HELP! What tractor do I need?

[p95loser]

Hi all, I am very inexperienced when it comes to tractors and need some advise on what size and brand tractor I need. I will be using it primarily to bush hog 24 acres and possibly also finish mow 2 or 3 acres. I would like the option later on of adding a front end loader to move a little dirt around. I think I want a diesel tractor. I currently have a Belarus 250AS that is a good size for me but I want more power I think.

Is it worth getting a new tractor or should I go used? I would keep this tractor probably 30+ years.

 

[budlite]

Welcome to the site. The make of tractor is subjective - most major tractor companies make comparable products of good quality. The dealer is many times the determining factor in a make and whether to buy new or used. If you are mechanically inclined and have the tools time and knowledge to maintain the tractor, then you are not as dependent on the dealer. As far as size tractor, there are people here that will give you plenty of guidance. I think probably a 30-40 HP for the size you are talking. You definitely will want a FEL and probably get a better deal purchasing with the tractor. Check back often for more posts.

 

[p95loser]

I was just looking and have a quote request in to the local bobcat dealer. Apparently they have up to $3500 in rebates and a free front end loader right now. I am assuming that tractor dealers are like car dealers and will haggle.

Does anyone know if the 35-45HP bobcats are good? Do they compare to the John Deeres and Kubotas?

 

[greenmule]

You need A kioti,probably 45 hp or more[well that takes care of that]

 

[p95loser]

Dealer just priced me a Bobcat CT335 with FEL for $12800 plus tax. Kioti dealer was a couple thousand higher for the same tractor. What do you guys think?

 

[Johndeere3720]

I hear that Bobcat and Kioti are the same product with different colors and loaders. Is Kioti still giving out the free loaders too? What area are you in because I am great at getting good deals on craigslist. I got a new graderblade from Montana Tractor for $250.00. I even got a Johndeere L118 in excelent condition for $550.00. I will get a good deal.

 

[Dmace]

I hear that Bobcat and Kioti are the same product with different colors and loaders.

The tractor itself is the same, they are both made by Kioti's parent company Daedong in South Korea. The difference is the Kioti has a 4yr warranty vs 3yr for Bobcat, Kioti makes their own loaders, backhoes, and other attachments where Bobcat uses Rhino loaders and Woods backhoes and apparently Bobcat has a mid-mount mower available for the CT235 size.

Can't go wrong with either tractor if you ask me...

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Agree with others recommending a utility tractor in the 50-60 HP range. I wouldn't overlook going with a decent used model. In this size I'd definitely want it to be diesel powered. For the price one can get a used model for, if the budget can afford it, you might give thought to 2 tractors. The second being smaller that could handle the smaller chores better than the larger model. Two tractors with each better suited to the various chores than you might find in just one tractor.

Saw the mention of looking at ads. For your area and the other poster in Oregon. I'd suggest you take a look at the capital Press. Published in Salem and is dist all over the NW. When I got out of the business I listed all my equipment in the CP and had calls from Alaska within 24 hrs of the paper hitting the street. Should be able to find the CP at most farm stores.

 

[Dmace]

For a person completely new to tractoring I would never recommend a used 50-60hp tractor especially for his limited use of some mowing and brush-hogging. A used tractor in that size is going to need plenty of maintenance and work which a tractor newbie probably can't do on their own. Plus that is very dangerous putting a newbie in a large powerful machine that takes good skill and experience to operate safely.

For your needs, you should be able to get away with a 30-40hp machine. It may take longer to mow that land but it will do it and you will have a smaller easier to handle machine that is newer, uses less diesel, and has a warranty so you don't need to fix it for a long time too.

Some may recommend a gear tractor for mowing but an HST gives you infinite gear ranges so you will never have to worry about going either too fast or too slow, you can easily slow down or speed up and change from forward to reverse without ever moving your hands off the wheel. It is also much easier for a new tractor owner to learn on. Push the pedal forward to go forward, push backwards to go back and just let off to stop, even on a hill.

 

[p95loser]

Thank you for all your input. Let me stress that I currently have a Belarus 250AS that I "tinker" on (basically it's junk and I have to keep it running) so I do know a little about tractors.

I have found a pretty nice MF 231S that is 45HP w/ 500 hours on it with 4 pieces of equipment (including 2 5' finish mowers) from a buddy for $8500. This might be the route I go.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Thank you for all your input. Let me stress that I currently have a Belarus 250AS that I "tinker" on (basically it's junk and I have to keep it running) so I do know a little about tractors.

I have found a pretty nice MF 231S that is 45HP w/ 500 hours on it with 4 pieces of equipment (including 2 5' finish mowers) from a buddy for $8500. This might be the route I go.

i would be all over that! those 231S MF's are VERY desirable around here and when ones for sale they don't last long! they're basically a MF 135 just a newer version. $8,500 sounds like the price you would pay for JUST the tractor in this area, so getting 4 impliments is icing on the cake.

 

[p95loser]

Yeah that's what I thought about it too, the guy has it in his shed and is not advertising it... He told my father-in-law we could have it for that price and is waiting for an answer.

