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

[Streetcar]

Good post ls tractor owner, I went against grain for this forum and got smaller tractor, for maneuverability and less damage to lawn. Deere 1025r with r -14 tires. I use smaller tractor more

 

[Williy]

Some info on the Yanmar tractors: 10 year drive train warranty

10-year Limited Powertrain Warranty - YANMAR America Corporation

Yanmar Tractors come with a 10-year limited power train warrany or 3,00 hours on all new Yanmar tractors. Learn more about the equipment warranty offfered by Trigreen.

www.yanmartractor.com

SA Series | YANMAR Tractor

Explore YANMAR tractor models in the versatile SA Series. Popular for 2 to 25 acres.

www.yanmartractor.com

Discounts: Exclusive Offers | YANMAR Tractor

willy

 

[Kennebec_Guy]

For 1.5 acres on a slope I recommend a tractor with a bare weight of 1,800 to 2,200 pounds, rather than a tractor nearer 3,000 pounds bare weight.

A Front End Loader is a necessity for the work you have described.

You are not contemplating any serious "ground contact" work where tractor weight is key. Rather, you will be operating over your one acre lawn most of the time. I would forego "loaded" rear tires for the same reason. Counterbalance weight on the Three Point Hitch, such a the Box Blade you are considering, is much more effective pound for pound than tire ballast because of leverage and can be readily removed.

Tractors - Compact - LX Series | Kubota

Browse through Kubota's LX Series Compact tractor inventory, filter search by features to find the best fit for you, or even build your own. Then find a dealer close by with your desired product!

www.kubotausa.com

Buckeye Tractor Co -- Online

Manufacturer of specialty equipment for production of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Some nursury and landscaping applications.

www.buctraco.com

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/e/6/6/e/e66ed13be4f5a5216aa214276e14dacb/pub2917tractorimplements1.pdf

Good luck in your decision.

I originally was thinking an LX or a 2 series or a Massey 1526 as the maneuverability and size would be perfect for my yard, but would the loader on that class of machine be up for lifting and placing 800lb granite stair treads, carrying 100+ gallons of sap from the tap lines to the sugar shack on the pallet forks more or less daily during maple syrup season, and consolidating 50 cubic yards of leaf compost into concrete compost bins (yet another project on the "to do" list) and then turning/aerating it as needed?

It's mostly that list of use cases that have kept me from even thinking about a SCUT, though I honestly wish you could order a compact tractor with a SCUT-sized backhoe. The terracing projects we're looking to do involve way more filling and grading than digging, but a small backhoe for trenching etc wouldn't be awful to have.

 

[Kennebec_Guy]

Some info on the Yanmar tractors: 10 year drive train warranty

...

Discounts: Exclusive Offers | YANMAR Tractor

willy

I haven't seen much of the smaller Yanmars but the local dealer had a YT235 on display at one of the fairs last year and my word, what a capable and beautifully put together machine for the price.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

The LS MT125 has a 1006 lb. lift capacity at the pins, The TYM T25 has 1380 lift capacity. The Kioti CX2510 has 1038 at the pins. The JD 1025 lifts 836 lbs at the pins.

Quite the differences..... make a spread sheet!

Most of the smaller BH's have pretty similar specs. They all dig about the same depth around 78"+/- a couple inches.

My friend bought an LS 225-S (in between sizes of the 125 and 225-E /HE. The BH has a couple more inches digging depth and has more "breakout force" than the BH on my full size 225-E.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

My buddy's little mahindra can lift more than it can handle. The hydraulics have way more capability than the tractor has ballast. Even with the backhoe on it

Keep in mind the weight of the thing is most important

 

[airbiscuit]

The Kioti CK2619 (or 2620) sounds like a perfect tractor for your needs! Buy it and start loving it.

 

[milkman636]

I own a 1 series Deere and previously owned a BX. Both are great little machines for working small spaces and properties. Plus they are quite reasonable to purchase in lightly used condition, easy to trailer, and can be stored easily in smaller structures. I also own a larger 35hp tractor. The small ones are like surgical implements in small spaces and quite capable of grading and moving stuff. You’d just have to be careful about the size of stones you are bringing in for landscaping and the size of the totes you are going to use for sap. An extra bonus is that they are small enough that you don’t feel silly for using them on the tiniest of jobs that you can think of using a tractor for. I’m currently using the 4’ bucket on my 1033e to make a 25’x4’ stone path for my wife. The bucket is perfect width for the job. The little guy also fits through gates and under tree branches way better than my larger tractor. And I used my rubber edged 60” snow pusher to clear leaves off my two acre lawn last fall. It was my teenage sons idea and it worked great for pushing leaf piles across the lawn into stacks at the edge of the woods.

I’m also a kioti fan, and don’t think you would be going wrong picking up the Kioti model you already have your eye on either. As a multi-tractor owner, I definitely recommend finding and buying a machine that you like and enjoying it.

 

[goeduck]

I live on 2 acres of sloped property and put a B series Kubota on the property with a backhoe. I have two other 100+ acre places where I have larger tractors, including a backhoe. On the 2 acre property I will be upgrading to an L series without a backhoe. I simply do not use the backhoe enough on 2 acres. As far as the B series goes, the loader is too small for loading things like my wood splitter, etc. to take to the other properties. The other, bigger reason that I would not have a B series on sloped property is that they are too narrow. When lifting anything significant I go onto 3 wheels unless I am pointed straight up or down the slope. Wheel extenders might help, but a wider track is what is really needed. It depends on your amount of slope.

