smallest 4 wheel tractor worth looking at?

[Mushroom]

I have aprox. 6 acres; mostly wooded with a few open garden plots. I need a tractor for turning manure/mulch piles, hauling compost and logs for raised beds, etc. about the property, some digging future garden plots about the property. Trying to keep a small foot print on the property and grow among the trees "It's too hot in Florida", I need my tree canopy as a shade house in summer and green house in winter. Any brand / model suggestion would be very much appreciated.

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[jonyyuma]

Welcome, Smallest tractor? Opinions will vary a lot on this topic. Type and brands are all over the scope of the work involved. If you don't go over 35 hp, then your foot print should be pretty small on the landscape. Let the games begin???

 

[LD1]

4 wheel

or 4wheel DRIVE

Assuming you mean 4wd, opinions will vary a lot on this.

And brands suggestions are going to vary as well.

I'd start by asking you what dealers you have in your area. And then go an actually look at some tractors to get a "feel" for their size. When you get an Idea of a rough size you might feel comfortable in, that narrows it down a lot.

 

[bp fick]

Welcome. You'll have to provide more information about the chores you wish to do with this tractor, not just the makeup of your land. Roughly, you are describing a CUT, a compact utility tractor. These begin at roughly the 23 hp level and extend up to around 50 hp, with tremendous range of capacity, weight and PRICE.

This conversation cannot really be all that helpful unless you've done some visiting of your local dealerships, sat on a few, priced a few, and seen with your own eyes the physical differences between them. Kubota alone makes 30+ models in this broad category. We'd need some narrowing down, by budget, if nothing else.

 

[Nissan197]

Welcome to TBN. