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.