1st time buyer. How much tractor do I need?

[MtnViewRanch]

Havn't had that problem yet. if yo have big machines.. you usually find big work for them.. same for small ones.

best is to have a wide variety of machine sizes..

soundguy

Best way to go if you can. Hard to go wrong if you have them all.

 

[ORBrit]

I figure I can't have one machine that will do it all, so I'd be better off trying to find a machine that will do the most of what I need.
I can rent the equipment to do the rest.

Personally I think a SCUT will probably surprise me with how much it will do.

 

[mrlullabye]

Get as much tractor as you can afford. I started out thinking I just needed a 17 hp kubota to cut grass, went drove some a guy let me test drive the FEL unit and the box blade, I kept going bigger and bigger.

Finally got a 39hp. It is amazing even to me how much my expectations changed as I operated the tractor, but I can say it doesn't cost much more for a bigger tractor.

Looking back I would either say "I am getting this just to cut grass and I will get a cheap tractor, or if I want to do anything other then cut grass I need the biggest tractor I can afford"

i can also say if you get an FEL, you really need 4wd unless you are stricktly moving loose material on level solid ground.

 

[ORBrit]

here are the quotes I've gotten so far.

Bobcat CT230 with FEL(7TL) and 60" rotary cutter

Bobcat CT120 with FEL(6TL) and 60" rotary cutter

Kubota BX2360 with FEL (LA243) and 60" rotary cutter
$13,550

 

[MDM]

I seriously doubt a BX will handle a 60" rotary cutter. A 60" cutter would make the front end light on a CT230, let alone a BX. 17.5 PTO HP is not enough to run a five foot rotary effectively.

 

[Soundguy]

I wouldn't want a 5' cutter on any SCUT if for weight alone..even if it did have the power to spin it reliably.

soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

*This don't make sense as over time task/projects become come compleated so then you're stuck with to large a machine setting around doing nothing .

Pure BS IMHO. A slightly "too big" tractor will do the work of a small one in almost every case I know of, where a "too small" tractor is just, well.....too small. Personally, I wouldn't want anything less than 40 hp, or smaller (physical size) than a conventional "utility" tractor. I own 10 tractors that range from 38hp/4700lbs to 95hp/11,000lbs. The smaller ones are what would be considered antiques to many. The larger ones are all used in a business. What "don't make sense" is owning SEVERAL "too small" tractors where ONE big enough to do the job would suffice. If you've "compleated" your projects/tasks, the size of the tractor would have no bearing on whether it's "setting around doing nothing" or not. No work for a tractor is still no work for a tractor regardless of size.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My personal preference for an "estate tractor" is toward the 40HP (+ or -) range. They have the capability to do what most end users need, plus a little extra "cushion". Not "too big", not "too small". And speaking as someone who's bought and sold literally hundreds of used tractors, one in the 40hp range will sell quick come time to re-sell. VERY popular size for utility tractors.

 

[newbury]

Pure BS IMHO. A slightly "too big" tractor will do the work of a small one in almost every case I know of, where a "too small" tractor is just, well.....too small. Personally, I wouldn't want anything less than 40 hp, or smaller (physical size) than a conventional "utility" tractor. I own 10 tractors that range from 38hp/4700lbs to 95hp/11,000lbs. The smaller ones are what would be considered antiques to many. The larger ones are all used in a business. What "don't make sense" is owning SEVERAL "too small" tractors where ONE big enough to do the job would suffice. If you've "compleated" your projects/tasks, the size of the tractor would have no bearing on whether it's "setting around doing nothing" or not. No work for a tractor is still no work for a tractor regardless of size.

There is a strong case to be made that for some small is needed. Primarily because of access for for work. If I had a little BH1500 I could easily scoot into all my neighbors back yards thru their walk gates. Also some people don't like changing attachments, so they get 1 tractor for each attachment

 

[LBrown59]

Pure BS IMHO. A slightly "too big" tractor will do the work of a small one in almost every case I know of, where a "too small" tractor is just, well.....too small. Personally, I wouldn't want anything less than 40 hp, or smaller (physical size) than a conventional "utility" tractor. I own 10 tractors that range from 38hp/4700lbs to 95hp/11,000lbs. The smaller ones are what would be considered antiques to many. The larger ones are all used in a business. What "don't make sense" is owning SEVERAL "too small" tractors where ONE big enough to do the job would suffice. If you've "compleated" your projects/tasks, the size of the tractor would have no bearing on whether it's "setting around doing nothing" or not. No work for a tractor is still no work for a tractor regardless of size.

The bigger the tractor and equip the more the cost so a bigger tractor is more money tied up setting around doing little or nothing.