Buying Advice Right CUT for 10 acres

[Mud Mechanik]

Being a cattle farmer I'm gonna offer this advise, You mentioned feeding square bales and owning around 5 head or so, it is really gonna surprise you as to how much these critters eat. Your gonna spend alot of time feeding and handling hay, I'll admit that when I first got into raising cattle, I loved doing that every day, but it soon gets tiring and agravating. I now bale my hay into 4 X 5 round bales and feeding during the winter is still a job but at least I don't have to do it as often. With that being said....be sure you get a tractor that is capable of handling round bales because I bet your gonna want one soon.

 

[Morroder]

Drove and priced a Mahindra 3016 Shuttle with FEL today. Sound unit no complaints. $16800 quote. Thought that was a little high. Salesman said units in short supply right now. Looking for price comments

 

[madmax12]

Drove and priced a Mahindra 3016 Shuttle with FEL today. Sound unit no complaints. $16800 quote. Thought that was a little high. Salesman said units in short supply right now. Looking for price comments

p m daves tractor ... I think that price might be fair ... I think your dealer was being truthful

 

[jenkinsph]

Drove and priced a Mahindra 3016 Shuttle with FEL today. Sound unit no complaints. $16800 quote. Thought that was a little high. Salesman said units in short supply right now. Looking for price comments

Looks like you are going for an all in one tractor. How do you feel about having the separate mower for the lawn?

About the Mahindra, don't know if it was a typo but I see the 3PH lift capacity is about the same as the overall tractor weight. Sounds a little impractical to me, don't get to caught up in specs as some brands might be more conservative in their ratings. Based on specs listed on Tractordata.

Gravel driveway maintenance, if you fix it up right with a proper layer of base course on bottom and a thin layer of clean gravel on top any touch ups should be a minor thing to do. You will find the biggest concern will be keeping the edges neat. I put in about eight or ten driveways a year for customers and have a crackerjack truck driver to tailgate the materials. I use the truck loaded with gravel to pack the base course layer (3/4" to fines). He will wait if I think I need to smooth it up before placing the clean gravel on top. Don't need much tractor to maintain the driveway imo.

Running a tiller is mostly about pto hp and being able to select the right ground speed. Don't need or want a heavy tractor for this work, I find having an independent pto to be the best choice. The more pto hp you have and tiller to match means you can cover the ground faster.

FEL work requires the most weight of all the things you will do and will tax your tractor the most too. The more emphasis you place on setting the tractor up for fel use the poorer the tractor setup is for mowing finished lawns. That is why I recommend a separate lawn mower.

 

[rdrash]

Here is what I have done. I picked up a JD 2320 with a loader and mmm and it works great for mowing, tilling and pushing snow(with chains). Its not to hard on the grass even tho I loaded the tires. When you want to take the mower off, unhook and back over it, it takes 2minutes. You will probably switch to round bales after a short time of feading squares. So then find yourself a good used tractor with a loader from the 70s or 60s. That tractor will last a long time as you will probably only put 20hrs a year on it. They can be had for $2500 +/-. If I had to do it again I would have got a jd2520.

Some times ONE tractor just wont fit all your needs. Well that is what worked for me. Good luck

Trevor

 

[Morroder]

I'm down to 3 choices after meeting with local dealers:


LS 3039
Mahindra 3016
Kubota L3200

All with FEL, all GST. Dealers aside, which is your pick and why? The LS has more hp, more features and is cheaper. I know they're new to market but have been building tractors for a long time under other logos

 

[yelbike]

I'm jd Guy, but since thats out for some unknown reason stick with the next best. Going orange, will not disappoint. If for no other reason resell value. You know they'll be around tomorrow!!

 

[Morroder]

I did look at Green, as I grew up driving them. But, that paint costs a lot. Just like my dad, who went away from Deere for the same reason.... I ruled them out as I don't see myself trading a lot

 

[Morroder]

So, went and testt drove the LS again. Think it's off the list. Op station felt cramped and didn't like how loader attached to tractor. Took away 4 in of clearance. On way home stopped at Deere dealer and was impressed with the E series. Everything u need and affordable. I am concerned about the weight of tractor and lift specs on 3ph. Got a bid of 18700 for 3038E with FEL. Think I am down to Mahindra vs JD

 

[madmax12]

So, went and testt drove the LS again. Think it's off the list. Op station felt cramped and didn't like how loader attached to tractor. Took away 4 in of clearance. On way home stopped at Deere dealer and was impressed with the E series. Everything u need and affordable. I am concerned about the weight of tractor and lift specs on 3ph. Got a bid of 18700 for 3038E with FEL. Think I am down to Mahindra vs JD

Man...u r doing some serious homework! Cool!!!

