How much tractor do I need

[Sulla]

It's getting close to decision time for me. I'm hoping I can get some thoughts on how much tractor I need and thoughts on brand bias to help me make a decision.

We have purchased and will soon close on 45 acres of raw land surrounded by national forest. We intend on taking the better part of the next five years to build our family homestead there. We will be keeping our present home thirty minutes away that I take care of myself. Lawn, snow, the basics. It's a small piece of property and easy to manage.

Some of the task I have in front of me are:

Timbering the land we want to cultivate
Milling lumber
Pulling stumps and clearing rocks
Prepare soil for planting
Building a barn, care takers cottage, large house, bunk house, wind turbine, observatory.
Two miles of class six road maintenance. (I'm going take the advice from is forum and get an old dump truck to plow)
Fencing
Live stock care.

This is a life long dream for us and this long list of projects are things I am looking forward to doing, call me crazy.

My current tractor is a Kioti CK20 HST with FEL and finish mower. I suspect it is to small. That said I like to try to use the least amount of tool necessary to to the job. If my 250 scooter can best get me to the grocery store no need to get an Ultra Glide for that. I guess I am saying I like to use the right tool for the job at hand and not go over board.

So far I have looked at a Kioti DK40 and John Deere 54xx series. Big difference in price and not really comparable as far as I can tell. The JD really grabbed me but the price put me off a bit.

I appreciate any thoughts you have on the subject.

 

[jdbnh]

look at new holland's workmaster 45 or 55 tractor. nice tractor bigger than a compact but good pricing. nice features

 

[VitaBene]

Sulla, The tasks you have planned are substantial for a CUT.

Have you considered keeping the Kioti and buying a used Backhoe (Case 580, JD 310 or 410 sized). Digging stumps and rocks are not easy tasks. You can also plow with them. My 580K was a great plow rig with a 10' Fisher plow.

 

[Sulla]

Sulla, The tasks you have planned are substantial for a CUT.

Have you considered keeping the Kioti and buying a used Backhoe (Case 580, JD 310 or 410 sized). Digging stumps and rocks are not easy tasks.

That is an interesting idea. Perhaps a used excavator. I used a ten ton Cat to build a drive way and build a wall this summer, it sure made short work of that job. I'm not sure I could afford it my budgets around thirty including the trade. If I keep then CK 20 that leaves about $15,000 for the backhoe or excavator.

I'l have to start looking around. Maybe an older one might work.

 

[TripleR]

I am with VitaBene on this one. Years ago we bought an old Case backhoe that my brother fixed up to use as we had stuff for which our tractors just weren't suited. We don't need one anymore, so it just sits in the shed and we rent something if we need it.

We have several tractors up to an M8540 and would still need to rent something occasionally to take care of the tasks you outlined in a timely manner.

When we built our house, we just spent the money to have someone come in with a dozer which got done in a couple of days what would have taken us months even with the backhoe. My daughter did the same thing last year.

I am not saying you can't do what you want, just don't try to get by going small.

Just my:2cents:

 

[Verticaltrx]

My Father just got a JD 5045E and it is a really nice little tractor, sounds about like the size range you would need(40-50 pto hp, utility class). I've put about 30hrs on it in the last week or two and it is a very sturdy, smooth operating tractor. While it's not quite as good as a power reverser or hydrostatic, the Sync Shuttle transmission works very nicely for loader work.

I've been using it for hauling fence posts, moving trees after clearing some land, seeding, clearing brush for a new fence line, and some grading. The loader lift capacity is very substantial for this size tractor.

With that said, I would use the tractor for all the work you can, then hire a large track loader or excavator to remove the stumps and clean up after your logging. Either of those machines will make very quick work of land clearing which would take days or weeks with even a decent sized backhoe. All of the other tasks you mentioned should be easily accomplished with a 40-50hp 4wd utility tractor with a loader.

 

[bigbull338]

with what all your wanting todo getting raw land ready for a homested id look at a MX5100 HST 4x4 w/fel.you can get that setup for $26,000 more or less.

