Hello from Southern Arizona

Vineman1 · Jun 11, 2015

I have been scouring this forum a while and it has been very helpful. I am looking for a tractor for my newly started vineyard,2ac for now and surrounding ranch land. My nearby dealer,60 miles, sells NH and recently, 2yrs or less Mahindra. There is also a very small LS , TYM and golf cart dealer, 35 miles away but I am not sure about the service. The NH dealer loaned me a used NH Boomer 50 hst, 2013 w/90 hrs and 23K, to try out that worked great, but is too much tractor for my needs.I never got into the 3rd range. Decided I want a cab, but have not decided on the brand.Usually its hot, windy and dusty here @ 5000ft. Will be utilizing a disc harrow, forks(lifting 1000lb bins)and brush hog on flat grassland. Look forward to advice

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Baby Grand · Jun 11, 2015

Welcome aboard, Vineman1!
Did some caving in Patagonia when I was at UA, many years ago.
Beautiful area you live in, and I can well appreciate you preference for a cab.

I see from your profile (thanks for that) that you've 10 -20 acres - how much will you eventually be working?
Any slopes, hills, etc?
You'll be gettin' plenty of advice on what to buy, shortly.

TBN Support · Jun 11, 2015

Hi and welcome to the forum! :welcome:
Don't forget to check out our buying, pricing and comparisons section at http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/

Vineman1 · Jun 12, 2015

Thanks Baby Grand. Yes, we love the area. Have done a little caving myself with the brother-in-law. Will be working 2 acres for now and plan on expanding. Flat ground, no slopes. What year were you at UA?

mddorange · Jun 12, 2015

:welcome:
To TBN Vineman. Back when I was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB the first time, 1967-1969, and gas was 22 cents a gallon and stations gave away glasses to get business, the wife and I explored all of southern Arizona in a 1957 Ford that her dad gave me for me taking her off his hands. We were proably nuts to drive up and down the mountains and across the desert on those dirt roads but we didn't know any better and couldn't afford much else for entertainment. We like that area so much that I asked to go back in 1971.

Wagtail · Jun 12, 2015

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

(limited) Advice is that you shouldn't go below a 40hp CUT (compact utility tractor), especially for lifting with the FEL (front end loader). You'll also want a wheelbase that will fit between the vine rows. An HST (hydraulic, no gears) would also suit your needs.

As to tyres... R1s are 'skinny' but might damage the vine roots if you get too close, R4s are fatter but won't 'dig-in' as well as R1s... they'd (the R4s) would spread the weight of your tractor more on the ground.

There are specialised vinyard tractors available &, whichever dealership you go with, should be able to 'build' you the right rig for your situation.

Baby Grand · Jun 12, 2015

Vineman1 said:
Thanks Baby Grand. Yes, we love the area. Have done a little caving myself with the brother-in-law. Will be working 2 acres for now and plan on expanding. Flat ground, no slopes. What year were you at UA?

That was in '78 - I was in Hopi Lodge, an old ROTC barrack with primeval electrical service, so no AC. It was back in the days of big hair, and if more than 4 blow driers were going in the building at the same time the lights went out until the RA tripped the breaker. Had a great time there. Too good, in fact, based on my grades.
Sounds like you're going to want something small enough to fit between your vine rows, when they're all leafed out, but big enough for the disc & brush hog. I'd think something in the mid to high 30's for HP and 3000 lbs or more (just the tractor without the loader) should handle most of your tasks. There are a few vineyard growers on TBN who can give you better advice, I'm sure.