Help a future small farmer out with first Tractor purchase

[jaybrad]

This will echo what many others have suggested, but I think a SCUT can comfortably do everything you want, and be easier to operate in tight areas and to garage.

I wanted a TLB and considered the Kubota BX24, JD 2305, and Massey Ferguson 2310 - and bought the latter. (the 2310 has been replaced by the 2410, but the specs are very similar, if not identical).

My 2310 is rated for 22.5 engine hp at 2600 RPM (others rate machines at different speeds) and it puts out 18.7 hp to the PTO. I run a 3PH chipper (~ 4"), the FEL, and the BH with ease. It is quiet, powerful, and stingy with diesel fuel, too.

I use mine in lots of tight areas and really appreciate the SCUT size, plus I can drive into my garage without having to lower the ROPS.

At the end of every day, I am 100% pleased with my decision to buy this machine - and am actually looking forward to winter, when I will clear the driveway with a 54" rear mount snowblower.

Good luck with your decision - there are lots of great machines in this category. The final factor for me was the dealer. I plan to have this machine for a very long time, and wanted to be sure the dealer was the right one (and so far, they have been).

Jay

 

[schmism]

i bought my TC33 with loader and MMM for 16K used with 300 hrs... 2001

Ive seen others of various brands and hrs of roughly the same age going for 15K.....

I wouldnt want anything less than a 30hp CUT. 4x4 is required in my area for the wet months around my place, and for FEL use.

Ive got another 1K tied up in used implments bought off of Craigslist. (not including the new 5' tiller) For my small-meadum size garden could still be done fairly easly with a walk behind tiller. but for anything larger youll want the tiller on the back of the tractor.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Hi guys,

Been learning a lot on these forums for a while now just from reading but its finally time for a post. I'm hoping to own a tractor by this spring.

Here are the details:

3 flat acres in eastern CT:
All dry during the summer. Late fall/winter/spring probably 1/2 acre gets pretty spongy. 1.5 acres cleared, 1.5 second-growth woods, very dense growth (tons of trees less than 8" , bushes and tons of brush). This all used to be some kind of grazing pasture 30-40 years ago i think. There is also a flat 4 acre wooded lot next door that I would love to own someday but thats a long ways of, if ever.

My goals for the land:
End up with 2.5 acres of cleared organic fields for vegatables/fruit/small animals/whatever-the-future-holds
1/2 acre for lawn, house (18 years old), pool someday
keep my 500' (100 feet paved, 400' gravel) driveway plowed and rut free
I want this land to provide as much food as possible for my family and hopefully someday allow me to earn some income as a market gardener.

Implements/features I think i will need:
Loader (with toothbar!)
backhoe (stumps, trenching, anywhere that I am swinging that pick ax now)
4" PTO chipper
tiller (what I plan on upkeeping my fields with once established, not quite sure on what implements are needed to get there, see below)
BB for the driveway
bushhog
snowplow (lowest priority)
will NOT need a mower as I already own a little JD lawn tractor and im not planning on having much lawn to mow since grass doesnt taste very good
HST
4wd i know i will regret not having on the rare occasions i get stuck

Questions
I'm open to all suggestions and welcome any discussion. Here are my specific questions right now. I'll start with the one that I know is tough to answer.

1. Is a SCUT going to be big enough? If they saying that it can do anything the bigger boys can just slower, then im pretty sure it will suit me just fine. Any thing that can dig and move dirt faster than a shovel/wheelbarrow is probably going to blow me away. Is there anything a SCUT is just not going to be able to handle at all?
2. What implement(s) will I need to get all the roots/rocks out of the woods once I clear the trees and dig the stumps with the hoe?
3. New vs used. I've seen mention of new BX24s on hear for $15,500 with no deck. 16K is probably my budget ceiling for the TLB combo. I've also seen low hours B series TLBs for the same price or lower. This is where I start getting really conflicted. I'm not opposed to used at all but for a first timer with little mechanical experience a warranty may prove cheaper in the long run. But I also recognize the risk in buying undersized and then having to trade up later and eat the costs. I saw an ad a few months back for a ~1000 hour B21 with almost every implement I listed above for 16K, im guessing finding another one of those is going to be cheapest way for me to go in long run
4. What kind of tires do you recommend for me, not planning on mowing at all

I'm not leaning towards any brand right now, all the major ones have dealers in my area and I plan on checking them all out.

