New member tractor advice

[2manyrocks]

A few random thoughts....

I didn't like the idea of buying an emissions tractor. Still don't, but finding a pre-emissions tractor at the right price and in good condition hasn't been so easy lately. I recently traded a 35 hp pre-emissions mahindra because it developed a leak at the bull pinion shafts and couldn't find anyone I really trusted to repair it in my area.

I replaced it with a low hour Kubota MX5200 which has DPF system. I leaned towards Kubota because there are four dealers in my area. Surely one of them can repair a Kubota? (my logic).

Had my first regen yesterday while cutting the fields. Sorta went into a panic trying to remember what the procedure is, but remembered others saying they just kept the RPM up and kept working. That's what I did and it was non-eventful.

The MX runs my 6' cutter in thick vegetation with no issues. The 4wd makes it easy to cut hillside areas where the 2wd Mahindra struggled. The MX overall is much more stable.

I was thinking I might get an 8' cutter, but the 6' is cutting so well that I may not.

TractorTYMe's T474 has the 48 hp Kukje engine. As I understand it, it is one of the relatively few engines that still uses mechanical injection and has a separate DPF system from the engine. The T474 cab models sell for about $32,000 or so in Middle Tennessee depending on where you buy them and whether it's a sync shuttle or HST. 6 year warranty. It is also a 48hp non-turbo engine.

I think your main issue is having 60-80 acres of fields to cut. That sounds like you really need a 10-12' batwing which would require a much larger tractor or finding someone who'll cut for the hay.

 

[jeff9366]

I replaced my previous tractor with a low hour Kubota MX5200 which has a DPF system. I leaned towards Kubota because there are four dealers in my area. Surely one of them can repair a Kubota? (my logic).

The MX5200 runs my 6' cutter in thick vegetation with no issues. The 4wd makes it easy to cut hillside areas where the 2wd Mahindra struggled. The MX overall is much more stable.

TractorData.com Kubota MX5200 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[airbiscuit]

I think a little more information would be helpful. Are you in scorching heat? If yes, a cab sould be nice. If no, I've seen a few set ups with a canopy and an electric fan blowing down.

How often will you be going to the Property? If you plan to mow all 60 -80 acres at once, then you need big honkin tractor and cutter. Me, I would prefer to spread out the fun - multiple sessions a few hours at a time.

If I was in your situation - kind of new to all this - I would be looking for what I should buy for my first tractor. Something that will get the job now, and I can learn what will be optimal. Tractors are weird in that you can usually use them for a couple of years and sell them for what you paid for them.

A Ford 8N with a 5' or 6' rotary cutter would do the job (although I don't particularly like them). I would be scouring Craigslist, Tractor House and local auctions for a decent older AG tractor. That very exercise will expand your knowledge about brands, models and prices. Depending on what it is, you might find a decent rig for $4,000 - $7,000.

Buy one, use it for a couple of years, and then you'ii figure out what you really want/need.

 

[RHanna]

I think a little more information would be helpful. Are you in scorching heat? If yes, a cab sould be nice. If no, I've seen a few set ups with a canopy and an electric fan blowing down.

How often will you be going to the Property? If you plan to mow all 60 -80 acres at once, then you need big honkin tractor and cutter. Me, I would prefer to spread out the fun - multiple sessions a few hours at a time.

If I was in your situation - kind of new to all this - I would be looking for what I should buy for my first tractor. Something that will get the job now, and I can learn what will be optimal. Tractors are weird in that you can usually use them for a couple of years and sell them for what you paid for them.

A Ford 8N with a 5' or 6' rotary cutter would do the job (although I don't particularly like them). I would be scouring Craigslist, Tractor House and local auctions for a decent older AG tractor. That very exercise will expand your knowledge about brands, models and prices. Depending on what it is, you might find a decent rig for $4,000 - $7,000.

Buy one, use it for a couple of years, and then you'ii figure out what you really want/need.

I live about 3 hours from the land but I'm thinking about building some sort of 2 bedroom place or buy an old home that is practically next door. Then I could use that to stay in while working it or hunting. I'd like to get my son and nephews more experiences with the land.

I'd like to knock it out in one go but that's probably not realistic.

The land is in west Tennessee so it can get pretty hot and humid. I'd have to have at least a canopy.

