Help - Family Needs A Compact Tractor

[Dynasty]

I have been put in charge of finding the right used compact tractor for our family's needs. Budget is around $25,000. Property is just under 10 acres with about 5 acres of field and 5 acres of woods. Some of the work the tractor will see include brush hogging, gravel driveway maintenance, tree moving, earth moving around the pond/home, land grading, possible snow removal and trench digging. Basically, a little mixture of everything.

We have a very local John Deere dealer down the road, so we are only looking at John Deere's offerings.

4WD ,FEL, and HST are required. We are thinking of a grapple for tree moving and a tooth bar for the bucket to start. We can rent the other implements. No cab desired.

We are eyeing the John Deere 3033R model. We like the FEL control location - that is a nice feature.

We are not tractor experts like you guys are on here, so we are looking for guidance. What do you suggest?

 

[Diggin It]

If you can stay at 25 HP or under, you'll avoid the emissions hooey.

Amount of trenching could call for a backhoe.

Ignoring all but green paint may not be the best choice financially.

 

[KennyG]

It would be nice to simplify the emissions, but for your uses, I don't think under 25 HP is going to make it. I think you are right to be looking in the 30 to 40 HP range. If you have a major trenching job, rent a mini-excavator and get it done right.

Yes, you can save money by going to another brand but 10 years from now a few thousand dollars won't mean anything compared to a good dealer and comfortable operating features.

 

[cathy liebchen]

avoiding emissions is no longer an issue. You will need bigger and heavier than a 25 HP to do most of those chores, and hire out the digging

 

[Ricn]

Sounds like you need a good all around heavy utility tractor but NOT a compact one, to light weight and not enough HP IMO- Look at a used Kubota 40-50hp, you will be very happy. One of out neighbors recently bought an L4701 with loader having 320 hrs for close to your target price. He says this tractor is awesome and well above what he had anticipated it would be. The Kubota L39 is also one to look at, a little smaller but great tractor for brush hogging, lifting most things and for grapple work. I have the L2501 with 25hp and while it works for most of what I now do, there are times when I wish it had more PTO hp for brush hogging the heavy stuff. For not much more, I could have had the L39 but was hung up on not having the emission system the higher HP tractors have now. You could look at pre-emission pre computer tractor in 40-50HP range but they are a premium in price if in good condition, at least the ones I see for sale are. I would not buy JD even if the dealer were next door and that is coming from a guy who owned them for years.

Ricn

 

[jeff9366]

Property is just under 10 acres with about 5 acres of field and 5 acres of woods.

Work the tractor will see include bush hogging, gravel driveway maintenance, tree moving, earth moving around the pond/home, land grading, possible snow removal and trench digging.

4WD ,FEL, and HST are required. We are thinking of a grapple for tree moving and a tooth bar for the bucket to start. We can rent the other implements. No cab desired.

We have a very local John Deere dealer down the road, so we are only looking at John Deere's offerings.

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Heavier tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, a significant tractor capability increase requires a bare tractor weight increase of 50%. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!

Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

I suggest a tractor with a bare tractor weight of 2,600 to 4,000 pounds.
Deere 3033r is at mid-point.
MORE: deere 333r site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

TractorData.com provides tractor specs on non-current Deere models.
LINK: TractorData.com - John Deere farm tractors sorted by model

For moving tree debris to a burn pile over ten (10) acres Pallet Forks or towing the trunks behind tractor with chains is a simpler, cheaper solution relative to grapple. PHOTOS
I dedicate myself to keeping everything tractor AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.

Consider a Middlebuster for trenching.
VIDEO: tractor middle buster trenching - YouTube

Around 3,500 pounds some tractors will not longer fit under a standard 84" garage door header even with ROPS down.

 

[Gafn]

Dynasty - this is just an option....

For your price range you can buy a new with warranty for 6 years Branson 3520 series in Hydro or with gears.That is 35 HP 4WD.
I own one - in fact just upgraded to a 2019 3520R.
The Emissions stuff - the new Tier 4 on the Branson's - basically just run it at PTO and get it hot - no issues - just work it
Branson has partnered with Wells Fargo for financing - rates are decent.


Just google packages: $28,499.00 Bit over your budget - but you get the picture - full warranty is nice.

The Branson 3520H Mega Tractor Package Includes:
Branson 3520H 4×4
Branson BL200 Loader
6 Ft. Brush Hog
6 Ft. Box Blade
6 Ft. Tiller
Post Hole Digger
20 Ft. Tandem Axle Trailer

 

[jeff9366]

Sounds like you need a good all around heavy utility tractor but NOT a compact one, too light weight and not enough HP IMO.

I would not buy JD even if the dealer were next door and that is coming from a guy who owned them for years.

A utility grade tractor for five (5) acres of field and family use, presumably wife and teen children???

Why not Deere?

 

[Rebeldad1]

Around 3,500 pounds some tractors will not longer fit under a standard 84" garage door header even with ROPS down.

I dont know if I have ever seen a 3500ish pound tractor that was 84" tall without a ROPS or cab?
What brands are these?

 

[jeff9366]

Around 3,500 pounds some tractors will not longer fit under a standard 84" garage door header even with ROPS down.

Kubota 3,600 pound L3560 open station is 90" tall with ROPS folded.

I own one, purchased January 2013.