Buying Advice First Tractor purchase advice

[fried1765]

I have a turn around driveway, and I just do a U Turn when I get to the main road. My neighbor used to pull it with his pick up, and when he came top the end, he just did a series of back up and pull aheads until he was pointed in the right direction. The drag just spins around.

I am sure the drag works for you to fill in the potholes, but you always have a completely flat driveway surface.
With a flat surface, the water cannot run off, and more soggy/muddy/puddle areas form after each rain.
Putting some gravel on that driveway, and keeping it crowned with a blade, (to enhance drainage) would work a lot better for you.
I do realize that 1/2 mile of gravel would be expensive, but perhaps a few loads each year?
I have a 2200' driveway with a nice gravel surface ( a few loads each year, over 9 years). I never have mud, and I only need to grade it twice each year.

 

[CobaltSky]

Wow. Lots to think about here. I appreciate all of the advice. While it may seem like I have a lot figured out, I think I am more confused than ever! Some say I should be good on size/power while others say I am grossly undersized. I do like the post about slowing down and analyzing my land more. I'm sure it rates as semi arid around here, and brush hogging would typically be a twice a year deal, and will mostly be native grasses and thistle or tumbleweed. Nothing too big seems to sprout up on its own here.

I'd like to have bigger lawn areas around the house, to act as a fire break and semi groomed play areas for the kids, but as yet I'm not confident on what the irrigation needs if that would be and if it would be possible to keep green.

To confuse matters more, a neighbor who has lived here a long time owns a skid steer and suggested I should get one too. Other neighbor's also have skids as well. He stated firmly that I would want something with a cab in the winter. Used skids seem to cost more than the new tractors I was looking at, and I'm comparing tractors with implements vs skids without... Plus no 0% financing option on a used skid, and I see a tractor as having a lot more utility, am I wrong?

So while I want a tractor now, for mowing these fields, and grading the drive, and March and April are typically our snowiest months here, I'm a bit paralyzed by indecision now! If I were to get a dedicated mower now instead, to mow around the house, and ride/feel the rest of the property (as the thoughtful poster on page 2 suggested) would anyone have advice on what I should look for, having seen the pictures and hearing my descriptions?

Thanks again!
Craig

 

[roadhunter]

Nothing against tractors but skid steers are simply built to a different standard for construction and rental industry than CUT's which are manufactured for "value" primarily for homeowner and hobby farm type of use. Tractors are versatile but there is a reason skid steers are so popular as well, just depends what you are doing. The really nice thing is you can go to a rental yard and get all sorts of attachments to fit a skid steer like auger, trencher, etc... for projects. Finding rental tractor attachments can be more difficult. That being said I think a tractor woudl probably be better for yoru situation. A box blade would be perfect for your driveway, adjust the side link to help put a crown in the road as you make passes each direction would work great. Bob blade also works for snow. I'd think a bucket and forks for the front and a box blade (TnT if you can afford it) on the back and you would be all set.

I think you would be better off to buy a dedicated mower. Even a budget zero turn will mo so much faster than a tractor would. For your terrain you may have to add a set of more aggressive tires but I see no reason it wouldn't' work. Even things like mowing around a tree are a piece of cake compared to using a tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

SKID STEER Vs TRACTOR from the T-B-N archive:

https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=S...:tractorbynet.com&fr=uh3_finance_web&uhb=uhb2

 

[TJP89]

Skidsteers are specific, tractors are general. You have a variety of tasks to do. You want a tractor, which will do all of them relatively well. A skidsteer will do some of them very well, not so much for the others. Technically you can do just about everything with a skidsteer, but it is all run off the loader hydraulics, and VERY expensive. There is no need for you to get a skidsteer.

 

[AxleHub]

Wow. Lots to think about here. I appreciate all of the advice. While it may seem like I have a lot figured out, I think I am more confused than ever! Some say I should be good on size/power while others say I am grossly undersized. I do like the post about slowing down and analyzing my land more. I'm sure it rates as semi arid around here, and brush hogging would typically be a twice a year deal, and will mostly be native grasses and thistle or tumbleweed. Nothing too big seems to sprout up on its own here.

