New land... need a tractor!!

[docsfarm]

Lol!!! A family doc!

 

[airbiscuit]

To misquote Dr. Seuss, "Oh the fun you'll have". You will get lots of good perspectives on this thread. I would start by going to dealerships and just start looking around. Sitting in the seat and driving around the lot will give you some idea what you like and what you don't like as far as size and features. It will also give you an idea if each dealership and/or salesperson is willing to invest time with you and talk straight, or if you are just a cash transaction to them. Warning, this will also get you in a spirited mood to buy!

I grew up on a farm with John Deeres from the 50's and 60's (gas and diesel). Off to college and career, and then a country home with a 1/2 mile driveway. A Farrmall H and a pony grader took care of that. The farm got select cut, and now there were 160 acres of trails to build and maintain. Hard to justify big bucks to the better half, so started on a budget - a grey market 15 hp Shibaura 1500SD AO with a 4' Kingkutter rough cut mower ($2,900). Amazed at how tough that tractor was - mowed hazelnut brush 8' high, and it barely sipped the fuel. Came across a 24hp John Deer 850 with a loader and 5' rough cutter for $6,000, so sold the Shibaura for what I paid for it even after years of use (love how compact utility tractors hold their value). Used that on the farm trails for years, and just sold it for $1,000 more than I paid for it and kept the rotary cutter.

By now, I caught the compact tractor bug. I bought a 21hp New Holland TC21 hydro with mid mount mower and loader to mo my mother's yard (farm), and I came across a 33hp New Holland hydro with loader for my own place. These newer compact tractors are amazing - smooth hydraulics, power steering, open platforms, smooth running diesels, etc. I thought I had my perfect tractor until ...... the BIG, HEAVY, WET snowstorm hit. I got it done with the 33hp New Holland with loader and rear mount snowblower, but a lot of tire spinning with the R4s and the deep snow.

A friend of mine wanted my tractor, and I found a 40hp New Holland 12x12 shuttle with loader and R1 ag tires. I have now found my perfect tractor (until the next one). Only 7 more hp, but the larger frame and tires mean everything as far as brute force. Night and day difference as far as what I can do with this tractor, and yet it is nearly as nimble as my 33 hp version. A long story to get to my thoughts on your tractor considerations:

40 - 55 hp larger frame tractor
Hydro or Shuttle? I like em both
Pre Tier IV engine (too many uncertainties for this large of an investment)
Extra hydraulic remotes (for grapple bucket, top & tilt, rear implements, etc.)
Extendable 3 point links (I no longer consider this a luxury)
A good dealer for parts and service
John Deere, Kioti, Kubota, Mahindra, Massey Ferguson, or New Holland (in alphabetical order)
Beet juice in the tires

I sure like my R1 ag tires, but R4s would be okay too. Add some LED work lights, a tool box and chain carrier and you will be good to go. Recognize that you are about to begin journey that others may not understand ...

 

[TractorGuy]

Be careful in the woods with an open ROPS. Been knocked in the head more times than I want to repeat. Finally got all my trees cut so looking for a cab here but not sure it's justified with our mild weather. AC would be awesome in the summer though.

With that much property I would definitely look for 40+ HP or larger if you can.

 

[airbiscuit]

Here are some good links for reference as you start to research choices:

Tractor Specifications
TractorData.com - Farm tractors

Prices
TractorHouse.com | Used Tractors For Sale: John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Kubota.

Reviews
Tractor Guide - TractorByNet.com

 

[Skyfish25]

I personally think you want a little bigger. In the Massey line, the smallest 4600(4608) or the bigger of the 2700? Don't need to get a Massey, but that is the size I think you will like. I personally don't like filling tires.

 

[jenkinsph]

I suggest you get a small used tractor open station for the woods work preferably with a four post fops. Around 25 to 30 hp or so, something decent but used enough you don't mind taking it into the woods. Budget about $10,000 or so. May have to fabricate some protective side screens or limb risers to it.

After operating the woods tractor you can then decide whether a larger tractor is needed. You can buy a new larger cab tractor for winter and field work and size it to the implements you want. No need to beat up a new tractor in the woods.

