NEED a tractor- Need advise- researched-now more confused than ever-Have 7K TO spend!
- Thread starter RUMBLON
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jeff9366
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
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- Tractor
- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
Find a tractor dealer(s) within fifty miles of your property that treats you respectfully when you shop. Then buy new/used from that dealer(s). Tractors require a fair amount of maintenance and repair, especially when you are in the learning phase. Unlikely you can work on a diesel engine, nor hydraulics, plus you have the metric/SAE conundrum. So, dealer maintenance time is inevitable.
When shopping, determine transport cost for dealer to pick up and return your tractor for service from your property. $1.00 - $2.50 per mile is the range in Florida.
If you do not see what you want, shop eBay and TractorHouse.com for used tractors available in your area, limiting yourself to tractor brands with service, as above, within fifty miles of your property. Both eBay and TractorHouse.com allow you to customize search to certain horsepower within a certain radius of your property.
It is not practical to add a backhoe to a tractor after purchase. Backhoes are very, very expensive if not purchased as part of the tractor package. So if you must have a backhoe, save a little longer and buy the backhoe already on the tractor. (However, a <$400 clamp-on Bucket Spade may meet your orchard needs.)
I would not consider a diesel tractor with less than forty horsepower and 3,000 pounds weight for 175 acres.
There is nothing wrong with a well maintained, used, diesel tractor.
GOOD LUCK!
Relevant "SELECTING TRACTOR" threads from T-B-N archive:
https://www.google.com/search?clien...acres+site:tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?clien...ckhoe+site:tractorbynet.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Bucket Spade:
http://bucketsolutions.com/Quick-Attach-Spade.html
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