Need to learn about beginner tractor user

vivancoj · Jul 2, 2012

My wife and I are in the process of buying a house on a 3.7 acres of wooded land. It has a creek bed which right now is empty.
Lots of trees different sizes and lots of thick brush. I am a three year beekeeper with 7 hives at the current time. I am also
a gardening for vegetables lover. Initially I thought about buying a brush cutter from the ones that Home Depot rents and sales
after 3 years of use. I need to clear some areas for my vegetable garden and take down some small trees as well.

At age 74 while still strong I dont have the know how and probably the strength to take on this task with a small machine. A friend
suggested I buy a used tractor with a bucket, and a bushog.

I am at a loss as to what to get, as prices, etc......I would like to get one with a trailer so I can loan it to my son who has a 7 acre
spread.

Any suggestions??????????????
Thanks,

Jos

Briana03 · Jul 2, 2012

Welcome to TBN

I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons Forum.

Gary Fowler · Jul 2, 2012

A 35-40 HP tractor with a medium to heavy duty bush hog will cut sapling size trees 3-4" in diameter if you can ride them over with the tractor the BH will cut it but it will leave a stubble and stump . You might be able to push them over and uproot them with a front end loader on the tractor depending on soil conditions. I have also did the same with a drawbar on the 3 point hitch with small trees just back into them with the drawbar to ride them over which will sometimes uproot or at least loosen up the roots so you can use a chain and pull them up with the 3 point hitch. Of course the larger the tractor the more lift capacity you have. Some of these actions takes some tractor driving skills to do safely so only attempt what you feel comfortable with
Check out Tractorhouse.com for prices on most new and used tractors and equipment. This will give you a good idea on what is out there and general pricing. If buying used especially from internet sites,watch out for scams and remember if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely isnt. With all the info out today, almost anyone can get a realistic value for what they are selling and price it accordingly.

EE_Bota · Jul 2, 2012

vivancoj said:
Any suggestions??????????????
Thanks,

Jos

Yes, get your son involved and you guys enjoy thinking, looking and planning. Once your money is out of pocket, the looking ends, and it is a pretty fun part of the adventure. I googled craigslist stone mountain ga. and Atlanta came up. Then under "farm and garden" I searched "loader" with no quotes. I know nothing about this tractor, looks a bit big. Enjoy

MF 253 4wd loader

vivancoj · Jul 2, 2012

Many thanks.

EE_Bota · Jul 2, 2012

vivancoj said:
Many thanks.

Sure! Start looking at you local Craig's list, and at you local newspaper. Consider how big it needs to be, etc. Looking is FUN, and I generally look at least once a week. It gives you something motivating to do as you do your study of what would suit you best.

leonz · Jul 2, 2012

vivancoj said:
My wife and I are in the process of buying a house on a 3.7 acres of wooded land. It has a creek bed which right now is empty.
Lots of trees different sizes and lots of thick brush. I am a three year beekeeper with 7 hives at the current time. I am also
a gardening for vegetables lover. Initially I thought about buying a brush cutter from the ones that Home Depot rents and sales
after 3 years of use. I need to clear some areas for my vegetable garden and take down some small trees as well.

At age 74 while still strong I dont have the know how and probably the strength to take on this task with a small machine. A friend
suggested I buy a used tractor with a bucket, and a bushog.

I am at a loss as to what to get, as prices, etc......I would like to get one with a trailer so I can loan it to my son who has a 7 acre
spread.

Any suggestions??????????????
Thanks,

Jos

For what you are contemplating:
A. you do not need a small tractor
B. you do not need a bush hog
c. you do not need a front end loader

Save your self a ton of money and work and hire a bulldozer for 3 hours work.

The small dozer will dig the trees out for you and then you can burn them
up in the winter if you have snow cover.

Land clearing is a very expensive and dangerous thing for the beginner (dont ask)

You will spend less time hiring a dozer than having to deal with a blown cooling system

from saplings getting shoved into the radiator or breaking a cooling fan.

After the dozer is done the ground will be flat as a pancake and you can

spray round up and woody brush killer and let it work and then till it.

You can spend the money you would waste on a used tractor for new 13 horse
BCS 2 wheel tractor with a rotary plow to break ground after the dozer is done for
much less money and the BCS 2 wheel tractor can be used for other jobs as it can
accept a big herd of attachments.