 

[gladehound]

Another thought. For your hills, the MF 26xx series seems to have a lower center of gravity than most large CUTs or UTs. Although marketed as UTs, they are on the small size for a UT and could be a nice compromise between enough size to get things done and nimble enough to get where you want to go. They are also priced not much above your initial budget target. I strongly considered this series and wouldn't have hesitated if the right deal presented itself.

If you do spend a good amount of time in the woods, you might want to build some sort of FOPS or cage. At this point, with two little girls that still want a Daddy, I wouldn't play in woods without one!

 

[Msamt]

Congrats on the land, sounds like something I'm always on the lookout for, but my 10 acres keeps me busy as it is. I started looking smaller for my purchase and ended up going bigger, so the adage of buying the next size up worked for me. Weight is your friend in most tractor usage scenarios, but balancing it with maneuverability can be a challenge at times. I'm partial to my Kioti DK45, mainly due to its control layout, but i dont think you can go wrong with any of the machines out there. What most say about an HST machine for loader work is dead on, and as for maneuvering in tight spaces, it is invaluable (in my opinion).
Good luck and welcome!

 

[GManBart]

This is one of those topics that comes up regularly, and it's really hard to answer appropriately because there are always so many variables. In general, it sounds like the minimum for what you're going to be doing is something in the 40-50hp CUT range, but based upon some of your tasks, a Utility machine might be better, or at least faster. One positive of going with a machine that size is that if you decide to go larger/smaller at a later date, there's always a good market for good machines that size.

If you buy something like a large CUT now, you may later decided that you need something bigger (unlikely smaller), or that you also want/need is a skid steer/compact track loader, or a loader/backhoe, etc, but you'll be able to get by as you're learning what your needs are. I've used a large CUT in tight woods and it really wasn't a problem and the added ground clearance over a smaller machine was a plus. There were a number of times I know a smaller machine would have gotten stuck and needed to be dragged out.

As far as mowing, if you're talking about field mowing 2.5 acres (with a brush hog or flail mower), that's one thing. If you're talking about 2.5 acres of lawn around the house, it's another. For 2.5 acres around the house, get a dedicated zero turn mower....much faster, and a better cut that you'll get using a tractor with a belly mower/finish mower.

Since you mentioned New Holland, I'd point out that they aren't making their own small tractors any longer (for years actually). You can buy the exact same tractor from LS for thousands less. For example, a Boomer 41 is nothing more than an LS XR4040 with different decals, grill/headlights, and a different FEL (LS uses their own FEL). Most of the things that are standard on the LS come as options on the Boomer (like rear remotes) and if you get a quote for an equally-optioned NH and compare it to an LS, the price difference is often as much at $10K....for the same machine. I bought an LS R4047H in late 2012 and paid $21,500 for it. The local NH dealer quoted $31K for the same configuration.

 

[newbury]

So, we finally closed on our property. 197 acres in north-central PA. About 60 acres is field the rest is woods. 25+ acres is in the CREP program and will need the associated maintenance. I would like to plant a few food plots for deer, etc. I will need to open and clear out old logging roads and keep them cleaned out. Once we build our house, we will have approximately 1/3 mile driveway to maintain (stone, smooth and snow removal, etc..) And, about 2.5 acres to mow (minus whatever would go into garden). And of course any other projects I stumble into!! <snip>

I know you didn't ask but:
Unless you have servants and sheep shorten the driveway and decrease the acres to mow. W/ 200 acres you will start stumbling into projects every time you or the other part of "we" sleep.

You are pretty spot on for tractor size, so think attachments that may be bundled with a used tractor.
For your uses pallet forks, grapple, rotary cutter, disc, off road trailer come to mind.

Try to get a tractor that will lift at least a ton on the 3pt.

Make sure it is SSQA compatible and switching between FEL, pallet forks, grapple will be easier.

The military is excessing a lot of trailers:Search Results
and you should be able to get a good used M105 for less than $1,000.

And take pictures. This forum thrives on pictures.