Our first tractor purchase...where to start?

[patchfarm]

We're starting a small organic farm this season, and while we'll primarily be relying on a friend to use his tractor for the first few times we'll need it this season (breaking ground/initial tilling), we're looking to purchase our own so that we won't need to borrow/rent long-term.

But where to start! We have a bit of a nest-egg so cost isn't a super big issue, but we also would prefer to keep the cost under $20k if buying new, and obviously less if buying used.

Our farm tractor needs right now: Tilling and working 2 acres of gently sloping field that's been in perennial grasses for over a decade, and was used to grow cucurbits before that. We'll be doing multiple tilling passes this season to kill off quack-grass, other weeds. We'll also need to till in a few cover crops (buckwheat and oats).

Our farm in the future: We plan on having roughly 5 acres in vegetable production, and will likely use the tractor for some work in the woods, various tasks around the farm (turning compost, etc.).

My thoughts are we need a 30-40+HP, and 30+hp to the PTO. 4WD. I'd probably prefer either a standard transmission, or maybe shuttle. I'm not a huge fan of HST, and we don't need to do a ton of back/forth bucket work either. As I said, we're open to buying new (Kubota, Mahindra probably..) or buying used. I may go look at a L4400 this weekend that's listed for $11k (without FEL though). Seems a decent tractor for our needs though.

Any thoughts on what direction we should look?

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

check with the neighbors.
The rule is at least as good or better than theirs.
I would go the web sites and build you own and compare the final price built as you want.

 

[GManBart]

I don't think you can come close to $20K for 30+HP going with Kubota, Mahindra, New Holland, Deere, or Massey. You can get roughly 40hp with Kioti or LS for around $20K, but the others will cost significantly more than that.

I was looking for 40hp and did tons of research, over a period of a couple of months. In the end, I bought an LS R4047H, and it's been simply outstanding. I was really torn between it, and a Kioti DK40SE...really couldn't have gone wrong either way.

There really aren't any bad tractors in the 30-50hp range, and there's so much competition, that I think all of the brands are putting out a good product. For what I got, I would have had to pay over $30K from the bigger names, and I simply didn't see a difference in the quality. R,

 

[Baby Grand]

What type and size implements will you be using, immediately and in the forseeable future?
Front Loader, backhoe, box blade, rear blade, pallet forks,
Tiller, cultivator, disc hiller, disc harrow, turning plow, subsoiler,
Brush hog, sicklebar mower, baler, bale spear, etc?
Will working in the woods involve logging out firewood?
Will you be needing a logging winch, grapple, chipper?
Once you know the answer to these questions, then you can back into what tractor will suit those implements. This will help you avoid both an undersized tractor, that won't do the jobs that you need done, and one that's too big to maneuver in small gardens.

 

[kiotiken]

Standard L is to light and doesn't have a strong FEL. If you like Kubota, I'd say an L4240 or bigger. The standard L is not just a stripped down version of the grand L, they are totally different tractors and much lighter duty than the grand L. I'd also stay away from the 3032e & 3038e lines if you're considering JD, they're also very light and bare bones and again a much lighter duty version, designed to compete on price, not specs. I think you'd be crazy not to look at the Kioti DK40 (DK45 will give you more PTO hp and may not cost much/any more) and the LS 4047. I'd look at them all if I was doing it again, but LS & Kioti would be the favorites going in for me.

 

[Ted Summey]

If the L is too light and the Grand L is too pricey - consider the MX 5100. Basic tractor but not really a compact tractor either. It is a 50 engine and 44 hp PTO in the gear model.

You should be able to find a very good low hour used MX5100 with a loader in your price range. I have seen several since I bought mine new.

Mine handles a 72" rotary tiller, 6' brush cutter, 6' box blade, one row bedder (don't have a two row but I think it would do fine) 14" two bottom plow, nine shank tillage tool 72" scrape blade etc. whatever you do, I strongly suggest at least one set of remote hydraulic connections on the rear of the tractor. That's my only regret regarding mine, I didn't add them when I bought.

 

[patchfarm]

RUGGED KUBOTA 46hp 4WD

That's the L4400 I was going to try and take a look at this weekend. You guys are saying the L series is too light? The only other issues I see with that tractor I linked to, is the guy says it has no remotes, and it of course doesn't have an FEL so I'd have to add all of that later on.

The farm I worked on last year had a Kioti...don't remember which model but it was a decent tractor...HST.

Implements we plan on using in the near future: tiller, chisel plow, disc harrow. Probably will use a flail mower somewhere in the next few years to work cover crops. Long-term I don't see anything else really, maybe a backhoe someday..Maybe brush hog.

I did a quick search on local craigslists for any MX5100's and they seem to be kind of out of our range. $20K and up.

 

[kiotiken]

Forget about that L4400 if it doesn't have a FEL, it's not worth adding later. If you're buying used, you need to find one that comes with a FEL. Kubota remotes are also very expensive to add, I've heard up to $1500, but somebody here can confirm I'm sure.

Nothing wrong with the MX, but it is a bare bones tractor. The MX is to the M what the standard L is to the Grand L. LS and Kioti will give you a lot more tractor (capability and features) for the same or less money.

 

[Ted Summey]

Wow I'm surprised that the price is that high on the used MX's! My 2wd model was 16k new!