I want you to suceed and not fail.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
Pronovost or not at all!!!:thumbsup::licking::drool:

EE_Bota · Jul 2, 2012

leonz said:
For what you are contemplating:
A. you do not need a small tractor
B. you do not need a bush hog
c. front end loader

Save your self a ton of money and owrk and hire a bulldozer for 3 hours work.

The small dozer will dig the trees out for you and then you can burn them
up in the winter if you have snow cover.

Land clearing is a very expensive and dangerous thing for the beginner (dont ask)

You will spend less time hiring a dozer than having to deal with a blown cooling system

from saplings getting shoved into the radiator or breaking a cooling fan.

After the dozer is done the ground will be flat as a pancake and you can

spray round up and woody brush killer and let it work and then till it.

You can spend the money you would waste on a used tractor for new 13 horse
BCS 2 wheel tractor with a rotary plow to break ground after the dozer is done for
much less money and the BCS 2 wheel tractor can be used for other jobs as it can
accept a big herd of attachments.

I want you to suceed and not fail.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
Pronovost or not at all!!!:thumbsup::licking::drool:

BCS

It doesn't look bad at all. A man ought to try one to make sure it will suit him.

Here are the Georgia distributors.

BCS Dealer Locator

It all depends on what a man wants to do, and this would fit into what you broadly suggested you would like to accomplish.
We had a 2wd tractor when I was a kid, but the 4 wheeled tractor got more work..but we had 50 acres. In the garden, the 2 wheel tractor and the tiller got plenty of use. Our 2 wheel tractor has a turn plow, a spike tooth harrow, a disk harrow, a planter, cultivators and a trailer (and a couple of things I am likely forgetting.) Our 2wd tractor would "make a man out of you" since when the clutch was thrown (with one hand) the handlebars would immediately try to plummet toward the ground. This modern tractor seems to have worked some of that out, so it may be far nicer.

If trees are much of an issue, getting a dozer over to knock that out does make good sense.

joshuabardwell · Jul 2, 2012

leonz said:
For what you are contemplating:
A. you do not need a small tractor
B. you do not need a bush hog
c. front end loader

Save your self a ton of money and owrk and hire a bulldozer for 3 hours work.

The small dozer will dig the trees out for you and then you can burn them
up in the winter if you have snow cover.

Land clearing is a very expensive and dangerous thing for the beginner (dont ask)

You will spend less time hiring a dozer than having to deal with a blown cooling system

from saplings getting shoved into the radiator or breaking a cooling fan.

After the dozer is done the ground will be flat as a pancake and you can

spray round up and woody brush killer and let it work and then till it.

You can spend the money you would waste on a used tractor for new 13 horse
BCS 2 wheel tractor with a rotary plow to break ground after the dozer is done for
much less money and the BCS 2 wheel tractor can be used for other jobs as it can
accept a big herd of attachments.

I want you to suceed and not fail.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
Pronovost or not at all!!!:thumbsup::licking::drool:

This is good advice, especially the dozer part. One down side though is you don't get to own a tractor!

JoeinTX · Jul 2, 2012

Well, on one hand, 3 1/2 acres is just barely enough land to turn a 35hp tractor with loader and cutter around on. On the other, if you're retired and doing the work yourself is just part of the experience, tally ho.

If I you, I'd look for a 10-15 year old Massey Ferguson, Ford/New Holland, or Long tractor. Might (most likely) not have 4wd but many will have power steering, shade, and loader. The 850/950/1050 John Deeres are fairly common but most don't seem to have loaders for whatever reason. MF 230/231 are great little tractors in this range. You may be able to even find a similar Kubota of the same time period for a little more.

Tractors? Well they are both like buying a used car and extremely unlike buying a used car at the same time. For people around tractors, you understand this. For those who have not been, you won't. I wish I could express it better but I really can't think of way to do so.

vivancoj · Jul 3, 2012

I hope everyone who sent me advise can/could read this answer.
I thank you all for your sound advise. I am a third year beekeeper and as a fairly new beekeeper I seek advise from the ones that have been keeping bees for a long time. You ladies and gentlemen sound like old beekeepers. Everyone has his/her own opinion. I benefit from the advise for I listen and analyze all then try to formulate a hybrid answer to the question.
Gary Fowler's advise for example while it is a sound advise I think that in my case a 35 HP tractor may be a bit too big for my needs.
EE Bota's advise is great, my son Javier would love his advise for since I am 74 years old he thinks I am reaching the end of the rope and wants to spend more time with us. He also suggests to look at Craigslist, I have followed his advise and when I go to bed I see tractors all over my dreams.
Leonz's advise on the other hand appears to come from a very pragmatic man. I can find no holes in his advise (I wont tell my wife for then, she would say: "this man is right, don't spend the money on a tractor."
EE Bota came back with advise on a BCS throwing me a curve for now I have to start researching what is a BCS.
Joshua Hardwell got my attention, I would give him a medal for his words..."the downside is that you don't get to own a tractor."
Joein TX really hit it in the nail with "if you're retired and doing the work yourself is just part of the experience, tally ho."
To all of you, many thanks, you have given me lots of information that I will try to use wisely.