 

[Yander]

You need to look at a Yanmar SA425. It checks all of your boxes and make an outstanding tractor. #1200 lift at the pin. I haven't done the comparison but I think pound-for-pound it is the strongest tractor you can get in the compact.

For those who say you need a heavier tractor, you don't. Fill the tires and put a ballast box on. I've had no issues with mine at all.

I have 78 hours on mine now and I can tell you I am kind of amazed at the capability of it over a subcompact.

It weighs in only slightly more than a subcompact at 1800 and some odd pounds (dry weight without a loader).

It continues to amaze me how much it does for such a small tractor.

I would advise not getting a subcompact, go ahead and get the compact. 25 horsepower is sufficient they will do an amazing amount of work.

I'm not even going to speak to your question about if you need a tractor or not, because I think it's a ridiculous question

 

[Yander]

I think you need a tractor in the size range of Yanmar SA 325 or 425, Kubota b series, John Deere 2025r, Kioti ck2610 (I think this is a little heavier tractor). Massey 1500 series compact would be good as well.

I'm not familiar with the TYM but if you have a dealer nearby I wouldn't hesitate to look at them.

You said you would get a box blade so also get a rear remote for a hydraulic top link. Yanmar S425 and 325 comes with rear remotes standard.

If you don't have a dealer within an hour that would service your tractor that you buy from them, stay away from them.

Don't be in a hurry enjoy the process welcome to the site!

 

[Omega Woods]

I would get a Yanmar with R14 tires. I would NOT get a backhoe. Rent a mini ex once a year for digging tasks. As @Yander said, get rear remotes when you buy the tractor and make sure it has third function in the front as well.

Welcome to TBN!

 

[Torvy]

It all depends on your budget. Of those you have listed the Kioti will be the most for the money. The Yanmar is probably the best regardless of price. The dealership could be all the difference. Too bad there is not a TYM dealer closer to you yet.

 

[Yander]

J

Going off of what I've liked at ag fairs, it seems like it's going to be a grudge match between the CK2610, my current favorite for a lot of reasons, the L2501, and Massey 1825E, the Deere 3025E. The Kioti is definitely the one to beat though and from going over them it seems like a really well engineered and well built piece of hardware for the money.



Wife also has long term plans to possibly buy major acreage up north and build a summer property there, we're already halfway through there. Lots of local family who will need tractor work on their properties, too.

Just re-read and noticed this post. I think all of those are a good size for your described needs. I think the Kioti is a solid choice. It is as good a tractor as any mentioned and probably for less money. Sharp looking tractor too. @tacticalturnip as well as others have them and seem to like them.

 

[paulsharvey]

For the Back Hoe question, you have to ask how often you would Need it. It's every bit of a $5-6k extra, and it's hard to resell by itself. You also have to remove it every time you want to use an implement. 100 gallons of maple sap is going to be over 860 pounds; plus the weight of barrel/pallet/tote. Don't know if you Need a grapple or not; or if forks or debris bucket would do what you need.

Don't know your state tax laws; but it sounds like a bona fide agricultural use, and should be sales tax exempt.

The granite blocks could be moved with forks; and tweeked with a pipe bar. You can nudge into place a pretty heavy item with a solid steel 6 ft lever.

 

[Kennebec_Guy]

For the Back Hoe question, you have to ask how often you would Need it. It's every bit of a $5-6k extra, and it's hard to resell by itself. You also have to remove it every time you want to use an implement. 100 gallons of maple sap is going to be over 860 pounds; plus the weight of barrel/pallet/tote. Don't know if you Need a grapple or not; or if forks or debris bucket would do what you need.

Don't know your state tax laws; but it sounds like a bona fide agricultural use, and should be sales tax exempt.

The granite blocks could be moved with forks; and tweeked with a pipe bar. You can nudge into place a pretty heavy item with a solid steel 6 ft lever.

A lot of syrup guys use the 275gal palletized water tanks for sap collection/moving. Filled to the brim those weigh 2000+ pounds and obviously would require a 50-70hp machine that would be comically oversized for the property, but my longest planned sap line is about 20 taps, so the most I'd ever have to be lifting would be 120 or so gallons or ~1000lbs, and the ability to use forks to lift/move them is really great.

3rd function hydro for me is an absolute must as I definitely see at least a grapple in my future and likely a 4-in-1 bucket as well. Rear remote for a hydraulic top link for box blade work also sounds great.

 

[2manyrocks]

Maybe the water tanks could be moved with a boom pole on the rear hitch to avoid having to buy a 50-70 hp tractor?

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Howdy neighbor!!
Leave the backhoe in the lot and rent a mini when you need it.
I’d be looking a JD 3 Series or equivalent. You buying from the Kioti dealer on 201 in Skowhegan?

 

[Peter 315]

Scott's rv sells tym they have locations in ME.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Scott's rv sells tym they have locations in ME.

They're more than happy to sell you a tractor...