Buying Advice Bought a farm, looking for a tractor...and help choosing!
- Thread starter curdy
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jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I have found that the old tractors of any brand had fels that were hard to use with good control. Simply put, hard to do good finish work with.
As I understand you have an LA 118 for mowing presently to handle the lawn areas. I would use it this summer and see how well it does. Give yourself enough time to figure out what to do about the lawn area and what specific improvements need to be made such as smoothing, leveling and features (such as new trees, shrubs and flowerbeds). Make a list of the tools or jobs to perform.
Look at the rest of the pastures and fences to deal with, you will likely need to mow these pastures atleast once a year. Clipping the pastures does a lot to help the land, I wouldn't overlook this fact. You may need quite a few more implements than you suggested on your first post to manage this new property. I would take the time to figure out what is needed to enhance the property and clean it up. I would then look at what implements and tools would be involved in the process. Choose a tractor to fit these implements along with the proper snow equipment you need for your driveways.
Without going overboard I would suggest you put about $10,000 down on a tractor and implement package to handle this work while low rate financing is available. If your time is valuable I think this will be the best way to come out.
Soundguy
Old Timer
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- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
wow 3 cyl ps 3500 and loader... glad it's not near me.. 
toddol1971
Silver Member
Its only 32hp minus whatever to get to the pto/drawbar. I dont think its enough of a tractor for what he will be doing. Depending. If all he will ever do is bushhog with a 5' mower then it will work. I dont think it will work great, but its doable if the grass and weeds arent to thick. It may be a good deal, but turn out to be a bad deal if he wishes he got a bigger tractor every time he's on it.
TripleR
Super Star Member
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- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
I like Fords, we own some, but that would not be my choice for what you have described. The good news is if it doesn't work for you, you can probably get your money back out of it even after using it for a while and getting some tractor experience.
toddol1971
Silver Member
Yeah I dont think its big enough either. 50 engine hp would be my minimum if I was him. Pushing brush piles and bush hogging heavy wet grass and weeds takes alot of hp. I know around here for about 6 to 7000 grand I can get a nice massey 165 with 48 pto hp. I'd be looking for that or its equivalent. I own 40 acres and do everything he wants to do and I wish I had a little bigger tractor.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
TripleR
Super Star Member
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- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
Keep looking, they are out there. Our local Craigslist had a Ford 4000, 5000 and John Deere 2040 w cab. It may just take a while.