 

[Sulla]

with what all your wanting todo getting raw land ready for a homested id look at a MX5100 HST 4x4 w/fel.you can get that setup for $26,000 more or less.

Bigbull338 I don't know much about tractor designations, what is an MX5100, that pricing seems pretty good.

 

[Sulla]

I am with VitaBene on this one. Years ago we bought an old Case backhoe that my brother fixed up to use as we had stuff for which our tractors just weren't suited. We don't need one anymore, so it just sits in the shed and we rent something if we need it.

We have several tractors up to an M8540 and would still need to rent something occasionally to take care of the tasks you outlined in a timely manner.

When we built our house, we just spent the money to have someone come in with a dozer which got done in a couple of days what would have taken us months even with the backhoe. My daughter did the same thing last year.

I am not saying you can't do what you want, just don't try to get by going small.

Just my:2cents:

I do expect to have to rent some big stuff from time to time. I just want to keep those times as fee as possible. I sit on my *** and move money around for a living. Part of this project is for my sanity, maybe more than just a little. I'd like to see something accomplished at the of of the day instead of adding up my paper gains and losses.

I will at least try to do everything myself. I'm quite certain I won't be able to do it all, but I want to try. I also want my kinds to see what it means to build something yourself.

Said I was crazy.

Thanks for the help

 

[bigbull338]

Bigbull338 I don't know much about tractor designations, what is an MX5100, that pricing seems pretty good.

its not a compact tractor its a farm tractor.it has 52hp wich is the right hp for your homestead.itll lift big 5 by 6 round bales no prob.the HST is an automatic 3 range tranny with low med and high.i have the LA844 loader on mine.an itll lift anything i need to lift.

 

[LD1]

I vote for keeping the CK and getting a used backhoe.

But that all depends on your level of mechanical experience. Can you make minor repairs yourself?? Changing hydraulic hoses, welding, etc. If you can handle a little of that, you can find some VERY nice used BH's for under $15k.

If you trade in your CK for a utility class tractor like the MX kubota or the 50 series JD, to stay under 30K you still wont have a backhoe. Which is almost a must if you are going to be clearing a lot of trees and stumps. And I think you will find that for the tasks you list, a utility will either be TOO big for the smaller work and TOO small for the heavy digging work.

Therefor, If you are comfortable buying a used BH that may require a little work from time to time, I think a two tractor plan is for you. A 1980's industrial BH can be had in the 10-15k range and will make short work of the heavy stuff. And even when you are satisified you have all the heavy work done, you can probabally sell it for as much as you paid for it.

 

[TripleR]

I do expect to have to rent some big stuff from time to time. I just want to keep those times as fee as possible. I sit on my *** and move money around for a living. Part of this project is for my sanity, maybe more than just a little. I'd like to see something accomplished at the of of the day instead of adding up my paper gains and losses.

I will at least try to do everything myself. I'm quite certain I won't be able to do it all, but I want to try. I also want my kinds to see what it means to build something yourself.

Said I was crazy.

Thanks for the help

Oh, I can certainly understand that. Even with the dozer, I am still working on our properties sixteen years later. I will die long before I run out of stuff to do.

I use our Grand L5030 for much of the work, but also have other land and other tractors that keep me, my wife and sons busy.

I spent my last seven years of working primarily behind a desk as a Unit Supervisor and relished the time I could spend on a tractor.

At my age and with my health, I have to run a cab most of the time, so my options are somewhat limited.

My personal choice for what you are doing would be a GL5740 HSTC, but as bigbull338 mentioned, the MX5100 is a real nice tractor. I really wouldn't want to go under 50 HP.

If you can live with a geared unit, that opens up even more options.

 

[Sulla]

I'm good with minor repairs and am teaching myself how to weld (with help from this site) so I'm okay with used stuff. I also have no problem with gears and shifting. I'm going to look around for and older BH and see what I can find. I'm also going to look at some older full on AG tractors. This is getting interesting.

