1.5 acres. Am I nuts for thinking about a tractor?

[joe48]

Hey all! I've been lurking for a bit but I've yet to see a use case quite like mine.

We recently bought a large ~1.5 acre property and historic home in a small town center in Maine. Originally a small horse farm, it was at one point extensively landscaped like a park, with lots of garden plots and about 60 old growth maples and while it's not a big property, it's been a fairly high maintenance one for its small size. The whole property is on a gently sloping hillside with about an acre of lawn, which currently takes me about 90+ minutes to mow with a commercial walk behind (there's a ZTR in our near future). On top of that, it had been neglected for a couple of decades when we bought it, and we're in the process of digging it out from the overgrowth and restoring it to its former glory.

We've got a long list of major landscaping projects planned, including building stone stairs and doing a lot of terracing/retaining wall construction to build foundations for an outdoor dining pavilion as well as a workshop/sugar shack/garage for the ZTR. In addition, the 60 maples generate about 20 cubic yards of leaves every year, which has been "fun" to manage and sustains a leaf pile that's about 45'x25'x6' deep. We're also doing the millennial hobby farmer thing and expanding a large vegetable garden and I'm growing a large hobbyist/small commercial scale maple syrup operation.

With the cost of getting any work done these days, I figure I'm easily at $30-40k or more to get all of the outstanding landscaping projects done, and between moving sap barrels around the yard during syrup season, gardening/landscaping odds and ends, and turning over our large compost pile, a loader would be nice to have. Am I crazy for thinking that a tractor more than pays for itself with the landscaping/earthmoving projects and afterwards becomes a useful tool for managing a small but high maintenance property while raising a growing family and often being pressed for time? What size/hp range should I be considering?

The only rear implements I'd likely be running are a box blade, a small rotary cultivator, and probably a wood chipper. I'd like to be able to lift/move ~800lbs for the landscaping projects. I was thinking that a 25hp emissions-exempt compact with loaded tires would be a good place to start. My local dealerships sell Deere, Kubota, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, and Yanmar, and they all seem pretty decent. If I even need a tractor, what should I look for?

Hey all! I've been lurking for a bit but I've yet to see a use case quite like mine.

We recently bought a large ~1.5 acre property and historic home in a small town center in Maine. Originally a small horse farm, it was at one point extensively landscaped like a park, with lots of garden plots and about 60 old growth maples and while it's not a big property, it's been a fairly high maintenance one for its small size. The whole property is on a gently sloping hillside with about an acre of lawn, which currently takes me about 90+ minutes to mow with a commercial walk behind (there's a ZTR in our near future). On top of that, it had been neglected for a couple of decades when we bought it, and we're in the process of digging it out from the overgrowth and restoring it to its former glory.

We've got a long list of major landscaping projects planned, including building stone stairs and doing a lot of terracing/retaining wall construction to build foundations for an outdoor dining pavilion as well as a workshop/sugar shack/garage for the ZTR. In addition, the 60 maples generate about 20 cubic yards of leaves every year, which has been "fun" to manage and sustains a leaf pile that's about 45'x25'x6' deep. We're also doing the millennial hobby farmer thing and expanding a large vegetable garden and I'm growing a large hobbyist/small commercial scale maple syrup operation.

With the cost of getting any work done these days, I figure I'm easily at $30-40k or more to get all of the outstanding landscaping projects done, and between moving sap barrels around the yard during syrup season, gardening/landscaping odds and ends, and turning over our large compost pile, a loader would be nice to have. Am I crazy for thinking that a tractor more than pays for itself with the landscaping/earthmoving projects and afterwards becomes a useful tool for managing a small but high maintenance property while raising a growing family and often being pressed for time? What size/hp range should I be considering?

The only rear implements I'd likely be running are a box blade, a small rotary cultivator, and probably a wood chipper. I'd like to be able to lift/move ~800lbs for the landscaping projects. I was thinking that a 25hp emissions-exempt compact with loaded tires would be a good place to start. My local dealerships sell Deere, Kubota, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, and Yanmar, and they all seem pretty decent. If I even need a tractor, what should I look for?

 

[goeduck]

Two words of caution if you have hills leave it in 4wd, I accidently had mine in 2wd and almost slid into a creek. Never a problem in 4wd. Also be very careful lifting with the loader, it can get very tipsy. All in all it was one of the best investment I have made, enjoy.

Both excellent points on sloped land.

 

[joe48]

Been there done that all the research back in 2004.
I own two properties in the city 2 doors apart, with 1.7 and 1.6 acres. most of the work has been for hire as part time work. I own and use two Kioti's.
My first tractor is a Kioti CK20, with backhoe and loader. This tractor has been used hard and put away wet. Now has over 1800 hrs, the backhoe has over 400 hrs on it. the BH has been used for digging foundations for garages, retaining walls, trenching for water and electric lines etc. This tractor and all my equipment has paid for themselves many times over.
My second tractor is a 2014 ck2510 cab, loader and front mount snow blower. I blow snow for 19 neighbors on my street on annual contract.
Enough background. My suggestion is go with the Kioti, you can't buy a better built machine for the money (dealer is very important, although the factory is not the best for customer service hence need for great dealer).
Back to you you've got 1.5 now and are looking to buy more. therefore I suggest that the ck2610 tlb w/cab is your minimum. I think from what you're saying about what you want to move with the loader you definitely want to go with a ck or dk 35 or 40hp. Next you live in Maine?. so get the cab for winter snow plowing or snow blowing. also with the cab get heat AND AC! Trust me you'll be glad you did. I stayed with the same frame size (the 20 and 2510) so all my equipment and especially the BH was sized right and didn't have to be replaced or upsized. that was my mistake ,you always want/need more power or lift capacity. Don't even think about a scut, and nothing less than a cut with25hp. Also stay with the ZTR mower you can mow twice as fast as any garden tractor or scut or cut. Buy the best ZTR you afford and it's a good idea to buy at your tractor dealer too. (I have a Ferris, had a CUB Cadet) Don't buy a ZTR at a big box store.
So there you go that's my two $, good look and when you make your choices be sure to TBN informed and with your progress.