 

[2manyrocks]

Suggest you use a acres mowed per hour calculator to assess how long it will take to mow your property.

Most land is rough enough that I wouldn't plan on going faster than roughly 4 mph. That means that the time spent depends on the width of your mower relative to the number of acres you will be mowing.

Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

www.landscapecalculator.com

Bigger mowers require bigger tractors which cost more.

With you being 3 hours from the property, then you also have the question of how you will store and secure your equipment against weather and theft.

If you have to drive 3 hours to mow, I don't think you want to suffer from heat exhaustion just to keep your land mowed. Plus the drive home exhausted.....

I believe the ideal for you would be to find someone trustworthy to do the mowing.

 

[rScotty]

Just joined the forum.

Quick summary of my situation.
Dad just passed about 1 month ago.
He owned about 60-80 acres of fields. I know the land like the back of my hand just riding around on 4 wheelers and hunting. I know most of the fields are pretty "clean" (doesn't have a huge stump or random fence)
Some of it in CRP.
He owned a John Deere over 20 years ago, which I was able to drive and use a little bit. I'm not super mechanically inclined but would expect to be able to do most of the maintenance just not something like a full engine rebuild.

I would like to be able to brush hog all the fields and get them back to the way they used to look. Currently a couple of the fields have a lot of saplings while most haven't been cut in maybe 2 years.
I'm thinking about purchasing a tractor and brush hog to do these items. I don't expect to ever plant the fields or cut hay. My main job with the tractor will be cutting the fields but the more I look at the ones with the FEL I think I could need that attachment at some point. Cab would be nice but I wouldn't want to ignore a good deal.

I don't really want to drop a ton of money given the low amount of work required but it seems like I would need 50hp but I'm not sure. Seems like new could get pricey but I don't know if a 30 year old tractor would be reliable enough. Not really brand loyal, I know John Deere is a good brand but they seem to think a lot of their tractors.

Any advice welcome.

Since your dad did the work with that tractor, chances are good that he knew exactly what he needed. If it worked for him it will work for you.

Anyway, get the minimum done by a mechanic you trust and try it a few years. Then you will know what changes you would make and why..... if any.
A lot of people believe that the 20 and 30 year old tractors represented a high point in design. Combining reliability with easy maintenance.

 

[airbiscuit]

Is there a neighbor that would let you park the equipment?

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[RHanna]

Is there a neighbor that would let you park the equipment?

I grew up in the area where my grandmothers house, a small house that I lived in until 8, and then the new house that I lived in until college. All of those houses within 200 yards of each other and no other neighbors for miles.
My dad sold all 3 houses eventually in 2003 and moved closer to us (his 3 kids). The small house was sold to the family we've know for a really long time. The man keeps an eye on the place and helps out here and there and he gets to hunt it.

I could probably sit a tractor on his lot and not have to worry about it. He isn't the type of person you would want to piss off so it's nice that he likes our family so much.

Eventually I'll want to have a place there. Dad was already trying to convince my mom to build something which I was excited about. Its just really hard to drive 6 hours in a day and enjoy going down there often.

 

[rScotty]

Just joined the forum.

Quick summary of my situation.
Dad just passed about 1 month ago.
He owned about 60-80 acres of fields. I know the land like the back of my hand just riding around on 4 wheelers and hunting. I know most of the fields are pretty "clean" (doesn't have a huge stump or random fence)
Some of it in CRP.
He owned a John Deere over 20 years ago, which I was able to drive and use a little bit. I'm not super mechanically inclined but would expect to be able to do most of the maintenance just not something like a full engine rebuild.

I would like to be able to brush hog all the fields and get them back to the way they used to look. Currently a couple of the fields have a lot of saplings while most haven't been cut in maybe 2 years.
I'm thinking about purchasing a tractor and brush hog to do these items. I don't expect to ever plant the fields or cut hay. My main job with the tractor will be cutting the fields but the more I look at the ones with the FEL I think I could need that attachment at some point. Cab would be nice but I wouldn't want to ignore a good deal.

I don't really want to drop a ton of money given the low amount of work required but it seems like I would need 50hp but I'm not sure. Seems like new could get pricey but I don't know if a 30 year old tractor would be reliable enough. Not really brand loyal, I know John Deere is a good brand but they seem to think a lot of their tractors.