Thanks a lot guys!

Brian

When you start talking about going in the woods to work, I think you are going to need the extra ground clearance of a small compact. The subs will get hung up on debris on the woods to easily. The Mahindra 2015, that was mentioned earlier, would come very close to your price limit, and it is a very reliable, as it is manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan. You should give it a look.

 

[jaybrad]

When you start talking about going in the woods to work, I think you are going to need the extra ground clearance of a small compact. The subs will get hung up on debris on the woods to easily.

This is a good point, and is exactly why one neighbor when with a Compact Kubota; however, I have found the maneuverability of my SCUT Massey to be more than adequate so far. I'm clearing the path as I go in, and haven't had any problems (yet ).

The more I look at the different brands and talk with their owners, the more I'm convinced the net difference is not all that much. They all seem to have similar features, quality, and pricing. The tipping point for me was the comfort level with the dealer. At some point you will need them - whether for a question, parts, or service - and having a good dealer makes all the difference.

JMHO,

Jay

 

[bswampy]

When you start talking about going in the woods to work, I think you are going to need the extra ground clearance of a small compact. The subs will get hung up on debris on the woods to easily. The Mahindra 2015, that was mentioned earlier, would come very close to your price limit, and it is a very reliable, as it is manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan. You should give it a look.

I'm certainly interested in Mahindra, but the 2015 with FEL/BH comes to almost 21K MSRP w/ HST 19.5 K w/o. Is tractor MSRP like car MSRP, meaning lots of room for negotiating down?

 

[greggh]

I'm certainly interested in Mahindra, but the 2015 with FEL/BH comes to almost 21K MSRP w/ HST 19.5 K w/o. Is tractor MSRP like car MSRP, meaning lots of room for negotiating down?

I don't know if there is lots of room, but there is room never the less. I have seen where some people have posted they purchased their tractor at 15 -20% off. I purchased a $26,000 to $27,000 tractor for $23,600.

 

[Soundguy]

Check what other farms in the same size range are using. Check with dealers... perhaps something in the kubota BX or CNh TZ series may do ya.. or step up to the slightly larger frame model.. but still small-ish.. like a tc series.. something in the low 20's hp range.. etc.

soundguy

Hi guys,

Been learning a lot on these forums for a while now just from reading but its finally time for a post. I'm hoping to own a tractor by this spring.

Here are the details:

3 flat acres in eastern CT:
All dry during the summer. Late fall/winter/spring probably 1/2 acre gets pretty spongy. 1.5 acres cleared, 1.5 second-growth woods, very dense growth (tons of trees less than 8" , bushes and tons of brush). This all used to be some kind of grazing pasture 30-40 years ago i think. There is also a flat 4 acre wooded lot next door that I would love to own someday but thats a long ways of, if ever.

My goals for the land:
End up with 2.5 acres of cleared organic fields for vegatables/fruit/small animals/whatever-the-future-holds
1/2 acre for lawn, house (18 years old), pool someday
keep my 500' (100 feet paved, 400' gravel) driveway plowed and rut free
I want this land to provide as much food as possible for my family and hopefully someday allow me to earn some income as a market gardener.

Implements/features I think i will need:
Loader (with toothbar!)
backhoe (stumps, trenching, anywhere that I am swinging that pick ax now)
4" PTO chipper
tiller (what I plan on upkeeping my fields with once established, not quite sure on what implements are needed to get there, see below)
BB for the driveway
bushhog
snowplow (lowest priority)
will NOT need a mower as I already own a little JD lawn tractor and im not planning on having much lawn to mow since grass doesnt taste very good
HST
4wd i know i will regret not having on the rare occasions i get stuck

Questions
I'm open to all suggestions and welcome any discussion. Here are my specific questions right now. I'll start with the one that I know is tough to answer.

