I'm looking to purchase my first tractor in the next few months. I'm building a timber frame barn on about 10 acres of land in western New York (apple country). I know almost nothing about tractors and hope to get educated by reading the reviews and posts on TBN. This community was recommended to me by a friend. I am looking for a small tractor with a loader and back-hoe - probably used, but may go new if there's a good financing deal.
Hello - Looking for my first tractor
- Thread starter HECTOP
- Start date
- Views: 1733
Welcome to TBN. 
DAY
Platinum Member
When you buy a new car, you take it for a test drive. If you are not familiar about a "type" of car (15 passenger van, sports car), you rent one for the weekend, put a few hundred miles on it.
Nothing substitutes for "seat time".
Nothing substitutes for "seat time".
Briana03
Elite Member
Hello & WELCOME to TBN!
I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons Forum.
I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons Forum.
TripleR
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 18,084
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
DAY has given you some very good advice. If you know nothing to little about tractors, I would rent one of any size with which you are comfortable and spend some time working it so you will have a baseline for comparison. Driving one around on the parking lot is better than nothing, but you really need to spend some real time on one doing the type of work on which you plan.
With your baseline foundation set, you will have a much better idea of what you really need. One one occasion I bought a smaller tractor than I originally thought I needed and on another I went bigger. Even with experience, it is often hard to pick just the right one.
With your baseline foundation set, you will have a much better idea of what you really need. One one occasion I bought a smaller tractor than I originally thought I needed and on another I went bigger. Even with experience, it is often hard to pick just the right one.
idaho2
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2009
- Messages
- 422
- Location
- SW WA / North Idaho
- Tractor
- Mahindra 5530 4WD Turbo - Gear,
HECTOP,
What implements/attachments would you be eventually using on the land. Let that also be part of your decision making process. Most often that will dictate the pto hp minimum you'll need when using the pto. Also the hydraulic remotes, minimum of two. This is just a start, do the research. Don't be in a hurry, the more you read and compare the right choice will be made by you.
idaho2
What implements/attachments would you be eventually using on the land. Let that also be part of your decision making process. Most often that will dictate the pto hp minimum you'll need when using the pto. Also the hydraulic remotes, minimum of two. This is just a start, do the research. Don't be in a hurry, the more you read and compare the right choice will be made by you.
idaho2
Folks are always reluctant to give specifics on questions like this, so I will give you some for a change. A quick look at # of posts on this site will show you that when it comes to tractors, there is a "Big 2" (Kubota and John Deere). If you stick with those brands, you can be sure of good quality and resale value (otherwise there wouldnt be so many of them out there now would there). You will also have little trouble locating a nearby dealer or parts support. When it comes to cost, my experience (43 hp JD 4120 / Kubota GL 4330) was that they were about the same with the Kubota coming in a little pricier but that was 6 years ago and things may have changed somewhat. With 10 acres, you are probably looking at smaller models (30 hp range) and Kubota may have the edge there. If you are looking to save a few more dollars, at some risk when it comes to parts support and resale, etc, you may want to consider Kioti. I have yet to hear many negatives about that brand or the rebadged "bobcat" versions. As long as you have a Kioti or Bobcat dealer nearby, that would be a decent place to start your shopping. Then you can go to the other "orange" and the green for comparison. Certainly dont even look at 2wd tractors if you want a loader, especially used ones as they have big-time traction issues. I am also in upstate NY and I have been able to finish my spring planting an average of 1 month earlier in the 6 years since getting 4wd (helps a ton with the mud). Good luck shopping.
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flusher
Super Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
- Messages
- 7,555
- Location
- Sacramento
- Tractor
- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
Sit down and carefully figure out the projects you want to use your tractor for in the next 5 years.
Then determine which implements you will need for this work.
Then figure out which implement is the one that sizes your tractor. It may be the capacity of the FEL bucket. Or maybe the maximum pto horsepower needed for your most power-hungry implement. Or it may be the size of some kind of mower you're eyeballing.
THEN you will be in a position to test drive tractors.