Any advice welcome.

Oh, on older tractors you don't usually hear or have any problems with the engine or transmissions. Sometimes a clutch needs work, but it is a type of thing that works less well for ever. What I am saying is don't worry about major repairs or rebuilding engines. Unlike cars and trucks, most tractors never need any of that work at all. Not ever.

Most tractor problems are with accessory systems like electricals and hydraulics. These require specialized knowledge, but it is the kind of knowledge any experienced mechanic will know. It doesn't require expensive dealership intervention. In fact, you really can do a lot of it yourself if you simply feel comfortable with a volt/ohm meter and basic bolted connections.

Newer tractors (post 2012) have computer controls and emissions reduction systems. Both of those do require dealerships and specialized mechanics.

If you have an older tractor, and it is in any way decent condition....consider just hanging onto it.

rScotty

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I have a TYM T474 HST with a cab (48.3Hp), I now have 405h on it, never had a regen request. When you work them hard enough they will do passive regen. Here I got it with my 6' JD LX 6 rotary brush cutter.


LX6View attachment 819872

The Kukje engines are amazing. Numerous folks with these engines have hundreds of hours and no regen.

 

[DaBear3428]

Just joined the forum.

Quick summary of my situation.
Dad just passed about 1 month ago.
He owned about 60-80 acres of fields. I know the land like the back of my hand just riding around on 4 wheelers and hunting. I know most of the fields are pretty "clean" (doesn't have a huge stump or random fence)
Some of it in CRP.
He owned a John Deere over 20 years ago, which I was able to drive and use a little bit. I'm not super mechanically inclined but would expect to be able to do most of the maintenance just not something like a full engine rebuild.

I would like to be able to brush hog all the fields and get them back to the way they used to look. Currently a couple of the fields have a lot of saplings while most haven't been cut in maybe 2 years.
I'm thinking about purchasing a tractor and brush hog to do these items. I don't expect to ever plant the fields or cut hay. My main job with the tractor will be cutting the fields but the more I look at the ones with the FEL I think I could need that attachment at some point. Cab would be nice but I wouldn't want to ignore a good deal.

I don't really want to drop a ton of money given the low amount of work required but it seems like I would need 50hp but I'm not sure. Seems like new could get pricey but I don't know if a 30 year old tractor would be reliable enough. Not really brand loyal, I know John Deere is a good brand but they seem to think a lot of their tractors.

Any advice welcome.

you do not mention where you are so take everything with a grain of salt, and i have not read all the responses so maybe someone else has stated this but.
if you just want the fields to look good and not interested in working them i would suggest no tractor for now is a good option.
look around for a local hay farmer or rancher and lease the grazing / hay fields to them collect some money and no need to own a tractor maybe take some of the fees for the lease and invest into a tractor later if you really want. if needed hire a mowing contractor to get the fields set up as needed, also this gives you time to hunt for a bargain tractor/ equipment.

I love my tractor and use it daily but from your write up i get the feeling that you think because you have land/fields you have to have a tractor, you do not. this approach also gives you the opportunity to learn what is needed to manage the property and observe a professional do it that by itself is valuable.

anyway good luck

 

[paulsharvey]

For arguments sake; cause I do like to argue both sides;

You would probably spend between $1,000-4,000 per mowing cycle, or I would think a min of $2,000-8,000 per year, with just two mowing. That's a lot of money, but at the same time; let's look at a TYM 574, at $35,000 (or so), a 8 foot bush hog at $4500 (or so); fuel for 16 hours per mowing cycle; you Might be able to hire it mowed for between 5-20 years, before you reach break even point on the purchase.

Now, the other side; I would look at your budget, and if you can swing it, get the tractor and bush hog. I would expect, for $650/month, you can build a heck of a brand new cab tractor, with large mower, and loader. Now, that's $7800 per year, plus fuel, and you are within the range of what you might be paying to someone else to do it. You mentioned hunting, so a couple 2 acre food plots; possible fence work; ect, and you have something to show for your money. You can decide when to mow, what areas you want to mow, ect, on your schedule.

