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

[Kennebec_Guy]

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?

My largest tap line has about 20 taps on it, which generate about 2.5 gallons of sap per day apiece at the peak of the season. Collecting every 2 days, that means I'll likely never be lifting more than 100 gallons of sap at a time and the ~1500lb class FEL on a compact will be fine.

 

[Kennebec_Guy]

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

Yep, and that reputation is why I'm not even thinking of TYM, however nice their machines may be. Both the indie Deere dealers and United seem to have good reputations, as do the guys selling Kubota, Kioti, Massey Ferguson, and Yanmar. LS, Mahindra, and CNH dealers are rare in my part of the state, too, so they're out of the running as well.

 

[Peter 315]

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

I don't need another tractor LOL

 

[paulsharvey]

For the forks; I bought clamp on forks for very cheap; but I Don't think they would suit your purpose well. They're fine for limited light use; but are kinda a pain in the butt, not as strong or easy to use as SSQA Forks. I would 100% tell you to get real forks for moving 1000+ lbs.

The grapple; size it/style it for your intended use; lots of types that are better for say debris vs raking vs logs; and heavier/wider could be a disadvantage for one use vs an advantage for others.

If you are serious about the Kioti; I think its the 2610/2620 SE that comes default with dual rear remotes; cruise control; and a couple other features that my base model doesn't have.

Cab or no Cab; I prefer an open station; but I'm not north of the artic circle. Cab can be Great, but it does limit where you can fit; AC draws additional (already limited) HP from a PTO implement. A pretty fair compromise can be a ROPs open station, with a sun/rain PVC or diamond plate cover; that can be removed if needed; with a 12v DC fan mounted blowing on you (it's hot here in FLa; and we hide inside when it drops below 50 degrees).

I'll add; a tractor with loader is longer then you realize sometimes; and keep the loader/bucket swing in front of tires in mind while placing stairs/fences/terraces/ect as well as an transporting and storage solutions.

 

[tacticalturnip]

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?

Kioti CK series is the 3 series equivalent, except Deere doesn't offer a 3025R, and that's how my Kioti is configured.

There's also Manchester Motors and their newer location, Topsham Tractor; I've got high praise for them.

Seriously though, Mama Deere is losing money not offering a premium 25 horsepower CUT; the 3025E is a laugh.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I don't need another tractor LOL

That's a damn dirty lie, lol.

 

[Peter 315]

I was going to buy a dump trailer from them put down a deposit. when the trailer came in the tail gate was off about 1'' in the center 1 door higher then the other . They refunded my money no problem.

 

[tacticalturnip]

The CK2610/20SE isn't available in open station, only as a cab; however, the CK2610/20 can be outfitted with almost everything the SE has. You can't add tilt steering, and I'm sure I am forgetting something.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I was going to buy a dump trailer from them put down a deposit. when the trailer came in the tail gate was off about 1'' in the center 1 door higher then the other . They refunded my money no problem.

Oh I have no doubt about that; the issues I've heard (so grain of salt, etc.) are more after the sale.

Add to that, my visits during the early days of their tractor venture soured me on TYM as a brand for a long time. I have no doubt they've improved in the years since, as they're still selling tractors, so I'm not going to go into detail.

So my words are biased, and I admit to that. My views on TYM as a brand have improved considerably in the years since.

 

[tacticalturnip]

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.

Waterman's Farm Machinery in Sabattus sells Yanmar, and has since the Cub Cadet/Yanmar era; they've also got Massey Ferguson, and Case IH, if that floats your boat. They're good folks, and about as far from a corporate store as it gets.

 

[paulsharvey]

The CK2610/20SE isn't available in open station, only as a cab; however, the CK2610/20 can be outfitted with almost everything the SE has. You can't add tilt steering, and I'm sure I am forgetting something.

I stand corrected; all the different models of everything, options, ect; start blending together. Not all the manufacturers have a similar "Build and price" website. But I knew there was a dual rear remote "package" or a single rear I was quoted $650 (I think) for labor and parts; but the kit had a lead time.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I stand corrected; all the different models of everything, options, ect; start blending together.

They really don't make it easy to keep on top of, lol.

It's foolish they don't offer a CK2610/20SE open station, all the parts are there.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Skips is an independent guy in Bangor but that’s kind of a haul.
The folks at Union Farm have been great more than once on buying used equipment.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Skips is an independent guy in Bangor but that’s kind of a haul.
The folks at Union Farm have been great more than once on buying used equipment.

Union is where I would go if I was going Kubota; I was a big fan of Hammond, but they're gone now.

 

[Peter 315]

Union is where I would go if I was going Kubota; I was a big fan of Hammond, but they're gone now.

Do you like MB tractor? I bought one from them..

 

[tacticalturnip]

Do you like MB tractor? I bought one from them..

They're newer to my area, having replaced Hammond's presence in Fairfield, and while I have no real experience with them I did enjoy my visit to their lot. It was a little haphazard, and the salesman was quite polite and gave me plenty of space while still making a point of letting me know he was around.

 

[Peter 315]

They're newer to my area, having replaced Hammond's presence in Fairfield, and while I have no real experience with them I did enjoy my visit to their lot. It was a little haphazard, and the salesman was quite polite and gave me plenty of space while still making a point of letting me know he was around.

I think most dealers are good it just depends on what sales person you get..

 

[rScotty]

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?

Any of the non-emission under 25 hp tractors will do you just fine. The market is very competitive, and by spending more you tend to get more.

My choice for similar work would be a Kubota B26 TLB - and include the optional 3pt hitch..... BUT that is because I do more landscaping than gardening.

it were the other way around I'd probably go for a less expensive tractor and add 3pt implements. In fact, that is what most people with small acreage do.

25 hp will be fine. Get plenty of ground clearance and a tractor that has adjustable wheel width. HST is nice. 3 ranges are better than 2. I prefer universal tread instead of aggressive tractor tires because it is easier on the lawn. Actually I like turf tires and put on chains in the winter.

Next step: Go sit on a few. Don't be put off by arrogant salespeople. You are buying a tractor, not a salesman. Ask to be shown around their workshop and mecanical area. That will tell you all you need to know & maybe more than you hoped to learn.

Take some notes and them post again. Most people here on TBN have the advantage of experience.
Luck,
rScotty

 

[Omega Woods]

Kioti is an excellent choice.

 

[rScotty]

Any of the non-emission under 25 hp tractors will do you just fine. The market is very competitive, and by spending more you tend to get more.

My choice for similar work would be a Kubota B26 TLB - and include the optional 3pt hitch..... BUT that is because I do more landscaping than gardening.

Kioti is an excellent choice.

Yep. It is. The only reason I mentioned Kubota B26 is that nobody else makes a dedicated small Tractor/Loader/Backhoe i.e. a TLB.
Plus... having made that size TLB for decades now, Kubota has it is well worked out. Expensive little monsters, although there are reasons for that.

For traditional tractors and implements instead of TLBs, there are a whole ton of good choices.
rScotty