grandgourmand
New member
Hi there,
I'm going to buy my first tractor in the Spring. Have been deliberating this decision for a few years. Have a country property, but haven't built any structures on it until next year, so will finally have a place to store it and do maintenance work.
I have a few tractors in mind (see below) and my decision could be made a lot easier if I think of the Cat 1 vs. Cat 2 hitch. My long term plan is to have two tractors. A smaller one and a bigger one. Context and expected tasks:
1) 75 acre property, with 40 open fields (flat) and 35 forested, with ravines. There are trails, but are pretty steep.
2) Maintenance tasks such as brush hogging, wood chipping, handling logs from fallen trees or ones I cut, trail building/expansion. Some landscaping too...but if it's too intense, I'll rent a bobcat or something. In the winter time, there'll be snow clearing on a driveway that's about half a mile.
3) Some agricultural work, like tilling. Eventually plan to grow garlic on about 5 acres, rotate with regular crops. Also plan on having pasture for rotational beef grazing. So there'll be some moving of water tanks, round bale handling in the winter, clearing manure & straw bedding
4) I also have another property that is 99 acres. I won't live there. but it's got more acreage for farming, which could include expansion of the garlic plan and a bigger beef herd. It's a ten minute drive away by car, so not ideal. But could leave one tractor at one place and only move them temporarily
My first tractor will be a compact utility. And I've decided either the Kubota L4060 or the MX5400. ROPS to save money and to make it easier to work in the bush (the other property also has about 30 acres wooded), expanding trails.
My second tractor, which will be several years away...I'm thinking something like the M4D.
Brands are not written in stone, but I like the local Kubota dealer, and they're also the closest. JD too expensive in my area, and everything else almost an hour away.
I like the L4060 because it's got more bells and whistles. The MX5400 is more tractor for the money, including a stronger loader. They end up being about the same price. The MX also has a category 2 hitch. I'm thinking having category 2 on both tractors (eventually) will make it simpler for attachments. Can use them on both, making it a more efficient setup. Does that make sense? If so, could be a no-brainer decision then.
Thanks in advance.
I'm going to buy my first tractor in the Spring. Have been deliberating this decision for a few years. Have a country property, but haven't built any structures on it until next year, so will finally have a place to store it and do maintenance work.
I have a few tractors in mind (see below) and my decision could be made a lot easier if I think of the Cat 1 vs. Cat 2 hitch. My long term plan is to have two tractors. A smaller one and a bigger one. Context and expected tasks:
1) 75 acre property, with 40 open fields (flat) and 35 forested, with ravines. There are trails, but are pretty steep.
2) Maintenance tasks such as brush hogging, wood chipping, handling logs from fallen trees or ones I cut, trail building/expansion. Some landscaping too...but if it's too intense, I'll rent a bobcat or something. In the winter time, there'll be snow clearing on a driveway that's about half a mile.
3) Some agricultural work, like tilling. Eventually plan to grow garlic on about 5 acres, rotate with regular crops. Also plan on having pasture for rotational beef grazing. So there'll be some moving of water tanks, round bale handling in the winter, clearing manure & straw bedding
4) I also have another property that is 99 acres. I won't live there. but it's got more acreage for farming, which could include expansion of the garlic plan and a bigger beef herd. It's a ten minute drive away by car, so not ideal. But could leave one tractor at one place and only move them temporarily
My first tractor will be a compact utility. And I've decided either the Kubota L4060 or the MX5400. ROPS to save money and to make it easier to work in the bush (the other property also has about 30 acres wooded), expanding trails.
My second tractor, which will be several years away...I'm thinking something like the M4D.
Brands are not written in stone, but I like the local Kubota dealer, and they're also the closest. JD too expensive in my area, and everything else almost an hour away.
I like the L4060 because it's got more bells and whistles. The MX5400 is more tractor for the money, including a stronger loader. They end up being about the same price. The MX also has a category 2 hitch. I'm thinking having category 2 on both tractors (eventually) will make it simpler for attachments. Can use them on both, making it a more efficient setup. Does that make sense? If so, could be a no-brainer decision then.
Thanks in advance.
