Thinking about buying a new tractor

[b0508]

I am thinking bout buying a new tractor or skid steer. I am really on the fence my ideal price is 15000 cash for something.
I currently have a Massey 165 with loader gas tractor..Runs but is a pain to use.
Have old case dozer not running right now
Old NH skid steer wheeled not running at the time.
I am trying to get away from this old stuff that I spend more time getting running that using
I have JD zero turn that is used weekly in the summer.
I have borrowed my buddys NH 45hp compact and was nice to use but seemed lack something.. May weight or power not sure.
I am planning on trying to reclaim overgrown fields most ... They have not been touched in 15 years.. It is all junk trees mostly ceder and small oak with alot of briars, Hedge bushes.

I have rented CAT SS tracked before and worked well.. Just hate to rent for month for 2500 that could go to my new equipment.
I have drove a Kubota 50HP utility thought it was a little big to do any yard work with. Drove 25hp at same dealer seemed good size for the yard but lacking to move any brush.
I thought about 4/1 bucket for the front of the tractor to help but should I got Skid Steer and sale all my other stuff?
Tried to hire a few people to clear and they wanted 1500 per acre.
Thoughts. Am I missing something I saw the mulching heads for Skid Steers I dont think a tractor to use one of those too heavy.
I have seen some deals on used Kioti and Montanta around here.

 

[jeff9366]

I am thinking bout buying a new tractor or skid steer.
I have borrowed my buddys NH 45hp compact and was nice to use but seemed lack something.. May weight or power not sure.

Weight is the key metric.

Consider tractors in terms of bare weight first, engine horsepower second. You will make a quicker, better decision.

You can find tractor weights for almost any model tractor on tractordata.com

TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors

 

[jeff9366]

I am thinking bout buying a new tractor or skid steer.
I am planning on trying to reclaim overgrown fields most ... They have not been touched in 15 years.. It is all junk trees mostly ceder and small oak with alot of briars, Hedge bushes.

How many acres of overgrown fields do you need to clear?
What is the AVERAGE diameter of Cedars and small Oaks? What is the MAXIMUM diameter of Cedar and Oaks you need to clear?

What are your intentions the fields when clear?

Is your land flat or sloped?

For farming tasks a tractor will be superior to a skid steer.

Tractor Vs Skid Steer LINK: Google

 

[nybirdman]

I tractor will not have enough hydraulic flow to run a SS mulcher head.You may want to think about a medium duty brush hog (rear PTO) and something along the lines of 40-50HP tractor.Always a compromise somewhere.

 

[b0508]

How many acres of overgrown fields do you need to clear?
What is the AVERAGE diameter of cedars and small Oaks? What is the MAXIMUM diameter of cedar and Oaks you need to clear?

What are you going to do with the fields when clear?

For farming tasks a tractor will be far superior to a skid steer.

I would think I would get in to 10 acres. I have 70 total I dont plan on doing all and all could not be done.

I would say 3 to 4 inch maybe little smaller.. I plan on leaving anything larger.

No farming.. I would have like to plant pines but I dont think that will happen. We will ride atv mostly.

I wont farm that was my dads thing and he is passed now. I might plant a small garden 1 acre or less but that is most that will ever happen

It is grown up so bad now you can even walk it with all the under brush.

Kubota wants to sale me a 50hp 4x4 said that my current rotor mower should take most out when i run it over. I just hate to run a bunch of crap over with a new tractor. "That is just me"

 

[jibe717]

I myself have a 1726E MF. I highly recommend the 17xxE series. I think you'd be very close to getting into your 15k budget if you went with the 26E and a FEL. I paid 12k for mine w/o an FEL. Things I have done with mine are run a 6' finish mower. A 6' disc harrow. I have used a 6' field cultivator on mine but it struggled wit it if I sunk it all the way in. You would need to fill the tires, which I did not do with mine. Its a sturdy tractor that has good balance. If I had things to do over again I would have gotten the 1739E instead. Same frame. More HP. Another 3-4k more in price.

