Buying a tractor - too many choices! Please point me in the right direction

[noose]

First the closest dealer is about 45 minutes - Kubota. Another half hour will get me to LS, John Deere, New Holland and Kioti... If I'm willing to go a couple of hours, I can get just about every major brand. The closest, by far, is a Kubota dealer at 30-40 minutes drive. I'm closing on 60 acres in about 30 days and there's an immense amount of work to be done. I won't be doing any planting, hay cutting, etc., as I'll be moving from Ag Use to essentially enjoyment of the land with a Wildlife Exemption. That will require some basic work such as brush hogging, road maintenance, fence work, and lots of cleanup work on old, dead trees, junk left out in the woods, and so on. I'm thinking I can get away with a 30ish horse but I want the weight so I can box blade the crappy driveway and roads into something more usable. I'll have road base delivered and I'll slowly work on a road across the property to the back. All total mabye 2000' of road built over time. (lots of time)

I've honestly done a ton of research and come up with the following list of things I think I want:

30ish HP tractor with FEL
Hydrostatic
R4 Tires
3-point Quick Hitch
Brush Hog implement
Box Blade implement
12 auger for some fence post repair (quite few of them are rotten or just poorly done)
540 PTO

Now... Some of the things I don't understand yet. Do all the 3-points on these CUTs hydraulically raise/lower as I've seen in "how to" videos or is that an "option". How important is weight going to be for my uses? There's a significant difference in weight in some of the CUTs. I'm assuming with FEL work, chassis weight is quite important.

I'm looking to keep the above package from getting over $20K. I really like the feature set of the LS G3033H and with implements above in a package, I'm in around that price or a tad over. I guess I'll leave at that and await a few points of advice and come back with more questions.

Thanks for all the help, in advance.

 

[nybirdman]

All CUT's have power"up" on the three point and "gravity"down.You have your size about right,weight is your friend for the most part.If you like Kubota look at the "L" series of tractors.
Ask about "extendable" end links on the three point(or some type of quick change) makes changing implements much easier.
Buy big enough the first time,saves trading down the road.Most of us have bought too small the first time.

 

[MAN IN BLACK]

I would look more at the 50-60HP range.
Full size ag tractor...better hydraulic capacities on FEL & 3PT and more weight for added traction.
You'll be glad to have the extra weight and power to work in the woods.
You won't be buying all that stuff new for under 20000$
The hydraulics you mentioned as option is the back couplers to activate a woodsplitter,dump trailer, etc...usually on ag tractors they are standard, on most CUT...optional and I strongly recommend them.

 

[noose]

Concerning price, I know "buy bigger than what you think you need" so it's right the first time. Locally, the L3301DT (non hst) with above implements is literally $20K delivered. I'm going to have to stay around that range which means that, a G3033, etc. All those seem to be in the high teens and with implements cracking the 20-21K range...

 

[motownbrowne]

Go one step up. Weight and fel capacity is more important to me than HP. Look for something that'll easily lift a ton on the loader. Not much more money than the size you're looking at, but way more capacity. I almost bought an l3800. For $4k more, I bought an mx4700. Double the loader capacity, ten extra HP, much heavier. The additional cost over the life of the machine is miniscule, and I'm really happy I stepped up a size.

 

[ovrszd]

You will get more confused as this goes along. Choices are many. You'll get down to a gut feeling about tractors as you spend time sitting on them, running them and poking around on them. Go for the gut feeling in the end. Each individual has individual tastes. That's why you have half a dozen choices in paint color alone.

As for the implements. No way I would buy a package deal with the tractor. Go on Craigslist (use Searchtempest) or Tractorhouse or Fastline and look at used equipment. You'll spend 50% or less for the implements and that will free up money to buy more tractor. In the end you'll be more satisfied and possibly avoid being back on here in a year telling us you are considering trading up because you want more fancy options or more size/HP.

Remember, a Box Blade is basically just a chunk of iron when you are down in that size. It'll sit and rust most of it's life. Don't need a new one to do that.....

 

[GManBart]

I'm looking to keep the above package from getting over $20K. I really like the feature set of the LS G3033H and with implements above in a package, I'm in around that price or a tad over. I guess I'll leave at that and await a few points of advice and come back with more questions.

First off, welcome to TBN!

I had an LS that did a great job for me until I needed to go to something much larger, so I'm still a fan of LS when it comes to band for your buck. If you like the G3033, consider the slight increase to the G3038...it has the same frame, but a more powerful loader (like 25% more). Buying used implements would let you make up the difference in price.

 

[GManBart]

As for the implements. No way I would buy a package deal with the tractor. Go on Craigslist (use Searchtempest) or Tractorhouse or Fastline and look at used equipment. You'll spend 50% or less for the implements and that will free up money to buy more tractor. In the end you'll be more satisfied and possibly avoid being back on here in a year telling us you are considering trading up because you want more fancy options or more size/HP.

Remember, a Box Blade is basically just a chunk of iron when you are down in that size. It'll sit and rust most of it's life. Don't need a new one to do that.....

Yep. It's not hard to come up with solid, used implements like brush cutters and box blades for $500 or so that will do the job just fine.

 

[Pete6114]

I hate underbuying.....been there, done that, and i now find it cheaper in the long run to buy at least one step higher then i think i need. I would look at bigger then 30ish. It may take you over 20k, but there is nothing worse then finding out you under bought and are cursing yourself. Always best to have extra power, then not enough and working equipment into the ground....
Let us know which machine you pick!

 

[rgr33]

I have the LS 3033h that you mention. got about 130 hour on it so far and have been really happy with it. the other tractor I liked was the Kioti ck 35. Both those units were very easy to operate,well built, and affordable. I think either of those two brands will give you what you need in the price range you mention. just be sure the dealer seems capable and will still be there when you need them, In this area,we see Tym and Branson dealers come and go with the seasons, sorry to say. no matter what brand you end up with, the time may come when you want to upgrade, that is when you will be glad your dealer is still there carrying your same brand. assuming I guess that you made a good choice the first time.