Anyone have any advice on a newer tractor? I’m thinking about buying one before too long, as I have gotten too lazy to work with the tools I have any more! LOL!
I have a place that’s around 10 acres that is mostly rolling hillsides, about half grown up /wooded, and other half pasture type ground. I’m thinking about getting a compact size tractor, but don’t have enough experience with them to know how much horse power, 4 wheel drive or not, etc. to get. I know I want a bucket on the front as an option, and I would like it to be big enough for a bush hog at least 5’ wide. Not sure on the back hoe attachment , but not really opposed to it either, just not sure how well a smaller tractor would handle one. any advice or observations would be appreciated greatly! … Thanks in advance!
My 2 cents
Wouldn’t own a Tractor without
A Front end loader and 4 Wheel drive you already
Want those so we’re good -back Hoe ?
Mine has saved me so many times it’s unreal
Just the other day I was bush hogging and got in a slope and started spinning
I was trying to back up
Put it in 4 wheel drive and I was out of there
Tree down in my way I lower the bucket and it’s gone
As for Brand I’d personally stay away from the knock off brands I’ve heard some bad things
May save money but you want one to last
If it were me and 10 acres I’d stay around a 45 to
50 HP that extra power you will appreciate
If you had more ground I’d up the Hp but I don’t believe you will be disappointed with that range of HP
Watch for the width of the back wheels
If you can widen the back end IF You need it
You will be much safer
I’ve been on Tractors before and just a slight
Grade you feel your gonna tip over so watch that
As for Brands?
Kubota
John Deer
Massey Ferguson
Ford
You can find some excellent used ones if your willing to hunt for em
Don’t know if I helped or not just sharing my thoughts
Thanks!
Beware of backhoe attachment for a tractor
If you only have one tractor it really needs to be 4wd particularly with a loader on hilly ground, there has been more than one person who has had a 2 wd tractor get light in the rear end when using the loader and the tractor run away from them. As far as the backhoe, the ones that attach via the 3 point hitch will damage the tractor with heavy use, the ones that attach to the frame of the tractor are much better but are a major pain to put on and take off, think half a day or more job for 2 people based on the JD one we had at work, can’t speak for the others. Unless you are going to use it to roll hay or pull a big seeder, lime spreader, plow big areas so on a 35 to 50 HP tractor will meet your needs. The advantage is you can haul them on a regular car hauler trailer and don’t need a big trailer. They will have plenty of power for a 5 foot bushhog, tiller etc.
As far as brands, the only one of the smaller tractors actually made in the USA is Kubota, the others are made overseas. Not that they aren’t good tractors but that matters to some people.
I have a 68 HP Kubota that I have had for about 10 years and have had no problems at all out of it. I am going to have to have the lift hydraulic cylinders rebuilt as they are starting to leak but that is to be expected out of any of them that are that old that are use much at all.
If you are looking at new, most have deals going now with rebates and or 0 percent financing
I have run in my life Fords, case, international,kabota, John Deere ,new Holland ,long, mahindra, Massey, and allis chambers,
I have only run 1 four wheel drive we have flat to rolling to straight up and down terrain. 4 wheel is very nice I do not see it as a must. Im not a big front end loader guy on tractors don’t like them at all on hills.
I would buy personally from the ones I’ve run
Ford,newhollad, international ,massey,and case lots of different reasons from parts availability to gear set ups and the bulk of my use has been hay corn beans and baccer. Quit a bit of plowing and cutting ground has formed my preference on tractors.
My advise is don’t get one too dang big and get a shuttle shift if you can. You cant go wrong with a good Ford or newhollad daddy says the last one he bought is the best tractor he has ever owned.
I personally dont like shuttle shift in smaller tractors 35 hp. And below not enough power when you need it. Just my experience.
So do you the like standard gear type with a clutch better? I can see plus and minus to both kinds. I have driven a small New Holland where I used to work, and it had a hydrostat type transmission with a single foot pedal that was easy to get used to; just pushed down with your toe for forward, and your heel for reverse. I can see how your engine would loose a little H.P. operating the hydro -transmission, as opposed to a straight with the clutch. I imagine if it’s a real small engine, you could need every horse you could get out of it sometimes.
Mine is a kubota with hydrostatic drive.
I almost got the manual transmission but got talked into the hydrostatic. Glad I did
Really happy with mine. My wife loves using it. Highly doubt she would much if it wasn’t hydrostatic
Mine has a bucket and bushhog
All we really use it for is hauling rock, bushhoging and occasionally pushing a fallen tree out of one of the roads.
As someone else said I think 4 wheel drive is a must
I’m talking about a clutch and gears with a shuttle forward and reverse and not hydrostatic.
How long have you had the Kubota? Any strange problems or quirks with it?
I have a John Deere 1020 2 wheel drive probably 40 hp , plenty of power to run my 6 ft bush hog , bale hay and plow. We also have a Malinda four wheel drive with a bucket , does a great job on bush hogging! Love the bucket ! We bush hog our pasture twice a year and my buddy running a kubota 4x4 with bucket seem to be a great tractor! I would like a back hoe attachment for digging ditched and other projects around the farm! We also run a six foot tiller on our mahrinda , does great!
I’ve had it little over 2 years.
Only thing is the pto switch was sticking and wouldn’t disengage. I sprayed with wd40 a few times and haven’t had a problem since.
Mine is a smaller tractor but does everything I need