Only thought I have, is if the john deere is more money, what would that same money buy at Mahindra? (or whatever brand, again)

If they r the same money, for almost same ability (not familiar with the JD), its a good bet the forum would lean JD. If they are same money, but mahindra can out perform...

...well... I bought the Max28XL.

Tough call. It's your money and your butt in the seat. You are certainly doing your homework. Just get a model that can lift what u need lifted or pulled, pushed, moved, etc... That's what you want it for.

 

[Morroder]

The ability to feed 4x4 or 4x5 round bales is high on my list. Won't ever do much brush hogging. In fact could clip pasture with finish mower once or twice a year. So, I think I can get by with 21-25 hp at pto. Maintaining drive will be important also, so traction is a concern. Driveway is 3/4 mi long, but flat. Snow removal will be rare, but seems like we get huge snows anymore when we do. All this being said, the Mahindra has better hydraulics but less hp when you compare 3016 to 3032e.

3106 HST w/FEL - 17700
3032e w/FEL - 17300

It's a wash on price. Dealers are both excellent. Getting time to make a final call

 

[yelbike]

So, went and testt drove the LS again. Think it's off the list. Op station felt cramped and didn't like how loader attached to tractor. Took away 4 in of clearance. On way home stopped at Deere dealer and was impressed with the E series. Everything u need and affordable. I am concerned about the weight of tractor and lift specs on 3ph. Got a bid of 18700 for 3038E with FEL. Think I am down to Mahindra vs JD

I wouldn't worry too much about spec. For example if the loader is rated 100 or 200 lbs more or less with one or the other, your likely not go to be working right at the very edge of capacity very often.

Keep in mind jd will give you more in resale and they are just nicer looking!!!

 

[madmax12]

The ability to feed 4x4 or 4x5 round bales is high on my list. Won't ever do much brush hogging. In fact could clip pasture with finish mower once or twice a year. So, I think I can get by with 21-25 hp at pto. Maintaining drive will be important also, so traction is a concern. Driveway is 3/4 mi long, but flat. Snow removal will be rare, but seems like we get huge snows anymore when we do. All this being said, the Mahindra has better hydraulics but less hp when you compare 3016 to 3032e.

3106 HST w/FEL - 17700
3032e w/FEL - 17300

It's a wash on price. Dealers are both excellent. Getting time to make a final call

Well, there's rock (you'll be needing the Mahindra for the rock part:cool2, paper, scissors... (I suppose the JD could help with those )

Or eenie, meenie, miney, mow... Or coin toss. :confused3:

They're even both Christmas colors, so no division there.

Do u look better sitting in green? Or getting work done in red?:cool2:

 

[Nissan197]

Good luck on choosing. When I bought my 10 acres I checked all the brands out and settled on a Mahindra 3215 shuttle. It has been a great tractor. I now have 20 acres and am wishing I had a little larger tractor. Rough cutting with a 5 foot deck takes forever. It was fun for the first year, but now with 3 kids I just don't have the available time I once did.

What dealer are you using? I did not know if you are in the KC area.

 

[Morroder]

Columbia mo dealer. Henderson Implement. Have also talked with Tatum in SW Mo

 

[vtsnowedin]

2 to 3 acres of Lawn? What for? a lawn is a maintenance expense. You should have no more lawn then your wife or oldest child can mow with a push mower in an hour. 1/8 acre should do. Not that you won't end up mowing it yourself more times then not. 5 to 6 acres of pasture for live stock? Is any of that hay field or crop land to grow winter feed or are you not concerned with making a real profit. But of course if your putting horses on it it is all a loss to begin with. Not trying to be judgemental, many people want to do such things and as long as they can afford it more power to them. But to your question the tractor you buy to do the necessary work on a for profit operation and what to buy if the size of the lawn matters most are two different things.

 

[Morroder]

Hobby Farm. Not worried about profit.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Hobby Farm. Not worried about profit.

Well in that case you need something with a cab on it to keep you warm while you plow that 3/4 mile drive.

 

[drg1]

keep a few things in mind on the 3032e vs 3016..foldable rops on the 3016, 3speed hst on the 3016, more lift capeability on the 3016, heavier machine on 3016, quick disconnect loader on 3016(handy if using a mmm) skid steer compatability on the 3016, 5year warranty, plus a few other things..I've been comparing these 2 machines for the last year reading all the forums and believe me its a tough choice..I also live in the kc are, waiting for the refi of the house and will probably go with the mahindra..good luck on your choice and I dont think you could go wrong on either one

 

[drg1]

Also as a side note new dealer in harrisonville, Mo...They are from clinton mo and opened a new store