I wouldn't do all of what you are doing on rentals. Renting has its time and place but it sounds like you will have a regular need for a machine. Besides throwing money into the wind in a rental its a lot of time getting it and returning it. Only advantage to renting is the repairs are on them. But with a new tractor purchase comes a warranty for a period of time.

Since you have an MF already I thought I'd put a plug in here. Barnes Equipment to the state north of you has a 1736E listed for $19,500. So if you are looking at new and not buying someone else's junk the 17xxE series is a good option.

Edit: on tractorhouse I am seeing the 1726E's for under 16k.

 

[bspeedy]

Hello to the OP. I am also in the upstate of SC - Easley area. I know what you mean about the woods being not even walkable with briars and underbrush and such.

Is there a reason you want to clear 10 acres? If you are just looking to make atv trails, I have had great luck with a tractor backhoe (good) or a mini excavator (better). 15 grand should get you into a used TLB in the 30 hp range if you are willing to travel for one. Good mini-ex will cost closer to 20k for a used one.

I also would not drive a tractor straight through a mess like that and try to run a cutter behind. Whoever advised that is lacking in experience or has access to free repairs when something breaks.

Other option is to hire someone with a full sized track loader. They can get a lot done in a couple of days. I'm more of a DIY person, though. Easier to get what I want, but takes longer.

 

[jeff9366]

I would think I would get in to 10 acres. I have 70 total I dont plan on doing all and all could not be done.

I would say 3 to 4 inch trees maybe little smaller.

We will ride atv mostly.

I might plant a small garden 1 acre or less but that is most that will ever happen

It is grown up so bad now you can even walk it with all the under brush.

Dealers will tell you a medium duty Rotary Cutter will cut 2" trees. That is true but the Rotary Cutter will not last long.
I recommend cutting anything 1-3/4" and larger with a chain saw or much safer 20V or 40V reciprocating saw. Trim of all branches and run over with the Rotary Cutter. Bundle 1-3/4" and larger trunks and pull to a burn pile.

There are heavy duty Rotary Cutters but it does not sound like you have enough land to justify the expense of a HD R/C and a heavy, powerful enough tractor to power a HD R/C.

I recommend a Ratchet Rake bucket attachment for pulling out brush, NOT TREES, by the roots.
VIDEO: ratchet rake brush clearing - YouTube
Ratchet Rake will also open land for a small garden.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I would think I would get in to 10 acres. I have 70 total I dont plan on doing all and all could not be done.

I would say 3 to 4 inch maybe little smaller.. I plan on leaving anything larger.

No farming.. I would have like to plant pines but I dont think that will happen. We will ride atv mostly.

I wont farm that was my dads thing and he is passed now. I might plant a small garden 1 acre or less but that is most that will ever happen

It is grown up so bad now you can even walk it with all the under brush.

Kubota wants to sale me a 50hp 4x4 said that my current rotor mower should take most out when i run it over. I just hate to run a bunch of crap over with a new tractor. "That is just me"

I just bought a New Holland Workmaster 50 and do exactly what you are wanting to do. I run a Brown 472 cutter behind it and have had no issues except thorns in tires. I was cutting 2"-3" pines in an overgrown field this spring and re-cut the area this fall. My tractor is similar in size to an MX Kubota. With attractive financing a new tractor may be the way to go. Used units around here are priced accordingly high.

 

[b0508]

I am in Fountain Inn not that far from you. I just figure it will be 10 acres if you add the trails up. With the mini ex was you running a cutter head on it?
Yeah I dont even like driving my old massey over things like that.
I have not had any luck with hiring someone with a loader.. I can rent one for month cheaper then they want for doing the job. Nobody wants to do anything anymore. They think since you have land you have money to burn.

 

[b0508]

Dealers will tell you a medium duty Rotary Cutter will cut 2" trees. That is true but the Rotary Cutter will not last long.
I recommend cutting anything 1-3/4" and larger with a chain saw or much safer 20V or 40V reciprocating saw. Trim of all branches and run over with the Rotary Cutter. Bundle 1-3/4" and larger trunks and pull to a burn pile.

There are heavy duty Rotary Cutters but it does not sound like you have enough land to justify the expense of a HD R/C and a heavy, powerful enough tractor to power a HD R/C.

