Comparison What size Ford for 15 acres?

bac478 · Jun 23, 2016

I currently looking to buy my first tractor. I have 15 acres of land, 95% clear. About 5 acres are pasture for horses and the rest I keep up by mowing a few times a year. The primary use for the tractor will be mowing, at least at first. I also plan to use it for some landscaping/earthmoving tasks, maybe some light road-breaking eventually, post-hole digging for fence, and general lifting and loading/unloading.
I have my eye on two ford tractors, a 91 Ford 3930, 4wd, 8x8 shuttle, FEL, 1623 hours and an 89 Ford 2120 4wd, 12x4 manual, FEL, 1022 hours. Both are right around the same price and look to be in good condition. The 2120 is at an equipment dealer and the 3930 is a private sale.
Is one of these two the clear choice over the other? I understand the 3930 is a UT and the 2120 is a CUT. Are parts easier to find for either? What about reliability? ease of use? etc.
Right now my gut is steering me toward the 2120 because I have heard/read nothing but good things about the Ford CUTs (17,19,21 series), but I am having trouble passing up a larger and more powerful tractor for the same money.
Suggestions?
Thanks

kf4uda · Jun 23, 2016

I would personally would choose the 3930 for the same reason you stated, larger and more powerful.

newbury · Jun 23, 2016

Since it will be your only tractor for a while bigger is better.

You don't mention snow tasks. Any plans there? If you want to run a front mounted snowblower would both handle it?

Omega Woods · Jun 23, 2016

I would definitely get the larger one.

bac478 · Jun 23, 2016

Don't know about snow removal yet. My father in law runs a blower with a 22 horse Kubota, so Im thinking it would just be a matter of getting the right size snowblower for the machine.

LD1 · Jun 23, 2016

I'd probably lean towards the smaller 2120 since a primary task is mowing.

The 3930 is quite a bit heavier. And you dont want to runt things up if its a little soft. The weight would be nice for the dirtworking. But the 2120 should work well also. And has some extra gear choices to find that right gear for mowing

bac478 · Jun 23, 2016

That brings up a decent point that I forgot to mention. My field has high clay content so it doesn't drain well. Unless there is a week+ without rain there are areas that stay pretty wet. I have mowed with a Long 460 and 80" brush hog and made a bit of a mess in some of the soft spots. It doesn't really matter much now because I am not really using the field, but in the future we may try to turn it to pasture if it is possible.

2458n · Jun 24, 2016

I have 118 acres of CRP ground. See if the private sale will rent to own for a month. He does not have to stand behind the tractor as it will be a as is sale. If nothing is wrong with the tractor he might give you a chance to run it. Tractors are usually too small not to big.

bspeedy · Jun 24, 2016

2458n said:
I have 118 acres of CRP ground. See if the private sale will rent to own for a month. He does not have to stand behind the tractor as it will be a as is sale. If nothing is wrong with the tractor he might give you a chance to run it. Tractors are usually too small not to big.

No one in their right mind would do that. Hi - I've never owned a tractor before. Can I use yours for a month until I figure out how to smoke a clutch? Thanks...

fishheadbob · Jun 24, 2016

The 3930 weighs in around 7000 pounds with a FEL, the 2120 is just over 4000 pounds. The 3930 has about 10 more HP. Most 3930s with a FEL have the optional factory hydraulic pump making the 3930 a great hydraulic platform if you have any use for bigger output; I ran a woodsplitter off mine, a task it handled on low idle without breaking a sweat. My particular 3930 has had zero issues in close to 20 years of ownership. With the extra pump the loader action should be quicker unless the 2120 is also pumped up.
Because the 3930 is so much heavier it will definitely rut up my heavy clay fields if I get stupid and get on the fields while still soggy, but with the increased weight it's easy to use the FEL in a down position to get rid of the ruts easily. Wiser for me to stay off those fields until they're dry, but spring fever hits me hard.
I had a 38 HP Ford 2000 for decades, and it definitely was a great tractor, but wasn't in the same class as the 3930 which does tasks much more easily and quicker than the smaller one.
I don't see a clear choice for you, look hard at both , negotiate a little, and make a good pick. Good luck