I'd like to have bigger lawn areas around the house, to act as a fire break and semi groomed play areas for the kids, but as yet I'm not confident on what the irrigation needs if that would be and if it would be possible to keep green.

To confuse matters more, a neighbor who has lived here a long time owns a skid steer and suggested I should get one too. Other neighbor's also have skids as well. He stated firmly that I would want something with a cab in the winter. Used skids seem to cost more than the new tractors I was looking at, and I'm comparing tractors with implements vs skids without... Plus no 0% financing option on a used skid, and I see a tractor as having a lot more utility, am I wrong?

So while I want a tractor now, for mowing these fields, and grading the drive, and March and April are typically our snowiest months here, I'm a bit paralyzed by indecision now! If I were to get a dedicated mower now instead, to mow around the house, and ride/feel the rest of the property (as the thoughtful poster on page 2 suggested) would anyone have advice on what I should look for, having seen the pictures and hearing my descriptions?

Thanks again!
Craig

Greetings Cobalt,

One of the readons I posted the idea of walking and riding your land first . . is because you want to firm up some of YOUR ideas for the property before getting a ton of product opinions. I'm suggesying you let no one but you and your wife "decide" what you need lol.

All of us on TBN want to help . . but many of us are opinionated based on our needs and uses rather than yours. All ut takes for some us to hear "35 acres" and they are already putting you into a midsized cut. Or you mention "skid steer" and you're suddenly in the heavy duty mode . . because thats what some do . . "big is better . . More power more power" is their dedire because they bought too small for their needs and they won't make that mistake again lol.

Originally I talked about walking and riding your land SPECIFICALLY because it helps to tell you how likely your ideas are reality. Don't "wonder" about irrigation for a lawn . . shovel the ground in some spots and ser how the ground will help or hurt you.

I assumed with such a nice big house . . that family and lawn and keeping animals in or out . . would be more of a need than you perceived. Many here on TBN will tell you to have a dedicated mower . . because a bigger tractor is not a friend to lawns just as aggresdive tires aren't. But I have zero problems having a very nice but tricky lawn using my subcompact.

Its also why I cautioned not to get too directional toward Kubota . . not because they don't make some very fine product . . but because your father in law is a kubota person and you don't even know what your plans are but are already getting prices.

As I said . . TBN people want to help . . and listening is fine . . but understand your audience are often very ecperienced tractor owners who don't even remember what it felt like to be a pure newbie.

You've got a gorgeous location with lots of potential and a very nice house. You and your wife need to start planning what you want to do with thw property . . . and what is your property offering you as options.

Listen to posters . . Listen to neighbors and relatives. . but make YOUR OWN PLANS and then figure out how to finance them and what equipment would make it possible.

For what I saw of your property . . I could debate subcompact advantages . . then switch and debate compact advantages. Sometimes big is better . . sometimes its a curse.

But most importantly . . relax . . this is supposed to be fun lol.

 

[TJP89]

Greetings Cobalt,

One of the readons I posted the idea of walking and riding your land first . . is because you want to firm up some of YOUR ideas for the property before getting a ton of product opinions. I'm suggesying you let no one but you and your wife "decide" what you need lol.

All of us on TBN want to help . . but many of us are opinionated based on our needs and uses rather than yours. All ut takes for some us to hear "35 acres" and they are already putting you into a midsized cut. Or you mention "skid steer" and you're suddenly in the heavy duty mode . . because thats what some do . . "big is better . . More power more power" is their dedire because they bought too small for their needs and they won't make that mistake again lol.

Originally I talked about walking and riding your land SPECIFICALLY because it helps to tell you how likely your ideas are reality. Don't "wonder" about irrigation for a lawn . . shovel the ground in some spots and ser how the ground will help or hurt you.

I assumed with such a nice big house . . that family and lawn and keeping animals in or out . . would be more of a need than you perceived. Many here on TBN will tell you to have a dedicated mower . . because a bigger tractor is not a friend to lawns just as aggresdive tires aren't. But I have zero problems having a very nice but tricky lawn using my subcompact.

Its also why I cautioned not to get too directional toward Kubota . . not because they don't make some very fine product . . but because your father in law is a kubota person and you don't even know what your plans are but are already getting prices.