1. Is a SCUT going to be big enough? If they saying that it can do anything the bigger boys can just slower, then im pretty sure it will suit me just fine. Any thing that can dig and move dirt faster than a shovel/wheelbarrow is probably going to blow me away. Is there anything a SCUT is just not going to be able to handle at all?
2. What implement(s) will I need to get all the roots/rocks out of the woods once I clear the trees and dig the stumps with the hoe?
3. New vs used. I've seen mention of new BX24s on hear for $15,500 with no deck. 16K is probably my budget ceiling for the TLB combo. I've also seen low hours B series TLBs for the same price or lower. This is where I start getting really conflicted. I'm not opposed to used at all but for a first timer with little mechanical experience a warranty may prove cheaper in the long run. But I also recognize the risk in buying undersized and then having to trade up later and eat the costs. I saw an ad a few months back for a ~1000 hour B21 with almost every implement I listed above for 16K, im guessing finding another one of those is going to be cheapest way for me to go in long run
4. What kind of tires do you recommend for me, not planning on mowing at all

I'm not leaning towards any brand right now, all the major ones have dealers in my area and I plan on checking them all out.

Thanks a lot guys!

Brian

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

I'm certainly interested in Mahindra, but the 2015 with FEL/BH comes to almost 21K MSRP w/ HST 19.5 K w/o. Is tractor MSRP like car MSRP, meaning lots of room for negotiating down?

Brian,
You need to talk to a dealer to see where the pricing is in your area, or even check the brand specific forums here on TBN, to find the going price in your area.

 

[AndyMA]

It is not that kind of 4WD. I've done crazy things with 4WD in pickups and landcruisers. 4WD in smaller tractors is just a little assist and, frankly, is much more valuable for engine braking through all 4 tires via the HST than for traction. Some of the larger tractors have "real" 4WD but not the SCUTs and not some of the CUTs.

I've been learning this the hard way for the last few weeks with all this rain we've had in New England. A reasonably dry area zoned as wetlands meadows on my property has been a wet swampy mess and I had the notion to try to get in and out with 4WD and rear diff lock. FEL, BH and lots of rocks and brush under the tires got me out. Lesson learned.

While it may not be true 4WD it is definately a major asset for many jobs. I barely run my machines off road not in 4 WD. I would not buy a non 4 WD tractor except perhaps for mowing and wagon pulling. It is a major asset when tilling, and for loader work.

I think a SCUT is too small for what you are proposing. One of the reasons you are hearing about the above mentioned problems is the lack of ground clearance and short wheelbase. A CUT will probably be at about the same cost. Go R1''s for your proposed work.

Where are you located in eastern Conn, I grew up on a nursery in Windham, now have farms in Woodstock, Eastford and North Haven. Am I anywhere close to you. Perhaps I could recommend dealers that I think could fit you into something near your budget. Perhaps you should try John or Harold at Foskett equipment in Woodstock. They sell several lines of machines and implements (not big 3) that do very well.

PM me if you'd like further info.

Andy

 

[plowking]

I had the subcompact 2310 and now have a compact 1531. The 2310 would do small stumps but I could pickup the loader if I pulled to hard with the backhoe. It would get stuck easily in snow if I had to much snow built up under frame. Chains did help a lot. Tires weren't loaded. The 1531 is 2000lbs. heavier,the backhoe has same reach[ larger bucket] but this one has two pistons for swing,helps when maneuvering the hoe and pulling dirt back in to backfill. The 1531 I had the rear tires loaded .more ground clearance and the HST has more speeds,a low gear the 2310 doesn't have and more speeds. It does cost more then price you mentioned but it is quicker when some of my smaller jobs turned into big jobs. Good thing about the 2310 is the reverse mounted engine, radiator keeps heat away from you,my 1531 blows heat at you and it gets you real warm if you use it for long periods of time. Good Luck on you choice of machine. plowking