I hope not - the budget is tight for one!
I should have a look at backhoes. Thanks for the suggestion.
I understand your comments on 4WD (though I didn't realise only the rear is braked!), but on the property, and smashed up against a tree, is an old 7 ton tractor that got away from the previous owner on the hill. Was slashing (bush hogging) and turned a corner not paying enough attention. The slasher swung out and hit something, causing the tractor to jump. Tractor got knocked out of gear, and took off down the hill. He was unable to pull it up so bailed/jumped. This wouldn't be possible with a HST (no pedal input = braking), hence why I was thinking they would be safer (though don't know if something similar could happen if a hydraulic hose were to fail).
That's what I thought. If you need 4wd for the hills, you do need it.... but that's a shame. Nobody wants to pay the price to be in 4wd all the time - tractors are actually 4wd assist rather than full time 4wd because they don't have a differential between front and rear axles. So they are all what we call part-time 4wd because of drivetrain windup stresses. Amplified by carrying a load in the loader for any distance.
And wanting 4wd means that you miss out on used 2wd big 100 hp cabbed Ag tractors - which is where the good deals tend to be even if you have to add a loader for your purposes.
In fact, it seems to me that you should consider two uncommon options. One is to get a used 2wd as above, 50 to 100 hp, put a loader on it, and stay off of hills unless you back down. That way you get some tractor experience without busting the bank. Most of us here have done something like that. You can use 2wd for a lot of work just by applying some common sense. A 2wd ten to twenty year old tractor in good shape with a good FEL and 3pt would do a lot for you. That would be where I'd be looking if my budget were tight but doable.
Tractors in 2wd are not monsters, they just require some care in certain situations. You can even find a special short hill to practice on. I do exactly that. We have a slope at the bottom of a driveway that is dry dirt about 10 feet high and 40 feet long with a flat runout. Enough that even going slowly if I hit the brakes going down slowly the weight transfer lightens the back tires enough to lift them .....whereupon away we go....it's a short ride with a slow safe ending.
Instead of being a teenager doing a rear wheel wheelie on a motorcycle, I'm a 75 year old who has just done a front wheel "standee" with a 5 ton tractor.
The point being that when it happens for real, having practiced anything helps. I'll have some idea of what is happening and what to do.
Also, once you really do lose control going downhill it's a lesson that tends to stick. I'll bet everyone reading this remembers their own experience.
Another great choice but expensive $$ would be look to a different market. Look at the upscale models like the Antonio Carrera that Roygul uses. Some of the European models are light years ahead of the tractors that are common to the USA part-time farmer market. Much more sophisiticated tractors with things like full time 4wd, 4wheel brakes, and suspension! We hear about them over here but don't know much about them. The USA is still 3rd world in tractor technology. Those European models are probably too expensive, but worth checking out.
A third option is a medium hour used but usable TLB like the JD 310. Case makes one too. They don't have a 3pt, but the market for these is pretty steady. They are great loader/backhoe machines. Particularly if you add a thumb. I put this as a last option because although it is a good for some, you do need to be a professional mechanic to evaluate if a particular used machine is worth the price. It needs a professional survey. And also you need to be a mechanic to keep it up. Those mechanical needs makes this option the very last choice for most user, even though the machine itself is a decent choice. The only way it makes sense if if you just stumble on a really low hour TLB maybe from a church or local school district. That happens, so do look. Stay away from commercial use machines and far, far away from used rentals.
Luck,
rScotty
