Another Newbie looking to buy a tractor

[paulsharvey]

Some of the ssqa hydralic brush cutters can run on 15 gpm hydro flow, and the class of machines you are looking at are running 12ish gpm flow. I didn't do an extensive search, maybe if you can track down a 10 gpm 60" brush cutter? Those things can cut 5"+ stuff.

 

[Carl_NH]

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Some of the ssqa hydralic brush cutters can run on [emoji6] gpm hydro flow, and the class of machines you are looking at are running ish gpm flow. I didn't do an extensive search, maybe if you can track down a [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] gpm [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]" brush cutter? Those things can cut [emoji6]"+ stuff.

Paul respectfully they aren’t good up here - this is the typical field

 

[MaineBarn]

Paul respectfully they aren’t good up here - this is the typical field

I would guess the image with the smaller boulders is what I'd be encountering. There certainly are those bigger ones up there and that's where there'd be a curve.

I went looking at Kubota, Kioti, Yanmar (although only saw their smaller ones) and Massey's yesterday. The Massey's seemed well laid out and all. The dealership didn't really have a great grasp on the features of the Yanmars. I'm sure they're great but just didn't get a good impression of them. I liked the look and finish of the Kubota. I'm waiting on a quote for the Massey 1840M and the Kubota LX4020. The primary sales people at those dealerships weren't around for quoting. I skipped going to the New Holland dealership by me as it's in a convenient location and can stop by when I'm in the area.

I was most impressed by the Kioti models. It didn't feel like they were trying to nickel and dime people. I was also most confused by them as there is so much overlap by model. The most powerful CK is similar to the DK with it's smallest engine. Then the DK and NS and NX overlap a lot!

I liked the bigger feeling of the NS cab which is about the same as the NX. The NX appears to have some additional improvements. Yet, I saw on a forum here the NX was discontinued in the middle of 2024 (Kioti has officially discontinued the NX Line - still worth buying?) . Not finding anything like that since. I did see a lot of complaints about the NX having some reliability issues which is of concern.

After looking at that, saw the NX/NS offer 60months 0% but the RX offers 72 months 0%. The RX is overkill but mentally it's a struggle thinking I'd be paying a higher monthly amount (although for a year shorter which obviously means overall it's less) for a smaller machine. The RX6620 is the only one in the RX lineup that can have a backhoe. That machine would be a monster.

I still need to visit the New Holland and TYM dealerships. Sight unseen, still thinking the TYM is the leader but Kioti made a strong impression on me.

 

[paulsharvey]

In the Kioti CK vs TYM T2515/3515/4015, I was close but preferred the seat, loader, ect on the Kioti, and at the time, the Kioti was $1500 cheaper. When I went to the dealer, I wasn't really looking at the Kioti at first, because I thought it was a good bit smaller. When I saw them side by side, I preferred the Kioti. Mahindra didn't impress me. They were more money than comparable models, and the dealers locally, there are always a couple Mahindra guys, but ever couple years, one closes down and another opens up. Thats likely a local issue though. The Yanmar dealer is 90% trailers, and lawn care dealer, who also sells some Yanmar tractors, again, that's probably a local thing.

 

[paulsharvey]

On Kubota, even the L2501 was too rich for my blood, and it didn't have particularly good features, IMO. On Massey, the 1526 was interesting, but too small. The 1825E was just too stripped down for my taste, and the 1840M was about perfect, if I had about $8000 more, which I didn't. I did not look at LS in person, that dealer had shut down, and I didn't go searching for another. Bobcat I didn't bother looking at. Rural King tractors, I did look at the R24, R25, and R37. The 24 was Way too small. The 25 initially impressed me, but I didn't want a 2 speed HST, and when I looked at it up close, I was really kinda disappointed in just how light the 3 point arms and all Looked. The RK37 was pretty nice, but out of my budget.

Now, if I could do it again, I likely would have tried to scrounge up the upgrade money to go from the CK2610 to the Ck3510

 

[rScotty]

Reading between the lines for cash flow, you want to finance the equipment for the project vs cash or financing a decent used machine.

I cannot comment on the Kioti $37K vs TYM $53K for 7 Years but IMO either rent a machine for a week, or buy a used machine and start the project.

I know the ground and rocks here - you will beat up a new machine in a few weeks in the woods - whereas an older experienced TLB like a CAT 416, JD 310, Case 580 can be had for $15-25K, The benefit, tough and heavy - a closed cab - can stay out in the weather, has heat and or A/C, can take a beating in the woods and rocks and get a lot more done for your $.

Then sell it for close to what you paid when you are done and buy the new smaller machine.

Best idea yet.

Yep. Looking back over 20 years of similar threads, That's what the more experienced people here always recommend: Either contract the job out, or go get a machine for the task. Either works better than buying a compact homeowner type tractor, adding attachments, and expecting it to do commercial work.

