Suggestions please.......What do I need?

[02_powerstroke]

I have recently purchased 7 acres that my wife and I intend to build a new home on next spring.
I am going to need a tractor to mow about 4~5 acres with. It will also need to be able to clear snow from our gravel drive that will be about 400~500' long.
I am new to the tractor industry and have no idea what make, model and attachments are available or which ones I will need. I'm assuming something with a belly mower and a rear blade?
One other thing.....do any of the manufacturers/dealers offer special financing packages?

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Matt Sullivan
Scipio, In.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I would look for a small frame CUT probably in the 24-26 hp range, a 30hp would not be too much. Take a look and see what dealers are near you, as you are new, you probably want a local dealer provide service if/when needed.

You are doing a reasonable amount of mowing so a tractor with a mid-mount mower (MMM) deck might be nice, it seems that many new folks are more comfortable with MMMs than with Rear Finish Mowers (RFM), I've used both and like both, for mowing around trees and up against structures I find the MMM a little easier. RFM's are great if you need to back under things or down ditch banks, etc.

Sounds like mowing will be high on your priorty list of tasks? Make sure you get R-4 tires, they won't destroy the lawn but have enough traction for some off lawn tasks. Stay away from R-1 tires, those are the farm/agricultural tires and will likely rut your yard.

I strongly prefer a somewhat lighter tractor as it limits the possibilty of leaving ruts in your yard. You are in Indiana like me. That means you probably either have sand or clay. If you have sand, then rutting is less of an issue. If you have high clay content in your soil then stick with a light or medium weight tractor. JMHO.

The Kubota B3030 is a small 30hp tractor, with all the deluxe features that would suit your needs as being small but modestly powerful. It has enough guts to do some plowing on your drive and can pull a box blade to keep the driveway in good shape. It is not a cheap tractor, Kubota makes a similar tractor that has fewer features. John Deere, New Holland and Case all make nice machines in the 24 to 30hp range and if dealers are in your area check them out. Case (Farmall) and New Holland tractors are virtually identical and made by Case-New Holland Corp. Don't discount some of the smaller brand machines if you have a good dealer in your area.

You'll probably be happier if you limit your tractor choices to machines that have a hydrostatic transmission, it is very similar to a car with an automatic transmission. "HST" units are also easier and faster to use when mowing so it will save you some time too.

When you push the snow, you'll probably find it easier to turn the blade backwards and push the snow in reverse.

Implements you will want to look at: ASSUMING A 30hp tractor...
-- MMM or RFM for mowing. I'd opt for a 72" MMM.
-- A 5' "box blade" for dressing the driveway after it starts rutting (if the drive is new and well built, you might not need this for a couple years)
-- A 6' rear blade. Spend a little bit more and get one that Tilts, Swivels and Offsets. You will never regret the extra $75 that it costs for the added features. All blades swivel, few Tilt & Offset. "Midwest" makes a very nice one at a great price.

If you opt for a 24 to 26hp tractor, the implement sizes would drop one size (60" MMM, 4' box blade, 5' rear blade).

Several brands currently offer attractive financing. I believe Kubota & New Holland still are offering 0%? But the financing deals change every couple of months so you'll want to talk to dealers. Also check out the manufacturers websites, they sometimes list their financing specials.

 

[JClark]

Matt,

Compact utility tractors starting at about 17 pto hp would suit your needs. Get MFWD and HST for sure and spend a lot of time looking and researching. You will need to ask and answer a lot more questions than you have so far. Like what kind terrain? Flat, hilly, smooth, rough, wet, dry, trees, bushes, pasture, brush, ditches, gravel, pavement, etc. Make sure you get to test drive a tractor set up with the implements you want. And most importantly, pick your dealer carefully.

