Why Blue?

MrP · Apr 19, 2002

Kevin,

Which models are you looking at? With 25 acres, I would think that you would want more power than a BX or 2410.

I would suggest looking at the following:
1. Kubota L Series
2. TC33D or TC35D
3. JD 4700

What are looking for the tractor to do?

kbarrett · Apr 19, 2002

Mr P,

That's a very good question. I suppose I'm not too good at sizing the appropriate tractor with my land. Not sure how much power I need. In other words, I don't have a good feel as to how much work an 18-24hp tractor compared to one that has 30hp+

Of the 25 acres, 3 or so acres could be considered a field with the remainder being in the woods. I have a '640 flat gravel drive and my new house (hope to move in next month) is in the woods.

Things I would like to do with tractor include:

Maintaining the drive (grading, snowplowing or blowing etc.)
Keeping the field mown (4' or 5' rotary mower).
Creating a large garden (Tiller attachment/plow)
Creating a trail system in the woods
Landscaping around the house (FEL is a must)
Hauling wood (4x4 would be critical)

Haven't decided how large to make my lawn around the house in the woods yet etc. so a MMM may be important or I could just go with a small rider for around the house.

Some have said to me that expecting one tractor to do it all is unrealistic The BX-1800/2200 at first seemed to be an option that could be the "doing it all" tractor. However, after being on TBN for awhile I've learned that there are other options.

I would think that a TC29 would be at the upper-end of what I'm looking at. A 2410 (Orange) or 4115(green) are other considerations. But maybe I need to look a bit harder at something bigger???

My main concern with going larger is maneuverability. The NH speed-steer models are intriguing to me because they seem to address this concern fairly well.

I hear of folks with large compacts on small properties and small compacts on large properties. I guess the only way to find out is to jump in at some point and see what works for my particular situation.

Have any of you bought too large wishing that you should've bought something a bit smaller and vice versa. What were the limitations you ran into with your initial selection?

What were the justifications you made to go a bit larger than you originally felt?

MrP · Apr 19, 2002

Kevin,

You do get alot more options with a tractor with a PTO above 25HP.

That being said, I think I'm one of the few people on this board who actually bought too much tractor. I originally had over 10 arcres to maintain (mow, etc). However, over the last couple years, my maintainable acreage has been recduced to about 1.5 acres. I have a Kubota L3410 without a loader.

I originally thought that I (and my wife) would use the tractor for multiple farm chores. However, she has never been comfortable on the tractor and chooses to do her chores by hand.

So that leaves me with a GREAT tractor that I mow 1.5 acres with every other week. I'll be lucky to put 30 hours on the tractor this year.

I tried to sell it. However, with the rebates in place and the fact that I don't have a loader, no one was interested. It is a pretty expensive mowing machine.

If you know anyone who is interested, let them know quick, because I told my dealer to order me a loader. Should be here in a week or two. I figured if I couldn't get near 15K out of it, I was just going to keep it.

Maybe I can get the wife to not be afraid of the tractor.

Anyway, I bought Orange because I was more impressed with the overall tractor than the NH (and more impressed with the dealer). However, I did like the ergonomics on the TC33D.

wchunko · Apr 20, 2002

Hi Kbarrett,

I thought I would breifly respond about increasing tractor size. I have 2.5 acres (in Fort Collins, Colorado, Altitude 5000 feet) that need to be completely landscaped. Like many people on this web site, I'm new to all of this. Initially I thought I could be by with a TC 18 two wheel drive. The more I've researched and talked to people the more I decided to go up a little in tractor size. I'm currently looking at a TC29D and a TC33D. I don't think I'd want to go much bigger. I suspect that the TC33D might be a bit of overkill. But then again, it's something I intend to have for a very long time. My NH dealer thinks that the TC25D might be a bit small, but I think it would be ok. The TC 25D, TC29D, and the TC33D all have the same frame size. I have the feeling I'll go with the TC29D. But I can't seem to forgot what a good friend of mine (who's national guard unit recently mobilized him for a year) said. He said "I've never heard anyone say that they wished they'd bought the smaller engine".

So much for my pearls of wisdom. Best of Luck!

deepsnow · Apr 20, 2002

Why Blue? Good working relationship with my NH dealer. My TC25D just "felt" good. So,far (only ~80 hr, 6months old) no mechanical problems. One future "improvement" will be attaching a skid plate from front to rear axle. I'm worried about using the unit to skid logs through area where brush or larger tractor killers may snag the tractor.