Attention first time tractor buyers some really good helpful advice.

[Nb707]

What size tractor. The best advice is to read all you can on these forms. But the short answer is buy the biggest tractor you can afford. For the job you need. Anything under 5 acres most tractors between the 20 to 35 horse should be fine. A cab is not necessary. always nice. Anything above 5 acres but smaller than 40 acres doing any kind of moving dirt, land Improvement, small scale farming , you need to start looking at the min. Of 40 to 60 horsepower range. If you can afford a cab to get it, you will not regret it.

A Must, and do not let anybody talk you out these accessories .
more than three rear Attachments. Please do yourself a favor I dont care if you got adjustable arms, The ability to raise your hydraulics from the back of the tractor. Or John Deers set up you can move the tractor back-and-forth from the back. Get yourself a quick hitch.

For the first six months of owning my tractor not having a quick hitch what a pain in the ***. The dealer I asked him when I was buying my new tractor said I dont need the quick hitch. Because with my expandable arms and rear lift I should be fine. ********.!!!

Once I got the quick hitch it was the best money spent. Under $ 200 . Which included a PTO extender, bushings for my five implements , a larger top hook. If you get the Harbor freight model. The next Best money spent make sure you get a hydraulic top link.

By the way on the topic of the hydraulic top link if you decide to use the Pats quick hitch system versus the quick hitch. Pros and cons to both systems, buy a longer hydraulic top link. And a restrictor for the hydraulic line its five bucks but it makes a difference. And make sure you get your rear tires filled.

If you can and need a backhoe which I did not purchase. Get it. I really thought I needed it for a few small projects. Do Yourself a favor and Look into a stump bucket. I was very skeptical at first. But for $500 to $800 bucks I was very surprised at how well this worked, its now my favorite bucket.

As an example I have a creek the prior owner of my property filled in with rocks and boulders 20 feet long six feet wide to cross. It was nasty uneven and dangerous to cross. I needed a culvert and do it the right way which I did. At first I thought for sure I needed a back hole. I thought about renting one for the day . Instead I bought a stump bucket it works great. They are great for digging like a backhoe. Do your research on them. Again good money well spent versus spending 6 k to 10 k on a backhoe

Especially if your just doing minor stuff like moving some stumps. Digging some trenches in my case digging out a rock filled creek. To drop in a culvert. Hopefully this helps this is coming from experience. You will love your new tractor just take your time and do a lot of research.

 

[old and tired]

I would have to say this could be a good thread... I do respectfully disagree with your tractor "sizing". I don't think there is one size tractor that fits "whatever". I'm at 28 acres and 28 hp, it's more than enough for me to get done what I want. I look at it a bit differently.

If you are making money (as a business or if your time is money) bigger could be better, but sometimes, it's just bigger. The tractor needs to "fit" your tasks at hand... Try driving a 60 hp tractor to mowing your front yard.... I do drive tractors in the 70 to 110 hp range at work, with cabs, they are nice but for my needs, I have a small open station and love it more.

I prefer smaller, able to go places a larger tractor just can not fit. I've got time, I enjoy using my tractor so if I have to make another trip around, no problem and nothing needs to be finished today. Smaller tractor can get the same work done as large tractors but it takes them a longer time. AND it did not break the bank buying it.

"... biggest tractor you can afford...", I would agree to this if it included the price of the tractor, remotes, a grapple (a must have), Top-N-Tilt, and several implements to actually allow the tractor to preform work (implements / quick hitches). The bigger the tractor, the more the implements cost so the fewer you can buy...

Expandable arms are great, what didn't work for you? My quick hitch is sitting in my barn, dusty and un-used for years. I now use Pat's and I don't think I'll needed anything more. I'm a junkie when it comes to implements, (3?!?!) I have 35 or so and several that I've never used but one day I might need it... all used and only a few QH compatible.

 

[Reb954]

What size tractor. The best advice is to read all you can on these forms. But the short answer is buy the biggest tractor you can afford. For the job you need. Anything under 5 acres most tractors between the 20 to 35 horse should be fine. A cab is not necessary. always nice. Anything above 5 acres but smaller than 40 acres doing any kind of moving dirt, land Improvement, small scale farming , you need to start looking at the min. Of 40 to 60 horsepower range. If you can afford a cab to get it, you will not regret it. Trust me.
A Must, and do not let anybody talk you out these accessories .
more than three rear Attachments. Please do yourself a favor I dont care if you got adjustable arms, The ability to raise your hydraulics from the back of the tractor. Or John Deers set up you can move the tractor back-and-forth from the back. Get yourself a quick hitch. For the first six months of owning my tractor not having a quick hitch what a pain in the ***. The dealer I asked him when I was buying my new tractor said I dont need the quick hitch. Because with my expandable arms and rear lift I should be fine. ********.!!! Once I got the quick hitch it was the best money spent. Under $ 200 . Which included a PTO extender, bushings for my five implements , a larger top hook. If you get the Harbor freight model. The next Best money spent make sure you get a hydraulic top link. By the way on the topic of the hydraulic top link if you decide to use the Pats quick hitch system versus the quick hitch. Pros and cons to both systems, buy a longer hydraulic top link. And a restrictor for the hydraulic line its five bucks but it makes a difference. And make sure you get your rear tires filled. If you can and need a backhoe which I did not purchase. Get it. I really thought I needed it for a few small projects. Do Yourself a favor and Look into a stump bucket. I was very skeptical at first. But for $500 to $800 bucks I was very surprised at how well this worked, its now my favorite bucket. As an example I have a creek the prior owner of my property filled in with rocks and boulders 20 feet long six feet wide to cross. It was nasty uneven and dangerous to cross. I needed a culvert and do it the right way which I did. At first I thought for sure I needed a back hole. I thought about renting one for the day . Instead I bought a stump bucket it works great. They are great for digging like a backhoe. Do your research on them. Again good money well spent versus spending 6 k to 10 k on a backhoe Especially if your just doing minor stuff like moving some stumps. Digging some trenches in my case digging out a rock filled creek. To drop in a culvert. Hopefully this helps this is coming from experience. You will love your new tractor just take your time and do a lot of research.

You lost me when you typed "trust me".

 

[Nb707]

I would have to say this could be a good thread... I do respectfully disagree with your tractor "sizing". I don't think there is one size tractor that fits "whatever". I'm at 28 acres and 28 hp, it's more than enough for me to get done what I want. I look at it a bit differently. Well that works for you I’m just writing from my experience working on my 17 acre farm and the amount of work and lifting and earth moving but I needed to do. I don’t believe I ever said one size tractor that’s whatever I was just making a general but there’s always exceptions to the rules.

If you are making money (as a business or if your time is money) bigger could be better, but sometimes, it's just bigger. The tractor needs to "fit" your tasks at hand... Try driving a 60 hp tractor to mowing your front yard.... I do drive tractors in the 70 to 110 hp range at work, with cabs, they are nice but for my needs, I have a small open station and love it more.
I personally like the cabs quieter, less dusty climate controls the Way to go dude.

I prefer smaller, able to go places a larger tractor just can not fit. I've got time, I enjoy using my tractor so if I have to make another trip around, no problem and nothing needs to be finished today. Smaller tractor can get the same work done as large tractors but it takes them a longer time. AND it did not break the bank buying it. Depending on the circumstances in the situation I would agree with this.

"... biggest tractor you can afford...", I would agree to this if it included the price of the tractor, remotes, a grapple (a must have), Top-N-Tilt, and several implements to actually allow the tractor to preform work (implements / quick hitches). The bigger the tractor, the more the implements cost so the fewer you can buy...

Expandable arms are great, what didn't work for you? My quick hitch is sitting in my barn, dusty and un-used for years. I now use Pat's and I don't think I'll needed anything more. I'm a junkie when it comes to implements, (3?!?!) I have 35 or so and several that I've never used but one day I might need it... all used and only a few QH compatible.

They worked fine the quick hitch just made the job so much easier and quicker.

 

[sea2summit]

You lost me when you typed "trust me".

I made it to stump bucket digs like a backhoe. Lots of newbie assumptions. And I’m still a newbie.

 

[MossRoad]

Acreage is a poor criteria for HP needed. The tasks that need to be done, VS the time you have to do them, VS your wallet, VS reality, will most likely be the main criteria when determining what size machine you need VS what size machine you end up with.

 

[Diggin It]

Effective tractor size is almost as critical as effective paragraph use.

 

[Nb707]

Agreed but my synopsis is based upon in general in my personal experience.

 

[MossRoad]

You and Jeff should get together and compare notes.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Was there something in there about the weight of a bear?

 

[sea2summit]

Agreed but my synopsis is based upon in general in my personal experience.

Trust me.