José

Don87 · Jul 3, 2012

vivancoj said:
I hope everyone who sent me advise can/could read this answer.
I thank you all for your sound advise. I am a third year beekeeper and as a fairly new beekeeper I seek advise from the ones that have been keeping bees for a long time. You ladies and gentlemen sound like old beekeepers. Everyone has his/her own opinion. I benefit from the advise for I listen and analyze all then try to formulate a hybrid answer to the question.
Gary Fowler's advise for example while it is a sound advise I think that in my case a 35 HP tractor may be a bit too big for my needs.
EE Bota's advise is great, my son Javier would love his advise for since I am 74 years old he thinks I am reaching the end of the rope and wants to spend more time with us. He also suggests to look at Craigslist, I have followed his advise and when I go to bed I see tractors all over my dreams.
Leonz's advise on the other hand appears to come from a very pragmatic man. I can find no holes in his advise (I wont tell my wife for then, she would say: "this man is right, don't spend the money on a tractor."
EE Bota came back with advise on a BCS throwing me a curve for now I have to start researching what is a BCS.
Joshua Hardwell got my attention, I would give him a medal for his words..."the downside is that you don't get to own a tractor."
Joein TX really hit it in the nail with "if you're retired and doing the work yourself is just part of the experience, tally ho."
To all of you, many thanks, you have given me lots of information that I will try to use wisely.
José¥‰/QUOTE]

Don't necessarily give up on the tractor idea. Altough I agree that hiring the clearing out would be a great idea, buying a small compact tractor, or a subcompact tractor would keep you in the tractor world.
Something like the B series Kubota, or a 1600 series Massey, would do all you ever need.

EDIT: I love my subcompact GC 2400, but the ground clearance requires manual cultivating of a garden..............unless you just cover the ground with straw like I have( no weeding, and less watering).

vivancoj · Jul 3, 2012

Thanks Don. What is the brand name for the GC2400? Which one is smaller, the compact or the subcompact......I get confused with these terms.
José

vivancoj · Jul 3, 2012

Got it, the MF is Massey Fergurson.

Don87 · Jul 3, 2012

vivancoj said:
Thanks Don. What is the brand name for the GC2400? Which one is smaller, the compact or the subcompact......I get confused with these terms.
José

The subcompact is smaller than the compact. The GC2400 is a subcompact, as well as the Kubota BX series. The MF 1600 series, and the B series Kubotas are considered compacts. My GC2400 will mow, till, plow ground or snow, snowblow.............it will do most of what a larger framed tractor will do, just not as quickly, and my ground clearance is about 6 inches. Kinda like a large garden tractor...........only a lot more powerful with a 3pt. hitch. I use a 4 ft; tiller behind mine..........and it is available with a front end loader which i think you should consider akso.

flusher · Jul 3, 2012

Get yourself a B-series Kubota with FEL. My first tractor was a new 2005 Kubota B7510HST with the LA302 FEL (4-ft wide bucket). Bought it new for $12600. You could find one of these for $7K or so now. I used in on my 10-acre place (flat pasture).

joshuabardwell · Jul 3, 2012

vivancoj said:
I have followed his advise and when I go to bed I see tractors all over my dreams.

Well, I have been there, and if you are anything like me, you need to buy a tractor, or you are never going to scratch that itch. But do seriously consider the advice of people who recommend doing the initial clearing/grading with a bulldozer. I have seen so many stories on TBN from folks who spent days or weeks poking at a job like that, only to finally break down and have it done in an afternoon by someone with a dozer. You may even come out ahead financially, once you figure in all the fuel and maintenance costs for the tractor. If you absolutely love seat time, go ahead and do it yourself, but my perspective is that there are always more jobs for me to do with the tractor, and there are probably things I would enjoy doing more than picking out trees one at a time.