Over Thanksgiving, I had a conversation with one of my brother-in-laws that paralells this thread. He's a "city boy" that married into a farm family. His wife (my wifes sister) already owned 22 acres in the boonies when they met. After 4 years of living in town, they're ready to make their big move to the country.
And Mike gets to buy his first ever tractor! Friday afternoon, he sat on one of mine. That marks the first time in his life he's been on a farm tractor. He wants me to help him (1) decide which tractor would best suit him, and (2) help him FIND a deal on that tractor.
Here's what I told him.
First and foremost, with little experience, he wants a SAFE tractor. No antiques with hand clutches, no brakes, and no fenders. Some of what are considered operator convenience items are, in my book, more SAFTEY related than convenience. Those would be; Power steering, hydraulic (wet) brakes, ROPS, good lighting, parking brake, and(in the hands of a relative "newcomer") hydrostatic tranny.
Consider NOTHING without 3-point hitch. (Some older models are still around without)
Diesel is far more economical to operate, lasts longer, and is somewhat safer. (low fire hazard)
OPTIONS; Auxilery hydraulics are almost standard on todays tractors. You can get by without, but you'll regret "getting by" at some point. Front end Loaders are worth their weight in gold. Problem is, they sometimes COST their weight in gold. 4WD isn't required, but its nice. ESPECIALLY in snow or mud. It also allows a smaller tractor to do the job of a larger one in most cases.
Size/Horsepower; There's no substitute for horsepower. Don't go too small. If you're taking care of an established lawn, or just mowing grass, you can get away with small. However, when tacling bigger chores, you need bigger power. That's not to say you need 100 HP. But don't go for the smallest either. To me, I'd be inclined to go 30 HP or bigger. (Personally, I'd opt for something around 45, but that's bigger than most "formula's" indicate you'll need)
Budget; Decide ahead of time just how much you plan on allocating to your "tractor fund". That should cover the tractor itself, any implements you plan on getting, plus some money set aside for routine maint. A GOOD dealer can help you "get in the ballpark" on a budget number for the equipment you'll want.
Dealer; As a newcomer to the game, you'll want a dealer that can walk you through the buying process, keep you on the path to proper care and maint, as well as get you the service you need when you need it. This is probably the trickiest part of the entire process. In most cases, you won't know a bad dealer from good until you're involved with them. I'd suggest finding a few owners in your area and picking their brains. From what I've seen, most tractor owners are quick to share their experiences. (A friendly lot, we are!)
Don't be afraid to ask questions. No matter how basic, or how "dumb" they might seem, ask away. That's the best way to avoid common mistakes.
This isn't rocket science. There isn't "one right and a million wrong" options. Chances are, you can get the job done, and be quite happy with most any brand.
And (excuse my rude-ness) wlcome to TBN! I've only been around here for a few months. It's a great place with an even greater bunch of folks.
If you'd like, send me your checkbook or Visa card, and I'll be more than happy to buy what I think you need! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
