Buying advice - How big do I need?

[SgtSluggo]

So, we have moved onto the new land finally and it is time to upgrade the little Ford 1700 I have been using to cut the field. I feel like I have read so much and looked at so many tractors, but I am getting a bit overwhelmed with what I should be looking for.

Here is what I think I want:

Run a bigger than 5ft cutter. I just want to be able to cut our 5ish acres around the house and 10 acres total more quickly. I am not sure if want something like a 7ft rotary or if I want to go with a lighter duty 6ft flail to go with my 5ft brush hog. Mostly I want it to be outside the edge of the tires to make it easier to cut up against our tree line.

I have a big ZTR that I plan to use eventually, but currently the land is still too rough for it to work well. So I want the tractor to be able to help me smooth the land (disc, blade, etc). It doesn't have to do it in a hurry.

We have plans for a medium sized garden but no plans to have a big farm or even cut hay right now. Maybe a small apple and pecan orchard down the line.

I want a loader so that we can do some dirt work (burying culverts in some ditches, etc) and keep up with the 800ft long gravel driveway.

I think I want a hydro transmission to make loader work easier. I also like the look of the glide shift kubotas but it doesn't seem like anyone else makes something similar. I am pretty sure I am sticking with open station just because being up under trees here. I think I want 4x4 just because we have some wet spots.

John Deere is the most common thing around here with Kubota a close second. I have been looking at both the 35-45hp range and the 50ish hp range, but there is nearly a 10k difference in those two machines.

There is a 2005 JD 4520 nearby with 2k hours for about 32k, but it comes with a box blade, tiller, forks, and a trailer. Not sure I need everything in that package though.
There is also a 2016 4105 for about 24k, but I would need to buy a blade at least. It only has about 700hrs on it.

I don't want to overspend, but I also don't want to underbuy either.

Any advice on what I should be targeting, if I am missing anything, or what else I should consider?

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[5030]

Buy a couple goats and call it good.

 

[Rockbadchild]

The 4520 with its 53HP and 3855lb is a very good size tractor and all these implements are very useful and fit within your scope of work ... if you don't want the trailer or other implements just sell it afterwards. But the forks are very usefully, the tiller you will need and the box blade also although you might prefer a blade instead.

Obviously the 4105 is smaller (41) hp and 2987lb might be better suited for finish mowing and still a good size for what you want to accomplish although with only 32hp on the PTO it will be slower then the 4520 with its 40hp on the PTO while brush hogging ... both have little hours in the grand scheme of things but the year, hours and price goes to the 4105 but the 4520 has a edge on HP and implements. Its weight will be both a negative or a positive depending on the task at hand...

From what you want to accomplish you are better with the smaller 4105 I think, the year, hours and price makes it very appealing.

Personally I would choose the 4520 but since you want to mow around the house I think it might be bit big for that that why I recommend the 4105 I think the 4520 HP and implements is very tempting the rest of the work you want to accomplish but that's me... you only can make that decision.

 

[oosik]

I have 80 acres and a mile long gravel driveway. I bought a brand new Ford 1700 4WD in 1982. Traded it in 2009 for a brand new Kubota M6040 4WD. The M6040 has proven to be just the right size. Now that I'm into larger projects.

I've heard told AND repeated - "as long as you can still turn the new tractor and stay within the bounds of your property - it's not too big". I think I heard that from a tractor salesperson.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

If the only reason I wasn't going with a cab tractor was that I needed to mow around and under some trees, I would invest in a good pole saw and I would get to work lifting the tree canopy where I could get up under it, not sure where you live but down here in the deep south summertime can be miserable and a cab tractor with A/C is real nice for long days on the tractor, and lastly I have never heard anyone say I just have to much horsepower, try to get what you want to start with, strike while the iron is hot.

 

[newbury]

Cut your "lawn mowing" down to what you can handle with the ZTR in an hour at the most. Pay someone to level that much of the lot and get your lawn in now.
40HP and up tractors are not good for lawn mowing, especially if you have a ZTR in the shed.

 

[IndyJay]

I mowed 25 acres of pasture and maintained 15 acres of trails with a 34HP MF1250 for 27 years before moving to a new, bigger tractor. The 7' rotary cutter gets the job done a lot quicker but it really wasn't that bad with the 5' Bush Hog Squealer. It all depends on what else you will be doing with the tractor and the budget that you have to work with. I definitely agree with the ZT suggestions, sooner the better.

 

[Raul-02]

40HP and up tractors are not good for lawn mowing

What he said. Trundling across a lawn on a 4000 pound tractor will leave a mark.

 

[jeff9366]

There is a 2005 JD 4520 nearby with 2k hours for about 32k, but it comes with a box blade, tiller, forks, and a trailer.

John Deere 4520​

2005 - 2014

John Deere 4520 Weight
ROPS Operating:	3855 lbs 1748 kg
Cab Operating:	4345 lbs 1970 kg
Max capacity:	8820 lbs 4000 kg
Max Drawbar:	1103 lbs 500 kg

John Deere 4520 Power
Engine:	53.1 hp 39.6 kW
PTO (claimed):	40 hp 29.8 kW
PTO (tested):	46.58 hp 34.7 kW

This tractor engine will NOT be encumbered with Tier IV emission control paraphernalia.

Ample PTO horsepower for any of the mowers you have specified.

I want the tractor to be able to help me smooth the land (disc, blade, etc).

Sufficient tractor weight to pull a Disc Harrow with 22" diameter pans at speed, which will have enough pan pressure to smooth your five (5) acre field.

Disc Harrow Selection For 18-45 Horsepower Tractors (Revision 2b)

Disc Harrows come in numerous types. However, for 18-45 horsepower tractors the three point hitch mounted, Tandem Disc Harrow, secondary tillage implement, is ubiquitous. Tandem Disc Harrows are manufactured in two structural types: Angle Iron Frame and Box Frame. Box Frame Disc Harrows are...

www.tractorbynet.com

ADJUSTING Three Point Hitch Mounted TANDEM DISC HARROWS

If you are considering the acquisition of a Disc Harrow, first read this LINK covering Disc Harrow selection: LINK: Disc Harrow Selection For 18-45 Horsepower Tractors (Revision 2b) The Three Point Hitch mounted Tandem Disc Harrow is a secondary tillage implement. The Disc Harrow is a...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[jeff9366]

I have read so much and looked at so many tractors I am overwhelmed..... what I should be looking for?

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The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single specification.

The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to first identify potential tractor applications, then, through consulataton, establish bare tractor weight necessary to safely accomplish your applications. Tractor dealers, experienced tractor owners and TractorByNet.com are sources for weight recommendations.

Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

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- How < big > much weight do I need?​

You will need a tractor of at least 3,700 pounds bare weight in order to smooth five (5) acres with a Disc Harrow. All ground engagement applications require at least moderate tractor weight.