Where do I start? 7 acres...

spooons · Jul 14, 2015

So my wife and I are expanding our small urban farm to 7 acres (we are moving from the city to the semi-country). We recieved a grant to purchase a tractor (well, its enough to put a substantial downpayment). We dont think we need anything extraordinary or large and have been looking at what most manufacturers classify as "Utility Tractors". We have been looking heavily into Kubota B and BX models but dont have any brand preference at this point.

We need some help determining what would be the best option for us. We have about $7,500 to put down and dont want to spend more than $15,000 (I know most places have 0% financing). We would like it to be used for the following things (initially):

Tilling
Bucket for moving mulch/rocks/dirt/whatever
Something for basic digging
ability to have other implements attached easily
ability to pull - such as removing a stump

Keep in mind this is about 6 acres of tillable land and we aren't doing one large crop, so there will be smaller .5-1.5acre sections that we utilize. Some will be row crops, some wont be.

Id also like to mow my lawn with it if possible...

bcp · Jul 14, 2015

I wouldn't be happy with a BX on row crops. I want higher clearance and narrower tires, preferably adjustable tread. I would look at a B or smaller L to see if any versions are better than others for row crops.

Bruce

McREBEL · Jul 14, 2015

Take a look at a Kubota B2601. If you would consider used then something like a B7800, B2620, or B2920. The B2920 I have is a great little tractor, however; I will not be pulling any stumps with it unless they are small or rotted. That would take a backhoe or much bigger tractor. I don't discount other brands. Kubota is what I am most familiar with. I heavily considered an LS XJ2025 when I was looking but found a good deal on a used Kubota B2920. Kioti, Mahindra, MF, and JD all make good small compact tractors. Happy Hunting.

RedNeckRacin · Jul 14, 2015

BX and B are in the SCUT or CUT lineup. How are you planning on prepping the soil? The loaders on those machines are capable just not overly powerful or fast when moving over larger distances. What do you mean 'basic digging'???? All tractors with a 3pt accept 3 pt implements so thats not to helpful.

Neither of those tractors is big enough to pull stumps without ALOT of prep work. You would be lucky to do that with a 100hp tractor. They are alot tougher than they look. What are you specifically looking to pull?

jeff9366 · Jul 14, 2015

For tilling you need a PTO powered roto-tiller.

In BX, B and L size tractors probably 90% are sold with an FEL + bucket when new.

A Piranha (brand) tooth bar bucket attachment will permit your bucket to do some digging, as wide as the bucket only.

A Ratchet Rake bucket attachment will allow you to remove small stumps, up to 3" or so, after roots decompose one year. Ratchet Rake is also excellent for pulling brush and can be used for minor grading.

It can be a struggle to attach implements in the restricted space behind a BX or B size tractor in any brand. You have to move up to one of the 'L' size tractors before sufficient space for easy implement mounting and less strenuous PTO joining is there.

Besides space, shop for Three Point Hitch RIGID STABILIZERS which both TELESCOPE and have PIN ADJUSTMENT, not turnbuckles.

You will almost certainly want a single-row, row-crop cultivator. Personally, I like the flexibility of modular tool bar cultivators which can form raised beds.

If this ground will provide a livelihood, rather than be a hobby, buy enough tractor so you work efficiently.

McREBEL · Jul 14, 2015

You might consider sending a pm to this guy:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/341213-2008-kubota-b7800-la-402-a.html

He is in Michigan and is selling his low hour Kubota B7800.

spooons · Jul 14, 2015

So the stump thing I guess was a wishlist item and wouldnt be something I would do frequently. I understand now that its not something a smaller tractor would handle well. They would be smaller stumps, more like "roots" of some trees on the edge of the property - nothing giant and mature. That is ok!

spooons · Jul 14, 2015

@RedNeckRacin - planning on running disc through the soil. As far as digging, I have no clue, just an idea if I wanted to make a hole. I have no clue what I may end up using the tractor for besides discing, mowing and moving stuff around.

jeff9366 · Jul 14, 2015

spooons said:
cres of tillable land and we aren't doing one large crop, so there will be smaller .5-1.5acre sections that we utilize. Some will be row crops, some wont be.

