Buying Advice Looking for 4x4 farm tractor

[idaho2]

Well, we've just bought a beautiful mountain farm, and we need a tractor to work it. We will be dirt farming, with some livestock. The tillable land is around 14 acres. We'll also be using it to maintain roads, move compost/manure and do some light logging on the property. I was thinking something in the 50-70hp range, 4x4 with a loader. We want to spend less than 18k on this, and I've been looking at used Ford, Kubota, and John Deere brands. I just wanted to throw this out there and see what the folks here have to say. Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

A comparison chart is available at Mahindra Tractor - Compact tractors, utility tractors, farm tractors, ag tractors, attachments, implements & farm equipment - all built tough!. I found that it was very helpful when I made a purchase in 2008.

Warren

 

[Rancher Ed]

I don't know much about the older fords and kubotas but if you are ok with massey fergusons the 573 or the older 471 are very good basic farm tractors with a good reputation and you should be able to get one in you price range. It sounds like you are looking at the right size tractors for your needs.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I want to add my .02 cents. At 18k, unless these other fellows are willing or know of something to get, I'm afraid you'll end up with something REALLY USED....Meaning, closer to the scrap heap than to the showroom floor timewise. You can find some older ford '10 series in this range but of the 2 I've known about sold in the last 3 years around here, they were very, very, tired. The bigger one needed a motor and head overhaul plus 4WD front end axledrive work and the smaller one wasn't much better. Not picking on Fords, I'm just trying to let you know what your up against. If you are mechanical, and have the heavy tools to work on one, then you will find plenty in your price range. We have a JD 5420 MFWD, FEL and its a 2002 model with about only 480 hours. We wouldn't think of selling it for less than 25K. BTW, it has been a great tractor. Also, you'll most likely be getting a stripped down version vs. a model with more bells and whistles.

Maybe I'm wrong. Guys, post some links to whats in this genre near you at this price and then we can have something to chew on and kick the tires for him.

Where is your place? What altitude is it? You might need turbocharged if high altitude.

 

[Soundguy]

used does not have to equal worn out... just do your homework. if you don't know tractors.. take a trusted friend who does.

don't overlook used ones on a dealers lot that have been gone thru after trade in.. a lil more $ than straight used.. but maybee a lil better condition too.

soundguy

 

[TripleR]

i've seen brit models in 4wd.. aside from that.. i think it's more common to see the larter 10 series and on in 4wd.

soundguy

There was a 4WD Ford 5000 advertised on our local Craigslist a couple of weeks ago. The picture looked good, but I am leery of Craigslist. We don't have a 4WD or FEL equipped tractor on the farm where my brothers live, one NAA, two 600's, Case 995 and an old back hoe that doesn't run, so some day we would kind of like to get one. I am not brand fixated on tractors, but do have an affinity for the older Fords.

 

[charbson]

Hey All,
Thanks for the 2cents, all very valuable. I'm (kinda) mechanically inclined, and can fix things in a pinch, so I am attracted to the older models -- they seem a bit simpler. Please correct me if I'm wrong, most of my mechanical experience comes from working on vehicles, and the newer ones are computer controlled complexity -- is that how most newer tractors are? We're going to be around 3000' altitude, in the NC mountains, not too high, but should we look turbo? That seems to add to the complexity too.
Thanks Again,
Mike

 

[fowllife]

OK, now for my 2 cents. For only 14 acres I you don't really NEED that much HP. Yeah it would be nice and probably come in handy on occation, but not really needed. A 40-50 hp tractor would more then likely do what you want it to do as long as you aren't in a huge hurry. If you need to get things done quick, then you need bigger implements and you absolutly need more tractor. It also depends if you are trying to row crop farm to make money, or if you are doing it for more of a hobby, or personal consumption. A larger tractor will use more fuel, more fluids, cost more to run and maintain then a smaller one. My old Ford 3000 will pull all of what you listed and it's a 2wd 40hp tractor. A 70hp 4wd tractor will pull some fairly large tillage tools.

If you just WANT a tractor that big then by all means go for. You have given a breif description of what you plan on doing, but it's hard to give a real recommendation without knowing exactually what you plan to accomplish. If your farm is 17 ac with 14 ac tillable then that is a lot different then 200ac of timber with a little farm land. Also it will depend on what you are growing, corn, beans, potatoes, peppers, ect all need differents things that would require different sizes of tractors.

My best advice is to complile a list of all the needs that you have, and figure out what fit's best. There isn't any sense in paying for more tractor then you will ever use, or to buy a smaller one and always need more. In the big picture though it never hurts to have more then one tractor. You may be able to spend less (or get a nicer, newer tractor) to start with, and then get more HP as your operation gets larger.

 

[DAY]

Fowllife makes a great point- you don't need all that HP.

You can't make a living farming 14 acres (unless, ahem, you are planting a "high" profit crop.).
If you are planting corn, beans, hay, etc on those 14 acres, then you need to budget for 'attachments'- a plow/disc, planter, combine, mower/baler, picker; the list is endless. Any tractor is useless without a tool hooked on the back or front.

 

[flusher]

Fowllife makes a great point- you don't need all that HP.

You can't make a living farming 14 acres (unless, ahem, you are planting a "high" profit crop.).
If you are planting corn, beans, hay, etc on those 14 acres, then you need to budget for 'attachments'- a plow/disc, planter, combine, mower/baler, picker; the list is endless. Any tractor is useless without a tool hooked on the back or front.

I agree--people have farmed 14 acres with much smaller tractors ( Ford 8N, Farmall Super A, etc). You can find these for under $3K. Then spend the remaining $15K of your budget for a late model 30-40 hp CUT with FEL--lots of choices here at dealers, on the Web, craigslist, etc.

 

[Rancher Ed]

I don't know if Tennessee is to far but here are a couple 50+ hp kubotas.

2005 KUBOTA M4900 Tractors - 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

1998 KUBOTA M5400 Tractors - 40 HP to 99 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com


It looks like people are pretty proud of the Massey 4xx and 5xx series and you can have either 4WD or a loader in you price range.