New tractor purchase, 30-40k price range, struggling with choice

[jeff9366]

Then too: There is the 20% Equine discount, which seems to be relatively easy to get.

LINK: kubota equine discount - Google Search

MX Series Tractors: 20% off

$36,111 X .80% = $28,889

 

[tradosaurus]

TBN is always good at helping one spend money. Acreage alone does not dictate tractor size. I have 72 acres plus an adjoining lease hunting lease of 615 acres. I kept this up with a 26 hp tractor for 12 years. I don稚 remember the PTO hp put it had no problem with a 5 foot bush hog.

Last year we decided to build a weekend cabin on the land which changed my needs and I stepped up to a 54 hp tractor to match my needs.

My point is look at your primary needs. Then decide on the implements you need. Then match a tractor you like to the implements. You may have the majority of your 100 acres in timber and only need to maintain a few trails which is much different than maintaining all 100 acres.

Exactly what I was thinking. I have 45 acres with 42 acres of timber. My L3301 has done the tasks so far and the size has helped me negotiate through tight areas within the timber. I cut 3/4 mile walking trail over the summer as well as keep up with a 1,000 ft gravel driveway.

My only complaint is that damage underneath that has incurred from hitting stumps or small hills. My Land pride rotary cutter is a step above the lower end and it has performed as needed.

If I were to do it all over I probably would have stepped up to the MX5400 just for the protection underneath and the extra PTO hp to cut through sticks and branches on the ground.

 

[kenmac]

are the trees you need to move this large ?

This is an MX5100 and this tree was all the MX5100 wanted.
The Rears are full of liquid and I was bouncing the rear off the ground

Have you considered a used tractor ? I purchased this one . it's a 2013 without all the emissions.
It had about 300 hrs and I bought it for 24 K.

If you consider used. You could purchase two tractors. One for your backhoe needs, and the other for ground engaging implements

 

[tradosaurus]

are the trees you need to move this large ?

This is an MX5100 and this tree was all the MX5100 wanted.
The Rears are full of liquid and I was bouncing the rear off the ground

Have you considered a used tractor ? I purchased this one . it's a 2013 without all the emissions.
It had about 300 hrs and I bought it for 24 K.

If you consider used. You could purchase two tractors. One for your backhoe needs, and the other for ground engaging implements

That's a good point with that tree and buying used.

I had a tree bigger than that but had to cut it in pieces for me to carry to the burn pile.

 

[jeff9366]

Are the trees you need to move this large ?

This is an MX5100 and this tree was all the MX5100 wanted.
The Rears are full of liquid and I was bouncing the rear off the ground.

I have a 100 acre timber farm pluis10 acres of mixed fruit and nut trees, and a 2 acre family food plot.

-Dragging out the odd fallen tree, I will not be logging myself but will always have use for fallen trees and the odd times I may fell one for some use.

With chains elevating 50% of trunk length from a TPH cross-drawbar you could readily pull a tree weighing 50% more over the ground.


MORE: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...awbars-illuminated.html?highlight=ILLUMINATED

 

[mwayne]

4WD HST FEL MX5400 TRACTOR W/FOLDABLE ROPS - OPEN STATION - NO BACKHOE

Base Price $29,975.00
[+] Selected Attachments $6,136.00
Manufacture's Suggested List Price
$36,111.00

Available Manufacturer Rebates:
Cash Customer Instant Rebate Up To($1,000.00)
Finance Customer Instant Rebate Up To($500.00)
Orange Plus Implement Discount Up To($500.00)

Wow! If you can find that tractor for that price, jump on it! Three years ago I priced a L3901 for $28000.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I'm not sure I understand the power requirements of your task so can't advise anything specifically. For my field, which I cut only once a year and which is full of saplings every fall when I cut, even my medium duty cutter takes a beating, but that's what they're built for. I'm glad to have the ability to cut a tough field with a 6' cutter.

I have an MX5400 which is 20% wider than an L3901, and that was important to me for navigating my very hilly terrain. The pros and cons are the same, it's bigger. That's good if you need to move something heavy, bad if you're trying to navigate a tight forest trail.

Mostly, on the trail thing, the one thing I didn't plan on in restoring my forest trails were the huge stumps the last logging operation left behind. A tractor is no good for stumps (unless you have a stump grinder), and so they're a major impediment for my navigation at present. Just something to think about.

Other than that, I was concerned that I was buying a level higher than I needed. But when my tractor is struggling with some of the heavy things I try to move, I'm really glad I didn't buy anything smaller. Whether that's disloging rocks, moving trees, or a heavy load of gravel in the bucket.

As others have said, you can manage an MX5400 for 40K, depending on your attachments, if you don't have a cab. Mine was about 45k (can't remember how much of that was taxes) with filled tires, heavy duty bucket, medium duty 6' cutter, grapple, third function hydraulics, pallet forks, heavy duty rear blade.

Caution, if you need to haul your tractor, note the weights of things. My tractor, with loader, bucket and rotary cutter, is nearly 4 tons. I can't haul that with my truck. A lot of people don't consider that when pricing. I can work with that, for example the Kubota dealer did my 50 hour check at my house.