As I said . . TBN people want to help . . and listening is fine . . but understand your audience are often very ecperienced tractor owners who don't even remember what it felt like to be a pure newbie.

You've got a gorgeous location with lots of potential and a very nice house. You and your wife need to start planning what you want to do with thw property . . . and what is your property offering you as options.

Listen to posters . . Listen to neighbors and relatives. . but make YOUR OWN PLANS and then figure out how to finance them and what equipment would make it possible.

For what I saw of your property . . I could debate subcompact advantages . . then switch and debate compact advantages. Sometimes big is better . . sometimes its a curse.

But most importantly . . relax . . this is supposed to be fun lol.

I agree, don't go through with only half ideas of what you want and need. Don't rush.

 

[CobaltSky]

Axle hub, you make perfect sense to me. I did talk to the wife today about slowing down, and showed her all of these posts. We talked about looking at a dedicated mower first, and making it through the summer with just that. I *think* if I go slow I could cut the tall stuff that has grown up around the house with a dedicated riding mower, and deal with the potential snow issues for the next month and a half they way we have all winter, without a tractor.

This venture started with looking for a mower for at most a few acres around the house. But with the terrain here, that research started to steer me towards a garden tractor vs a lawn tractor, for the heavier duty aspects of a garden tractor. When I started looking at who makes the best garden tractors, I discovered the world of SCUTs that I could mount a loader on, and do more that just mow. So we started thinking how nice it would be to grade the driveway, and plow or blow the driveway. Then I started thinking that the MMM on a SCUT wouldn't handle the pasture grasses well, and it would be nice to have pallet forks and a tiller at some point to establish and maintain a garden, and small-mid sized CUT might be best.

Possibilities (and costs) escalated quickly, haha.

So now I think I am finishing myself back full circle, since most reccomendations seem to point to getting a dedicated riding mower, in addition to the tractor.

We moved in in the fall, and we have only really experienced winter here so far. It makes sense to wait see what the grounds will do in spring and summer before rusing into a purchase I may regret. i.e not enough HP, regretting not getting a cab, regretting paying for a cab, regretting not rolling a blower into the 0% financing, or regretting getting a blade over a blower, or finding out that our grass can be cut ok with a finish mower vs a rotary.

So if I return to the original plan of getting a dedicated mower (which is my most urgent need, since I currently only own a walk behind, and things will be greening up soon), I end up back where I started... I think a ZTR is out due to our terrain, which puts me back at the question: is a lawn tractor good enough for our property, or do I need a garden tractor with a differential, heavier axles and beefier construction with bigger tires?

If the answer points toward garden tractor or even commercial grade mower for our property around the house, a diesel SCUT with a MMM isn't that far of a stretch financially, and would provide more utility. And I end up chasing my tail again!

If a lighter duty mid-grade lawn tractor is going to be good enough to mow here (say under $2500), the decision is a lot easier.

(I am having fun trying to figure this out, even though it is frustratingly confusing. I can't express how much I appreciate those that have contributed to the discussion.)

So I appreciate any suggestions for dedicated mower models to look at

 

[nvmyhd]

Hello neighbor,
I'm next door in Calhan on 37 acres.
I bought a LS4046HC for what I do and it seams a lot like what I use mine for is what you want to do with your lot.
The snow is not an issue a whole lot unless your drive way is next to a tree line or fence and the snow drops, placement of a snow fence is critical. I spent two 2-3 hours seasons in the seat the last time we got snow and a majority of my drive was clear.
For around the house you will want a riding mower(I'm still using a push), for the larger areas zero turn will be rough, a 3pt finish or bush hog will work better.
The cab would be something I would not want to give up, in the winter and the summer, the dust when mowing will be killer in a open station, not to mention the UV here. Sun burns are quick to come by.
Driveway maintenance will be easier with a drag/land plane. I bought mine from the previews owner but other than that all I had was the FEL & box blade, I've been borrowing a 6' mower and just bought one two weeks ago.

