Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use

   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #1  

drunderw

Bronze Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
91
Location
Greenville, SC
Tractor
Yanmar 3110D
I need to purchase a new tractor and prefer new over used due to bad experience with a used tractor in the past.

I need a cab due to tinnitus to protect hearing.

I have a Yanmar 3110d today, 31 hp, about 26 pto hp, open station with loader and light weight at 3000 lbs

I’ve encountered issues with using the existing when:
- grading drive, not enough power to box blade the dirt well
- plowing a garden plot
- loader work

I was looking to move up to a MX5400 or MX6000 cab but feeling it may be too big/costly for my use.

Mainly I’m maintaining 1000’ of gravel drive, rotary cutting a field and part of a yard, and improving land by removing small saplings. I will also be doing blueberry farming in addition to my regular garden.

I feel I need a zero turn plus a tractor, so trying to size accordingly. I have a 22 year old John Deer L100 now that’s not doing great.

Here’s the breakdown of allocation by acreage, none on hills:


17 acres in woods, not currently maintained either tractor with no plan to use tractor in it

5 in field currently brush cut with a portion that will go for blueberry farming

1.5 in yard with 0.5 in drain field that a tractor cannot drive over

2 acres in area that is small saplings that could be reclaimed for field


Thanks for thoughts!
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #2  
For our pick your own farm I use a JD F1445 for most mowing. I use Kioti DK45Se and a flail mower to keep saplings at bay and because the JD is a whole lot faster at mowing. I use the DK for my garden, farm stuff etc. No shortage of power for it. Tiller is something I leave on usually during garden season. Putting the cultivators on to clean up the rows, hill up taters etc.
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #3  
I had a Kioti for 27 acres of mixed land. Most of the time 25 HP with a heavy frame was OK. However over time, I realized that a heavier tractor with 35-45 HP would have been better. Prior to selling my property, I wanted to do hay work and needed the size and HP that I was lacking.

Not all of the land was suitable for hay plus Texas drought was an issue.

I bought the tractor out of town so maintenance was on me 100%. The next comment is important in hindsight. Go local if possible for a tractor with a firm that has excellent parts and maintenance service available nearby.
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #4  
maybe the size choice is more about unseen future tasks than those you describe.
since it's a new purchase, do take your time once you get the fever.& wise to post here.

as i always say, a quik spin around the dealer's lot is a poor way of simulating field tasks. also, compact tractors have a way of suddenly shrinking once delivered on the farm.
i'd certainly step up from current HP, remembering weight is equally important. personally, i'd be looking at 45-50hp L series, nice smaller estate tractor. prob hst as many will recommend, never owned one myself. good luck
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #5  
my thoughts--

3m/peltor hearing protection is comfortable to wear for long periods and provides good noise reduction whatever tractor you choose.

Depending on the size and density of the saplings, a forestry mulcher could quickly mulch them up right down to soil level quickly leaving a manageable residue of mulch. A rotary cutter would take a beating and leave a rough mess behind that could puncture tires.

I went from a full size 35hp Mahindra to an open station MX5200. The MX feels more stable on my hills and doesn't lack for power running a 6' rotary cutter in tall, thick vegetation. The owner's manual says it can operate a 7' cutter ---a wider cutter will save you time in the long run.
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #6  
A cabbed tractor will limit mowing around trees unless you cut off all limbs under 10' from the ground. I say 10' because limbs droop when fully leafed-out.
That's if you buy a full-size tractor w/cab.
I too have tinnitus; too many years around exploding stuff, and working in a machine shop. As 2manyrocks stated, hearing protection that fits in/over the ears works great for me.
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use
  • Thread Starter
#7  
A cabbed tractor will limit mowing around trees unless you cut off all limbs under 10' from the ground. I say 10' because limbs droop when fully leafed-out.
That's if you buy a full-size tractor w/cab.
I too have tinnitus; too many years around exploding stuff, and working in a machine shop. As 2manyrocks stated, hearing protection that fits in/over the ears works great for me.
Thank you for the helpful information. I wear earplugs and earmuffs at the same time today while using a tractor with my opening station but find my tinnitus is much worse afterwards so I’m hoping using a cab with earmuffs will help.
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #8  
As a rule, earplugs reduce sound more than muffs. Check ratings for yourself.
 
   / Tractor sizing – help pick the right tractor size given acreage and use #10  
These are very generic comments, but three tractors into this, here goes…

Definitely get a cab. And wear ear protection. I just use Beats ear buds, but they cut out a bunch of additional noise. You will thank yourself every time you use the tractor.

Get a bigger tractor than you think you need. You will grow into it rather than grow out of it. You will thank yourself every time you use it.

It will be expensive and painful, but over time you will see how cheaply you got into the game. You will thank yourself every time you use it.

There is a theme here, in case it wasn’t obvious. It’s easy for me to spend your money, but there is a lot to be said for a tractor that pleases you every time you use it I went “overboard”, or so it seemed at the time 18 years ago when I bought my set up. Somewhere here on TBN is a thread titled “ now that’s a tractor” describing it. To this day, every time I use it I think “wow, what a great tractor”.
 

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