Buying Advice Tractors - Choices versus Money

[PAtractorfactor]

Hello Everyone,

I am an absolutely green-newbie-rookie-novice when it comes to tractors.
I had enough of city life and moved to a fairly isolated 7 acres.
Out here a lawn mower just cant get the work done. At $65.00 and hour
for a backhoe and front loader I estimate I have $10,000 worth of work to do.
Frankly I'd rather do it myself than wait months for someone to show up and them disappear for weeks at a time.

1. About 40 stumps need to come out, 2-3 ft diameter.
2. Rock needs to be moved from one end of the property to the other
for building garden walls - About 200 feet of wall is planned.
3. I have a 1000 ft driveway that needs to be knocked down again after only
3 years.
4. I want to put in a 1/2 to 1 acre pond.
5. I would like to put in an access road out the other end of the property.
About another 1000 feet. Just flat with modified stone would suit me.
6. I have about 3/4 acre in grass. Its a pain in the neck. I am going to cut that down in half and out a much larger garden in that area. So grass
cutting is the least of my worries.
7. Dig a 5ft deep trench for new construction.
8. On the bottom of the list is perimeter fencing, Guessing 400 post holes
need to to dug.

When I was 25 that list sounded like a lot of good exercise with
Wheel barrow, pick and shovel.
I'm going to be 54 and now it all sounds like..TRACTOR.

I would like your recommendations for the above list matched to Tractor
specs and Brand.
HP
PTO
Front End Loader
Backhoe
Attachments

Can I find a machine that will do all that for under $20k?
Will the front loader bucket be good for plowing (pushing?) snow
or will I need a plow blade?

The last wish is ease of operation..I'd love to watch my wife doing
all those things in that list....

Thanks for all your help

Phil

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

You are going to need a good heavy tractor, at least 5500 lbs, and backhoe to remove stumps of that size and it is going to be hard to find a new TLB for under $30,000 that will do your job. If you are near a Mahindra dealer, check out the Mahindra 4530 w/loader and 509 backhoe. This model doesn't have lots of HP which keeps the price down and your requirements do not need it, but the tractor is heavy, which is what you will be needing to get your stumps done. Don't get fooled by a light weight tractor, no matter how much HP, as you will be disappointed. I am sure there are other brands that will meet your needs but that 4530 would do you a good job for the money.
Also a plow works much better for snow than a bucket.

 

[Egon]

Your list of "Wants" is very diverse. Chances are one machine at your desired price will not be able to all.

I'd suggest you go out and look at tractor/ hoe combinations so you have an idea of what you get for your money. Then back at home divide your "Wants" into at least three categories as per tractor capability. You have jobs for at least three sizes or types of required equipment on your list.

Then pick the machine that will suit you for the long haul and hire out the other work.

Another option may be to buy/use/sell a larger older tractor backhoe. This depends on your skill at fixing and choosing.

Have fun!

 

[Gittyup]

Wow! And I thought I was ambitious!

I agree with Galen. If you want to tackle stumps that big, you'll want a pretty good size tractor. That 1 acre pond is quite an big undertaking with a tracter, as well.

However, for that many BIG stumps, I'd consider hiring that out or renting a trackhoe for a weekend. Then you could get by with a smaller tractor, say 25 - 35 hp.

There are many good tractors out there. For your chores, you want a heavy tractor. I think Branson is about the heaviest, followed by Mahindra and Kioti. The other metric that will be important to you is hydraulic pump capacity. This is what gives your implements their power.

Sounds like you don't have a lot of uses for the PTO. But, you might want to consider a 3 ph stump grinder rather than digging up those stumps. If you go this route, they usually require a minimum PTO hp. So pick the stump grinder first, then the tractor to operate it.

 

[chh]

Your going to get opinions from ever size and angle on this one. Here is my $.02 worth.

The pond and stumps are your 2 major jobs that are going to jump your tractor size and price a lot. Hiring a dozer and/or a backhoe for those 2 jobs would drop your requirements. Get a name brand used tractor from an established, well known, dealer in your area with a good reputation. Somebody local to service your machine and answer questions is going to be a big asset while you gaon experience with your machine. A name brand machine with resale or trade better than a lesser known brand if you decide later that you need something different. A backhoe on a 30 hp tractor could do your smaller stumps, dig the trenches you need, and move your rock. Front wheel assist will help a lot with a front end loader for many of your jobs.

Good luck

 

[Slackdaddy]

IMHO an "AG" tractor is not going to cut it.
1) get a used "real" Backhoe (case 580, deere 310) and a small CUT.
10-12K for the Hoe and 15K for the CUT w/ loader.

2) or get a small "real" backhoe that has a PTO (Deere 110)
used 25K

You really need 2 machines, choice 1 is the way to go.

Slack

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I agree with "hire out pond and stumps" or buy a used backhoe, then buy a 35 HP (+/- 5) Compact utility that's comfortable.
while something like a Mahindra 4110 with loader and backhoe might be able to do all that you're asking, getting an ag tractor truly big enough to do it all (55 - 75 HP) would be way too big for the 7 acres once it was all done.

In your price range a new JD tractor is out. Mahindra, Kioti, Branson, TYM all likely have something in a size and price that would do most of what you're asking. check for left over demos and/or relatively new returns (generally too big once a major job has been done or just not big enough for what they wanted) I highly recommend MFWA or 4X4 - at times it really does make all the difference.

snow removal -- a front loader or box blade can do it, a back blade or front plow can do it faster. It's going to depend on $$ and available time. I don't get enough snow every winter to make a dedicated snow blade worth it to me.

 

[N80]

Agree, hire out stumps and pond and then get a Kubota L4400 4wd w/ FEL. Got mine for $19k (no back hoe). Plenty oh hp to handle your other needs....maybe more than you need.

