Help deciding on tractor purchase

Charlton John · Jun 19, 2008

Hello to All, I am a new member as of this morning to the forumn and am seeking your advise. I currently own a New Holland TZ25DA sub compact tractor, w FEL w/ toothbar, MMM, bagger, and ballast box. I own appx. 3 acres of land her in upstate NY. I purchased the tractor 1 yr. ago and have roughly 60 hrs. on it.

Although I have no complaints about this tractor I currently beleive I need something bigger. My land is about 1.75 to 2 acres open and about 1 acre woods/wetllands. The property has some hilly areas. I want to overhaul the entire property meaning rip out all open pasture and plant nice grass (I am what we like to call a grass geek) The property needs lots of leveling as well. I want to overhaul the woods and try to soak up the wetlands with fill etc... I have many rocks (boulders) on the property I plan on building walls w/ etc... and plan on getting more. The problem w/ the small TZ I own is when on the hills w/ full buckets it is very tipsy and seems to lack power getting up and down. It will not handle most of the rocks I have and has gotten stuck in some of the wet parts of the woods. I have not yet plowed w/ it but I do have roughly a 175ft drive to maintain and we do get some good snow amounts here where I live.

I am contimplating a purchase/trade in to a New Holland T1510 (used to be the TC30) My main question is based on my property size (just under 3 acres) and the work ahead of me is this to big of a tractor to purchase. I dont want something to big for my needs. Thanks to all for your feedback.

jbrumberg · Jun 19, 2008

Re: Help Please

Charlton John:

Welcome to TBN

! All CUT's appear tipsy due to weight and "footprint" especially when carrying loads in the bucket

. I still can not figure out NH's new system of tractor identification. The TC series of NH tractors would probably meet most of your needs and they are mid frame sized CUT's (NH Class II). The TC30 is an old, but solid design. I consider it to be a tank of a tractor. I "struggled" between a TC30 and the TC29DA. I choose the latter due to what was available- HST, better ergonomics, better hydraulics. Good luck on your research and acquisition. Jay

kudzu04 · Jun 19, 2008

Re: Help Please

I recently bought a new T1520. Looks like a TC30 but with 35 hp. I run a 110TL FEL, 6' finish mower, 5' box blade and 64'' tiller. This tractor handles them all with no problem. The FWD works great in sticky spots. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. Take a look at one for sure.

Charlton John · Jun 19, 2008

Re: Help Please

I am maxing out my budget w/ the T1510 so I dont think this would be an option, what is your opinion on the size tractor and my property size. Thanks

northwoodpower · Jun 19, 2008

Ask your dealer if you can try it before you buy. You will know in a few hours if the tractor is too big. From what you describe, I do not think it will be to large for you. We encourage demo's, and do not charge for this very reason.

Good luck!

jbrumberg · Jun 19, 2008

Re: Help Please

I really think you need a midframe sized CUT with HP in the high 20's to low 30's regardless of make. It appears that you will be doing a lot of "dirt work" so IMHO you would be better off with a heavier tractor, weighted R-1's and HST. That is the reason I went with my "29". Kioti's and Mahindra's (both are becoming more "mainstream") are pretty heavy for their frame size and in many areas give the "best bang for the buck" from what I am seeing at various tractor sites. Just out of curiousity what type of tires do you have on your TZ25DA? Jay

Gizmo2 · Jun 19, 2008

Re: Help Please

Careful with going too big. I just traded my JD 650 (17hp) for a JD 2320 (24hp). I had the 650 for 20 years. I own a small horse farm of 10 acres and the 650 did even thing I needed to do from digging footings for an addition on the house, building a pole barn, burying a couple horses, plowing snow, using a 5 ft landscape rake, posthole digger, painting the house (using the FEL for as ladder), 5 ft rear mount mower etc. The smaller tractors do really well, I feel there is a place for larger tractors but a 3 acre lot is not one of them. A smaller tractor always has a place and things you can do with it, not so with the larger tractors.

Charlton John · Jun 19, 2008

Hi Thanks for the reply. I did go test drive and of course am now in love and this is what is making it tough on me. The tough part is taking 8 year pymts. for something I will most likely only need about 5-6 yrs. to do the heavy stuff. People say things always pop up. The new pymt is only 120 more a month than the TZ and the dealer is willing to throw in free loaded turfs and a custom hard top canopy for free as well as taking 500 off the oprice of the tractor. When I say to big I am more or less refering to when my work is done (heavy work) than I will still be making 1-3 more years of payments and then it might be to big or bigger than I need. Any suggestions?? Thanks

Charlton John · Jun 19, 2008

Re: Help Please

Thanks, For Jay I have turfs (I like my grass) for Gizmo I agree you can get a lot done with a SCUT as I have over the past year. My problems are with my slopes and full buckets. I plan on a major overhaul to the woods and wetlands which will require a lot of loader work and this will also require me going up and own these hills with full buckets.

northwoodpower · Jun 19, 2008

With the ammount of work you are looking at, I would say buy the tractor for the current job, and when done in 4 or 5 years, if at that time the tractor is too large, trade it for a smaller tractor for the use you need at that time. You can also sell the tractor yourself and in 5 years you should be able to re-coup some of your expense.

