2 acres too small for a tractor?

[NuBota]

^^ True to an extent but remember that the more stuff you have the less land you have because all that stuff takes up land to store it. If you don't have weekly use for a 20' trailer, do you really need that trailer? Some could easily answer yes, while others (like me) would have trouble doing so. I may have 4-5 acres, but I really don't have a place to park a 20' trailer long term. Others have said one reason they don't have a trailer is because others are always asking to borrow it or have them do stuff.

Space is definitely a consideration - no argument there! But my first tractor project was to clear a trail and area down in the woods for the outbuilding (to store the tractor) and a parking area for the trailers (I also have a dump trailer) and attachments - its a little inconvenient, but I really didn't have any suitable area around the house - and it's nestled far enough into the woods where its not really visible from the street and neighboring properties - preventing the eyesore effect and loss of space due to clutter in the yard.

And I really don't mind helping others with their projects (there is no option to borrow!) - I am fortunate that my friends and family don't abuse it - most times I offer without being asked. Any seat time is fun for me and I get to do a variety of projects that I wouldn't have done otherwise.

None of the stuff I have is a necessity - but there is no better enjoyment for me then running the tractor and/or chainsaw. etc., - free time is the only limiting factor. Some people golf, hunt, fish or watch TV - I play in the dirt...

 

[Richard]

I wouldn't sell any of them for any reason. You will be amazed how many uses you find for a machine once you have it.

He speaks the truth.

My case, I have a full sized industrial backhoe/loader. Our construction is done. Yeah, every now & then we get a tree falling across the road during a storm. I rather check the road at 3:30 a.m. and push tree out of the way, than find it on my way to work at 7:30 and ruin my entire morning..... so we keep it.

That said... wife one day pointed at 2-3 flowers and said she wanted them moved to there (points again). I jumped on the backhoe, went to 2nd location, scooped a hole, went to flowers, scooped them up and laid the scoop in the other hole.

She was just beside herself on why I didn't use a shovel instead.....

Then, poor Hernando died (a Beta fish) I was going to simply "toss" him into the woods.... she was having none of that! He deserves a proper burial. Really?.... fine.

Put him in a cup, jumped on backhoe, went to top of hill (we're on highest hill in county so have commanding view all around from up there) Again, dug a hole... "flipped" him into the (two foot wide) hole...covered and went home.

She again was rolling her eyes on why I didn't trudge up there with a shovel and dig it properly.

I guess I'm just a lazy SOB.




Point to take away is you will find MANY different uses for something if you have it. (need to remove the loaded rear tire off your tractor to fix a flat? The backhoe portion is a VERY nice mobile "crane"....)

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Then, poor Hernando died (a Beta fish) I was going to simply "toss" him into the woods.... she was having none of that! He deserves a proper burial. Really?.... fine.

Put him in a cup, jumped on backhoe, went to top of hill (we're on highest hill in county so have commanding view all around from up there) Again, dug a hole... "flipped" him into the (two foot wide) hole...covered and went home.

She again was rolling her eyes on why I didn't trudge up there with a shovel and dig it properly.

I guess I'm just a lazy SOB.

Tell her next time you'll just give him a Viking Funeral. Set the cup on fire, drop it in the toilet and flush.

:laughing:

 

[Tractorable]

He speaks the truth.

My case, I have a full sized industrial backhoe/loader. Our construction is done. Yeah, every now & then we get a tree falling across the road during a storm. I rather check the road at 3:30 a.m. and push tree out of the way, than find it on my way to work at 7:30 and ruin my entire morning..... so we keep it.

That said... wife one day pointed at 2-3 flowers and said she wanted them moved to there (points again). I jumped on the backhoe, went to 2nd location, scooped a hole, went to flowers, scooped them up and laid the scoop in the other hole.

She was just beside herself on why I didn't use a shovel instead.....

Then, poor Hernando died (a Beta fish) I was going to simply "toss" him into the woods.... she was having none of that! He deserves a proper burial. Really?.... fine.

Put him in a cup, jumped on backhoe, went to top of hill (we're on highest hill in county so have commanding view all around from up there) Again, dug a hole... "flipped" him into the (two foot wide) hole...covered and went home.

She again was rolling her eyes on why I didn't trudge up there with a shovel and dig it properly.

I guess I'm just a lazy SOB.




Point to take away is you will find MANY different uses for something if you have it. (need to remove the loaded rear tire off your tractor to fix a flat? The backhoe portion is a VERY nice mobile "crane"....)

My wife says I won’t do anything that doesn’t involve a power tool.

I tell her power tools allow me to get the job done quicker, and thus allows us to have more quality time, so power tools = quality time.

 

[paulfun9]

He speaks the truth.

My case, I have a full sized industrial backhoe/loader. Our construction is done. Yeah, every now & then we get a tree falling across the road during a storm. I rather check the road at 3:30 a.m. and push tree out of the way, than find it on my way to work at 7:30 and ruin my entire morning..... so we keep it.

That said... wife one day pointed at 2-3 flowers and said she wanted them moved to there (points again). I jumped on the backhoe, went to 2nd location, scooped a hole, went to flowers, scooped them up and laid the scoop in the other hole.

She was just beside herself on why I didn't use a shovel instead.....

Then, poor Hernando died (a Beta fish) I was going to simply "toss" him into the woods.... she was having none of that! He deserves a proper burial. Really?.... fine.

Put him in a cup, jumped on backhoe, went to top of hill (we're on highest hill in county so have commanding view all around from up there) Again, dug a hole... "flipped" him into the (two foot wide) hole...covered and went home.

She again was rolling her eyes on why I didn't trudge up there with a shovel and dig it properly.

I guess I'm just a lazy SOB.