 

[vanatic2]

Of course you need a tractor and welcome to TBN! For your tasks I would look at a little TLB (tractor-loader backhoe) - Kubota BX23s, Deere 2032, Yanmar 324, Kioti makes one too.

What about snow and leaf removal too? The BH will enable you to lift rocks, build walls, dig small foundations, plant and remove shrubs etc.

Good luck in your search and try them all out and see which one fits you and your budget.

I agree with the BX size thought. Versatile and capable for that size property but not oversized. We have 4 acres, about 1.5 wooded, two nice fields and landscaped around the house. Was maintaining with lawn tractors and hand tools . . . then we got old! So I recently picked up a used (2008) low hours BX2350 with a loader, Woods box scraper and 54" mower deck. I run turf tires since I don't usually do serious digging or play in mud! Kicking myself for not getting something with a backhoe, but so far even without that, it's more than paid for itself in chores! Looking to add a tiller, plow and landplane for our gravel driveway. It's moved wall block, cleared land, keeps our trails open, dramatically cut down on mowing time in the big fields . . . you get the point. We have mild slopes in a few places so adding tire weight helped with stability there. You will not be disappointed if you get a tractor but there's only one problem . . . you'll end up looking for MORE that you can do with it once you have one!

 

[rScotty]

My favorite tractor for comparing small FELs is the Kubota B26. Lifts 1100 lbs at midpoint in the bucket, or 1300 lbs to full height at the pivot pins. That's pretty good for a 23 hp TLB.

It also starts at over $44K. My tractor can lift double that, higher and cost $15k less.

The T25 lifts more for as little as $25,500 with the backhoe, but still has the small footprint.

Saving 30% is nice, but although the percentage sounds large, it still isn't a lot of dollars when compared with other life-changing expenses. The cost difference is just not as high as a pickup truck, a kitchen remodel, a garage, barn, or workshop, or year of higher education - yet it will change your life more than any of those, be as much fun, and protect your health as well.

When gaining so much for so little expense, why not go for the top quality? That way it's a keeper from the start.
rScotty

 

[mx842]

If I was doing just a few projects, I would rent the specific tool for the job.

Mini ex for digging.

Bobcat for moving matieral.

Large tractor for trees.

My buddy has a sub compact and all he uses is his baby back hoe. He had a skid steer for when he did loader work and sold it when done

If you plan on doing any real lifting , I would look for a 5000lb plus machine. it may advertise 800lbs but by the time you stack bags of material, load up logs or what ever, you run out of tractor fast. I have a 50hp 7000lb machine and wish I had more most days

10/4 on that good buddy. Before I bought anything I would have whoever you are buying it from to go out and lift something that weighs 800 to 1000 lbs and walk away with it without to much trouble. I learned this the hard way, I wanted something that would handle stuff in the 1500 to 1800 lb range. They steered me to a L3301 33hp kubota and that tractor won't handle well, much over 800 lbs if that. I have a job to do today that I thought this tractor would do and now I know it won't do it safely so I had to go out and rent a off road folk lift to the tune of $495.00 a day to do the job. But that's better than trying to do this with my tractor and breaking something or turning it over even and maybe killing myself in the process.
An hell no you ain't crazy everybody needs a tractor just make sure it will do what you need it to do before you go out and shell out $30,000.00 and find out it won't do the job.

 

[Dewave1]

15 yrs, Waterboro, Maine, ck20 hst fel bh, turf tires, no water or beet juice. If you really want to tear up a yard get weighted Ag tires. For landscaping with a bad back the BH is an essential tool. (I don't own a shovel.) As another said, get a cab, I agree 100%. My neighbor had to get a bigger tractor in order to get a cab, dk40 I believe. I hate him every winter. My vote is for a cab tractor hst fel BH (TLB) tiller and push box blade for that Maine snow.

 

[Torvy]

When gaining so much for so little expense, why not go for the top quality? That way it's a keeper from the start.
rScotty

That's just it. The "top quality" is a marketing myth. You also seem pretty eager to spend other people's money. $15+k is a lot of money for us regular people. That will buy any implements you want. Heck, you could get another SCUT without a backhoe for that much extra. If the B26 is good for your budget, I am happy for you. Personally, even if I had unlimited funds, I would not waste it on an illusion of superiority.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Maybe I'm an odd one, but I avoided a cab to be able to store the tractor indoors. Guess I care more about the machines comfort than my own, lol.

 

[daman1]

I only have 1 acre and I have a scut, always find some chore for it I never be without it