Buying Advice tractor advice/

[Stephen NY]

Am a NY homeowner on 6 plus acres...5 heavily wooded with heavy sapling and thorny bramble overgrowth.

Trying to sort out size and features of a tractor to deal with getting the back usable (clear saplings, dead trees pulled..brush hog to get rid of heavy undergrowth, some chipping)...I'd like to be able to access use that back 5 acres for ATV trails, archery stands, etc..I am not looking to mow all 6 acres...

Currently use a smaller lawn 'tractor' (wheel horse) just for mowing lawn..and atv pushes a snowblade for 125' driveway..am thinking I could consolidate assuming I get enough tractor for the back while still being nimble enough to mow without the tires destroying the finished lawn...

Appreciate any advice..most have said 30hp, etc. etc... but hard to take advice from someone who barely knows more than you . Ive had a few recommend the kubota 2910 (lighter weight yet capable)..I don't have any brand allegiance..would just like to get the right one the first time. Thanks for any help!!

Also should have added (perhaps obvious) that given it would be my first tractor any advice/guidance appreciated...am a bit cautious/concerned about getting both way too much tractor (where its unwieldly) or even worse way too little and not being able to get done what I need to. The back is heavily wooded..used to be an old farm way back..so there are some large rocks...large dead trees..the usually heavily overgrown bit...am just looking to open it up get some use since I am paying the taxes regardless! Thanks again...

 

[jlsmith]

Am a NY homeowner on 6 plus acres...5 heavily wooded with heavy sapling and thorny bramble overgrowth.

Trying to sort out size and features of a tractor to deal with getting the back usable (clear saplings, dead trees pulled..brush hog to get rid of heavy undergrowth, some chipping)...I'd like to be able to access use that back 5 acres for ATV trails, archery stands, etc..I am not looking to mow all 6 acres...

Currently use a smaller lawn 'tractor' (wheel horse) just for mowing lawn..and atv pushes a snowblade for 125' driveway..am thinking I could consolidate assuming I get enough tractor for the back while still being nimble enough to mow without the tires destroying the finished lawn...

Appreciate any advice..most have said 30hp, etc. etc... but hard to take advice from someone who barely knows more than you . Ive had a few recommend the kubota 2910 (lighter weight yet capable)..I don't have any brand allegiance..would just like to get the right one the first time. Thanks for any help!!

Look into the MF1635l. Its a great cut that will work good in the wood and on the lawn. Good clearance for the trails and the weight to handel the job. Not to mention the 0% for 60 months:thumbsup:

 

[Pushing_Tin]

I have 5 acres and started off with a John Deere 2320, after a few years of use I realized that I needed something that was more stout with more hp, so I sold it and bought a JD 3320 which is a much heavier duty machine.

Somebody earlier this week said something to the effect of "never once in my life have I said, WHOA, that's too much horsepower!" :laughing: Better to have too much and not have to use it, than need it and not have it at all.

I bought my tractor in July and all of the manufacturers were still offering 0%.

 

[TripleR]

As much as I like tractors, I believe the "right" size tractor to do your chores is going to significantly surpass what you will need to maintain your property. I would personally check on the price to have someone do it since you don't have the experience to rent a machine and operate it yourself.

Now if you just want to do it yourself, perfectly understandable, AND are in no hurry, all of this can be done with a 25 or so HP along the lines of the Kubota B Series or the equivalent in John Deere, Kioti, MF etc.

You can also get a good used bigger tractor to accomplish your tasks and sell it when you are done and then buy a maintenance machine; lots of options and good luck.

 

[Stephen NY]

Thanks very much for the quick response....so your saying you think a tractor along the lines of a 2910 (30 hp, my sole frame of reference for the moment) is too much after the initial work is done? I have run a tractor a few times at my in-laws place but would not consider myself more than just basically experienced.

You hit the nail right on the head as far as getting someone..its tedious work given its up in my back treeline...anyone you would trust to do it is far too pricey...and I definitely don't want it clear cut...I want to save many of the trees..put in atv trails, clear out the underbrush..grade a bit...the kind of work thats too time consuming that would cost too much to hire out. Seems my best bet to get it done right (vs. half *ssed) without costing me near the price of a tractor is to do it myself...

The above mentioned 2910 is a 4wd, low hours (150), nearby and seemingly good shape..has a large chipper, block heater, scraper blade, etc...seems a bit pricey (12K)... Definitely appreciate all the input! I don't want buyers regret at these prices 15 minutes (or hours!) later...

 

[jgrreed]

I think that Kubota is a nice choice, and the price seems reasonable with those attachments. You'll be able to run a smallish flail mower (check out Caroni from Agri Supply), tiller, etc. What tires does it have on it? Ag's (R1's) will chew up your lawn, but turfs wont pull roots well. R4's are a compromise, but not a good one.

Be safe if you do get a machine. Go slow, don't sidehill, keep your loader low, beware of the PTO.....

You'll have a lot of fun.

-J.

ps - "too much" machine is almost impossible!!!