 

[sea2summit]

Wow! If you can find that tractor for that price, jump on it! Three years ago I priced a L3901 for $28000.

I've never spoken with an L owner who understood MX capability and pricing when they bought their L. I'm not saying anything bad about L's, they are great machines and there's reasons to choose them over the MX...I just can't think of any

 

[buck12]

I've never spoken with an L owner who understood MX capability and pricing when they bought their L. I'm not saying anything bad about L's, they are great machines and there's reasons to choose them over the MX...I just can't think of any

Possibly HST plus and higher 3 point lift capacity.

 

[sea2summit]

Possibly HST plus and higher 3 point lift capacity.

Between a L4701 and MX5400 (no 4800 anymore so as close as I can get)
37.8 vs 46.5 PTO HP (that's 80% engine power vs the MX 84%)
CAT 1 vs CAT 1/2
3 Point lift is basically the same
1131lbs vs 2275lbs FEL capacity

And between those two tractors is 3k sticker price, or about $50 month financing.

 

[kenmac]

That's a good point with that tree and buying used.

I had a tree bigger than that but had to cut it in pieces for me to carry to the burn pile.

funny thing about that tree. This tree was solid, save the roots. Wind storm this week blew it right over

 

[JethroB]

You mentioned wet & swampy areas. Have you decided on tires? Also ground clearance is important in those boggy areas & trails or logging roads. A larger CUT will give you more. I've got some timber stands where a tractor could never go.

 

[Doug62]

We have a 100 acre timber farm and several other smaller locations scattered around. We purchased a 2021 Massey Ferg 1835M cab tractor with no implements for just over 30K. Zero percent financing made this an even better choice.

We found we could pick up nearly new, or even brand new, implements that other people bought as packages and found they didn't need. For less than 1500, we ended up with a brand new Frontier bush hog and box blade that someone bought with their brand new JD Tractor and found they didn't need them. Found a Woods finish mower and several other items for cheap. I bought a nice trailer for 1/4 price new from someone I knew who wanted a bigger trailer for his setup. Even with a Wicked 55 Grapple and a 48" fork lift attachment for the FEL I will still be under your number.

Bottom line is if you can be patient on the implements, you can get some great deals on those. I wouldn't skimp on the tractor itself. Buy as much tractor as you can afford and pick your implements up as you go. Just keep an eye out on FB Marketplace and Craigslist.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

We have a 100 acre timber farm and several other smaller locations scattered around. We purchased a 2021 Massey Ferg 1835M cab tractor with no implements for just over 30K. Zero percent financing made this an even better choice.

We found we could pick up nearly new, or even brand new, implements that other people bought as packages and found they didn't need. For less than 1500, we ended up with a brand new Frontier bush hog and box blade that someone bought with their brand new JD Tractor and found they didn't need them. Found a Woods finish mower and several other items for cheap. I bought a nice trailer for 1/4 price new from someone I knew who wanted a bigger trailer for his setup. Even with a Wicked 55 Grapple and a 48" fork lift attachment for the FEL I will still be under your number.

Bottom line is if you can be patient on the implements, you can get some great deals on those. I wouldn't skimp on the tractor itself. Buy as much tractor as you can afford and pick your implements up as you go. Just keep an eye out on FB Marketplace and Craigslist.

Ive bought exactly zero new implements (except for the forks) because if one has just a little patience they are available in great condition used. 84" Inverted Normand blower, Salsco chipper, Land Pride 72" rotary mower and Fransgard winch all needed nothing. Easily saved at least 50% of MSRP. The only new stuff I needed was choker chains and cables for the winch and a self releasing snatch block.

 

[tradosaurus]

Wow! If you can find that tractor for that price, jump on it! Three years ago I priced a L3901 for $28000.

3 yrs ago I could have gotten the L3901 with FEL for $23,900.00

 

[Doug62]

Ive bought exactly zero new implements (except for the forks) because if one has just a little patience they are available in great condition used. 84" Inverted Normand blower, Salsco chipper, Land Pride 72" rotary mower and Fransgard winch all needed nothing. Easily saved at least 50% of MSRP. The only new stuff I needed was choker chains and cables for the winch and a self releasing snatch block.

That's what I'm talking about! I have saved at least 50% on every implement and even ended up with several ones that were never used but purchased as part of other packages in same year.

 

[CobyRupert]

The JD 5045 is a good choice. Lots of lift and 3 point hitch capacity, bang for the buck, weight, clearance, and can adjust tires out wide for stability on hills.

 

[Doug62]

Ive bought exactly zero new implements (except for the forks) because if one has just a little patience they are available in great condition used. 84" Inverted Normand blower, Salsco chipper, Land Pride 72" rotary mower and Fransgard winch all needed nothing. Easily saved at least 50% of MSRP. The only new stuff I needed was choker chains and cables for the winch and a self releasing snatch block.

I forgot to ask... Where did you find your deals? All mine were from FB Marketplace or Craigslist.

 

[airbiscuit]

Local (online) auction houses can also be a good source for used implements.

 

[mwayne]

3 yrs ago I could have gotten the L3901 with FEL for $23,900.00

I'm thinking I had the DFW area markup.