HELP, where does one start???

[jokerman]

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Hello, Same ol' question, I guess but it seems like there are some REALLY experienced people out there so here goes:

-What tractor should I buy?
-How big/HP should I look at?

I recently bought a 13 acre parcel in Michigan, mainly wooded and will start building a new house soon. The building itself will be done by a contractor but I'm looking at clearing the build site from trees and setting up a nice big vegetable garden and probably some lawn.

I've looked at Kubotas as a favourite choice but then came across an ad for Farmpros being sold with 7 implements for the same price as a Kubota with only a FEL......

The work I'm looking at doing will be:

-A lot of FEL work.
-Rototilling
-Boxblade work, establishing a new driveway, clearing lots of topsoil, grading.
-Woodchipping
-Post hole digging
-Snowclearing
-General landscaping once the house is built.

I'm not blessed with a lot of time to work on an old machine but just feel like the $14000 that a 30 HP Kubota with FEL will set me back is a lot of money so I really want to get the right machine for the job here. I'm looking at keeping the machine for a long time and I've got a Kubota dealer close by.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

John

 

[skivt]

If you are clearing the site, you will need a backhoe. Never heard of a Farm Pro but Kubota is nice. Check out other brands, MF, NH, JD, etc.

Good luck,

skivt

 

[frank_f15]

1st of all welcome to the forum. just for general information i have 24 hp tractor and have 9 acres, use it for SNOW plowing, moving dirt, cutting fields and generally just doing what you want to do. so a 30 hp in your case would be fine. as to name brands that is up to you, BUT I have never heard of FARMPRO. there are many good tractors out there , jd, nh, kubota, kioti, branson, etc. you really need to personally sit on them and check them out! sometimes less expensive is not really less expensive. be really careful of the really way off the wall name brands. of course this is just MHO /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[frank_f15]

DON'T want to over load you, but you did ask for advice /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif which kubota were you looking at ? what type of transmission(for lots of fel work you want hydro) and what was the trany on the farmpro, and what 7 implements? made by ? so very many things to take into account, not to be done quickly.

 

[thcri]

Farm Pro does have a web page. Homier Distributing is on the bottom of the web page. The tractor looks to me like it is the same they sell at Northern Hydraulics. Of which I believe is a Jimna tractor.

I would look around some more and check out the other brands out there.

murph

 

[gippolit]

Take a look at Kioti.

 

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Homier Distributing )</font>

Aackkk! Run!! Sorry to offend, but anything I've ever had or seen from Homier came with the guarantee to break on the very first use. That is, of course, if it didn't break on the way home. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...I've looked at Kubotas as a favourite choice but then came across an ad for Farmpros being sold with 7 implements for the same price as a Kubota with only a FEL......

...I'm not blessed with a lot of time to work on an old machine but just feel like the $14000 that a 30 HP Kubota with FEL will set me back is a lot of money so I really want to get the right machine for the job here. I'm looking at keeping the machine for a long time and I've got a Kubota dealer close by.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

)</font>

Even though you don't plan on selling this tractor anytime soon, consider the resale. You will be amazed at the resale value of the Kubota. If you did find out that it wasn't worth what you paid for it, someone ele willl gladly take it of your hands for hardly any less than you paid.

And if you don't have time to work on a older machine, you won't be happy with a FarmPro. Even their biggest fans will tell you they get to work ON their tractors a lot more than Kubota owners work WITH theirs.

Attachments can come over time. Deere is good about offering great deals on them with super financing, I imagine Kubota is no different.

Check other offerings, like Deere, New Holland, and Kioti. But if your gurt says Kubota, and you have a good dealer; go that way. You will be quite pleased down the trail...

 

[Laminarman]

A good local dealer is THE KEY!

 

[fish_wisperer]

i would pay atleast double the money for a kubota over a farmpro,,,,,,,triple, maybe more.

 

[jokerman]

Thanks for your time and input!!!! This really is a great forum for guys like me who need some help getting started!

I found a used Kubota B2710, 2001 Model year with 500 hours on it for $11000 at a local dealer that I'm going to look at tomorrow. Seems like a fair price since I should be able to walk away with a trailer too for a lot less that a new machine.

Is 500 hours in 4 years normal? Can I trust a local Kubota dealer to tell me the real story about a used machine? At this stage I don't know if it's sold "As is" or if the dealer offers some sort of warranty.....

 

[Bob_Skurka]

It is not uncommon for a typical homeowner type user to use a tractor between 50 and 100 hours a year based on reports posted here on TBN. However, there are TBN members who put several hundred hours a year on their machines. The used machine you are considering would have 125 hours a year on it at 4 years old, that would perhaps be slightly more than a typical homeowner, but it would still be a very modestly used machine.

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It is not uncommon for a typical homeowner type user to use a tractor between 50 and 100 hours a year based on reports posted here on TBN. However, there are TBN members who put several hundred hours a year on their machines. The used machine you are considering would have 125 hours a year on it at 4 years old, that would perhaps be slightly more than a typical homeowner, but it would still be a very modestly used machine.

)</font>
~~~ <font color="red"> ~~~~~~~~~~~ </font> ~~~~
I put 208 hours on mine in 9 months .
Would that be considered high use or hours?

 

[jokerman]

I looked at the used mahcine and it was caked with **** and mud, had obviously been stored outdoors as the paint was very sun bleached and I was not impressed......

So, I decided to go for a brand new Kubota B7510 with FEL and a HS 12' trailer. That little package will set me back just less than $15000 but I know what I get, and I get the 3 yr warranty.

I still need a rototiller and a back blade but that will have to wait......

What's a good make of rototiller?? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I looked at the used mahcine and it was caked with **** and mud, had obviously been stored outdoors as the paint was very sun bleached and I was not impressed......

So, I decided to go for a brand new Kubota B7510 with FEL and a HS <font color="green"> 12' trailer </font> . That little package will set me back just less than $15000 but I know what I get, and I get the 3 yr warranty.

I still need a rototiller and a back blade but that will have to wait......

What's a good make of rototiller?? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

)</font>
==========
<font color="green"> Sounds a bit small for hauling a b7510 </font>

I found out that a 14 footer was to short to haul my BX23.
I need a 16 footer .
How do you plan on hauling a bigger B7510 on a shorter trailer?

 

[Cowboyjg]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I put 208 hours on mine in 9 month. Would that be considered high use or hours? )</font>

Sounds like you love your tractor!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If you play your cards right, it can be one of the few times the Mrs doesn't give you grief for sittin down.