ViperDriver
New member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2018
- Messages
- 22
- Tractor
- none
Information overload. Need a tractor - likely buying new. Below are our use cases, preferences, and limitations along with some data about our property - I am like this looking at all the options: :shocked::shocked::shocked: and figured you could help narrow it down.
Background -
We have 15 acres - mostly wooded and will remain that way. Currently building long term / retirement home with large workshop. Longer term use will be field / septic area maintenance and some light grading - but early use may be "heavier duty" as we take on more tasks ourselves - i.e. drainage, etc.
Use cases:
Preferences:
Limitations
Currently looking at Kubota and something like a B3350 - but then.... saw Kioti, John Deere, and others - and that led to the information overload.
Anything we should take into consideration? Missing any brands? the width limitation is really driving the decision here - but that also has the benefit (?) of not letting us go too crazy - because we, uh, kinda tend to do that.
Warnings? Ideas? Think the B3350 is the best thing since sliced bread?
Thanks in advance to experts who have WAY more experience in this than we do.
Background -
We have 15 acres - mostly wooded and will remain that way. Currently building long term / retirement home with large workshop. Longer term use will be field / septic area maintenance and some light grading - but early use may be "heavier duty" as we take on more tasks ourselves - i.e. drainage, etc.
Use cases:
- Mowing septic field / pasture - approx 1.5 to 2 acres - not looking for "finely groomed" - right now - it's $1100 to pay someone to do this
- Mowing side of road / taking back some brushy areas
- Moving dirt / grading
- leveling and filling backyard area, prepping for artificial turf (north side / no sun / dogs will kill grass)
- backfilling foundation area / over plumbing and buried electrical
- perhaps some grooming of long road before paving (1300'), but will hire out the heavy stuff
- digging / trenching for drainage for hardscapes - this is where we can save the most $$$
- will NOT do fine / general mowing up at the house - the area inside the retaining wall is small / contained / lots of obstacles - so that's push mower and SMALL.
Preferences:
- Want to buy new - we take really good care of things, and due to financing, want to spread out payments (building house - keeping my cash is king); also, need an installment loan to bump credit score since all we have is a mortgage
- Don't want something that is underpowered or finicky / hard to work on
- Want easy of use / quick disconnects
- While money is not "no object" - if the right answer is $3K more then it's the right answer. Budget is about $25K-$28K
- Expect to get attachments at initial purchase - bush hog, FEL, backhoe and MAYBE a box spreader
Limitations
- In order to get to back yard, the side areas are tight at 72" - so we'd like to stay under 60" width for the tractor - including bucket - 60" absolute TOP
- In NC so not interested in snow moving equipment
- Personal vehicle buying mantra "you can never have too much torque"
- Don't need a cab
- Looking for hydrostatic trans - can do the gears - but not preferred
Currently looking at Kubota and something like a B3350 - but then.... saw Kioti, John Deere, and others - and that led to the information overload.
Anything we should take into consideration? Missing any brands? the width limitation is really driving the decision here - but that also has the benefit (?) of not letting us go too crazy - because we, uh, kinda tend to do that.
Warnings? Ideas? Think the B3350 is the best thing since sliced bread?
Thanks in advance to experts who have WAY more experience in this than we do.