 

[BigAl]

Matt ,
Kioti was offering some great financing when I bought my DK45 last year . I paid cash and think I got a little better deal because of that . A DK45 is more than you need but they make a lot of different HP sizes and transmission options . I sure have liked mine and would buy from Kioti again .
Big Al

 

[KiotiJohn]

I would agree that you need a tractor with enough HP to run a good sized mower or you'll be all day cutting 4-5 acres. I'm not sure if you're going to be brush cutting them or finish mowing, but you want to be able to run at least a 5' brush cutter, or finish mower. My recommendation would be at least a 25 HP machine. Kubota, Deere, Case/New Holland all have something you could use in that range. Kioti's LK3054 (mechanical shuttle shift only) would be good if you can use a rear finish mower (RFM), but if you want a Mid Mount Mower (MMM), you could go with the CK25 or 30, with the 30 being preferable, available in HST or synchronized shuttle.
In many areas, the Kioti will be less expensive and will include some features as standard, not options. Mahindra also makes good tractors with smaller price tags, and they have HST and shuttle machines available as well.
Bob's suggested implements would do you just fine. If you need to do the snow, you'll probably want the back blade first if you can't buy both back and box blades at the same time. A medium duty brush cutter of at least 5' and probably a 6' finish mower would do you fine with 30HP.
Kioti is still offering some 0% financing or cash back up to $1000 depending on model bought. Other brands also offer similar packages. John

 

[BigAl]

Nicely said John ! This is exactly why I read TBN to get this type of help and advice .
Big Al

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Nicely said John ! This is exactly why I read TBN to get this type of help and advice . )</font>
Thanks Al.

 

[02_powerstroke]

Thanks guys....I can't believe how helpful people are on here!

Matt

 

[sweettractors]

Matt, Just curious, How did our bids compare to your local dealers pricing?--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC
Canmer and Munfordville, Ky

 

[willywildes]

with grading the drive and landscaping chores on the horizon get a top and tilt kit its $800 to1000 installed but in MHO if your going to spend the money on a tractor you cant do with out it for setting grades. good luck.

 

[02_powerstroke]

Mr. Sweet,
I haven't actually gotten any other bids yet, I have been talking to some friends and getting their opinions on what to buy as well as checking out info on this site. At this point, I think that I'm going to visit a couple of local dealerships and get their opinions and prices.

By the way, thanks for responding so quickly to my questions regarding the Kioti tractors!

Matt Sullivan

 

[RalphVa]

Check out the weights of tractors when going from mentioned 17 hp @ PTO up to 30 hp. In JD, for instance, when you go from 17 hp @ PTO up to nearly 30 hp, the tractor weight doubles. To me this is a recipe for gouging up your lawn.

My JD 4010 with very large rear turf tires @ 12.5" wide puts deeper tracks in the lawn than my dual-tired Gravely tractor which is near about 400 #. I'd hate to see what tracks a 2900 # tractor (next frame size weight to get approx. 30 hp) would make.

My neighbor bought a JD 4310 with 5' brush hog, FEL and rear blade for his 5 acres and to maintain their approx. 400 long gravel road. As I mentioned, his tractor is more than twice the weight of my JD 4010. He didn't know anything about tractors. Think they talked him into the big hp model. You're talking about another $5,000 for going up that one frame size.

I don't mow with the 4010. A 2210 would be better for this (it comes with basically the same attachments available as the 4010, including a rear blade but has a better mower height adjustment, but no cruise control that's on the 4010). I bought the 4010 with a 4' brush hog (LX4) and FEL and plan to get a carryall for the 3pt and will use the FEL, carryall and Gravely cart on it to tote stuff down to my veggie garden 100' down hill. For mowing, my Gravely and Lawn Boy do the approx. 1/2 acre in front and behind the house.

I question the need for folks to maintain and mow more than a 1/2 acre or so of grass. Wouldn't it be better as a meadow or an orchard or almost anything else but just grass? I'm disappearing grass with more trees and shrubs. Presence of these make it difficult to use a big tractor to mow around them.

Ralph

 

[ALBALD1]

Generally, when you talk about hp. are you talking tractor hp or pto hp.

 

[btolle]

Consider how much of the land you are going to mow regularly.

In my case I have a Craftsman 42", 21 HP, riding mower ($1,700) I use in the yard and a Kubota B7510 ($12,000 with front end loader + 4' bush hog for $800) I use to clear and bush hog the rest of approximately 3 acres with. I also have a box blade (about $400) to level with. For 7 acres you may want something a little bigger than the B7510 (21 HP) and a 5' bush hog. Depend on how often you are going to mow the entire acreage. I mow sporadically but never more than once a month.

I doubt you really want to mow 7 acres of lawn every week or 10 days unless you are retired and really bored! If you do you will need a zero turn diesel mower.

Bill Tolle