 

[peterc38]

Thanks very much for the quick response....so your saying you think a tractor along the lines of a 2910 (30 hp, my sole frame of reference for the moment) is too much after the initial work is done? I have run a tractor a few times at my in-laws place but would not consider myself more than just basically experienced.

You hit the nail right on the head as far as getting someone..its tedious work given its up in my back treeline...anyone you would trust to do it is far too pricey...and I definitely don't want it clear cut...I want to save many of the trees..put in atv trails, clear out the underbrush..grade a bit...the kind of work thats too time consuming that would cost too much to hire out. Seems my best bet to get it done right (vs. half *ssed) without costing me near the price of a tractor is to do it myself...

The above mentioned 2910 is a 4wd, low hours (150), nearby and seemingly good shape..has a large chipper, block heater, scraper blade, etc...seems a bit pricey (12K)... Definitely appreciate all the input! I don't want buyers regret at these prices 15 minutes (or hours!) later...

IMO that would be a great tractor for your lot size and described usage. You don't say if the 2910 has a loader but assuming it does and is in good shape with 150 hours, 12K is a very good price.

 

[TripleR]

Thanks very much for the quick response....so your saying you think a tractor along the lines of a 2910 (30 hp, my sole frame of reference for the moment) is too much after the initial work is done? I have run a tractor a few times at my in-laws place but would not consider myself more than just basically experienced.

You hit the nail right on the head as far as getting someone..its tedious work given its up in my back treeline...anyone you would trust to do it is far too pricey...and I definitely don't want it clear cut...I want to save many of the trees..put in atv trails, clear out the underbrush..grade a bit...the kind of work thats too time consuming that would cost too much to hire out. Seems my best bet to get it done right (vs. half *ssed) without costing me near the price of a tractor is to do it myself...

The above mentioned 2910 is a 4wd, low hours (150), nearby and seemingly good shape..has a large chipper, block heater, scraper blade, etc...seems a bit pricey (12K)... Definitely appreciate all the input! I don't want buyers regret at these prices 15 minutes (or hours!) later...

Certainly not as it is in the category I mentioned. I have done this kind of work with my old NAA, but it took a long time. Of course the FEL and 4WD will do much more than my NAA.

My personal choice for the work would be along the lines of a 50 HP or bigger. Unless a person is willing/able to own more than one machine, just about any one machine is going to be a compromise. Nothing wrong with a compromise mind you; done it plenty of times.

 

[KU Gator]

We live on 3 acres that is just a big open yard with minimal obstructions. We also have about 12 acres, half wooded, half field. When we bought the 12 acres, we knew the JD garden tractor would not be able to handle it and bought a Kubota B2920 and kept the garden tractor.

I would not expect something in the size of a B2910 to come in and push over even saplings with ease. You will be able to get them out, but as you say, it will be tedious at best. Brush, brambles, etc you can attack with a rotary mower and it will go through it pretty well. Large rocks will depend on how large is large. Big rocks are very heavy. You can roll them out of the way, maybe make a skid and pull them, but when you start trying to pick them up with the bucket, the tractor can get pretty unstable.

As for mowing the yard, I do that sometimes with the B using a MMM. But because I kept the JD, I do it more with garden tractor. But if I didn't have the garden tractor, the B would be fine to use and it does a pretty decent job. If the ground is pretty wet like in the spring, you have to be aware of not turning too sharp or it will tend to tear the grass out and leave tracks.

For snow removal, I just use a rear blade and the FEL. It does ok for my purposes, but we don't typically get a lot of heavy snow here.

That size of tractor will not likely be too big, even once you get much of the work done. You will likely find it is out matched or at least struggling for some of your tasks. As TripleR said at that point you can either hire some work out, rent something bigger, or just keep plugging along the best you can.

I did not notice that you said the one you looked at had a FEL. I would consider the FEL absolutely necessary. I would also want it easily detachable which is the case on the current Kubota's, but I am not familiar with prior models.

Good luck.

 

[Stephen NY]

KU Gator, Triple R, peterc38, jgrreed, PushingTIn, and jlsmith,

Thanks for all the replies! Guess I might really be showing my ignorance..I really thought a 30 hp tractor would be able to push over small saplings and even smaller trees with relative ease. To me 30hp seemed alot...apparently not compared to what I want to be able to do with it! Id say that the 4 plus acre clearage maintenance is first, lawn and driveway nice to haves given i have stuff that covers that fine today.

The Kubota I mentioned does have an FEL..but I definitely don't want to be one of those newbies who decides on the solution before figuring out the problem...only to find out I don't have even close to whats needed.

I do of course have a chainsaw for any larger trees that were in the way..my 'plan' was to use the FEL to kind of push the saplings and smaller brush down and then brushhog over the top...to make a useable work trail...actually several..and then work off of that clearing a bit at a time...if there is a better way(s) I am all ears!

The rocks I had mentioned are likely in the 100-200 pound range..I can roll them or use pry bar into a bucket..but getting too old (and sore!) to move them manually....

Thanks again..already have learned alot in one day! - Stephen
Guess I could try to take a couple of pictures