If you plan on mowing the whole property 5' will take a long time, I have a hard enough time with a 6'

I'd recommend a tractor with a turbo for our elevation, taker a look at LS also. Not a lot of choices here Mahindra, LS, Kubota, JD. I can speak for current Mahindra dealer but the previous owner sold trailers next to Big R and did not care to do much with them and the franchise has now moved/sold to a new dealer in the Springs. There are 2 Kubota dealers within the same distance. The LS dealer in Penrose was who I bought from and have been happy.
Feel free to contact me.

 

[CobaltSky]

Hey neighbor! Awesome to get some local perspective. That father-in-law I mentioned lives in Calhan (on 160ac). He has an M5040.

I need to get some snow fence up and get it placed accurately. The high point of our property is the northern lot line, and the driveway cuts from there, south and then SE down to the house. It drifts and packs with snow currently. The ideal place for snow fence is north of our lot line on undeveloped property unfortunately and that neighbor is roumered to be uncooperative. I may place snow fence in a few areas along the northern lot line, leaving a gap for the driveway, to keep some of the snow from settling further down, and then strategically place some further south to make the snow settle further from the house than it does. With north wind blizzards and a N/S driveway, I'm not super confident I can protect it well.

I see a Kioti dealer in Penrose as well as Lake George, as well as the ones you mentioned. I may hit the lone JD dealer in the Springs today and look primarily at mowers. Looks like their x300 series might be ok.
Your thoughts on a cab mirror those of my neighbor here. Calhan may be the only place in the area that gets as much wind as we do, but I know for sure we get more snow here from the Palmer divide effect. I still have areas of snow on the ground here from that early February storm. Interesting advice on a turbo. I don't know enough about it, but I thought regular diesel would be ok at this altitude? (we are at 7300ft, near the county line).

Your soil is almost assuredly similar to mine. Any problems growing lawn? My in-laws have a big free range chicken operation so they don't have a lawn at all, it is hen scratched dirt, with abundant natural fertilizer.

 

[jeff9366]

So I appreciate any suggestions for dedicated mower models to look at

Do not go off topic in your own thread!

Instead, initiate a dedicated mower thread or search the T-B-N archive.

 

[AxleHub]

Cobaltsky,

If you recall in my 1st post I suggested a bunch of things to do about your land. I mentioned that I had done each and every one of those things myself. But what I didn't tell you is how I cleared 4 to 5 foot grass and burr brush and weed whipped and cut saplings with little equipment and a bunch of sweat. I stepped in chuck holes and slipped on hidden small swales and land tapers hidden in the tall tall tall grass. Then I took an old rider and started discovering the uneveness areas and any cans and rocks etc.. and I cut and thought all the time as I rode for a few weeks cutting to get my butt knowing where the contours were so I could plan where a house could fit the land.

Now I'm not advocating suffering . . But going out and buying a dedicated mower isn't it either. Your place is in far far better situation than what I dealt with. But the concept holds imo . . you could rent a dr brush cutter if needed to clear a couple acres. Cut a circle around your house of 300 or 400 feet in radius with the unit and then another one at 200 feet radius and then 100 foot radius and then start working out from the center clearing brush and tall grass (your pictures look like it would be very easy. Let your wife see the circles and as you start clearing close in. Get her opinions and input. 35 acreas is a good sized piece and 2 acres or so isn't a great amount of lawn when it surrounds a big house.

Then buy a cheap used rider and cut the area you and your wife think seems about right . Let your butt feel your land. Speed of cut is not the issue. You want to learn how big and how bad is the land at 3 inches tall.

Why don't I recommend buying a new 2500 dedicated rider ? Because you don't know yet what your land will tell you and what your wufe will say when she sees it cut to 3 inch height. Maybe you'll decide to get a subcompact with a mmm or a rear finish mower. Maybe you'll want to do some big ambitious projects and you'll want a small or mid sized cut. Maybe you won't want to take up storage space with multiple units when one will do it.

You mentioned getting a dedicated mower because most posters agreed on that. Still not getting the flavor of what I'm saying. Don't let me or anyone else on tbn make the decision for you.

