Buying Advice Compact for new 43 acre wooded property

[DieselnHooters]

Grandad4 keeps making great points, I guess the saying ''wisdom comes with age'' is indeed true

 

[bhh]

If you are the primary breadwinner, there is one cold-hearted but factual "principle" everyone involved needs to understand and agree to concerning your property development plans:
Your time is limited and valuable and there is a big piece of work ahead of you with your property. If the idea is to run you ragged doing everything the hard way just to save $100/month, you're going to be an old man before your time. That's just not a good plan. Further, whatever the right equipment costs is chump change vs. a disabling injury (or worse) that resulted from fatigue or inadequate equipment.

Well said sir.

 

[jgoehri1]

I'm going to sound great when I lay those two points on her!

 

[redfarmer]

I would go with a 3000 series John Deere. I have 56 acres about 14 or 15 mowed and the rest is woods. I have a J.D. 790 which is the same as the 3005. I also have a loader and backhoe for it. It works very well, I have a lot of steep hills so i went with a gear transmission instead of hyro. Also have a 5' tiller. I definately wouldn't want a smaller tractor, a little larger would be nice, however when i am in the woods with my tractor it is just the right size. A bigger tractor wouldn't work so well in the woods. Another deciding factor for me was John Deere is an american company, and I am an american, so i try to support my country. REMEMBER BUY AMERICAN OR BYE AMERICA!!

Haha JD cut isn't American. Just saying. It's made in Japan at least the engine is. Not that I'm against that. It's just that everyone say JD is all American and it isn't.

 

[paulemar]

The Mrs and I recently purchased a 43 acre property in Indiana. It consists of a 3 acres that needs mowed, 30 acres of woods that includes a 1 acre pond (old gravel pit that I'd like to clean up for my young kids to fish, felled tree hauling and, cash permitting, backhoe work) and 10 acres of old pasture that floods approximately 10 times per year. I'd like to bushhog the old pasture and plant deer food plots along with spruces for wind breaks. My driveway is about 1/4 of a mile and needs new gravel. The house is 125 years old with an addition that was not concerned with insulation and could use a wood stove for additional winter comfort. We certainly have the wood and I'll need something capable of towing out fallen trees and hauling cut wood. I'm a country boy who finally managed to get the land I've so coveted.

Please help a fella out with my best option. I'm leaning Kubota 3200 or Jd 2000 series. My question is will these handle the heavy tilling and backhoe work while still being able to handle a belly mower? What do you guys recommend? I'm fortunate to have a pretty good job to provide for the family, but it's not an unlimited well. I could probably swing about $25K, but am open to suggestions.

In my opinion two is better than one. One good small diesel for the lawn & garden work, and a larger loader equipped tractor for the rest of it. These tractors could work for you for the next 20 years+. It is very possible to choose your equipment wisely the first time around and not have any second thoughts or size regrets. Do your homework, check them all out. Your favorites will be obvious to you as you eliminate contenders. 0% interest makes it affordable to do this. 43 acres is a pretty good chunk of land, one tractor fits all is not an easy find. Once you get your tractors then you get have more fun buying implements to do the work. Look at it this way, you'll probably go through several new cars and still be using your original tractors.

 

[Tompet]

You received a lot of good info on tractor sizes etc. My advice would be don't compromise the size tractor you need for a property of that size (and chore requirements) because you need a mower. If I understood, you said it was about 3 acres of mowing of a rough yard...if you are not real picky on the lawn, maybe consider a 3pt finish mower for the tractor rather than a mmm or belly mower.

 

[jgoehri1]

Thanks for all the help so far. Guess I'm going to need to find me a lawn mower forum too. I ain't gonna lie to ya . . . I'm looking forward to looking at some bigger tractors!

 

[94BULLITT]

Thanks for all the help so far. Guess I'm going to need to find me a lawn mower forum too. I ain't gonna lie to ya . . . I'm looking forward to looking at some bigger tractors!

We all have lawn mowers or someway to mow so we can all recommend something. I mow with my Kubota BX. I got it to replace my Cub Cadet but I am all the time doing stuff with it. It is nice to have a smaller tractor. What ever brand tractor you decide to go with if you buy one of their mowers they may cut you a better deal.