 

[Ted Summey]

A single set of remotes for the MX5100 is $700 installed per dealer quote.

 

[nybirdman]

Kubota L3800 should do all your work,4WD and FEL,your choice on the transmission.R1(Ag) tires.There a couple guys on here that have commercial operations with similar or smaller tractors.May want to look at the B2620/2920 also.
I started with a 31HP tractor,handled a roto-tiller and 2/12 bottom plows no problem.

 

[Fred Ziffle]

Our farm tractor needs right now: Tilling and working 2 acres of gently sloping field that's been in perennial grasses for over a decade, and was used to grow cucurbits before that. We'll be doing multiple tilling passes this season to kill off quack-grass, other weeds. We'll also need to till in a few cover crops (buckwheat and oats).

Our farm in the future: We plan on having roughly 5 acres in vegetable production, and will likely use the tractor for some work in the woods, various tasks around the farm (turning compost, etc

His current needs, 2 acres, future needs 5 acres, and an L series is too light? Seriously?

 

[kiotiken]

His current needs, 2 acres, future needs 5 acres, and an L series is too light? Seriously?

Yes, it's to light for 5 acres of tilling or plowing or any ground engagement work. Sure, he could get it done, he could with a BX as well, but it's not well suited for his requirements. A grand L is perfect and that would be at the top of my list. If the price on a Grand L is to high, there are plenty of other tractors that are equally capable with the same features but cost considerably less, again, I'd say either Kioti or LS.

If he's looking at the standard L based on price, again, there are other tractors that compare favorably on capabilities and are full featured vs the fairly bare bones of the standard L and are in line with price as well. When I bought my first new tractor it came down to a standard L or Kioti CK30. The CK30 had a lot more features, better specs, heavier and slightly less expensive. Spending a few extra bucks got me up to my current DK tractor, and I can tell you the OP would be much better served by that size tractor for what he wants to do.

 

[k0ua]

One other thing, if running a tiller a lot is one of the desired tasks, I sure would think long and hard about getting a HST. I know he said he did not want an HST, but I would rethink that.

James K0UA

 

[MarkV]

One other thing, if running a tiller a lot is one of the desired tasks, I sure would think long and hard about getting a HST. I know he said he did not want an HST, but I would rethink that.

James K0UA

I was going to say the same thing that James did. My gear tractor with 12 forward gears does not have a low enough gear to till new ground well. My little HST tractor with its infinite speeds does the tilling.

MarkV

 

[kiotiken]

The downside is HST sucks a little power, but it sounds like it's well worth it in this case. I'm also VERY envious of HST+ which is available on the Grand L and I'd say it's the one major advantage Kubota has over the competition.

 

[econometrics]

I'll toss my $0.02 in for buying used right now. Think of it like when you first got your driver's license... you bought a used car, I'm sure, for your first car. You got used to driving it, etc. and I'm sure you dinged it up here and there.

I say this because I just bought a 2007 JD 5103 as my first tractor. I'm glad I didn't pay a sticker price on it, because I would like to sell it for something bigger in the next coulpe of years. Once I got to using it around my property, I realized that I needed more than I had initially thought, so I'm glad I didn't take the "drive off the lot" depreciation on it.

 

[kiotiken]

I'll toss my $0.02 in for buying used right now. Think of it like when you first got your driver's license... you bought a used car, I'm sure, for your first car. You got used to driving it, etc. and I'm sure you dinged it up here and there.

I say this because I just bought a 2007 JD 5103 as my first tractor. I'm glad I didn't pay a sticker price on it, because I would like to sell it for something bigger in the next coulpe of years. Once I got to using it around my property, I realized that I needed more than I had initially thought, so I'm glad I didn't take the "drive off the lot" depreciation on it.

:thumbsup: Extremely good advice. I bought 3 tractors in 3 years trying to get it right. A very common theme on TBN is people wanting to trade for more tractor. Always seems to be the same people who didn't listen when other members told them the SCUT they were looking at wouldn't be good to hay their 100 acres :laughing:

 

[bhh]

I recently purchased a new 4wd L3800 HST for our 40 acre woodlot. Paid $25k for the machine with loaded tires (+600 lb), dealer installed WR Long 3rd function remote on the FEL for a grapple, QA FEL with 66" bucket, QA pallet forks, Landpride 3pt Quickhitch, Landpride rotary mower and a Landpride Box Blade. I've since added a 42" grapple and a landscape rake and will soon add a chipper. I am primarily using the machine to clean up years of neglected woods, light clearing and grading and 600' of driveway maintenance so I can't really speak much about the machine's ground engaging ability but I've had no problem dragging the 66" box blade completely full of wet clay. The Grand L's are very nice but I just couldn't justify the extra expense for my needs and the 3800 has performed well at everything I have ask of it. If I was using the machine for commercial purposes where there was an actual return on the investment, the math may have been different but for hobby farming, I think I get much "work" out of the extra attachments I was able to purchase than I would have out of a grand L with no grapple and the few other attachments I would not have been able to purchase.

 

[Guesseral]

One other thing, if running a tiller a lot is one of the desired tasks, I sure would think long and hard about getting a HST. I know he said he did not want an HST, but I would rethink that.

James K0UA

But I would disagree. My tractor is a shuttle and I have absolutly no problem running a tiller, non what so ever. It all depends what you are used to and really what you want!