Looking to buy used (2 local options)

[steeltiger]

Greetings to the forum. I was referred here as a good place to ask questions. I'm looking at 2 local used tractors and was hoping I could get your input. I admit I'm new to tractors in general and need something to work with a new place I'm buying. Thanks in advance for any insight.

First option:
1710 ford diesel (this model manufactured 1983-1986)
More detailed info is available at tractordata dot com but I'm unable to post a link.
396 hours
Original owner/bought new
Good condition

Includes:
48 inch tiller
48 in box
60 in finisher mower
1 row cultivator

Asking $8000; seems a bit high to me but it does have low hours. This is the more affordable of the two.


2nd option:

Kubota M5400 (1999)
2 WD
5 cylinder diesel
58 HP / 50 HP at PTO
Rear Hydraulic for Aux equipment
< 800 hours
4 speed with High and Low Gears for Forward
4 speed for Reverse
Roll over protection with canopy
Front end loader
Well maintained/good condition

Asking $14,500; this is a nice tractor, but is a bit more than I was hoping to spend.

 

[jeff9366]

How many acres of land will you work?

Is the Ford 4-WD? Is the Ford gas or diesel?

Fairly hilly around Augusta. Will you have the traction you need with 2-WD on the Kubota?


TRACTORS ONLY HAVE BRAKES ON THE REAR WHEELS.

Going down hill with a 2-WD tractor, the weight shifts forward and you may have no braking if the ground is wet.

With a 4-WD tractor there are still only brakes on the rear wheels, but 4-WD provides pretty good braking on the front wheels as well, going down hill.



Here are tractors near Augusta, listed on eBay: Tractors | eBay

 

[bspeedy]

What is your budget? What are your goals for the land?

Most of us here will recommend a 4wd tractor with a loader.

More information will help us to help you.

 

[TheMadOne]

Those are such vastly different tractors that I can't even think of a way to compare them.

The 1710 is litterally half the tractor of the 'bota.

Without knowing your tasks and acreage we won't be able to give much advice.

 

[LD1]

Too little info.

Agree with the previous post. Two completely different machines.

A little 26 HP machine. Vs a BIG 58HP machine.

If you are doing gardening and have a small property, the 1710 may be the best fit. If you are wanting to drag some logs and have a 25 acre field you want to "farm"......The kubota may be the better choice.

So without knowing what you want to do with a tractor, How can anyone advise on the best ones for your needs?

 

[varmint]

Also, looks like the 1710 may not have a loader... an essential part of a tractor, IMO. Only in rare instances would a tractor without a loader be a good choice. Looking at Tractorhouse, the M5400 seems reasonably priced, especially if it is, as you write, well maintained and in good condition. Think of its purchase as an investment, to be largely recoverable should you need to sell it. Not so sure you can say that about the Ford, which is also 13-15 years older!
But, we would need to know your intended uses, acreage, and so forth to give any useful advice.

 

[steeltiger]

Thanks for the info thus far.

I too picked up on the Ford being half the HP of the Kubota. I have seen the Kubota in person and it is exactly as described; meticulously kept & maintained…has never spent a night not parked in the barn. I have only talked to the old-timer selling the Ford on the phone. He didn't mention the Ford being 4WD but he didn't say much in general beyond what I wrote above.

Intended use is for maintaining ~10 flat acres of greenfield & 4-5 flat acres of crops; all to bring in the wildlife. According to the previous owner its 90% bush hogging with some disking as needed. He also used his to bush hog roads & trails throughout the rest of the property. I'd like to be able to pull trees into position/use the front end loader to make a rifle backstop but it's not critical to what I need.

It would be a no-brainer except money is tight following purchase of new property. If I can do what I need with the Ford I can save myself some much-needed money but the Kubota is very, very nice in person.

Hope that helps clarify things a bit.

 

[LD1]

So...discing mowing and maintaining crops on 15 flat acres?

Of the choices my preference would be the bigger 2wd.

But why limit yourself to just those two. Shop around. I'd be looking for something bigger than the Ford, but maybe not necessarily as big as the 5400. Something in the 40-50 hp range. And 4wd +loader

 

[motownbrowne]

For those tasks, I'd take the Kubota hands down. 4wd would be better, but for the money, a Kubota in great shape with a loader is pretty good. Around here you could buy an old piece of iron, maybe a IH 706 or something along those lines, which would bush hog and disc really well, and an older skid steer for somewhere between 16-20k total. That would be another option to consider, and you wouldn't have to buy them at the same time, which makes the financial part easier. That would be more a more versatile option than a 2wd Kubota with a loader, but it'd probably require more tinkering.

 

[steeltiger]

For those tasks, I'd take the Kubota hands down. 4wd would be better, but for the money, a Kubota in great shape with a loader is pretty good. Around here you could buy an old piece of iron, maybe a IH 706 or something along those lines, which would bush hog and disc really well, and an older skid steer for somewhere between 16-20k total. That would be another option to consider, and you wouldn't have to buy them at the same time, which makes the financial part easier. That would be more a more versatile option than a 2wd Kubota with a loader, but it'd probably require more tinkering.

Ended up going with the Kubota. Thanks for the insight. :thumbsup: