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Tractor Information Anyone?

KingBubba

KingBubba

"Too Much Stuff"
Having recently purchased 2.5 acres of mostly field, out in the country, I have come to the realization that my little John Deere lawn tractor will not last too long trying to cut that much acreage. I need a little more tractor and have been educating myself at the various websites, Kubota, John Deere, Kioti, New Holland, etc. It seems that what I need is something in the 20 - 30 hp range. I have a dirt driveway that will have to be dealt with so a front end loader and scraper will also be of use.

Do any of you Akers have any familiarity with tractors and are there any opinions about brands that you might want to express, both positive and negative. I am trying to learn, but I know no one that even has a tractor. Any tractor owners out there in AK land?
 
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I was born and raised on a farm, and now live in one of those areas where they divided the farm ground up into little 2.5-5 acre pieces. There isn't a good way to put this without sounding wise@$$, but unless you plan on devoting a lot of time and money to your property, you'd be better off to pay someone with the equipment to do it for you.

You can buy a full size tractor cheaper than one of the smaller ones, unless you happen to stumble across a good deal. Out here in California, a used 30-35hp Kubota with front end loader and a few attachments can set you back $10-15,000. On the other hand, you can buy a used Massey-Ferguson 135 for $3-5 thousand, but it's almost too big for 2.5 acres if there's any buildings on it.

It would help to know exactly what you intend to do.

As far as quality, "Nothing Runs Like A Deere!"

Kubotas are good quality, too. Pricey, though.
 
I have a Case VAC I use for various chores. I paid 1k 4years ago and prices haven't gone up that much. At auction a couple of months ago a Ford 8N with front end loader sold for 1.4k. Allis Chalmers AC is a nice tractor and so are the Farmalls . John Deeres are expensive and everyone wants one.
You might check at the equipment dealers for trade ins. A lot of them have belly mowers already mounted and have been serviced and checked out.
 
I got 3 large tractors and two little cub cadets ill post pics and info them when i get a chance, the main thing i use for my fields are a john deer model is something its 20 horse or something diesel, with a finish mower and and brush hog, and it bogs little on 1-2 ft weeds, but just slow down and it will be fine, low high 4 wheel drive, dont go to farm and home or farm king and buy one of those cheap ass mowers they got, you get what you pay for! give me a day to pull em out and take pics and so on!
 
For what you are looking at I'd think you'd be better off with a subcompact tractor. 18-25 HP diesel should do. Back in 2000 my family went through the same thing. They have 12 acres and the 1947 Farmall was getting really tired. I researched everything out there and we looked at them in person and setteled on a New Holland TC40d with a FEL. NOTHING could compare to it for the price. If you want something bigger look at New Hollands economy compact line. Last I checked you get a lot of tractor for the price. The dealer support has been great and we have only needed one repair in the 8 years we have had it.

I am not 100% cure but Case tractors look much like New Holland's offerings. No clue how pricing fairs.
 
bentpencil said:
I was born and raised on a farm, and now live in one of those areas where they divided the farm ground up into little 2.5-5 acre pieces. There isn't a good way to put this without sounding wise@$$, but unless you plan on devoting a lot of time and money to your property, you'd be better off to pay someone with the equipment to do it for you.

You can buy a full size tractor cheaper than one of the smaller ones, unless you happen to stumble across a good deal. Out here in California, a used 30-35hp Kubota with front end loader and a few attachments can set you back $10-15,000. On the other hand, you can buy a used Massey-Ferguson 135 for $3-5 thousand, but it's almost too big for 2.5 acres if there's any buildings on it.

It would help to know exactly what you intend to do.

As far as quality, "Nothing Runs Like A Deere!"

Kubotas are good quality, too. Pricey, though.
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For 2.5 acers you can also take the money and pave the driveway then pick up a zero turn mower. That really should cover your needs. My cousin is maintaining 18 acres with just a zero turn mower and has a farmer come in and mow the fields.
 
Let me preface this by saying I LOVE old tractors. I think an 8N Ford is as beautiful (in it's own way) as a Ferrari; Bentpencil mentioned the 135 Massey Ferguson, which is another great older tractor with a lot to offer. Older John Deere? Well they're legendary for a reason.

However, if you're gonna do much scraping, as well as mowing, a modern compact (20 - 30 hp) diesel can be really a good way to go. A Kubota or New Holland with a belly blade can mow almost as pretty a lawn as a push mower, and still have more than enough power to dress gravel with a weighted box or scrape blade.

Rule number one as far as I'm concerned? Unless your land lays absolutely ruler flat, and you have to mow it, buy as low and wide a tractor as you can find. Top heavy and tall, will get you killed mowing if you have much of a slope to deal with.
 
