Looking to buy my first tractor!

[Blstr88]

Hey guys, Ive been browsing this forum nonstop for days now soaking up everything I can, figured Id start my first post to hopefully get some more specific advice.

My wife and I just recently purchased a home with 26 acres in New Hampshire and we're looking for a tractor to use around the property. Heres where we're at...

There are 3 main things I want it to handle, at least initially.
1) A considerable amount of the property is grass so I'd like something that we can mow the property with
2) A FEL with decent capability for general landscaping use, moving around some firewood/bushes/shrubs/mulch/etc
3) I want to add a FRONT mount snowblower to it to handle our winters. Our driveway is quite long and twisty, and I think a rear mount snowblower would be too much of a hassle, especially for my wife.

There might be some other implements I'll add later on (post hole digger, grader for driveway, etc)...but the 3 uses I mentioned above are my main uses. This is just our residence, it's no business or working farm. Eventually I'd like to get some small livestock (chickens, goats, pigs, etc) but nothing much more than that...so I want it to be available for anything that might come up with owning animals too.

As for brands and size, I've narrowed it down to Kubota, New Holland, or Kioti, just from reading through this site but also those 3 brands are the ones with dealerships close by...something around 22-40 HP, but Im leaning more towards smaller because I think anything up around 40HP will make mowing a bit trickier. Theres a lot of granite, stone walls, trees, etc around the lawn areas and I just think TOO big of a tractor will make maneuvering around a pain. At the same time I don't want to be left wishing I had additional horsepower when Im snowblowing or using the FEL to move some heavier loads...where would you guys say is a good balance?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[GManBart]

With 26 acres, and a significant amount of mowing, especially with walls, trees, etc, you would be better served with a quality zero turn mower...it will be faster, and do a better job. Then, you can get a tractor for everything else. That will also let you get a tractor that can do more "tractor work"...lifting, pulling, tilling, etc. Trying to get a tractor to be both a mower and a tractor leads to compromises on both tasks.

I wouldn't recommend a New Holland SCUT, or CUT right now...they're actually made by LS, and you can buy them direct for thousands less (often $5-10K less).

There are also 3pt snow throwers that they call "pull type" because you drive forward with them, rather than back up. The nice thing is that they don't require a mid-PTO, which saves some expense, and they aren't ridiculously expensive (more than rear back up style, but less than most front blowers). After this winter, I'm looking to buy a rear pull-type thrower rather than use my plow and rear blade next year!

 

[Blstr88]

I actually saw a dealer selling LS tractors in nearby Maine...are they exactly the same as New Holland? Can New Holland dealers service them and provide parts for them? Are they equal quality to New Hollands?

The LS tractors he was selling were priced incredibly well I thought, but having not heard of LS I pretty much dismissed it...they look similar to New Holland but I didnt realize they're actually the same tractors...?

I will definitely look into those pull behind blowers...that does sound like a perfect option.

 

[GManBart]

I actually saw a dealer selling LS tractors in nearby Maine...are they exactly the same as New Holland? Can New Holland dealers service them and provide parts for them? Are they equal quality to New Hollands?

The LS tractors he was selling were priced incredibly well I thought, but having not heard of LS I pretty much dismissed it...they look similar to New Holland but I didnt realize they're actually the same tractors...?

I will definitely look into those pull behind blowers...that does sound like a perfect option.

Yes, the New Holland Boomer 20 through 50 machines are all made by LS. NH uses their own, weaker, loader, but other than that, decals, lights, and grill, the machines are the same. Case also sells them as the Farmall B series. If you look at the NH or Case version they all have data plates that say LS MTron, which is just LS here in the U.S. For example, a Boomer 35 is an LS R3039, the Boomer 50 is an R4047, etc.

 

[paulfun9]

With 26 acres, and a significant amount of mowing, especially with walls, trees, etc, you would be better served with a quality zero turn mower...it will be faster, and do a better job. Then, you can get a tractor for everything else. That will also let you get a tractor that can do more "tractor work"...lifting, pulling, tilling, etc. Trying to get a tractor to be both a mower and a tractor leads to compromises on both tasks.



QUOTE]

Agreed!!

Trying to compromise too much on the tractor will render poor results. Get a decent dedicated machine for the grass and a good tractor for everything else. Always a bit more costly this way but with lots of trees and things you will be much happier in the long run.

