Buying Advice Small tractor advice

[shortthrow50]

You need a 3x20 for 20 acres at least. Your gonna wind up losing money and trading up to a 3x20 in the future if you get anything smaller. I'm thinking I should've stepped up to a 4x20 on my 10 acres. I keep having unforeseen jobs I want to do pop up.

 

[murphy1244]

You need a 3x20 for 20 acres at least. Your gonna wind up losing money and trading up to a 3x20 in the future if you get anything smaller. I'm thinking I should've stepped up to a 4x20 on my 10 acres. I keep having unforeseen jobs I want to do pop up.

You need a 4x20 to cut grass?

 

[cmore]

In addition to JD would recommend u look into Massey Ferguson, Kubota, New Holland and Mahindra tractors. U might find one of those that fit your needs better.

 

[Beaglenut]

After reading all the responses so far, it looks to me like the key question (which many have specifically stated) is whether an all-in-one machine is really going to be what I want long term for both mowing and doing real "tractor work" on a property the size we're buying. Right now it sounds like the answer from pretty much all of the responses is a resounding NO. Since there's no question I'll need to mow grass, that has to be my first priority. I think that puts the x749 back to the top of the list, with a "wait-and-see" being my decision on a tractor. I'd still be looking at buying a tiller for it and I guess that means some weights on the front for balance along with a trailer of some sort. Then I can live on the place for a while and decide whether I want to join the "big tractor" crew after that. Make sense?

 

[joshuabardwell]

After reading all the responses so far, it looks to me like the key question (which many have specifically stated) is whether an all-in-one machine is really going to be what I want long term for both mowing and doing real "tractor work" on a property the size we're buying. Right now it sounds like the answer from pretty much all of the responses is a resounding NO. Since there's no question I'll need to mow grass, that has to be my first priority. I think that puts the x749 back to the top of the list, with a "wait-and-see" being my decision on a tractor. I'd still be looking at buying a tiller for it and I guess that means some weights on the front for balance along with a trailer of some sort. Then I can live on the place for a while and decide whether I want to join the "big tractor" crew after that. Make sense?

As much as I'd like to encourage you to get a big tractor, this sounds like good sense.

 

[firefighterjrm]

Whoa Beaglenut, I don't think any one is saying in all in one sub or compact tractor is the wrong way, I think everyone is saying way your options, I can not comment very well on the X749 but to say I have seen them at the dealership and looked at the price. With that being said look at the price and then compare to the 1 seris the 2 seris and the 3 seris, from the prices I have seen on the X749 dropping a couple more grand and financed over period of time is not a whole lot and you will do better with a sub compact-compact tractor. The only thing I will tell you about the drive over deck is like I said before, the price of that and set up you could get a decent JD lawn tractor which would give you lawn mower to cut grass and a tractor to do your other work but then again thats just me. I know from the past it can be mind boggling when you pull up to the big green store and you see ALL the nice little toys out there on the lot and trust me I have been there but go there knowing what uses you need plus FUTURE needs trust me look to the future too, at the end of the day the dealer will sell you anything you want.... I think for the size of your land you will be selling your self a little short on a X749 and at some point you will want to upgrade or buy another tractor. Here is what I think 1. Figure out a budget how much money do you want to spend. 2. Figure out what you are going to do with your machine now and Possibly down the road. 3. Go to the dealership look at the different machines and get one that fits you best. Trust me when I say this I think there is alot of people on here that will tell you that you will find more and more uses for you sub-compact-compact tractor and it is an investment. I hope this helps

 

[shortthrow50]

You need a 4x20 to cut grass?

No you idiot. Read the last sentence. Unforeseen jobs I want to do that will be coming up.

600 foot of driveway. New horseback riding ring. Excavate for equipment barn into side of hill with retaining wall. That's just for starters by next summer. List goes on and on more I look around my property will be starting late winter or next spring when I have more time

 

[meburdick]

This recommendation seems completely over the top. What are you basing that on? I have a 2520 with a 62D On Ramp deck, and that thing is absolute overkill for my 1 acre of property. The only reason I bought a machine "that big" was to get the FEL capacity of well over 1,000 pounds because I move firewood in log lengths and stacked on pallets.

The 1026R is a well-rounded machine that will do a lot. If you don't need a loader, don't get one. If you decide in the future that it's useful, add it then (my absolute, hands-down most used function on my tractor is lifting / moving with my pallet forks).

Ballast the rear tires for extra stability and traction when pulling, and you'll be able to do just about any basic task you need. Adding a loader with a bucket would give you a means to move snow when necessary, too.[/QUOTE



The 2720 is a good choice for twenty acres the OP mentions. For one acre I doubt I would have more than an x320 and a cart. Lots of new property owners start out thinking they will just mow the lawn around the house but soon they usually want to get more involved with the whole place and are on TBN looking to trade up which is costly. Better to get it right the first time.

While the OP indicated he has 20 acres, he also indicated he's only interested in directly caring for about 3 of them... And most of that will be able to be addressed with something like a rear finish mower. Brush hog work he's looking at contracting out, and his possible needs for a loader are not necessarily solid as of yet.

Now... With that said...

The 2720 is an excellent machine (as is the 2520 - little better hydraulics on the 2720 and a little more engine HP). And its loader capacity is double what the 1026R will deliver (the 2320 is somewhere in between what the 2520/2720 and the 1026R). My posts have thus far been essentially "food for thought" type things to help the OP consider what additional things he could potentially do with a machine. But, for his stated purposes in the first post, the 1026R is more than capable.

 

[Beaglenut]

OK everybody please get tunnel-vision for a second and just think about mowing. Would the x749 really be significantly better than the 1026R for just for that one task? Looks to me like the price for the 2 would not be much different after adding a mowing deck. I've been watching Utube videos (amazing how many there are) and the quick connect / disconnect feature on the 1026R looks better, and even with the 4-wheel steer it looks like I'm still going to need a weed-trimmer around trees after mowing with the x749. Again please just think about mowing - I was thinking the x749 would be alot better but now I'm beginning to wonder.

 

[meburdick]

Advantages to the dedicated mower would be smaller size for greater maneuverability and tighter mowing against obstacles. Aside from that, I doubt you'll find any real-world difference.

I sold my riding mower and bought a mowing deck with my tractor (at 3x the cost) because I wanted one machine for everything. Storing the extra machine is a downside detractor for me.