Tractor Sizing 35hp enough?

[BLSXJ]

Last summer I bought a home with 40 wooded acres. Last fall the Wife bought a 15.3 hand Gelding. I think we need a tractor and the wife agrees!

We'd like to use the tractor to do the following:
-Snow removal on the drive way (450 ft long, 15000 sq ft, 70 wide near the house)
-Maintain the driveway (already built a drag for behind the atv)
-harvest 3 cords of fire wood per year (hopefully only dead standing)
-Help expand trail network on property
-Possibly help clear 4 acres so we can stop boarding the hay burner (might not be the right tool for job)
-once the hay burner come home.... stall mucking, arena grooming, hay moving etc.
- small landscaping jobs (veggie garden)


We've visited the local dealers.... sat on a few tractors, talked about what our needs really are. If we were to buy new we'd be considering the Massey 1734E, Kubota L3301 or the JD 3032E. All basically are 3000lb CUT with a 1600lb 3pt capacity and 1400 FEL capacity.

We then made the mistake of going to an auction that had a Universal 640 up for sale. It sold for more then I was willing to pay for a 30yo tractor but it got us thinking about buying used, older and bigger. I realize older 4wd tractors are a bit harder to find, But the idea of having tons of power, weight and strength available is really appealing. The only downsides to the Utility tractor I could come up with are... The weight means I cant trailer it myself... and the larger attachments will likely cost a bit more and It will be a manual transmission.

Will a 35hp CUT be enough for me? or will I be better served with a 45-80hp Utility tractor?

 

[EddieWalker]

I have 68 acres that I maintain with a 35 hp 4x4 Century tractor and a 6 foot Landpride rotary cutter. It does a good job, but it's definitely on the small side of things. I don't have a loader on it, so I can't comment on that, but every time I'm on it, I think of how badly I want to get a bigger tractor. My dream machine will have a cab, be 4 wheel drive and have something close to 80 hp at the PTO so I can pull a 15 foot batwing mower.

I'm not a fan of Tier 4 emissions on tractors that where built from 2013 and newer, so I'm just looking at used ones from 2012 and older. I have too many other things going on of a higher priority, so it's just day dreaming for now.

 

[gsganzer]

With that acreage, I don't think you'd be happy with a 35hp machine.

When I look through used listings, I usually see a good number of machines in the 50- 60 hp range at decent prices with low hours. These could also move round bales if you start feeding those and handle ground engaging equipment (harrows, plows etc.)

Unless you need a lighter machine for working around the yard, I'd go with a bigger machine.

I tend to agree with Eddie on the cab.

 

[jeff9366]

Thirty-five horsepower, 4-WD tractor with FEL will be enough, if the tractor is heavy enough.

Consider the heavier Kubota L3560: Tractors - Grand L6 Series | Kubota Tractor Corporation

Then you have to purchase IMPLEMENTS Three Point Hitch and attachments for the FEL ~~~~~~

 

[topbuilder]

Thirty-five horsepower, 4-WD tractor with FEL will be enough.

Then you have to purchase IMPLEMENTS Three Point Hitch and attachments for the FEL ~~~~~~

I agree. I would not up-size to do a one time clear. Think about what your needs are beyond that.

 

[WM75Guy]

You did right by considering your tasks. PTO HP is used to determine what 3PT attachments you can operate such as a rotary cutter. My TC40DA is 40 HP/33 HP PTO and will operate my 6' cutter and 6' tiller without a problem. A small tractor at times is preferable over a larger tractor for getting into tight spaces.

What I have found to be more important is the FEL lift capacity and tractor weight. We started buying shavings and pellets by the pallet to save cost. My FEL will lift 1500# and it is a little small as most of the pallets weight 2000#. I have to toss a few bags off before I unload them from the trailer.

HP doesn't matter if you are spinning the wheels because the tractor is too light. You will also need ballast on the 3PT to offset forces when lifting heavy loads with the FEL. Without it I have lifted the rear wheels off the ground when trying to lift and move things with the FEL. Fortunately I was able to lower the FEL quickly without damaging the load, the tractor, or me. The heavier the tractor the less chance of that happening.

 

[MF283]

I have 35 acres & used 30+ HP tractors in the past, i have a 60 HP now with FEL & it is a lot easier to deal with, it will handle more than the smaller tractors would & you'll always push the smaller tractor to do more, i did.
I have trails around our wooded areas that the tractor or even the truck can access, these days i use a Gator more to do the minimal chores around these areas like checking fences or clearing downed timber from the trail if it isn't big enough to warrant getting the tractor out.
The 35 HP will get you by, no doubt, they did for me, it's a tough call to make, i wouldn't go back to a smaller unit though.

My .02 cents

Ronnie

 

[bh10]

Id go the utility route, bigger is always better. Id also go with a cab. Im the opposite of you, it's HOT here, up by you its COLD, having ac/heat makes life much more enjoyable. Keeps bugs away as well.

 

[TheMadOne]

As a new owner of an L3301 I will say that it's held up to the grading, scraping, small tree pulling, and digging that I've asked of it.

Would it be enough for you? Hard to say. I'm not you and my tasks aren't yours.

Looking at the tasks you outlined in the opening post, the only ones that would worry me are the land clearing and hay moving. It's simply not heavy enough to hand large bales, but if you plan on using small squares then it shouldn't have any problem. Land clearing is dozer/excavator work. Rent the equipment or hire it out.

 

[BLSXJ]

RE: clearing land..... I have no doubt hiring or renting the right equipment will be cheaper then buying the equipment. But I could see me cutting all the trees myself and leaving the the stumps for the contractor. That will be lots of fire wood to deal with.

RE: snow removal.. This last winter I had a lawn tractor with a 44" two stage blower, an atv with a 48" blade and a 28" walk behind blower. The tool of choice was the lawn tractor with the blower. but I struggled with traction... Chains and weights weren't enough. But blowing the snow is the way to go with my driveway.