There is a John Deere dealership nearby, and a Kubota dealer even closer, so I would like to limit my search to these brands.
These are the top two brands, and there are some good reasons for that. They're well-configured products, very well supported, and have the best resale value. Just be aware that the penalty for all those benefits is a slightly higher purchase price.
I currently live on a 3.8 acre property in Washington... Use cases are moving wood, I would love to get a brush hog (as I've paid for this several times now and it's baffling how quickly blackberry grows), moving sod, filling holes, evening out land / tilling, and as a helper for ambitious gardening plans.
Your usage is very much like mine, if you add plowing snow from a long driveway, and seeding, spraying, and fertilizing your lawn.
I would be willing to be the majority of your new-found uses for this tractor will be as a front-end loader. In fact, owning a separate zero-turn mower, I'd say that probably 90%+ of my total tractor usage, is for moving materials or gear in the loader bucket or with forks on the loader.
Think about your tasks:
- Moving wood: logs can be hoisted using chain loops from front-end loader, or using pallet forks on loader. Split firewood can be moved in the front-end loader bucket, or on pallets with the pallet forks on the loader.
- Pushing back brush at property boundaries: Great task for a loader, eg. wild roses.
- Moving sod: Again, rolled on pallets with pallet forks on loader, or in loader bucket.
- Filling holes: Scoop some dirt out of your dirt pile, drive it to the hole and shovel or dump some in, again with the loader.
- Plowing your driveway: Drop the loader bucket, and pick up a loader-mounted plow, get the driveway cleaned, and easily switch back.
I'll include some photos of each of these tasks:
I think it's time for me to start considering a tractor. My budget is probably around $20K with some wiggle room.
If shopping
new from Deere or Kubota, $20k is probably low for the full package of tractor + implements. But if shopping slightly used, or shopping one of the cheaper brands, it may be adequate.
I would look at the jobs you want to do, and make a list of the implements you'll need to do those jobs. For me, that's:
- Front end loader with bucket, for moving dirt, mulch, sod, split firewood, etc. Heck, today I used it to carry a few loads of tools and PVC fittings out to where I'm working on a drainage project.
- Snow plow to go on front-end loader. Note, this will require you to add a 3rd hydraulic channel to the tractor, or at least a diverter onto ch.2, so you can tilt the plow left/right in addition to lift and curl.
- Pallet forks for loader, if moving anything palletized, or lots of logs.
- Brush hog, you already mentioned.
- Aerator, if you plan on doing that... maybe not for a very rocky meadow.
- Seed & fertilizer spreader.
- 3-point sprayer, for grub control and occasional herbicide broadcast
- Heavy-duty wagon for moving and storing firewood on patio
Your list might be a little different, the point is... have a list. I would then see what a good resale place like Messicks or Good Works Tractors can do on a full package, or as much of that list as possible, in a solid used machine. You could do the same with your local dealers. I personally would stick to only Deere and Kubota, if those are the dealers closest to you, even if buying used. The service guys at my Deere dealership don't really care where I bought my machine, they'll service it all the same.
All of these implements are available in many sizes, to fit everything from the smallest to the largest tractor. And even small tractors can do a lot of work, they just do it slower by taking smaller bites.
Additional considerations: I've never used a tractor before, I'm not very mechanically inclined, and as such, I would love to have something user friendly and reliable. I don't know if this matters, I'm in my 30s and a woman, so I want to come prepared to any dealer so I don't get taken advantage of.
No worries. Pretty sure women can drive a tractor as well as men, and might even be a little less inclined to get themselves into bad situations with one. But as to reliability, another reason to stick to the brands for which you have best local dealer support: Kubota and Deere. These are also very reliable brands, all support aside.
To be honest, I'm not 100% sure a tractor is the right thing for me. The anonymity of the internet will allow me to admit I'm sorta an idiot and in over my head, and maybe I should just stick to hand tools and manual labor.
No way! 3.8 acres untamed is too much to work by hand. I would think a Deere 2R series would be ideal for you, or any Kubota equivalent, or older Deere equivalent. I have the 3R only because I move a lot of big logs, and the 2R is just a little light for log duty. But for all the other tasks I listed above, my old Deere 855 (similar size and power to 2025R) was just about perfect.
I will look into what you suggested as well, my cursory review of what was available had me thinking the
BX2380 would be the best option for my needs and then came all the (overwhelming) options about add-ons.
For most brands and models, the only one you
really need to choose at purchase, is if you want a mid-PTO option to drive a belly mower deck or front-mounted snowblower. mid-PTO's and front-PTO's are not something that can be easily added, as most model tractors require a different transmission or transfer case for this option.
Everything else can be added later, although I will warn you that adding extra hydraulic channels later can be more expensive than just configuring it at time of purchase, or finding a used machine that already has them. You'll need the standard 2 channels for any front-end loader, one channel lifts the arms up and down, and the other channel curls the bucket. Think of it as your elbow and wrist.
A third channel option is very useful, and if you're even thinking about a plow, a snowblower, or any rear-mounted implement that tilts, then I'd not be without a third channel.
All other options are just gravy, and can be added later. Lights are great, especially in winter, as are air-ride seats, etc.
Oh, and I guess tires are something you'd want to decide pre-purchase, as they're awful expensive to change later. You clearly don't need ag tires for anything you listed, in fact turf tires are what I run, although your rougher terrain may do well with R4 tires.
I think that can be covered by talking to the dealer directly, I just want to know what base version I should seek out. Do you think a front loader (is that the bucket attachment?) would be something to immediately purchase?
Yes. In fact, if buying a used machine, don't even consider one without a loader, if you ever want to have one. Used loaders for older machines are as rare as hens teeth, and never really easy to add later, for someone with limited mechanical skills. As already stated, my tractor is treated 90% of the time as just a power plant for the front-end loader. I'd go so far as to say I'd have little use for a tractor, without the loader.
If you read this forum, you'll find it full of people stating they use their loader way more than they ever imagined they would, especially as they get older and carrying things around the property becomes more of a drag (pun).
That's solid advice and perhaps a more realistic approach to what my initial impression was. I had to look up what Cat 1 implements were but that does seem pertinent to what I described needing.
On this. Avoid any machine that's cat.0 or cat.0/1. Implements for these are becoming more common than they were in the past, but they're still rare enough that you can't find used (or borrow), and they're not the cheapest solution. Just get a proper cat.1.
On brush hog, I saw someone mention a 60" model, which would be too much for a Deere 1-series... and would even be a little much for a Deere 2-series on hilly terrain. Much more manageable on flat ground, but we have hills, around here. I had a 48" Woods rotary mower mounted on my old Deere 855 MFWD, again similar size and weight to today's Deere 2025R.
I'll have to look into getting one second hand, perhaps I'm not familiar with the market or where to find them, but the options for a used one look slim.
Youtube: "Good Works Tractors". It's hard not to like that guy, and at least a few years back, his videos were a great help in thinking through these newbie issues and questions.
