Do I Need A Tractor?

[Dynasty]

Hey everyone,

I purchased 6 acres to build a house on. I am seeking recommendations on what equipment is best suited for my needs.

I will need equipment to mow, snowplow, and haul stuff around the property.

I have considered the following equipment:

Tractor - can mow, snowplow, and haul

Pick up truck - can snowplow and haul. Can't mow

ATV - can mow, snowplow, and haul but will be limited in each job

Zero turn mower - can mow. Can't snowplow or haul.

The lot is about 275' wide by 950' deep. Mostly flat, but some rolling elevation changes. No trees. Was used as farmland for decades. Nothing that will require mowing on steep hillsides.

The home will mostly likely sit 350' from the road. I plan on mowing all of the front yard, so 275' wide by 350' deep. I will let some of the back yard grow naturally, but will probably have an additional 200' - 300' to mow.

I also plan to clear snow from the 350' gravel driveway with the tractor. Ohio can have some nasty winters (although this one has been very mild with barely any snowfall), so I assume 4WD will be required.

Aside from mowing and snowplowing, general hauling of items around the property will occur. A utility trailer of some sort will be attached to haul various things around. I am unsure of the size, but I can't image anything bigger than 6x12.

With a budget of 10k, what is the optimal choice to make in equipment choice(s)? I am only interested in used equipment to get the most bang for the buck.

I am open to any brands and color. I am seeking specific makes and models recommendations.

Thank you for your input!

 

[Woody65]

Congrats on the land purchase. With those tasks and your 10k budget, I am assuming the 10k includes implements to accomplish your tasks, I would be looking at a used B series Kubota with an FEL in the 25-35hp range. You can run a 4 or 5’ mower on the 3pt and use the FEL to move stuff around and snow removal. The FEL isn’t ideal for snow removal but used plow setups for tractors are hard to come by. New ones are costly.

 

[Dynasty]

Add your LOCATION to your T-B-N PROFILE.

We will understand your conditions much better.

Added, sorry about that.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

With that much mowing you probably need a ZTR mower also. A tractor is awkward and relatively slow for a lawn mower, and can do damage to a lawn, especially when it's wet.

 

[Eddie1955]

I bought a 1981 Kubota B6200 2WD with 3point finish mower to mainly to use as a mower but have several other implements. I think it is 18hp, i doubt it would even handle a FEL but is very useful for mowing, pulling a trailer to haul things around, turf tires work well unless the ground is really wet. I have 2.5 acres here in Florida to tend. I am waiting arrival of a new TYM T234 with mid mower, FEL and loader with Ag tires. Not too big or small since I am mowing around a bunch of large oaks. I would suggest a 23-25 hp used tractor with FEL, have tires filled if they are not already filled and check as much as you know how to on the mechanicals or take someone with you to do an inspection. No doubt you can find what you need for 10k or under but lending agencies are not too fond of making loans on new tractors. My new one with financing aws a little over 15k, 60 months @ 294, I chose to go new with 6yr warranty. Good luck

 

[Diggin It]

Your location is not necessary and won't help anyone here give you any better information.

A 10K budget will limit you to used for the most part. Even a garden tractor like a JD X500 or X700 will seriously ding that budget if you go new. Something like that with a belly mower will do most of what you need with little trouble. Plows, tillers, rear blades and other implements are available for most garden tractors of that size from various brands. If you're at all handy, used won't be too much of an issue.

 

[JasperFrank]

Ford/ NewHolland 1220 with a FEL, Front End Loader. I'm sort of biased. When one says "haul," that can mean a few different things. Haul is something you tow or move long distances. "Move," is a shorter distance but just as important. I have material "hauled" up to my place. I can then "Move" materials about using the FEL. In a new home construction project, if you are at all doing some of it your self, a used 10K, 14HP or so, FWD compact tractor will pay for its self. I've found that I can remove snow effectively with the FEL.

 

[Jstpssng]

If you have to ask then "Yes, you do need a tractor." This is a tractor site, after all.
On the other hand since you aren't sure, you have time to look around, ask questions, and ultimately find what best suits your budget and needs. You have come to the right place to find people who will help you make the right choices.

PS; Welcome to TBN. :welcome: :thumbsup:

 

[MaineGuy1]

Every man should have a tractor

You could purchase a nice Kubota BX25d that has a backhoe for around that price. I have a 2013 with about 185hrs on it I'm guessing is worth about 12 or 13k, so I'm sure if you looked hard enough you can find something like that.

