Tractor Experience

[7000]

Okay Guys and Gals,

I have decided that a 35HP Tractor will be big enough for my jobs to do on the 15 acres I want to work. I need a loader, backhoe, box scraper, and maybe an auger. A PTO wood chipper would also be nice. I will be clearing weeds and such like that pesky mustard weed, larger brush like sycamore, sagebrush, shrub oak and other small trees. Also, plan to level out areas to be pad laid for garage and storage sheds and grade a driveway for paving with cement. Will be digging some trenches for walls and pipes in normal soil and decomposed granite and moving a few boulders around.

Being new to this, I recently just bought land, it has been cumbersome and a little confusing in the process of researching tractors to buy. It seems that any old tractor will do the job. According to several people I have asked even a small 25HP sub compact will be fine.

Anyway, I've looked at John Deere, Kubota, Massey Ferguson and Kioti. Looks like Kioti offers the most tractor for the money. However, I have seen online that Yanmar, Mahindra and NorTrac have some prices much lower.

I just would like to know what experienced people have to say about these tractor brands that I have mentioned.

Please respond ASAP as I need to start work on the place right away and must make a tractor decision.

Thank You.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

What you'll figure out is that all of the brands you mentioned are good, although I'm not familiar with NorTrac. You need to go sit on them, drive them around, use the loaders, etc., and see which ones fit you better than others. And talk to the dealers and figure out which one(s) you think you can trust the most and which models fit within your budget.

I'd stay away from Chinese tractors. You might get a good one, but parts and service can be really dicey. A tractor doesn't do you much good if it's broke and you can't get it fixed or get parts for it.

Buying a tractor was more difficult for me than buying a car. I started out with about 5 or 6 on my list. I narrowed it down to 4, then 3, then 2. I had a hard time deciding between the final two, but finally decided that there is no perfect tractor. So I bought one that I liked a lot from the dealer closest to me who has been in business for a long time.

One other tip is to figure out what size you think you need and then buy one that's one step up from that. As they say around this forum, tractors shrink when you get them home.

 

[nybirdman]

Pick a brand and start reading............

 

[MESSMAKER]

Nortrac is a Chinese import that Northern equipment sells. You buy it and have no dealer network and just hope for the best. It makes the low price a little scarier. I have a Bobcat/Kioti and it is a fine tractor. I have had a John Deere and it was solid as well. I would not think twice before buying a New Holland,M.F.,Mihindra,Kubota. I would also be OK with a Yanmar or L.S. Lots of solid brands. Get something you can get worked on and get parts when you need them.

 

[jeff9366]

Regardless of which tractor you decide on, a Backhoe is going to be $7,000 of the price.

What tasks do you plan for the Backhoe? There are options for a lot less money unless your use of the Backhoe will be "everyday".

You cannot mount implements on the Three Point Hitch while the Backhoe is installed. The Three Point Hitch is the absolutely key feature on any 35hp-45hp tractor. Mounting and dismounting a heavy, awkward Backhoe gets old really fast.

What tasks do you foresee for the Backhoe?

Dealer reputation and proximity is important to me in the winnowing of brands. Working dirt, you are going to break things and need repairs and maintenance. Just the briefest perusal of this site should make that clear; repairs are the subject numerous threads.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

Id stick with the big 4, you wont go wrong that way. Either orange, green, red or blue. Id personally run from the off brand tractors.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Id stick with the big 4, you wont go wrong that way. Either orange, green, red or blue. Id personally run from the off brand tractors.

FWIW, Kioti is selling second in the CUT space only to Kubota.

 

[7000]

Thanks Jeff,

Yes, that's what I have found. No matter who, the backhoe is around $7000. I will be digging trenches for retainer walls, digging out roots of trees and scrubs and digging a few trenches for water pipes. After the first month or two the backhoe will probably only be used for ballast and yearly or semi-annual maintenance. Any suggestions?

 

[mikehaugen]

Thanks Jeff,

Yes, that's what I have found. No matter who, the backhoe is around $7000. I will be digging trenches for retainer walls, digging out roots of trees and scrubs and digging a few trenches for water pipes. After the first month or two the backhoe will probably only be used for ballast and yearly or semi-annual maintenance. Any suggestions?

Rent a mini-ex when needed or for about 8-12k you can get an okay used one. It may be on it's way to being worn out but would still take care of what you need to do.

 

[jeff9366]

No matter who, the backhoe is around $7000. I will be digging trenches for retainer walls, digging out roots of trees and scrubs and digging a few trenches for water pipes. After the first month or two the backhoe will probably only be used for ballast and yearly or semi-annual maintenance.

MIKEHAUGEN: Good points.

In addition to covering up the Three Point Hitch, a Backhoe is expensive, mechanically complex ballast. Backhoes should be stored indoors and sitting for long periods between uses does them no good. Some require a wrestling match to mount and dismount, but the two key issues are denied use of the Three Point Hitch and cost versus benefit.

You can buy five implements for the cost of one Backhoe.

You can use a single ripper on a Box Blade or a dedicated Subsoiler to open ground for water pipe trenches, then shovel spoil by hand.

Any reason you cannot spray stumps with herbicide, then leave stumps three years to rot out on thirty acres? Or hire out stump removal and trenches for retainer walls at the same time?

I would skip the Backhoe and apply $7,000 toward a mainline tractor.

You have not addressed your mechanical ability, time availability, and plans to have your tractor serviced--------

I would like to know what experienced people have to say about tractor brands I have mentioned.

Have you exercised the FORUM button and found the 24 brand-dedicated Forums here? You can research pro and CONS of individual tractor brands 24/7.


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