I recommend a Ratchet Rake bucket attachment for pulling out brush, NOT TREES, by the roots.
VIDEO: ratchet rake brush clearing - YouTube
Ratchet Rake will also open land for a small garden.

I have a cat 2, 6 ft rotary cutter already. I will check out that ratchet rake.

 

[nybirdman]

also would not drive a tractor straight through a mess like that and try to run a cutter behind. Whoever advised that is lacking in experience or has access to free repairs when something breaks.
Really!I have a medium duty mower but wouldn't try to cut 1-1/2-2" stuff with it.I have about 700 hours brush-hogging driving forward,havn't broke yet.You have to use a little common sense,I hand cut the big stuff.You can't back into brush with a rear pto driven bush-hog.If you are real serious ,armor up your underside (your tractors).

 

[kthompson]

I have driven over more stuff with rough cut mower than wanted to but do so carefully and have never had an issue. Would I drive over a 2 inch tree, no. But there is simple solution your current Massey should handle, get a four foot rotary "ditch mower" such as a Hardee or a flair mower that extends past the tractor rear wheel. Some of those will easy handle a 2 to 3 inch tree depending on the type of tree and your speed. (Not oak trees.) Might can find good used but watch for they can be abused but here many smaller ones parked as they have gone to bigger tractors and bigger cutters for side work. Hardee is built I think, in Loris SC address, which is about 15 miles from Myrtle Beach. They do not sell direct. I am not talking about a boom mower, they cost a good bit more. Just do a search on ditch bank or such cutters.

 

[jeff9366]

I have a cat 2, 6 ft rotary cutter already. I will check out that ratchet rake.

Tractor Supply Co. stocks the narrowest width Ratchet Rake.

The two wider width Ratchet Rakes can be ordered from the TBN Store, button at the top of this page.

 

[bspeedy]

I am in Fountain Inn not that far from you. I just figure it will be 10 acres if you add the trails up. With the mini ex was you running a cutter head on it?
Yeah I dont even like driving my old massey over things like that.
I have not had any luck with hiring someone with a loader.. I can rent one for month cheaper then they want for doing the job. Nobody wants to do anything anymore. They think since you have land you have money to burn.

No cutter head on my mini-ex, but that is in the long range plan. I just drive the ex into the woods and start picking trees out by the roots and placing them off to the side of the trail as I go. Looks a mess at first, but after running a brush hog through and maybe a rake and box blade, it really makes nice trails. You can do the same with a tractor backhoe, but it may take a bit longer. Mini ex is just so easy to re-position and has such good reach and power. I've made all my trails myself with TLB or mini ex. Haven't measured in a while, but I have approximately 1.5 miles of trails.

I agree that the guys around here see land and think $$$$. There is a Kubota L35 TLB on craigslist in Boiling Springs for 16K. Looks ok. Might be the ticket for your goals and budget.

 

[Xfaxman]

If you get a new tractor, also get a tree puller that fits front or rear: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/318149-tree-puller-pleased-my-new.html#post3845905

 

[b0508]

No cutter head on my mini-ex, but that is in the long range plan. I just drive the ex into the woods and start picking trees out by the roots and placing them off to the side of the trail as I go. Looks a mess at first, but after running a brush hog through and maybe a rake and box blade, it really makes nice trails. You can do the same with a tractor backhoe, but it may take a bit longer. Mini ex is just so easy to re-position and has such good reach and power. I've made all my trails myself with TLB or mini ex. Haven't measured in a while, but I have approximately 1.5 miles of trails.

I agree that the guys around here see land and think $$$$. There is a Kubota L35 TLB on craigslist in Boiling Springs for 16K. Looks ok. Might be the ticket for your goals and budget.

Yeah I saw that one... I might go look at it.. I think also a mini ex with a thumb would work well.

 

[bspeedy]

Yeah I saw that one... I might go look at it.. I think also a mini ex with a thumb would work well.

Only problems I see with the mini ex:
1: It's a one trick pony unless you buy pricey attachments.
2. Travel speed is painfully slow. It's 20 minutes from one corner of my property to the barn on the mini. Probably 7 minutes on the tractor.

But the mini excavator is a digging machine.