Point to take away is you will find MANY different uses for something if you have it. (need to remove the loaded rear tire off your tractor to fix a flat? The backhoe portion is a VERY nice mobile "crane"....)

I would have simply dug out a shovel and handed it to her. Then said go dig a hole with the shovel and you will understand.

 

[dragoneggs]

My wife says I won’t do anything that doesn’t involve a power tool.

I tell her power tools allow me to get the job done quicker, and thus allows us to have more quality time, so power tools = quality time.

We might have the same wife. I wouldn't know. I spend too much time with my tools!

 

[Texasmark]

Allow me to answer for everyone. No.

+1 on the NO. Your place, your aspirations, your money, your decision. Looking at my lineup you can see that if I need it I buy it regardless of the size of my place or what I do here. At 77 I now use machinery to do things I used to do with hand tools.

 

[mpham]

I have a little over an acre and wouldn’t get rid of my tractor ever.

 

[YLee Kioti]

SO when you going shopping???

TBN'rs here love spending OPM.

 

[grnspot110]

I live on 1-1/2 acres and own seven tractors! Two are mainly used at the farm (I'm not an active farmer anymore), a JD 755 & 790. Four are my "show tractors", 1944 JD "LA", 1953 JD 40S, 1961 Cub LoBoy & 1980 2418 Power King. The last is the 1980 JD 314 used for some yard work.

 

[goeduck]

I live on 1-1/2 acres and own seven tractors! Two are mainly used at the farm (I'm not an active farmer anymore), a JD 755 & 790. Four are my "show tractors", 1944 JD "LA", 1953 JD 40S, 1961 Cub LoBoy & 1980 2418 Power King. The last is the 1980 JD 314 used for some yard work.

Pictures please. PLEASE, PLEASE! You have a nice collection going there. :thumbsup:

 

[grnspot110]

Pictures please. PLEASE, PLEASE! You have a nice collection going there. :thumbsup:

2004-790, my loader tractor: 1993-755, my farm mowing tractor:

1953-40S, something I'd wanted for 50 years, never really expected to own one: Before; After; 1980-2418 Power King: Before; After;

1961-International Cub Lo Boy (not yet finished): Before; After;

The 1980- 314, last of my garden tractor collection (sold the rest): And my latest acquisition, the 1944 JD-LA, another one I'd wanted for many years:

 

[YLee Kioti]

Nice pics only one missing is Eva Gabor in a mink stole.

 

[dadiehl]

We just bought a hillside in the northwest. Neglected; huge piles of yard waste, blackberries, settling soil, fallen trees, etc. I'm worried about driving a tractor due to the slopes although my JD lawn mowr does just fine. So is having a tractor on 2 acres overkill?

Me and the wife have a JD 3320 with a loader. It has saved our backs in ways I cant explain in words. We have a Bad 3 acres.Not flat. Getting mulch delivered by the dump truck load and moving snow? I would Never not have a tractor/loader. its like a pick up truck. If you every own one you cant go without, we tried.
Every big snow neighbors toss us $$ to help them out. Some for free ... some for money.

 

[Rakemania]

We live on just over three acres been here after house build nearly twelve months now just purchased a japanese import fully serviced new front end loader new tyres all round new clutch with warranty. I would be lost without it mate. Been doing the fire breaks the last few weeks as fire season kicks in just about now. Moved loads of old dead wood into bonfire piles doing some soil moving around now bit of landscaping to keep her happy and me off the shovel:laughing:

 

[webster2]

Nice work GC1710, it's amazing what even a small tractor can do.

Seamonster124, I'm in the same boat as you...tiny plot of land but half of it screams 'get a tractor!'. Besides, wheel barrows and sore backs aren't nearly as much fun as a workin' toy with a bucket on it.

 

[tiktock]

I make dainty little precision spinning tops on a 12" swing 36" bed lathe. I mill tiny objects for my projects on my 2000+# Bridgeport mill. My car goes over 130 even though the fastest speed limit in my state is 65. I own a Kubota BX and I have .75 acres. Buy what you want...you only live once.

 

[Big Barn]

I Buy what you want...you only live once.

Gotta love that attitude!

 

[goeduck]

2004-790, my loader tractor: View attachment 579559 1993-755, my farm mowing tractor: View attachment 579560

1953-40S, something I'd wanted for 50 years, never really expected to own one: Before; View attachment 579567 After; View attachment 579561 1980-2418 Power King: Before; View attachment 579566 After; View attachment 579562

1961-International Cub Lo Boy (not yet finished): Before; View attachment 579568 After; View attachment 579563

The 1980- 314, last of my garden tractor collection (sold the rest): View attachment 579564 And my latest acquisition, the 1944 JD-LA, another one I'd wanted for many years: View attachment 579565

GREAT LOOKING TRACTORS !!

 

[repete]

Used tractors are an interesting purchase. I recommend everyone have one unless you live in an apartment. If you shop around and buy something a few years old at a reasonable price, i my experience this will happen:

Build a dry storage location for a tractor. You buy the tractor for say $15,000. You use it to work around you place while taking good care of it. Once you finish your projects, you put it back on the market and recover your original costs. Yes the tractor will take a hit for maybe putting say 1000 hours on it. You sell the tractor for $12,000. The cost of operation becomes depreciation, fuel and maintenance. The storage building you can continue to use so no loss there. The money you saved on physician expenses and ibuprofen can be written off the purchase price as you no longer need to dig stuff up by hand. This may bring the total cost of ownership down as well. Now you are looking at a loss of $4,000 for 1000 hours of work or $4/hour to get at least 10 times the amount of work accomplished as a shovel, rake and wheelbarrow would most have provided you.

PLUS! you own a tractor. BTW, do not buy a trailer as they lead to loaning and add to your cost of ownership..... Just take care of it and it will hold it's value well.