Defintely go used. Real tractors are built for a life-time of abuse. A 25-yr old Ford or Massey-Ferguson will have an easy 25 years of life left in it. Especially no harder than you will be working it on 2.5 acres. Vintage tractors are like vintage stereo gear. May not have the fancy bells-&-whistles, but overall better performance.
 
Yamaha B-2 said:
Defintely go used. Real tractors are built for a life-time of abuse. A 25-yr old Ford or Massey-Ferguson will have an easy 25 years of life left in it. Especially no harder than you will be working it on 2.5 acres. Vintage tractors are like vintage stereo gear. May not have the fancy bells-&-whistles, but overall better performance.
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I tend to disagree. In PA where I grew up almost eveyone had 10+ acers. Everyone of us upgraded to a new tractor between 1998 - 2003. We had the oldest trade in at 1947 and most neighbors had 70's and 80's tractors. No one missed what they left go. I'd go new or a few years old. Watch what you buy because there are many used tractors what were worked to hell and back. You can also find some great deals on tractors that are 1-5 years old and very few hours. Many people will buy them that have money and realize they rather pay someone or they bought one that is too big or small for their needs. The neighbor behind my parents did this and got a 2 year old 45 HP Diesel Kubota with FEL and quick hitch for about half price.
 
Thanks for the input. The property is sloped but not greatly so, hills don't get too big here in Florida. A zero turn would be a good choice if all I wanted to do was cut, but I want the front loader option. I have seen a few used Deere, Ford and Massey Furgeson tractors, but they are usually just the tractor alone and the asking prices are way too high IMO. After you add the mower, blade and front end loader, you might as well have bought a newer tractor. My inclination is toward the compact size tractor. I would by a used one with low hours, but looking at the prices almost leads me to think buying new may be the way to go. I'm seeing 4-5 year old used tractors that are selling for 2 to 3 thousand less than new price. For 2 to 3 thousand I wouldn't have to by someone else's headaches. If the right used deal comes along, I would jump on it. Right now I'm trying to learn. I studied two years before I bought a computer, but when I did I knew what I had and what to do with it. I guess I'll be the same with tractors.
 
Good thinking Bubba... Drive 'em. You can't go wrong by getting plenty of seat time.

I've driven several newer compact diesels in the last few years, and there's lots of good new, and late model stuff out there. Kubota makes some great stuff, so does Deere and New Holland. I drove a new Mahindra a few weeks back, and really liked it for the money that was spent. The biggest danger I see in them is that I haven't known anyone who's owned one long enough to say how they hold up over time.
 
My 1949 Harry Ferguson TO-20 just commenced another year of maintainence on 2-1/2 miles of woods roads, mowing(bush hog) up to 18 acres, and drawing out the annual supply of firewood for my home and cabin. That's on top of all of the other miscellaneous digging, pulling, and pushing it does thru the spring, summer and fall.

If you can find one with an honest history, a good used older tractor is hard to beat.
 
Eric Clark said:
For 2.5 acers you can also take the money and pave the driveway then pick up a zero turn mower. That really should cover your needs..
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Unless your driveway was like my last one.. a little over half a mile long.. so not only the cost to pave, but what it would have done to the property taxes would have made that cost more than it was worth...

No matter how you go, used or new, bang for the buck, it's hard to beat a Kubota. A lot of rental places use those, and for a reason.. they take a lot of abuse, and parts aren't insanely expensive, and easy to get.

I've been around and worked on a lot of brands of tractors: Case, Massey, JD, Ford, Kubota, Cub, etc, and Kubota was always my favorite as far as easy to maintain, cost and avalibility of parts, durability, and price....

Just my plug nickle...
 
bowtie427ss said:
My 1949 Harry Ferguson TO-20 just commenced another year of maintainence on 2-1/2 miles of woods roads, mowing(bush hog) up to 18 acres, and drawing out the annual supply of firewood for my home and cabin. That's on top of all of the other miscellaneous digging, pulling, and pushing it does thru the spring, summer and fall.

If you can find one with an honest history, a good used older tractor is hard to beat.
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Was that one of those puppies where the starter "button" was in the gearshift lever?
 
KingBubba said:
I'm seeing 4-5 year old used tractors that are selling for 2 to 3 thousand less than new price.
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Way too new. Look 15-25 years old, or older. Older the better as they are simpler and much less to go wrong. You should be able to find a good, small Ford or MF for under $5K. And it will out live you. Biggest expense will be tires (ouch).
 
Yamaha B-2 said:
Way too new. Look 15-25 years old, or older. Older the better as they are simpler and much less to go wrong. You should be able to find a good, small Ford or MF for under $5K. And it will out live you. Biggest expense will be tires (ouch).
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That is only true if they have had some level of restoration. One of the big reasons we all upgraded was because the engines were getting tired. If you use them daily make sure you get one with properly working power steering. You'll appreciate it at the end of the day. I know up in PA there are several used dealers that refurb and restore tractors. This can be a good way to go to get older equipment.
 
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