Options for General Use on 25 Acres?

[lsvan]

I'm looking for a tractor that will allow me to mow over fairly rough terrain to maintain trails throughout our 25 acres, pull a mower that will cut higher than 4" to manage our stand of native Indian grass, grade a long driveway, and do some occasional tilling. I also want to be able to mow between rows of young trees (4-5 acres). Like so many others, I have a variety of tasks and a desire to have enough tractor to do what I need, but not too much. I live in southern Indiana, about 25 miles northwest of Louisville, KY. Any insider advice on which dealers/local sources of expertise I can count on in my search? Know anyone who would give me a tractor for free? Obviously, I joke, but I don't need new, or even pretty, just reliable!

 

[MossRoad]

I do those same types of tasks on our 20 acres with our Power Trac PT425. There is a Power Trac forum here on TBN.

Power Trac is a factory direct only tractor. No dealers. Not for everyone. Amazing multi-tool platform. Here's a link to their company website.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention...

Welcome to TBN!

 

[Birdhunter1]

In you area there ought to be several MF 135's and 165's that would more than do what you are wanting to do. Anything in the 40-60 horsepower range should work well.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm looking for a tractor that will allow me to mow over fairly rough terrain to maintain trails throughout our 25 acres, pull a mower that will cut higher than 4" to manage our stand of native Indian grass, grade a long driveway, and do some occasional tilling. I also want to be able to mow between rows of young trees (4-5 acres). Like so many others, I have a variety of tasks and a desire to have enough tractor to do what I need, but not too much. I live in southern Indiana, about 25 miles northwest of Louisville, KY. Any insider advice on which dealers/local sources of expertise I can count on in my search? Know anyone who would give me a tractor for free? Obviously, I joke, but I don't need new, or even pretty, just reliable!

I'm about 25 miles southeast of Louisville, so we aren't too far from each other. (Mt Washington/Bullitt County Ky) I'm familiar with your general area. (Guessing Harrison County/Washington County, maybe northern Floyd County???) Try Batliners Massey Ferguson in Floyds Knobs In. for starters. (No, they won't give you anything free) Jacobi's Kubota in Palmyra/Sellersburg are good to work with, Avoid New Albany Tractor (New Holland dealer) unless you've got the keys to a bank vault. Nearest Deere dealer on your side of the Ohio River will be in English or Seymour. Best choices are on this side of the bridge. Louisville Tractor (Deere/New Holland) Hartland Equipment (Deere)

Used market is anyones guess. Lots of small Fords and Massey's in this area. (Suggest you grab a "Bargain Mart" and start shopping.) I'll PM you a name and number of a friend in Charlestown Indiana that deals mainly in small Masseys (135/150/165)and the occasional Ford and IH. He's a full-time farm equipment mechanic. He does "in-the-field" repairs. In his spare time he re-conditions tractors and sells them. You won't go wrong with him.

From time to time, I'll buy and re-sell a tractor or two, but don't have anything currently.

But I'll be glad to take your money anyway

PM to follow.

 

[weesa20]

It seems to me that woking between the trees may be the limiting factor in size...how close are they together?

Also, how wide are the trails? Will a 6 foot mower finish in one pass and a smaller one will have to make two passes?

W

 

[knute_m]

I have 25 acres here in the mountains of West Virginia. I have an additional 7 acres down the road. I do much of what you are looking to do.

I now have a Mahindra 2015 4WD with a loader. It is perfectly suited to our rather hilly property. I bush hog about 5 acres a couple time a year with a 4-foot Howse mower. I mow a small orchard. I clean my property lines through the woods with it. I maintain over a half-mile of driveway with a 5-foot box blade and a 6-foot rear blade -- it includes a fair amount of snow. I skid a lot of logs. I dig a lot of holes with a post hole digger.

Before this tractor, I had a Hinomoto C174 (same as Allis Chalmers 5015) 4WD 17 HP machine. Before that, it was a Yanmar 1500. Before that, it was many bigger American-made gasoline tractors, like 8Ns, a JD60, MF35s/135s, etc.

I'd never go back to the bigger and older gasoline farm tractors.

These little Japanese tractors are well suited to small properties and small spaces like you describe, yet they are all real hard working and tough machines.

 

[Woodbeef]

The main limiting factor to size of machine is probably the distance between rows of the young trees. Not sure if you'll find any O&V tractors close by,so you might need to look for a CUT. Any prefferences of hydrostatic or gear drive?

 

[dapper]

Welcome!
Might give Green's Implement in Leitchfield Ky. a try. Web site same name. Talk to Walter Green. I purchased tn65 there about a year ago. Had good experience. I think they would be about 50 miles south west of you. I use my tn65 for much the same as you will be doing. May be more tractor than your interested in, but great tractor for the money.
Good luck.