Also, maybe you can find a guy to mow for $50/hr now; don't think that rate isn't going to be x3 that in 5 years. Heck, right now, I would expect to pay atleast $80/hr, if not $120/hr.

 

[RHanna]

you do not mention where you are so take everything with a grain of salt, and i have not read all the responses so maybe someone else has stated this but.
if you just want the fields to look good and not interested in working them i would suggest no tractor for now is a good option.
look around for a local hay farmer or rancher and lease the grazing / hay fields to them collect some money and no need to own a tractor maybe take some of the fees for the lease and invest into a tractor later if you really want. if needed hire a mowing contractor to get the fields set up as needed, also this gives you time to hunt for a bargain tractor/ equipment.

I love my tractor and use it daily but from your write up i get the feeling that you think because you have land/fields you have to have a tractor, you do not. this approach also gives you the opportunity to learn what is needed to manage the property and observe a professional do it that by itself is valuable.

anyway good luck

I’m in Tennessee.
How long to go from a bunch of crap to baling hay?
Also with CRP I’m not sure I could do it. Just now learning about that program.

 

[RHanna]

For arguments sake; cause I do like to argue both sides;

You would probably spend between $1,000-4,000 per mowing cycle, or I would think a min of $2,000-8,000 per year, with just two mowing. That's a lot of money, but at the same time; let's look at a TYM 574, at $35,000 (or so), a 8 foot bush hog at $4500 (or so); fuel for 16 hours per mowing cycle; you Might be able to hire it mowed for between 5-20 years, before you reach break even point on the purchase.

Now, the other side; I would look at your budget, and if you can swing it, get the tractor and bush hog. I would expect, for $650/month, you can build a heck of a brand new cab tractor, with large mower, and loader. Now, that's $7800 per year, plus fuel, and you are within the range of what you might be paying to someone else to do it. You mentioned hunting, so a couple 2 acre food plots; possible fence work; ect, and you have something to show for your money. You can decide when to mow, what areas you want to mow, ect, on your schedule.

Also, maybe you can find a guy to mow for $50/hr now; don't think that rate isn't going to be x3 that in 5 years. Heck, right now, I would expect to pay atleast $80/hr, if not $120/hr.

Financially speaking it’s probably better to hire but it also leaves me venerable to relying on other people. And like you said, what will be the rate in a few years.

I’m keeping an eye on auctions just to get a feel for it. Just wondering how much of a deal you can get from auctions.

 

[airbiscuit]

We're getting a better idea about your situation.

What is your budget?
Where do you plan to keep the tractor?
What happened to your Father's tractor?
Is any of the land wooded?
What do you plan to do for fun on the land?

 

[wolc123]

I’d be inclined to take half of your budgeted money and use it to put up a pole barn. Use the other half for a tractor and Bush hog. A used 75ish hp, 2wd, cabless, loaderless tractor will likely give you the most bang for the buck.

Sunlight is very destructive on tractors, especially on the tires and hydraulic hoses. I would not recommend keeping one outside.

 

[RHanna]

We're getting a better idea about your situation.

What is your budget?
Where do you plan to keep the tractor?
What happened to your Father's tractor?
Is any of the land wooded?
What do you plan to do for fun on the land?

Budget is kind of open, when I buy something I try to get good value out of it. Buying brand new probably isn’t the route I would go since I’m not going to use it every day or week. I also don’t like going cheap only to have to buy again. I was hoping to stay under 20 but that may not be possible.

Where is would keep it would either be under an open shed or inside if I could swing it. Just really depends on what I eventually do with living quarters.

He sold his tractor when he moved 20 years ago. I wasn’t real clear about that in the start.

There is more woods than fields but didn’t mention it because I was only concerned about the tractor.

For fun, hunting, riding around on the four wheeler, might get a side by side eventually. Using the living space to just enjoy the peace and quite.

 

[RHanna]

A used 75ish hp, 2wd, cabless, loaderless tractor will likely give you the most bang for the buck.

I do keep drifting more towards the older higher HP tractors while browsing. Then I think, how much diesel is that thing going to suck down, but then it’s pulling a wider mower so it will go faster.

I think a loader would be nice but I’d probably use it infrequently.

 

[airbiscuit]

We had a John Deere 3010 (63hp). It was surprising how little fuel it used. The newer 3020 is an oldie but goodie.