 

[Maibox]

We also have a 43 acre parcel (in MN), with about 37-38 wooded, 2 acres around the house and the driveway and rest pasture (no flooding for us, though), 1/3 mile driveway paved. About 1/2 the woods is fairly steep. My budget was a bit higher. I went with a Kubota L3940 (delivered a few weeks ago). I wanted enough PTO power to run a 6' cutter. I added mid PTO, not for mowing but for possible snow blower at some time in the future. I got a 6' rotary cutter, grapple, and a blade. Will also be looking at a chipper and potentially a splitter. Although I have a JD 42" garden tractor from our old property, right now, I hire out the lawn mowing (really just don't have the time), but ultimately would get a zero turn to do the yard and along the driveway. The HST+ is really nice. I agree, two machines -- one for mowing, one for the rest.

 

[murphy1244]

Some smaller than others

 

[crazyal]

I have a couple of cheap (couple hundred dollar) riding movers that I use for the lawn. When I hit ledge and something breaks I just either fix it if I can for cheap or trade it in for another used rider from one of the local guys who sell used mowers. I good friend went one step further. He bought about 10 push mowers and has them connected together and set up like a giant gang that he can tow. He starts them all up and then pulls them behind his rider.

I know some people like the idea of buying a less expensive tractor and getting more attachments with the savings. For me I like to do just the opposite. I would rather invest in a larger deluxe tractor and then buy attachments as I need them. Since I plan on owning the tractor for decades I would rather get one that I really like and not worry about trading up down the road or wishing I got something different. I can always save up for an attachment.

 

[jenkinsph]

I know some people like the idea of buying a less expensive tractor and getting more attachments with the savings. For me I like to do just the opposite. I would rather invest in a larger deluxe tractor and then buy attachments as I need them. Since I plan on owning the tractor for decades I would rather get one that I really like and not worry about trading up down the road or wishing I got something different. I can always save up for an attachment.

I agree with the above, I try to get the larger purchases correct for long term use and buy the attachments as I need them.

 

[deezler]

A good friend went one step further. He bought about 10 push mowers and has them connected together and set up like a giant gang that he can tow. He starts them all up and then pulls them behind his rider.

Are you serious? What a terrible idea. You HAVE to get a picture of this hill-billy setup for us though.

Back on topic, lots of good advice so far in here. Basically the bottom line seems to be, don't limit your tractor size just so you can get a mid-mount mower. You can always (seriously, always) locally find a used riding mower in decent shape for well under $1000.

 

[bhh]

You HAVE to get a picture of this hill-billy setup for us though.

+1,000

 

[TomSeller]

Yeah, I want to see that 10 push mower hillbilly gang setup too. What does he do when one stalls? Next maybe he will attach them to a beam on his FEL and make a hedge mower?

 

[790greene]

i never said the JD was made in America. I simply stated that JD was an American company. Last time i checked they still were. why would you want to buy a tractor who's company is from Japan? all the money goes back to Japan instead of to the USA? i guess that's good if you live in Japan. maybe i should get rid of all my american things and move to japan? that doesn't sound too patriotic to me. just saying!!

Haha JD cut isn't American. Just saying. It's made in Japan at least the engine is. Not that I'm against that. It's just that everyone say JD is all American and it isn't.

 

[94BULLITT]

i never said the JD was made in America. I simply stated that JD was an American company. Last time i checked they still were. why would you want to buy a tractor who's company is from Japan? all the money goes back to Japan instead of to the USA? i guess that's good if you live in Japan. maybe i should get rid of all my american things and move to japan? that doesn't sound too patriotic to me. just saying!!

There is Kubota Manufacturing of America. Some tractors, and most loaders and attachments are made in Georgia.

 

[redfarmer]

i never said the JD was made in America. I simply stated that JD was an American company. Last time i checked they still were. why would you want to buy a tractor who's company is from Japan? all the money goes back to Japan instead of to the USA? i guess that's good if you live in Japan. maybe i should get rid of all my american things and move to japan? that doesn't sound too patriotic to me. just saying!!

I never said that you should buy Japanese. I just mentioned that your getting a Japanese made product, made by Japanese workers. And it's just a big wheel American making big dollars while many Americans are unemployed. No that's not very patriotic.

 

[DK35vince]

Another deciding factor for me was John Deere is an american company, and I am an american, so i try to support my country. REMEMBER BUY AMERICAN OR BYE AMERICA!!

You have a 790!
The 790 are made in Japan

 

[790greene]

actually my 790 wasn't made in Japan. it was made in India. the bottom line in JD is an american company regardless of where the product is made my money still comes back to America. that's why i won't purchase a toyota or honda or any other foreign vehicle. i have a hard time buying things that arent from american companies. no matter what anyone might say to convince me other wise, i'm going to continue buying from american companies. BUY AMERICAN OR BYE AMERICA!!!

You have a 790!
The 790 are made in Japan