You do not want a Disc Harrow. You need a PTO powered roto-tiller which will do soil prep in small areas in one pass.

DISC HARROW LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/308251-disc-harrow-selection-18-45-a.html?highlight=

spooons · Jul 14, 2015

I looked into that, I am more familiar with roto-tillers for smaller areas of land but thought a disc was more appropriate/quicker? I am all for getting a tiller attachment instead.

jeff9366 · Jul 14, 2015

Disc Harrow and Roto-Tillers are two forms of tiller. With the tractor specs you are considering you will have neither traction nor horsepower to pull a sufficiently heavy Disc Harrow at 4-5mph, which is required to mix soil. Disc Harrows are for (long) fields.

Roto-tillers are more efficient prepping .5 acre to 1.5 acre "patches".

RedNeckRacin · Jul 14, 2015

spooons said:
@RedNeckRacin - planning on running disc through the soil. As far as digging, I have no clue, just an idea if I wanted to make a hole. I have no clue what I may end up using the tractor for besides discing, mowing and moving stuff around.

I don't think you are going to be happy with the product of the lighter range discs for soil prep. You need to be able to pull a heavy disc at 4-5 mph to do anything with the soil. I was just curious about the digging. Scraping some sod is one thing, putting a hole 6 feet in the ground or moving a hillside are quite another. Just make sure you don't buy the minimum size required for your specific tasks. Generally you size a tractor for 90% of the work you are going to do and take your time for the other 10%. There are some general rules of thumb for mowers and pto implements and they are pretty safe estimates to go by.

jeff9366 · Jul 14, 2015

McREBEL said:
You might consider sending a Private Message (PM) to this guy:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/341213-2008-kubota-b7800-la-402-a.html

He is in Michigan and is selling his low hour Kubota B7800.

This B7800 may meet your needs and your budget. I would contact the owner soonest.

McREBEL · Jul 14, 2015

spooons said:
We have about $7,500 to put down and dont want to spend more than $15,000

The Kubota site lists the B2601 w/ FEL at $18,500. Folks here say you can typically get 10% off that price, maybe 15%. The L series is going to be even higher. How firm is the $15,000 cap?

jeff9366 · Jul 14, 2015

With '0' financing, which comes about half from the dealer's pocket, 5%-7% off MSRP is more likely and OP will have to bargain hard for the 7% discount.

New models, like the B2601, are typically in short supply relative to demand. Same for the L2501.

My local Kubota dealer told me he has sold all the L2501s he can get with NO discounts. I have no idea if that means three or nine tractors, or some other number.

Great service to the OP on the B7800.

davesl708 · Jul 14, 2015

For my two cents. I love my BX and have done a lot of work more suited to a CUT. I am only working >1 acre. It runs a 48" roto-tiller just fine and the MMM does the yard. The FEL does the heavy lifting and snow very well.

I would recommend going with a CUT for your size land. You would be happier in the long run.

Luke'sScreenName · Jul 14, 2015

I'm certainly not an expert but I would think a Bxx50 series tractor with alot of weight added would be my minimum size.

big bubba · Jul 14, 2015

please correct me. @ what model does the description "utility tractor" begin with? thought b & bx were sub compacts. & what exactly are the constraints of the "grant" in terms of equip & use? just asking. i can't imagine doing what you want to do with anything less than L models. best regards

spooons · Jul 14, 2015

grant has no restrictions, was given to us as cash. Paid taxes on it and this is what is left after using some of it. I am open to suggestions for models, I am not opposed to getting something bigger as long as when I price it out it is something i can afford

Ultility, compact, sub compact, none of the above - just labels. I want something that I can grow into and that will get the job done without making me a poor man. I am going to see a dealer this weekend to look at things.