Quick example. Smart person on TBN bought a $ 30,000 unit (tractor and some implements). It was a mid sized cut. He bought the size because he wanted to make sure it was going to be big enough. Then he had problems with it (it was brand new). Spent more time at the dealer's over a year than at his place. He was reading some of my search and find efforts and reasining about my Massey subcompact and its hidden abilities or features. He went out and lookedvat one, tested it and bought one and is working on the dealer taking back his big unit as a lemon

He tells me he can do more with the subcompact than he ever thought possible and more than he could do with his midsized cut. The point of the example isn't about me . . Its about putting poster's opinion in perspective.

My advice is still not brand choices . . Its about letting the land you have give up its secrets over the next weeks. Let your wife see (see) what a lawn size might be. See and feel your property's peculiarities and how you can shape them into your dreams . . once you know what your dreams are.

If you have a couple trail cams . . Put them out and see what kind of critter visitors you get at night. Fun is not something to be hurried. Its greening up? Great lol. That isn't a reason to hurry . . didn't you say it hasn't been cared for in 2 years?

 

[brasco426]

Axelhub has great advice bud. I personally looked at my own situation since last June about how to address most if not all of the challenges my property has. I went back and forth again and again. SCUT, CUT..........JD, Kubota, NH, Kioti, Branson LS, Mahindra. After enough time deciding all the jobs it will needed to be able to do, then matching the machine was much easier. Bigger was not better in my own situation. Some advice if you plan on finish mowing is weight, again bigger is not always better. Good Luck

 

[AxleHub]

Axelhub has great advice bud. I personally looked at my own situation since last June about how to address most if not all of the challenges my property has. I went back and forth again and again. SCUT, CUT..........JD, Kubota, NH, Kioti, Branson LS, Mahindra. After enough time deciding all the jobs it will needed to be able to do, then matching the machine was much easier. Bigger was not better in my own situation. Some advice if you plan on finish mowing is weight, again bigger is not always better. Good Luck

I get a generous quantity of people disagreeing with me about the "get bigger" concept . . its nice to hear I'm not always wrong lol

 

[brasco426]

I get a generous quantity of people disagreeing with me about the "get bigger" concept . . its nice to hear I'm not always wrong lol

Well everyone has an opinion lol. My tractor needed to finish mow as well and not tear up my lawn, so for me too much weight was an issue. I also didn't bother with loaded tires, as a ballast box is removable. I needed a loader too for moving gravel, dirt, manure, snow, and whatever else comes my way. Lastly to round it out we got a box blade with more stuff in the future. For now it meets and exceeds my expectations, I'm getting stuff done that I never could with my back, a shovel, and wheel barrel. To be honest I enjoy being out on my machine, I spent close to six months tryin to find my fit. A SCUT for us is plenty capable of what it needs to do. We have our 3 acres some of it wooded mostly grass, and my in laws up the street. My in laws have roughly the same and we also have horses up there. They are getting older and I need to be able to do more on my own. Between the 2 properties there's plenty of mowing, moving manure, grading, etc. Like you said and we both agree Bigger isn't always better. A smaller and in some cases more practical fit is better, believe me I looked at bigger lol. For what we need it to do a SCUT fit us just fine, and so far it's fitting in perfectly

 

[DK35vince]

Well everyone has an opinion lol. My tractor needed to finish mow as well and not tear up my lawn, so for me too much weight was an issue. I also didn't bother with loaded tires, as a ballast box is removable. I needed a loader too for moving gravel, dirt, manure, snow, and whatever else comes my way. Lastly to round it out we got a box blade with more stuff in the future. For now it meets and exceeds my expectations, I'm getting stuff done that I never could with my back, a shovel, and wheel barrel. To be honest I enjoy being out on my machine, I spent close to six months tryin to find my fit. A SCUT for us is plenty capable of what it needs to do. We have our 3 acres some of it wooded mostly grass, and my in laws up the street. My in laws have roughly the same and we also have horses up there. They are getting older and I need to be able to do more on my own. Between the 2 properties there's plenty of mowing, moving manure, grading, etc. Like you said and we both agree Bigger isn't always better. A smaller and in some cases more practical fit is better, believe me I looked at bigger lol. For what we need it to do a SCUT fit us just fine, and so far it's fitting in perfectly

The issue here is the OP has 35 acres vs 3.
Personally for 35 acres I would want 35-45 HP.
I have a 35 HP tractor for 15 acres and wouldn't want any less.
I also use my 35 HP tractor with loaded rear tires and an 84" rear finish mower to mow the lawn and it does a nice job mowing.