 

[TracTrac]

Sulla, I'm crazy too. It's OK! Those who are crazy and do not know it are called "Dangerous".
Get a tight backhoe and keep your tractor. You must do your homework and not buy some old tired wornout headache. When I was 30 (1990) my Great Uncle bought a 1980 JD 300b for $10k. We used it for 3 weeks on and off. After that time we hired on for a home foundation with a large basement. After two 10 hours days the JD would not crank no matter what we did. Called the dealer to come get it. It had low compression. The dealer paid for half of the repairs. Only had 2700 hours.
Not to hi-jack your thread, but what kind of scooter do you have? I just bought a 2006 Honda Big Ruckus 250 with 171 miles. Scooters are cool.

 

[Barry Bowen]

Clearing land is not a job for a farm tractor or a backhoe. You need a pretty good sized tract machine depending on the size of the trees you are taking down and the root mat that you need to rake out. Clearing land is not cheap. At a minimum you need something the size of a 953 or 963 Cat loader to take down trees. DO NOT CUT THEM DOWN FIRST!!!! Take the loader and push the trees over, this generally will pull most of the stump out of the ground. Gravity is great the way it works. Then you can cut off the stump and deal with the tree. I would also want some one to come in with a dozer with a rake type blade to go through and tear up the root mat so you can actually do something with it.

Are you planning on farming, horses, cattle, crops??? If farming is your goal, start looking an older larger tractor. You wont go wrong with something like a 966 or 1066 International. A nice one can be found for 8-10K ready to put to work. Do not play with these new lighter tractors that cannot get real farm work done with out tearing themselves up. (If you need 4x4 to try and get farming done, you shouldn't be in the field anyway!)

 

[tk1469]

Myself I'm partial to a Kubota - but whatever you buy - go big enough. I originally had my sights on an L2800 - but instead got an L3800 - which is "more tractor". I hate to say it - but do what your wallet will withstand - but go big enough.

 

[Rustyiron]

Crazy, off the wall question, Are you building in Sula MT?

 

[bill in ny]

Clearing land is not a job for a farm tractor or a backhoe. You need a pretty good sized tract machine depending on the size of the trees you are taking down and the root mat that you need to rake out. Clearing land is not cheap. At a minimum you need something the size of a 953 or 963 Cat loader to take down trees. DO NOT CUT THEM DOWN FIRST!!!! Take the loader and push the trees over, this generally will pull most of the stump out of the ground. Gravity is great the way it works. Then you can cut off the stump and deal with the tree. I would also want some one to come in with a dozer with a rake type blade to go through and tear up the root mat so you can actually do something with it.

Are you planning on farming, horses, cattle, crops??? If farming is your goal, start looking an older larger tractor. You wont go wrong with something like a 966 or 1066 International. A nice one can be found for 8-10K ready to put to work. Do not play with these new lighter tractors that cannot get real farm work done with out tearing themselves up. (If you need 4x4 to try and get farming done, you shouldn't be in the field anyway!)

barry, around here most of the farmers have at least one of those new lighter 4x4 tractors! i would like to see their face when you told them they shouldn't be in the field with them. that includes me:confused2:

 

[TripleR]

barry, around here most of the farmers have at least one of those new lighter 4x4 tractors! i would like to see their face when you told them they shouldn't be in the field with them. that includes me:confused2:

Pretty much the same here and you have to really look to find someone on a 2WD tractor.

 

[ZDB]

My dad bought an MX5100 and I bought an M7040HD 3 years ago to do similar tasks to what you describe. His came with a backhoe unit, mine did not. Both ran right around $30k each.

Either one will easily run a 6' rotary cutter, pound fence posts, run tillage equipment, have fairly high capacity loader capability, and would do fine for timbering especially if you bought a 3pt logging winch.

The MX040 can run some decent sized equipment for smaller acreage.
Its nice having a "light" 4x4 tractor (hasn't fallen apart) that I can ballast anyway I want without worrying so much about compaction in my fields.

We have gone the old $8-$10k route and found that while capable old farm tractors can be expensive to fix and love to fail right when you need them most.