Having said that, I have removed several dozen (but not 40) small, medium and large stumps and cleared about 2 acres of young pines (roots and all) with my L4400. So you can have a go at the stumps with the FEL, but it is a bit tedious and makes a big mess (which you clean up with the FEL afterward). And it takes time. I've got plenty of that. You may not.

But a guy with a bulldozer should be able to knock out 40 stumps in half a day. I think rates around here would be about $400 for that...maybe higher, its been a year or so since I priced out dozer work.

As for a pond. Depends on what you mean by pond. With an FEL and a boxblade and a lot of time, you could make a little pond with a CUT. Time being the real issue.

 

[flusher]

Hello Everyone,

I am an absolutely green-newbie-rookie-novice when it comes to tractors.
I had enough of city life and moved to a fairly isolated 7 acres.
Out here a lawn mower just cant get the work done. At $65.00 and hour
for a backhoe and front loader I estimate I have $10,000 worth of work to do.
Frankly I'd rather do it myself than wait months for someone to show up and them disappear for weeks at a time.

1. About 40 stumps need to come out, 2-3 ft diameter.
2. Rock needs to be moved from one end of the property to the other
for building garden walls - About 200 feet of wall is planned.
3. I have a 1000 ft driveway that needs to be knocked down again after only
3 years.
4. I want to put in a 1/2 to 1 acre pond.
5. I would like to put in an access road out the other end of the property.
About another 1000 feet. Just flat with modified stone would suit me.
6. I have about 3/4 acre in grass. Its a pain in the neck. I am going to cut that down in half and out a much larger garden in that area. So grass
cutting is the least of my worries.
7. Dig a 5ft deep trench for new construction.
8. On the bottom of the list is perimeter fencing, Guessing 400 post holes
need to to dug.

When I was 25 that list sounded like a lot of good exercise with
Wheel barrow, pick and shovel.
I'm going to be 54 and now it all sounds like..TRACTOR.

I would like your recommendations for the above list matched to Tractor
specs and Brand.
HP
PTO
Front End Loader
Backhoe
Attachments

Can I find a machine that will do all that for under $20k?
Will the front loader bucket be good for plowing (pushing?) snow
or will I need a plow blade?

The last wish is ease of operation..I'd love to watch my wife doing
all those things in that list....

Thanks for all your help

Phil

Unless these stumps are pretty rotten, I wouldn't try pulling 2-3 ft stumps with an under-$20K CUT. Pay the price and get a pro to grind the stumps.

Ditto digging 5-ft deep trenches with a small CUT. Around my neck of the woods there are plenty of guys (and gals) with larger TLBs that charge reasonable rates for that kind of work. Don't waste $$$ on a backhoe that you would use once or twice a year.

Mowing your lawn: get a good riding mower. A pre-owned ZTR mower would be my choice.

Post holes: use a $700 PHD with 9" auger.

I started with a new 2005 Kubota B7510HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto) and an LA302 FEL ($12,600 plus tax, 0%/36 months). It was fine for mowing my 10 acres of pasture and for installing paver block walkways, patio, new lawn and general hauling work with the FEL.

I traded the 7510 for a new 2008 Mahindra 5525 gear tranny tractor (55 hp engine, 45 hp pto) since I want to put 7 acres into hay. I has an ML250 FEL (6-ft wide bucket). The price around $19K with incentives and 0%/48 month financing.

Like a lot of TBNers I outgrew my first tractor pretty quickly and had to upgrade to a larger model.

For your situation I would get something in the 30-40hp (engine) range. You have plenty of choices. Test drive and compare. If you plan to use your FEL a lot, consider a hydrostatic transmission rather than a gear tranny.

 

[PAtractorfactor]

Wow..That's a lot of good Information.

I had no idea about the range or power and weight required to do that variety of jobs.

I believe I definitely need 4WD.

My closest neighbor used to own the local
Sawmill. He cut those tress down for free and hauled them of the property
as long as he could have the wood. These were 80 FT pines that were
60 ft from the house. A few had snapped this winter but fell the other way.
He had a big old JD that appeared to be specifically built for the job of knocking down trees and hauling them with a winch. All 4 tires were huge,
the same diameter front and rear and all 4 of them turned. It was also narrow
to make as small a path thru the forest as possible to haul them out. He was spinning all 4 of those tires at times because of all the rain and the soft
ground..

I live at the foot of a mountain (Well.. a really big hill). I get a lot of rain run
off. When it does rain for an extended period the ground gets very saturated and you can hear it
squish underfoot. When its dry..it very dry and seems to drain very well
otherwise. Everyone around here has a spring-house because the water
just bubbles up out of the ground in a lot of places.

So I understand that certain machines are designed to do a specific job and
may not be good for something else.

JD is all over the place here and yes..I have been snubbed by the salesman. He acted like he was selling Lamborghini's.
However there are three Manhedra dealers within relatively easy driving distance.

The pond sounds like I need a Bulldozer with Tracks - not wheels. Is that what you meant? Real weight and HP for Earth moving..not digging. I want it deep enough and large enough to sustain itself. I can put a solar pump aerator
in when water flow gets low. But the spot I have in mind is always wet. I
imagined it at 8ft at the deepest part. I really intend to have it stocked with
fish that I can use as a food supply. Not necessarily for swimming although I
know it can be irresistible on a hot July afternoon.

Okay..some more questions

What does FEL mean?
TYM Brand?
AG Tractor?
..a small CUT?
Did I read something about the tires being filled?

Last Question - Do any of the dealer websites have demonstration videos?
Showing how to use the controls, how to change PTO attachments, etc.
(OR do they want you to pay for those lessons?)

Thanks again everyone..I got more information in one day that I did in
the last 2 months from dealers.