 

[brasco426]

The issue here is the OP has 35 acres vs 3.
Personally for 35 acres I would want 35-45 HP.
I have a 35 HP tractor for 15 acres and wouldn't want any less.
I also mow my lawn with the 35 HP tractor with loaded rear tires and an 84" rear finish mower and it does a nice job mowing the lawn.

Between the two we have six, not the point. He can buy a 100 horse tractor, however it wouldn't be practical. Just tryin to offer advice.

 

[murphy1244]

Do not go off topic in your own thread!

Instead, initiate a dedicated mower thread or search the T-B-N archive.

He can do what he wants with his thread.

 

[airbiscuit]

I am sure the drag works for you to fill in the potholes, but you always have a completely flat driveway surface.
With a flat surface, the water cannot run off, and more soggy/muddy/puddle areas form after each rain.
Putting some gravel on that driveway, and keeping it crowned with a blade, (to enhance drainage) would work a lot better for you.
I do realize that 1/2 mile of gravel would be expensive, but perhaps a few loads each year?
I have a 2200' driveway with a nice gravel surface ( a few loads each year, over 9 years). I never have mud, and I only need to grade it twice each year.

The drag actually maintains the crown pretty well. If you look at the pictures or video, you can see that there is a guide wheel that slightly elevates the left side of the drag, and that keeps a crown in the center of the road. It leaves a very smooth surface. That said, I have also attached a picture of my (old) secret weapon for establishing crowns and road contours. Those old pony graders are awesome!

I have been adding gravel to the road over the years, and that really helps. I have also been eliminating any place where water could pool (puddles), and making diversion ditches on hills to slow the velocity of water running along the side of the road during down pours. Good drainage makes for good roads. Easier to keep it up (the drag), than let things go and do bigger repairs. I hope that more fully explains.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URHteVfiYDI

 

[AxleHub]

The issue here is the OP has 35 acres vs 3.
Personally for 35 acres I would want 35-45 HP.
I have a 35 HP tractor for 15 acres and wouldn't want any less.
I also use my 35 HP tractor with loaded rear tires and an 84" rear finish mower to mow the lawn and it does a nice job mowing.

Greetings Vince,

If the property was in Wisconsin or Tennessee or the Carolinas . . I could see where a cut might be needed especially if therevwas woods involved. But I'm sure you saw his 8 pictures as I did . . and his pictures and seeing his original description tells us a ton of info:

A. He has no woods to speak of.
B. He told us the property has not been maintained for 2 (two) years
C. It is an arid area
D. This is Colorado . . a state of frequent rock and shale and numerous sections of higher altitude dryness
E. The pictures show virtually no tall grass or stray brush . . even after 2 years of no maintenance . . . There isn't much wild growth
F. The driveway is flat and straight and less of an issue than many streets in cities. No steepness to the slopes in general, wide open and easy access for clearing.
G. Pictures show easy slopes and open but attractive terrain.

For all these and more reasons my 4 acres is more challenging than this 35 acres from the pictures we see. Its pretty country but certainly not difficult country. And 3rd party cabs are available for any size scut or cut starting at 600 to 800 ranges.

His need to cut/mow the areas that are not irrigated . . Are 2 times a year by his own words and based on the pictures left unmaintained for 2 years . . I'd think 1 time a year might be enough for their needs . .
so most of his land is very easily maintained by anything on 4 wheels and a cutting mechanism.

My point is . . I don't see any cues that tells me that automatically they need 35 to 45 hp as a minimum. 35 acres of arid land is often less work than 1 or 2 acres of lush land. I didn't see any cues in his descriptions that describe projects of exceptional size.

What do you see that "automatically requires 35 to 45 hp ? Surely the driveway can't be the justification. They don't get lake effects and a pickup truck plow could do it easily much less a scut or even a utv/atv. But I'm certainly open to what you see that I missed . . Thanks.