Another Newbie looking to buy a tractor

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

One thing that may help you determine the path is using google earth combined with the topo lines/map. Then you may see water flow issues before they show up unexpectedly. You can also use the history feature of google earth to see older logging trails. While they do grow up over time they still give you a good idea of the "path" of least resistance...

We (grandson, BIL and I) built an UTV trail about 8ft wide across my BIL land for hunting/hauling out deer etc. Took us about a month of Saturdays all day to go about 600 ish feet. Following logging trails as much as possible. The land had been selectively harvested about 5-6 yrs prior. Lots of left over limb trash that had mostly rotted away. What ever we needed to cut we simply pushed into the woods not spending time to mulch it. If you don't mind looking at it for a few years it will rot away. This was done during the winter/early spring so bugs, snakes were a minimum. Our main tools were chainsaw's, bush ax and sweat labor. Didn't even use a tractor for any of this part.

AFTER we cut the trails BIL hired a forestry mulcher dude to come in and grind it down to ground level. Its a fairly rocky area (compared to my farming land) but not so much the FM had many issues.

The grapple will be one of your bestest friends around any house and a good tiller for gardens if you plan to do them each year.

Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead but it's doable, one day at a time. If you kinda plan out your goals per day/week it seems to help me stay focused. Easy to lose focus when there are so many individual tasks to accomplish.

He just purchased a kubota to keep down there. His SIL is a bota dealer and is hooking him up with good pricing on equipment/attachments. Mainly path management and grapple to move the rocks around and bush hog to keep the paths from closing in.

Sounds like a fun/high reward project. Good luck on it.

 

[rScotty]

Alright so I'm hearing loud and clear to not pick a tractor based on that potential project but instead to focus on the right tractor for my at home needs. The driveway project would be too much for essentially any tractor.

I think that is a good way to look at it. You'll find plenty of work for the tractor you get. But it will be more enjoyable work you do to maintain your land and driveway rather than building it from scratch.
Good luck,
rScotty

 

[MaineBarn]

So, I dont know the JD families that well, but I would start the look at the 2 and 3 series. The 1 has very very low ground clearance, and I Think only a 2 speed HST.

That would likely be the Kubota L series,
Kioti CK series, 26/35/40
LS I think it's MT3?
Massey is the 1825/35/40E, and 1840/50/55/60M series

I hadn't researched the JDs too much but it felt like the 1 series was a (significant) step up from a regular "tractor mower" as they like to say at Home Depot. Haha. From there, it was like each series improved 50-75% in terms of capabilities. The 4 series is their biggest compact tractor. The 5 is considered a utility tractor.

I did watch some videos today about the JD series and it seems like they split each level into almost an A and B up through the 3 series- then the capabilities are more equal.

Almost certainly not going the JD route but figured I'd stop there first to get at least a broad prospective of the whole process.

The closest Kioti dealer to me looks a little suspect if I had any issues. The nearest real Massey dealer is about 2 hours away. My next stop (next weekend?) is going to be a Kubota dealership and then likely the Kioti dealer (they also have Mahindra but I think they mostly work off brochures and not in-stock items). There is a similar situation at a LS dealership nearby as well. There is also a bigger TYM dealer that has various used brands that I'll make my way out to.

Driving somewhere to look for brochures isn't exactly ideal but if they have any models on hand, I can at least get a baseline feel for the brand.

 

[MaineBarn]

Stop in at MB, they have a big rental fleet and balancing the machine to your site (via various types of rentals) would be smart. I think the Standish area is a little less rocky than I have about 14 miles away.

The MB dealership actually is where I'm going to look at the Kubotas. They have a huge yard full of all sorts of fun looking toys. I'll wander around a bit to see what they've got. Checking the site for rocks and cutting trees ahead of time, bet a skid steer with a mulching attachment would get that entire path cleared in 2 days. Then it'd just be moving the materials into place.

 

[MaineBarn]

One thing that may help you determine the path is using google earth combined with the topo lines/map. Then you may see water flow issues before they show up unexpectedly. You can also use the history feature of google earth to see older logging trails. While they do grow up over time they still give you a good idea of the "path" of least resistance...

We (grandson, BIL and I) built an UTV trail about 8ft wide across my BIL land for hunting/hauling out deer etc. Took us about a month of Saturdays all day to go about 600 ish feet. Following logging trails as much as possible. The land had been selectively harvested about 5-6 yrs prior. Lots of left over limb trash that had mostly rotted away. What ever we needed to cut we simply pushed into the woods not spending time to mulch it. If you don't mind looking at it for a few years it will rot away. This was done during the winter/early spring so bugs, snakes were a minimum. Our main tools were chainsaw's, bush ax and sweat labor. Didn't even use a tractor for any of this part.

AFTER we cut the trails BIL hired a forestry mulcher dude to come in and grind it down to ground level. Its a fairly rocky area (compared to my farming land) but not so much the FM had many issues.

The grapple will be one of your bestest friends around any house and a good tiller for gardens if you plan to do them each year.

Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead but it's doable, one day at a time. If you kinda plan out your goals per day/week it seems to help me stay focused. Easy to lose focus when there are so many individual tasks to accomplish.

He just purchased a kubota to keep down there. His SIL is a bota dealer and is hooking him up with good pricing on equipment/attachments. Mainly path management and grapple to move the rocks around and bush hog to keep the paths from closing in.

Sounds like a fun/high reward project. Good luck on it.

Thanks for the encouraging words and advice part-time-Farmer-NC. I think you've hit the nail on the head: "plan out your goals per day/week." Back of the napkin plan was to pick the path, cut the trees, get them into manageable chunks, figure out where to dump them (it's 10 acres so I could find a spot or keep them nearby to provide an edge to slow water), then start moving them out of the way with the grapple. After reaching the top, work my way back down moving rocks as necessary. Then start back up digging out stumps if possible. That way when I'm pushing rocks they'll be headed with gravity and when I'm digging, my back end won't have as much chance of lifting.

Seems like you had a good set of helpers!

 

[MaineBarn]

I think that is a good way to look at it. You'll find plenty of work for the tractor you get. But it will be more enjoyable work you do to maintain your land and driveway rather than building it from scratch.
Good luck,
rScotty

Understand what you're saying there. The measure of usefulness won't simply be any single project but the ongoing things I do with the tractor.

The additional potential benefit is I tend to get bored if not doing something. So when I'm at the lake, it's almost torture. Although it would be a summer of work, doing something useful up there might make me enjoy the location a lot more in future years.

 

[paulsharvey]

I hadn't researched the JDs too much but it felt like the 1 series was a (significant) step up from a regular "tractor mower" as they like to say at Home Depot. Haha. From there, it was like each series improved 50-75% in terms of capabilities. The 4 series is their biggest compact tractor. The 5 is considered a utility tractor.

I did watch some videos today about the JD series and it seems like they split each level into almost an A and B up through the 3 series- then the capabilities are more equal.

Almost certainly not going the JD route but figured I'd stop there first to get at least a broad prospective of the whole process.

The closest Kioti dealer to me looks a little suspect if I had any issues. The nearest real Massey dealer is about 2 hours away. My next stop (next weekend?) is going to be a Kubota dealership and then likely the Kioti dealer (they also have Mahindra but I think they mostly work off brochures and not in-stock items). There is a similar situation at a LS dealership nearby as well. There is also a bigger TYM dealer that has various used brands that I'll make my way out to.

Driving somewhere to look for brochures isn't exactly ideal but if they have any models on hand, I can at least get a baseline feel for the brand.

You are correct that a 1025 is much more than a $2500 lawn tractor; but at its price point, $19,995, it is well below the capability of the Large subcompact (MF 1526, TYM T25, Kioti CK2510), and even further below the capability of the small Compacts, Ck2520/3520/4020, L2502-3702; TYM 2515/3515/4015. The 1 series pretty closely compare to Kubota BX and Massey GC. Some really love the easy attachments though, and if it is what suites your needs, great.

I think it's got like 6.4" of ground clearance? It looks like "front axle clearance is 7.7", but I don't think that is actually the lowest point.

 

[paulsharvey]

I just worry when someone starts out thinking a TYM 574, and then is impressed with a JD 1025. Just seems like you might be setting yourself up to be undergunned.

 

[MaineBarn]

I just worry when someone starts out thinking a TYM 574, and then is impressed with a JD 1025. Just seems like you might be setting yourself up to be undergunned.

Sorry. Was not at all thinking of getting the 1 series. I did ask the sales person what a fully outfitted 2 would run just for a ballpark. That fit my personal property needs but wouldn't allow any bigger projects. Just wanted a frame of reference for comparisons to the cost/functionality of bigger tractors.

 

[rScotty]

That looks very solid. Didn't realize that Kubota specifically made more construction grade tractors.

In a couple weeks is when I'm going to make the purchasing decision. Have only been looking at new machines so would look at the "how to" of financing a used machine and what the APR is.

My home lot is pretty small and essentially all either grass or covered in tree trunks/gardens/hardscaped areas. Those trees drop so many big branches that I'm thinking I need a decent sized chipper either way. At the lake site, burning would be possible.

Yes, Kubota makes a semi-construction grade tractor in small acreage size. Called their TLB line (tractor, loader, backhoe). They used to make their TLB in 4 sizes, now they make it in 3: 25, 47, & 62 hp. They all have similar options & rugged construction. The backhoe is also removable for mounting a 3pt hitch.

Kubota TLBs are heavily built machines, more expensive though. Nice machine to keep for a lifetime.

Another option that hasn't gotten much attention are older used full size backhoes from small municipalities. Usually well-maintained and replaced on a schedule. I have seen some really nice buys there.

As far as using water at a lake-side location.... Many towns use lakes to store their water. It simply requires processing. Home water processing is a popular solution: low tech and low cost.

rScotty