 

[MossRoad]

^^ Was there something in there about the weight of a bear?

Bear or beer? Either one sounds fun.

 

[Nb707]

What a great bunch of members on the site very helpful. This is what it’s all for

 

[chim]

We usually recommend what works best for us. (Or what we have convinced ourselves we need). I do.

My perceptions and needs both changed over the past 30 years.

Built and moved in - started with 2.25 acres of yard. The Cub 154 LoBoy with a MMM and front dozer blade for the 300 driveway was the GREATEST!

A couple years later, got tired of fighting when swapping MMM and blade (difficult to imagine the process if you have not done it) sent me searching for a tractor with a 3-point hitch so I could get a rear blade and RFM. The Cub went away and the Ford 1210 4WD diesel was the absolute ultimate tractor.

Ten years later, in 2002, Wifey somehow thought it would be nice if I had a tractor with a loader. That came in the form of a Kubota B7500. At the same time, my youngest son and I began mowing at the in-law farm. The Ford was going to be sold, but came in handy. SOP was to leave the Ford at the farm and road the B7500 so we could double team it. Having two tractors seemed like an absolute necessity. Note - the old Ford is still here.

Then in 2012 we added some land so there are 3.5 acres of grass. The old farm was sold, and that mowing duty went away. However, at the same time, I started taking care of snow removal at our church. The B7500 was replaced with an L3200. That meant building a heated cab. Wonderful! Refurbed a rear blower and was in business. Short story - the blower was fun at times but worthless for parking lots. Used the FEL more than the blower. Still needed two tractors and the L3200 HP and loader capacity made it seem like a beast compared with the L3200. I would park the Ford there for the Winter and road the L3200. Woohoo! The bigger tractor allowed me to go from a 5 RFM to a 6 footer.

After a half dozen years of L3200, Summers seemed hotter and pollen worse. Dear brother in law told wifey that chim should probably have a cabbed tractor with A/C since he was getting long in tooth. Not wanting to let an opportunity go to waste, we spent the best part of a year searching for a clean used pre-Final IV and found the L4240HSTC. Of course that meant a 90” RFM. The first project was an 8 power angle plow to do snow. Super comfy year round. Reasonably quiet and will pick darn near anything I need to with the FEL.

Point is that during any of these periods I have been convinced beyond any doubt that I made the best possible tractor choice.

 

[Diggin It]

Bear or beer? Either one sounds fun.

-or- ????

What a great bunch of members on the site very helpful. This is what itç—´ all about

We prefer 'diversely perverse'.

 

[MossRoad]

Perfect! :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

I think I'm one of the few TBN members who downsized because my first machine was way too big for our needs.

It was a late '70's IH2500b tractor loader. 8000# machine with permanent FEL and 50HP PTO on a 3PT hitch. Full cab. Gas engine. HST.

We used it to cut in a road from the highway and brush hog for about 5 years between rows of planted trees. Then it was just too big. Couldn't go through the tree rows, the existing woods, or on most of the slopes because it was 2wd with R4 tires and the soil was sand. It was fun to drive up to 10" diameter trees and pretty much drive over them, though.

We bought the little PT425 and it's much better suited to our needs of trail mowing, brush clearing, lawn mowing, snow removal and firewood gathering.

So for us, a little 1500# machine is perfect for 20 acres.

 

[nybirdman]

I have a 44 HP cabbbed tractor for 100 acres and works fine;hated the stump bucket and sold it quickly,never needed a quick hitch(extendable end links work fine).IE.what works for you doesn't mean it will for everyone else.

 

[Nb707]

Good point you don’t need a quick hitch or hydraulic top link. You don’t even need an automatic, you don’t need air conditioning, you don’t even need a cab. By that standard you don’t need a cell phone just a landline would be fine if you’re just making phone calls. It just depends on the person. But there’s a lot of people who liked a quick hitch I find it a huge benefit . There’s always practical people in this world and the tolerances inconveniences always very from person to person.

 

[Nb707]

It all boils down to your personal needs but you’re an experienced tractor owner. You figured out your needs and you purchased a tractor what best fits your needs. Many new owners have no clue

the truth is until you’ve owned a tractor for a while and worked on your farm, or land Ect you’ll figure it out. it’s impossible to to be right for every single circumstance of Tractors owners needs. It’s all very personal my suggestion was just as it was suggestions and based upon my personal experience. And hopefully it was helpful for some people who are new tractor owners