Then when the heavy work is done and the project roughed in enough to be usable, is when to go get your homeowner "chore" type tractor and enjoy working to improve, maintain, and landscape what was built.

rScotty

 

[MaineBarn]

Some of the ssqa hydralic brush cutters can run on 15 gpm hydro flow, and the class of machines you are looking at are running 12ish gpm flow. I didn't do an extensive search, maybe if you can track down a 10 gpm 60" brush cutter? Those things can cut 5"+ stuff.

Thanks and underrated point. The Kioti DK up through the NX have ~16.5 GPM total flow. That'd leave 11-12 for the implement. The RX is 20.5 total so a bit over 15gpm after power steering.

The TYM 574c has just 7.7gpm for an implement. The 4820c however has 16.5 total and 11.4 after power steering. The 554 has 9.5gpm for the tool.

 

[paulsharvey]

Thanks and underrated point. The Kioti DK up through the NX have ~16.5 GPM total flow. That'd leave 11-12 for the implement. The RX is 20.5 total so a bit over 15gpm after power steering.

The TYM 574c has just 7.7gpm for an implement. The 4820c however has 16.5 total and 11.4 after power steering. The 554 has 9.5gpm for the tool.

Now, even with the flow, a Tractor can't run a hydralic brush cutter for hours and hours; they just down have the hydralic cooling for cutting like that. They probably have about 30 minutes of active mulching, and 30 minutes not mulching.

 

[MaineBarn]

Got some quotes in today and starting to formulate a decision. Am leaning towards getting "too much" much tractor for home. This spring/early summer when I'm up at the spot I was going to put in the path, I'll head back there with a clear mind based on all the input. It's helpful knowing the limits of what a tractor can do. It feels like originally labeling a driveway was a mistake as the input was more geared towards developing something that was going to be an elevated pathway with compacted gravel and designed to withstand a monsoon. That being said, I appreciate the advisement that it's a challenging (potential) project where great care needs to be applied.

It's entirely possible when I get out there and walk the land, I see a lot more obstacles than anticipated. Right now I'm envisioning a pretty easy path with some 1500-2000lb rocks that might need to be moved/covered with surrounding soil and then edging any spots where water flows with logs to prevent washout. When I'm looking though, thanks to the input of members here, I will be preemptively critical and something that me prior to asking for advice was looking at as a minor impendence, might be a show shopper. I hear you all loud and clear that a tractor is not the right tool. If it's only picking up cut primarily 3-4" trees, a few bigger trees to work around, a few bigger tree sections to grapple, a bit of backhoe work, and then a smooth path to clear, it's not going to be tough on the machine. If every 3' there are large boulders blocking the path or I can't dig up any loose soil, that changes it all.

I still need to finalize some things like insurance and bartering. There is two more dealers I'm going to visit to figure out what the cost/benefit of their offerings are. I'm not thrilled with where the price is at currently but it's not extremely out of line. We haven't sat down and finalized the details for attachments and that's where I think they have a bit more leeway. The informally quoted prices for the implements were high. It feels like a situation where we can find agreement. One of the two other dealers I'm going to was my original choice (TYM) but the fact they're comparatively lower on the hydraulic pump for their high HP machine has me questioning if there are other things they used non-competitive parts on. That being said, the starting price for the FEL + Backhoe + Tractor from TYM is almost 5 figures less than the quote I'm considering. However factoring in the add-ons (where I feel the dealership I like gives a discount) and difference in financing, it become essentially a wash.

So thanks to everyone who has chimed in so far. It is very appreciated and I hear you. You've given me a dose of reality and I'll be utilizing that!

 

[MaineBarn]

On Kubota, even the L2501 was too rich for my blood, and it didn't have particularly good features, IMO. On Massey, the 1526 was interesting, but too small. The 1825E was just too stripped down for my taste, and the 1840M was about perfect, if I had about $8000 more, which I didn't. I did not look at LS in person, that dealer had shut down, and I didn't go searching for another. Bobcat I didn't bother looking at. Rural King tractors, I did look at the R24, R25, and R37. The 24 was Way too small. The 25 initially impressed me, but I didn't want a 2 speed HST, and when I looked at it up close, I was really kinda disappointed in just how light the 3 point arms and all Looked. The RK37 was pretty nice, but out of my budget.

Now, if I could do it again, I likely would have tried to scrounge up the upgrade money to go from the CK2610 to the Ck3510

This resonates.

The Kubota quotes and Massey quotes came in and, although both machines are very nice, it feels like going with them steps me down a level in performance. Do I need ~48HP at the PTO, probably not. However, would having more than 33 be a bad thing? No. The Massey would be great except their backhoe is fairly pricey and the dealership wants more for the extras than I'm seeing on other quotes.

For the machines I'm looking at, there is about a $7k difference over 6 years (all payments included) to go from about 45 engine hp to 60hp. Knowing I'll be using this for 40years (hopefully), that seems worth it up front.