 

[oldballs]

I'm no pro, but 26 acres and a "significant amount of mowing" sounds like a lot of mowing for the ordinary zero turn mower. Around the house for 3-4 or so acres would be fine for a dedicated mower. But, to me a tractor with a brush hog looks like a choice to consider...around 35-40 HP should do it all....including that dedicated mower to go with it.

I've found that in my old age, removing the MMM to do other chores is troublesome. But I still manage to do it. And "Yes", having just one machine to do it all is a compromise. Of course, that also means....just one payment....just one parking place....and just one maintenance for upkeep.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Blstr88]

Yeah perhaps a separate, dedicated mower would be a good way to go...I think my wife would prefer something smaller for regular mowing anyway.

Those zero-turn mowers are quite spendy but maybe just a basic little, used lawn tractor with a belly mower will work...plenty of them kicking around on craigslist. That way as you all mentioned, I can get a tractor for everything else without having to compromise for mowing the lawn.

I wanted Industrial tires on it too but was thinking Id probably go with turf just for the lawn...but a dedicated lawn mower would allow me to get the more aggressive tire without worrying about tearing up the lawn.

Ive been reading about the LS tractors all day, they're looking like an awesome option...seem to have good reviews, plenty of options in the mid-30 HP range, and priced extremely well! The only problem is the nearest dealer I can find that carries them is about 2-hours away...but that shouldnt be a big deal. I assume a New Holland dealership will maintain and carry parts for the LS?

 

[GManBart]

Yeah perhaps a separate, dedicated mower would be a good way to go...I think my wife would prefer something smaller for regular mowing anyway.

Those zero-turn mowers are quite spendy but maybe just a basic little, used lawn tractor with a belly mower will work...plenty of them kicking around on craigslist. That way as you all mentioned, I can get a tractor for everything else without having to compromise for mowing the lawn.

I wanted Industrial tires on it too but was thinking Id probably go with turf just for the lawn...but a dedicated lawn mower would allow me to get the more aggressive tire without worrying about tearing up the lawn.

Ive been reading about the LS tractors all day, they're looking like an awesome option...seem to have good reviews, plenty of options in the mid-30 HP range, and priced extremely well! The only problem is the nearest dealer I can find that carries them is about 2-hours away...but that shouldnt be a big deal. I assume a New Holland dealership will maintain and carry parts for the LS?

That makes a lot of sense...especially if you can get the wife to help with mowing!!

For the size machines you're looking at, you should be able to get parts for an LS at any NH or Case dealer, with the exception of FEL parts (CNH uses their own sourced loader on the Boomer, and Farmall B models). Also, there are a number of online sites that can get you virtually anything (including FEL parts) within 2-3 days (they drop ship from the LS warehouse). I've only needed two parts (both my fault), and one time I went to the local Case dealer, the other time I went online, and both times it was 2-3 days to get the part. I just told the Case parts guy that I needed the part for a Farmall 50B...at a NH dealer I would have told them it was a Boomer 50...all the same machine.

 

[Blstr88]

Great, thanks! I'm glad to hear parts are readily available, thats a huge plus in my book.

Im really liking the 3033H...looks like it's plenty big to handle anything I want, yet small enough to get between trees and store in the garage. What is a reasonable expectation on price for that tractor...? The dealer over in Maine has a listing for one, with FEL for $17,795. Is that a fair price or a bit high?

 

[GManBart]

Great, thanks! I'm glad to hear parts are readily available, thats a huge plus in my book.

Im really liking the 3033H...looks like it's plenty big to handle anything I want, yet small enough to get between trees and store in the garage. What is a reasonable expectation on price for that tractor...? The dealer over in Maine has a listing for one, with FEL for $17,795. Is that a fair price or a bit high?

That price is a bit high. My dealer lists the gear tranny 3033 at $15,750, and hydro tranny is usually $700 or so more. There are some regional differences in pricing (higher shipping costs, etc), but that gives you a ballpark.

Also, consider the G3038 instead....more power, but it also has 300lbs more FEL lift capacity 1900 versus 1600).

My dealer's 3033 and 3038 ads for reference:

LS 3033 Tractor Loader compact

LS G3038 tractor loader, 38hp, 4 wheel drive