and then you have a couple extras which sounds like down the road in the near future you can use. Keep in mind do NOT over load your tractor with to big of impliments get what is suggested for that size and PTO. Like I said in the past for no more of the price difference between the the three listed above I would go with 1026r or 2320 it gives so much more options.

 

[murphy1244]

No you idiot. Read the last sentence. Unforeseen jobs I want to do that will be coming up.

600 foot of driveway. New horseback riding ring. Excavate for equipment barn into side of hill with retaining wall. That's just for starters by next summer. List goes on and on more I look around my property will be starting late winter or next spring when I have more time

Idiot???/ Your the one with no front end loader!!!! Idiot!!!

 

[meburdick]

The 2x20 machines with the 200x / 200cx loader are capable of a couple hundred more pounds of lifting capacity than the 1026R. If you're buying into the 2000 series for lift capacity increase over the 1026R, I wouldn't get the 2320. In fact, a big part of why I have a 2520 and not a 2320 is specifically because I use it with the forks to move pallets stacked with firewood.

A big part of the expense of a 1026R is due to the drive-over autoconnect deck (which the 2000 series doesn't have). The dollars on a 2x20 go into stiffer / heavier frame, better hydraulic pumps (higher fluid rates and capacities), and things like the auto-park loader.

The 1026R is a great blend of riding mower, lawn tractor, and SCUT. It suits homeowners with good-sized pieces of land quite well. If you need more of a CUT because the 1026R isn't enough, I would go to the 2520 at a minimum.

 

[XSKIER]

Idiot???/ Your the one with no front end loader!!!! Idiot!!!

:cool2: that's the best one I've read in a while. It keeps me coming back day after day.

 

[murphy1244]

:cool2: that's the best one I've read in a while. It keeps me coming back day after day.

Glad to keep you happy

 

[mvwicker]

Howdy, neighbor from the north! Here are some more suggestions:

For your immediate needs, consider an ATV with a pull-behind finish mower like a Swisher. For food plots you could add a small disk harrow. For the snow plowing you could get a front blade.

The reason I use a tractor (35hp CUT) is to maintain 1.5 miles of gravel and dirt roads with "ground engaging implements." The FEL is needed to move gravel around. Absent these operations, an ATV would have served me just fine.

 

[shortthrow50]

Idiot???/ Your the one with no front end loader!!!! Idiot!!!

What are you, some kinda mongaloid moron? Why are you in the john Deere forums anyway. Don't be mad you bought that piece of junk tractor. I'll bet you make payments on it too. All bull aside, stop coming into this thread without useless info. Your first post in here did nothing for the op. it was just a jealous post toward another's useful post. go fall for another scam tractor for sale that only a complete idiot would fall for.

 

[murphy1244]

Allll poor ST, Can't afford to buy a fel. What you have is a very expensive grass cutter that you will be paying on for the next 5 years you Idiot you....
All bull aside Why the insults???

 

[shortthrow50]

Allll poor ST, Can't afford to buy a fel. What you have is a very expensive grass cutter that you will be paying on for the next 5 years you Idiot you....
All bull aside Why the insults???

This ends right here. Ok now back to the topic at hand.

 

[EdC]

Beagle
If it is between the 749 and the 1026r then in my uneducated opinion you will get more capability with the 1026r. Whatever you end up buying though we sure like pictures.:thumbsup: Keep us posted will you?