Buying Advice Tractor choice? Share your wisdom!

[tower59]

After a few years in the city, our family is about to get back to the country- 125 acres of about 70% woods, 30% pasture. Looking for a tractor to handle the following the jobs:
(1) Rough cutting grass on a few acres (will hire out shredding for the bulk of the pasture periodically)
(2) Cutting and maintaining trails
(3) Some minor dirt work
(4) Gravel driveway maintenance
(5) May need to move up to 1,200 pound round bales on occasion

Terrain is mostly flat or gently sloping, but absolutely must have a tractor not prone to roll. (Will have shredder on 3PH most of the time.) Want reliability and willing to pay extra for it. Budget for tractor and implements up to $60,000. Anticipate needing a heavy duty rotary cutter (shredder), pallet forks, box blade, and maybe a grapple. Have a Deere dealer 10 minutes away and Kubota about 20 minutes away, so am only considering those brands. Don't want a cab. The Deere dealer really encouraged me to look at a 5 Series although I was leaning towards a 4 Series. He says that he sells 20 5075E's for every 1 4066M. What are your thoughts? Appreciate your help!!!

 

[RjCorazza]

For your stated jobs I think you're in the right size area. Not familiar with the JD lineup, but it sounds like something in the 40-50hp range would be suitable.
That said, I think I would spec a machine capable of handling the entire mowing area rather than the smaller few acres you plan on now. I would imagine an 8-10' cutter would be a minimum size to mow off say 30 acres a couple times per year. It would still be a two day job though.
Easy to spend someone else's money, but I think this is a case where it would be better to get a larger tractor, say in the 60-75hp range.

 

[Cycledude]

After a few years in the city, our family is about to get back to the country- 125 acres of about 70% woods, 30% pasture. Looking for a tractor to handle the following the jobs:
(1) Rough cutting grass on a few acres (will hire out shredding for the bulk of the pasture periodically)
(2) Cutting and maintaining trails
(3) Some minor dirt work
(4) Gravel driveway maintenance
(5) May need to move up to 1,200 pound round bales on occasion

Terrain is mostly flat or gently sloping, but absolutely must have a tractor not prone to roll. (Will have shredder on 3PH most of the time.) Want reliability and willing to pay extra for it. Budget for tractor and implements up to $60,000. Anticipate needing a heavy duty rotary cutter (shredder), pallet forks, box blade, and maybe a grapple. Have a Deere dealer 10 minutes away and Kubota about 20 minutes away, so am only considering those brands. Don't want a cab. The Deere dealer really encouraged me to look at a 5 Series although I was leaning towards a 4 Series. He says that he sells 20 5075E's for every 1 4066M. What are your thoughts? Appreciate your help!!!

What exactly is a “shredder” ?

 

[WVH1977]

I think the either the 4 or 5 series tractor will make you happy. If I was buying the 4 series I would look at the HD Version. It comes with SSQA up front and deluxe 3pt hitch in the back. Also, I believe it has a little bigger tire than the regular 4 series. 4 series also can come with HST, which is nice as well if you are not doing tons of plowing/earth engaging activities.

The 5 series is definitely going to get you a tougher utility style tractor. It will load more and get you from point A to B faster. I almost bought a 5065e. It was a tough decision and a nice tractor.

The 4 is probably going to be more ergonomic, easier to move/transport, less space to store and fit in tighter areas. It will handle all the chores you listed well.

If you plan on doing more ground engagement and loading a lot of heavy items, then the 5 series is the way to go. If you do go to the 5E series, get the highest HP and then you wont have to think "should have got more". Same with the 4 series.

i still wonder if I should have bought the 5065e. However, I got a 60HP 2860m Massey with HST and so far, love it. I was worried about HST but I am loving how easy it is to use and manuver without having to clutch or "shuttle". Also, can rev engine up when doing heavy loader work and inch in with the transmission.

 

[Williy]

Have you looked at a Deutz 5080D, Yanmars, LS tractors??
Get some seat time on all of them just looking at one you
may upset when you see the price and what the other brands have to offer

willy

 

[MtnViewRanch]

JD 5075e with all the hydraulics you can get.

I don't think you are going to get everything you want for 60K without going used.
You can downsize, but then your capabilities are cut and the time doing the tasks may be lengthened.

Good luck.

 

[ericm979]

What exactly is a “shredder” ?

A rotary cutter.

 

[stoyan79]

Kubota mx6000 or l6060, both are amazing. They have zero down, zero percent right now.

 

[EddieWalker]

You have a lot more land then I do. I have 68 acres, and I started out with a 37hp tractor. It was good to learn on, but not enough to keep up with my land. I started looking for something bigger and figured I wanted the most HP that I could afford. Used 100 HP tractors shot up in price while I was looking, and then I looked at smaller and smaller tractors. I also didn't want to deal with DEF or REGEN in a tractor. Eventually somebody on here mentioned that Massey Ferguson doesn't use DEF or have REGEN on their 70HP tractors. So I started looking into the 4707, and then they had a deal for zero percent financing for 84 months that was too good to pass up, so I bought a brand new Cabbed 4707 in 2022 that has been awesome for $55,000. Sadly, prices have continued to climb, and I've see that the same tractor is now for sale in the high $60,000's range with a cab. I have no idea what an open station 4707 goes for.

I also have a Deere 2012 5065E that's open station, 2WD that's been great for handling round bales. The biggest that I get are 4x6 that are well over a thousand pounds. It handles them easily. I also like that tractor for drilling post holes. I've mowed with a 6ft shredder behind it and it doesn't even know it's back there. I can cut as fast as I can drive it!! I have a 12 foot batwing for the Massey that I've never put behind the Deer. I'm sure it can handle it, but there's no reason to use it when the Massey is so much more comfortable.

I would be very cautious about buying something with less power. The more time you spend on the tractor, the more comfortable you get with it, the more power you wish you had.

As far as I know, Massey, Case and New Holland are the only brands that have 70HP tractors that do not require DEF or have REGEN. I'm sure there are others, I'm just not aware of them.

 

[RiverHill]

Here’s another good word for the 5 series JD. I’m not familiar with the newer ones, but I spend quite a lot of time on an older 5525. Runs a 17’ batwing well, pulls big hay wagons easily, very stable, and over 5000 hours now with no major issues.

My only complaint is the gearing. Seems to be either too slow or too fast in a lot of situations.