What do you think fits my needs?
- Thread starter mousedoc
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I think your optimum tractor would be 25-35 hp, hydro, with R4's, 4wd. FEL would be nice if within budget. Required equipment would be 7 ft rear blade (grading, snow removal) and 5 ft rear finish mower. You can save $$ buying used from a private owner but be sure to check the machine carefully. Many other places on this site will tell you what to look for concerning used tractors. You are looking at the right brands for sure but they all have good resale which will cost you initially.
KubotaSteve
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
- Messages
- 834
- Location
- eastern panhandle of WV
- Tractor
- Kubota B7800 with loaded R-4s
You state mowing would be a main function of the tractor. Are you mowing more than your 1.5 to 2 acre lawn? If not, I would go with anything larger than a B series Kubota and then I would go with the MMM instead of the rear. I am quite happy with my B-7800 but with the FEL and mower, it would be out of your suggested budget. I have 6.5 acres and use mine for basically everything you described although I keep about 3 acres or so mowed. I plow a 220 foot driveway plus the turnaround, mow, cut trails in, move larger rocks (I'll leave the Buick size rocks to a more capable machine), drag trees, use tiller for garden and also maintain the driveway.
Good luck and take your time.
Good luck and take your time.
RickO
Silver Member
MouseDoc
First, I think it is cool how you have tried to reply to everyone's posting individually. Very admirable... but you'll kill yourself doing that on this site. These guys will run a thread for 10 pages. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Second, I have a tractor for you! It is a Kubota B7800, Mine!
It is a light weight CUT. 30HP. Falls right in your price range too. See my classified add on this site. If you don't buy mine. Take a look at a new one at least or a Mahindra.
First, I think it is cool how you have tried to reply to everyone's posting individually. Very admirable... but you'll kill yourself doing that on this site. These guys will run a thread for 10 pages. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Second, I have a tractor for you! It is a Kubota B7800, Mine!
It is a light weight CUT. 30HP. Falls right in your price range too. See my classified add on this site. If you don't buy mine. Take a look at a new one at least or a Mahindra.
Boondox
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
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- 3,871
- Location
- Craftsbury Common, Vermont
- Tractor
- Deere 4044R cab, Kubota KX-121-3S
You've gotten some really good advice and have begun seeing some of the opposing camps. On the right there is the "bigger is always better" crowd. On the left is the "don't spend a fortune for a tractor capable of doing a big job that only has to be done once" crowd. I'm a centrist, leaning slightly to the right...but then I have 155 acres to care for.
Back in the days when all I worried about was the 7 acres of meadow surrounding my house, plus a couple of trails in the woods, I was perfectly happy with my little B1750. Not much lifting capacity on the loader, but it was light and nimble, mowed like a son of a gun, and did a decent job moving snow which we get a lot of here in northern VT. I had a lot steeper slopes though, at 22%, which was one reason I traded up. I'm also a fan of R1 aggies, but in your case it sounds like R4s would do just fine.
Orange, green, blue, red. Take your pick and try them all out on the dealers' lots. Some dealers will even let you try one at home if they feel you're definitely going to buy something from them. Or they'll rent you a tractor with the rental fees going toward the purchase price.
And that's a nice segway into my last point. Don't just shop for a tractor, shop for a dealer. You're going to be spending a lot with the dealer, and probably have a few service calls in the course of your ownership, so choose one you feel good about. If I liked a Deere and a Kubota equally, the deciding factor would be the dealer.
Happy hunting! Pete
Back in the days when all I worried about was the 7 acres of meadow surrounding my house, plus a couple of trails in the woods, I was perfectly happy with my little B1750. Not much lifting capacity on the loader, but it was light and nimble, mowed like a son of a gun, and did a decent job moving snow which we get a lot of here in northern VT. I had a lot steeper slopes though, at 22%, which was one reason I traded up. I'm also a fan of R1 aggies, but in your case it sounds like R4s would do just fine.
Orange, green, blue, red. Take your pick and try them all out on the dealers' lots. Some dealers will even let you try one at home if they feel you're definitely going to buy something from them. Or they'll rent you a tractor with the rental fees going toward the purchase price.
And that's a nice segway into my last point. Don't just shop for a tractor, shop for a dealer. You're going to be spending a lot with the dealer, and probably have a few service calls in the course of your ownership, so choose one you feel good about. If I liked a Deere and a Kubota equally, the deciding factor would be the dealer.
Happy hunting! Pete
KubotaSteve
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
- Messages
- 834
- Location
- eastern panhandle of WV
- Tractor
- Kubota B7800 with loaded R-4s
I currently plow with the FEL but I'm thinking about getting a 72" or 84" rear blade. We don't really get that much snow. Using anything on a gravel drive can be tricky until you get the hang of it.
If you don't go new, I would definitely look for a used one from a private owner. I got my first tractor from a private owner and then a few years later traded up to a new B-7800.
Good luck
If you don't go new, I would definitely look for a used one from a private owner. I got my first tractor from a private owner and then a few years later traded up to a new B-7800.
Good luck
scott_vt
Super Member
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- Oct 5, 2004
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- 7,340
- Location
- east wells,vt
- Tractor
- 1986 MF 1040, 1942 Farmall A, 1949 Farmall Super A
Hi mousedoc,
Welcome to TBN. The guys have given you some excellent advice, I just thought I would chime in because we ahve about the same amount of property. Of my 10 acres, 8 acres is open meadow that requires mowing a few times a year. I use a 32 hp Massey 1040 FWD with a front loader and it handles its tasks well. I dont think you would want anything too much smaller than 30hp. You definitely want a front loader, you will always find a use for it and it will never get old /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I bought my machine for $6000 a little over 2 years ago and its treated me very well so far. Good luck in your hunt.
scotty
Welcome to TBN. The guys have given you some excellent advice, I just thought I would chime in because we ahve about the same amount of property. Of my 10 acres, 8 acres is open meadow that requires mowing a few times a year. I use a 32 hp Massey 1040 FWD with a front loader and it handles its tasks well. I dont think you would want anything too much smaller than 30hp. You definitely want a front loader, you will always find a use for it and it will never get old /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I bought my machine for $6000 a little over 2 years ago and its treated me very well so far. Good luck in your hunt.
scotty