 

[flusher]

Hi all, I am very inexperienced when it comes to tractors and need some advise on what size and brand tractor I need. I will be using it primarily to bush hog 24 acres and possibly also finish mow 2 or 3 acres. I would like the option later on of adding a front end loader to move a little dirt around. I think I want a diesel tractor. I currently have a Belarus 250AS that is a good size for me but I want more power I think.

Is it worth getting a new tractor or should I go used? I would keep this tractor probably 30+ years.

I looks like the bush hogging chore will size your tractor. You need to figure out what size hog you want to handle those 24 acres. This will tell you the pto hp you need. For example, I use a 6-ft Hawkline hog with my 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto) to handle mowing chores on my 10 acre spread. If you think you want a larger mower, say 10 ft, you're talking 60-70 hp. For a 15-ft batwing mower, more like 80-100 hp.

You can find after market FELs from several vendors

SSB

SSB Tractor: Tractor Front End Loaders

Koyker

Koyker Mfg.

Westendorf

Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment.

My 5525 has the ML250 loader (6-ft wide bucket, 10.5 ft max lift height, 2980 lb lift to full height). Again, you'll have to size the loader to whatever tractor you end up with and to the jobs you think you'll be tackling.

 

[Soundguy]

How often are you gonna brush hog those 24 ac.

for 24 ac.. you could get into a larger machine.. but wanting to finish mow 2-3.. will keep you in a CUT sized.

mid 30's hp and a 5 or 6' hog, plus a 7' finish mower.

plan on about 13-15 hrs mowing the 24 ac with the 5' mower.

soundguy

 

[p95loser]

I actually already have a relatively new 6' massey ferguson bush hog.

 

[taborekle]

How often are you gonna brush hog those 24 ac.

for 24 ac.. you could get into a larger machine.. but wanting to finish mow 2-3.. will keep you in a CUT sized.

mid 30's hp and a 5 or 6' hog, plus a 7' finish mower.

plan on about 13-15 hrs mowing the 24 ac with the 5' mower.

soundguy

Yes exactly. Bushhogging a field is not quite the same as mowing a lawn. Now if you wanted to mow 24 acres, then by all means, a 50hp tractor would be a good size. But you only bushhog a field perhaps once a month, meaning that you could get by with a much smaller tractor and bush hog and hit a portion of it each week.

I'd look at what size tractor could pull a 5 or 6 foot bush hog. I would think that a 30hp (or even smaller) tractor could do it for you.

Larry

 

[Soundguy]

I actually already have a relatively new 6' massey ferguson bush hog.

then get a tractor sized for it.. ie.. upper end of cut class.like 35+hp

soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I tend to favor tractors in the 45/50 hp range for my own personal use. (I'm taking care of my 45 acres w/47hp) I own tractors of 47, 61, 70, 85, 85, 95, 95, and 95 hp. (plus 2 "non-runners", antiques in need of restoration, both 32hp IF running) All but the smallest are used for large scale commercial mowing. From my experience (I'm 61 and have spent most of my life around tractors) larger tractors require no more general maintenance than smaller ones (per hour of use) . Granted, the parts may be bigger, but a tractor is a tractor is a tractor. Especially so, since you've already got a 6' mower that's no doubt a CAT I hitch, I'd stay with a CAT I equipped tractor, that being less than 50 hp in all but a very few instances. (Smaller CAT II tractors can be used in conjunction with CAT I implements) Too big OR too small can be a problem. I'd rather err on the side of slightly bigger than absolutely required than ending up with one that's too small. For MY PERSONAL USE, I find anything less than 40 hp to be more or less useless for anything other than a lawn mower. Not everyone shares in that opinion.

Used DOES NOT mean worn out by any stretch. My 47 hp tractor is 38 years old and is EASILY my most reliable. I've got a new one, less than 3 months old, that has been back to the dealer 2 times already. (tranny issues)

Take a serious look at your mechanical aptitude before jumping into any tractor ownership. (or financial ability to pay for repairs and maintenance) Warranties only last so long, even with the very best deals.

In ALL cases, my first suggestion is to establish a budget. How much are you willing to spend? THEN fill in the blanks. (ie tranny type, cab, in many cases the brand, ect)

 

[RWolf]

Also consider what you want to do with the land "in the future". Because tractors last a long time in general if you size your tractor accordingly you won't be needing to upgrade later. As an example if you decide you want to grow and harvest hay and you want to bale with round bales then a 45HP will be the smallest you want. Squares can be done with less HP.

You are on the start of a new adventure with tractors and land. The possiblities are endless.

Good luck.

 

[greenmule]

Unless those 24 acres are in a square like field,he will be a lot longer than 15-16 hours mowing it with a 5 ft hog,just depends on how the land lays and how broken up those acres are. I would guess at close to 20-24 hours unless its all level and in one spot.

My ck 30 will handle a 6 ft hog[or so the book says],I use a 5 ft one,cause thats what I already had],also it makes a difference in that regard how tall/thick the grass is,in spring[now] my grass[orchard,blue grass/red clover] gets tall and thick,don't generally cut my little fields and trails till its about 3 ft in 1/2 the places,so... 5 ft is about all I want anyways,plus,I got a couple of spots,don't think I could get a 6 ft one through,so just depends on what his land is.

He could get a 80 hp tractor with one of those super duper bat wing mowers,but if he can't get it in/around his property,it won't help at all.[he's probably already said what his land is,so..didn't read all the posts].