Charlton John · Jun 19, 2008

Thanks Rick. Based on the payment table in 5 yrs. I will ower roughly 8k and will most likely only have 300 to 400 hrs. on it and it will have never been weathered. I have a pole barn to store and knowing the way I take care of things I am sure it will be in close to mint condition so I would hope to at least break even. Hopefully I can just keep it and get over my worries I am currently having. I would like to keep it forever. At that time I could get a nice 0 turn when the property is in order and keep the tractor for snow removaql mulching my garden etc... Everyone says no matter how big of a tractor I will always find a use for it. Even if its 15 years from know when I am helping my daughters landscape their land Do you recomend loaded turfs or loaded R'4's? I dont want to ruin my grass which I do love and will be mowing roughly 1/75 acres and when done hopefully it will look like a golf course? Thanks again

wny770 · Jun 19, 2008

I live in the snow belts of western NY and blow about 400 foot of driveway with my TZ25 and woods ss52 blower. It does such a good job, I sold my 7' Lucknow I had on the back of my 60 horse oliver. I mow 3 acres of hills also. No, they are not bulldozers, but for their size I think they do well. When I purchased, I thought of a bigger machine, but I'm happy I went small. It's easy to mow near the house and barn. However, this is my story.... Maybe try a larger tractor before you commit??? Just an idea......

Charlton John · Jun 19, 2008

Thanks for the insight please see my new post in buying/pricing forum area and please comment on your thoughts to all thanks

Compact1 · Jun 19, 2008

Charlton John,

I have 3 acres and a long gravel driveway. I also mow about 1/2 of my property with my TC-33DA. I have been using my tractor for landscaping on my property for the past year and I wouldn't want anything smaller. My 33-HP tractor is small enough to go anywhere on my property and has just enough power for the heavy stuff. I guess what I'm trying to say is...the TC-30 in not too big for your property. Let us know what you decide and share your pics.

jbrumberg · Jun 20, 2008

I maintained my +12A's with an old Ford 1100 (13/11+ HP) for many years before I upgraded to my "29" (29/23+HP). I just do everything a little more quickly and efficiently now. Jay

sweep · Jun 23, 2008

Re: Help Please

Charlton John said:
I am maxing out my budget w/ the T1510 so I dont think this would be an option, what is your opinion on the size tractor and my property size. Thanks

My opinion. Rent a bobcat at $150 for a few days to level out the ground and keep you current setup. I cut almost 3 acres with an old 1995 MTD 54" cheapo $1800 tractor believe it or not-been doing it for 11 years. . If that works your should also.

Don't be getting into 8 year payments as you other post mentioned. Better keep some money for a rainy day. You post sound like your skirting $$ solvency as is (I am maxing out my budget w/ the T1510)

scuvnut · Jun 24, 2008

Re: Help Please

Charlton John said:
Thanks, For Jay I have turfs (I like my grass) for Gizmo I agree you can get a lot done with a SCUT as I have over the past year. My problems are with my slopes and full buckets. I plan on a major overhaul to the woods and wetlands which will require a lot of loader work and this will also require me going up and own these hills with full buckets.

A bit of input. I ran a TC33D for four years on my property with turf tires. I decided to get a larger tractor and purchased a TC40DA last year (needed a bit more power,a nd wanted the cushy cab with a/c and heat). Anyway, I landed a sweetheart of a deal on a four month old TC40DA that had 20 hours on it, so I could not resist. However, the new tractor had filled R4's. I had actually spent a bit of effort seeking out options to change them back to turfs. Based on what I read on TBN boards, I decided that I would try the R4's for a while before going back to turfs. Long story short, I decided not to go back to turfs. R4's are way more versatile. If you are going to be doing "major overhaul to woods and wetlands", the turfs may not cut it.

As for liking your grass, I like mine as well. Just don't cut in four wheel drive and take turns a bit more gradual and you will rarely mark your grass. To do the work you are going to do, you may like your grass, but you will love R4's.

Charlton John · Jun 24, 2008

Thanks to all for all your help over the past week. I have decided on the Kubota 2620, I will trade my N.H. TZ25DA in for this machine. I looked into loading the back tires and changing from turfs to r'4's and this will cost in my area 1300. w/ the 2620 I am getting a much bigger machine loaded industrial tires drive over MMM folding ROPS FEL, 3 SPEEDS VS. 2 A BOX BLADE AND A LANDSCAPE RAKE NEW (bUSHHOG) AND THE DEALER IS A 4 minute tractor drive insytead of 30 minutes in a car for only 100 more a month but 1 yr. less of financing based on my current TZ loan, I cant wait will sign tommorrow and have by the weekend.