what to buy, looking for some advice

[farmerjim]

hi everyone, i'm new to this forum and a newbie to the newer tractors,but not new to tractors. i currently own a couple of old jd's which are used to do hay and other work around the small family farm. i'm in the market for a new smaller tractor probably 25 hp or a bit less w/ a fel. i plan to use it for snow removal, mowing a large piece of lawn, wood lot(ie hauling firewood/possibly a 3pt hitch log splitter), teddering/raking hay, carting hay wagons from field 2 barn. i've had my eye on the kioti ck20 or 25, kubota, new holland, or possibly a jd. the jd's are so nice but very pricy and i'm on a budget, trying to stay under $18k if possible. so i was wondering what everyone might recommend? thanks for any advice jim

 

[johndeere2210]

John Deere 2210 /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif great little tractor!!

 

[Keith_B]

For the $18K price you should be able to get a nice 35hp CUT, which will haul a lot more firewood than some of those you mentioned.

 

[dmp437]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( plan to use it for snow removal, mowing a large piece of lawn, wood lot(ie hauling firewood/possibly a 3pt hitch log splitter)</font>

Almost exactly what I use mine for, with a little ground prep & track building thrown in. If I had it to do over I'd buy the same thing with the exception of maybe getting the 4410 instead.
If you're tied to the $18k figure then a little compromise is probably in order; you're buying to a short term price rather than a long term cost. Interesting that you have "a couple of old jd's" and therefore a dealer relationship but consider them "very pricey". What kind of prices are you getting?

On a 3 point splitter note, I picked one up at TSC for about $570 OTD and have been very satisfied with it. It's the best cost vs. features splitter available and there should be some good deals coming up when the current promo's expire Jan. 18.
If you're going to run a 3 point splitter make sure your tractor is delivered with a PowerBeyond kit on it. This gives you the ports on the back of the tractor to tun the splitter. You can add it yourself but if you buy it at the time of tractor purchase labor is usually free.

 

[Egon]

There may be a big step from mowing lawn to hauling logs or hay trailers!

Take into account all the uses you have proposed and the future uses that will be added on before making a size decision.

Happy shopping - that's always fun.

Egon

 

[RalphVa]

I vote for a JD 4010 with FEL and bush hog. Put a carryall on it for hauling logs. Saw a pick of a guy with a BX with huge logs on its FEL and back carryall. The 4010 can be had for $13,300 with FEL and LX4. Might want it with R4 tires for better grip in pulling the hay wagons. Might need to go up to a 4210, next larger frame and double the tractor weight if you want to tow those trailers up or down any slopes.

Not sure what is available in a rear hydraulic addition for a log splitter in 4010 or 4210.

The 4210 with FEL and LX5 just MIGHT fit within your $18k budget.

Ralph

 

[LarryRB]

within five mies of you is Kahn, who has tons of Kubota and New Holland models,.. Last time I was there with AndyMA, they had two of every model made, so there is a lot to choose from,, from the smallest to largest

 

[SteveM]

I dont know about your hay wagons, but the guy who cuts my fields uses hay wagons that are about 10' wide, and fully loaded it takes a heavy utility tractor to move (and stop!) them.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Soundguy]

With an 18k$ budget you should be able to get a tc 29d NH .. 4x4 HST trans.. and loader. Woodsplitter as well as mower.

Could also shave some of that brand name 'fat' off and go with a mahindra or kioti as you mentioned. Even a massey ferguson, or a farmtrac. All those are fine machines with good parts support, etc.

Soundguy

 

[Varmintmist]

There is a lot of stuff in between a lawn mower and somthing large enough to pull a hay wagon. Well, you could pull if the ground is level, dry and hard, but I dont think you will be backing one into a barn with a 20 hp CUT.

If you just want to do, tedding, rakeing and such, and toss a RFM on to do the yard, then think min 25 ish hp. Say JD790 minimum (27 hp). It should come in under your budget with FEL and the mower. You can do the same with a Kubota and NH as long as you are willing to give up the trailers for the most part.

On the upper side of your budget you can get something with enough weight to move those trailers if you go 2nd teir. You can get a Mahindra 3510 with FEL for under 18K. If you go with a King Cutter finish mower, you will be close to the 18K, but over some. I assume the Kioti's are similar. The 40HP stuff is over your budget since the steel went up. so 35 is about it in new stuff.

It depends on what you have near you and if you want to go big three or not.

Have fun.