 

[Geotech]

You dont need a tractor but any small one would work. If you get one without an FEL it will likely end up being a glorified lawn mower.

 

[4570Man]

If you’re building a house I don’t know how you can survive without a pickup truck. Depending what you already drive you might get by with just the trailer and not have to spend a good portion of of your budget on the truck. Your budget is pretty limiting but a backhoe will pay for itself if you’re building a house. I’ve been browsing the used TLB market because I’m hoping to trade my L3800 for a L39 or L45. I’ve found the older L35 Kubota series to be not far out of your budget. If the 10k budget is set in stone and you need to acquire all of those implements with that budget I see little options besides buying an old 2wd tractor or buying a well used B series Kubota or equipment. The B series Kubota is pretty small but it’s likely to require less wrenching than the old 2wd tractor.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would get a truck first and then either a sub compact tractor with a loader or a good quality ZTR(6 acres is a lot).

 

[Tractorable]

What kind of vehicle do you currently drive? Can it tow a utility trailer? If so you may be able to get by without a truck for a while.

 

[4570Man]

Here’s a tractor I just saw. I don’t have any idea what that tractor is worth but it’s not everyday you see a 60 hp 4x4 tractor with a loader for that price. Of course the possibility of a scam exist but I don’t see many as in 1 to date scams on Facebook.

 

[shooterdon]

No, you do not need a tractor. A beater pickup with a plow will cost you about $3500. I have one. It will address your snow issue and haul stuff. It is far superior to a tractor at dealing with snow...faster, heated cab, and a second vehicle. Budget $500 for repairs if you are handy....$1000 if you need to take it in for work. I have had my plow truck (2001 Ram 1500 with Western plow) for four years and those are my costs.

Add a zero turn for mowing and you will be under $10k. It will be about twice as fast as a tractor....especially if you have trees and such to deal with.

You will have a challenge getting a good tractor with a blower at your budget. A FEL is not the best way to deal with snow on a long driveway. And working in the cold without a cab is not pleasant. The pickup truck will handle a driveway about twice as fast as using a blower.

 

[4570Man]

No, you do not need a tractor. A beater pickup with a plow will cost you about $3500. I have one. It will address your snow issue and haul stuff. It is far superior to a tractor at dealing with snow...faster, heated cab, and a second vehicle. Budget $500 for repairs if you are handy....$1000 if you need to take it in for work. I have had my plow truck (2001 Ram 1500 with Western plow) for four years and those are my costs.

Add a zero turn for mowing and you will be under $10k. It will be about twice as fast as a tractor....especially if you have trees and such to deal with.

You will have a challenge getting a good tractor with a blower at your budget. A FEL is not the best way to deal with snow on a long driveway. And working in the cold without a cab is not pleasant. The pickup truck will handle a driveway about twice as fast as using a blower.

He didn’t specify what amount of work he intended to do himself but a tractor is a real money saver while building a house.

 

[Thomas]

I agree with MESSMAKER.

 

[Guidshir]

I agree with messmaker and shooterdon. 10k is a reasonable limit for a tractor, but implements are expensive new or mostly junk used.

A tractor is something you will use if you have it, there is no question there. A truck to haul/plow in any weather can be had very cheap. You could even skip the ZTR (if you had to) and go with something cheaper/slower temporarily (for money purposes).

Again, that is all assuming you're not building your own house. If you are then the utility of the tractor might go way up and you would have to consider the cost of the tractor and implements against the cost of hiring someone to do those things.

 

[djefferis]

10k budget - you 田an accomplish all task via used pickup, ATV with plow, used 8N and a quality lawn tractor/mower or zero turn.

Plenty of good used trucks in the 3500 range
Ditto used ATV at 2500 price point plenty with winch/plow - 500s will be plentiful- even a few 660s/700s.
8N/Jubilee at 1500 with 3 point blade
Leaves 2500 for a used mower.

Storage is going to be the only issue with all that stuff.

Start here and as your budget exands and you learn what you use most - upgrade what is needed most first. Obviously a 50 year old tractor isn稚 a long term solution- but it will do tractor things without killing the budget. ATV are useful, but limited in my opinion. Trucks have infinite uses - but buying one for plow duty 3 months of the year is not a great idea...easier to plow with a tractor to me just doing one drive.

 

[dodge man]

I’d go with a used subcompact or compact tractor. I’d go with a mid mount mower and a FEL and rear blade. 15k budget would get you a lightly used one, 10k is going to be well used. A tractor is not great at any of the tasks listed , for example a zero turn mower is better for mowing, but it is good for all of them. It will cover all the bases.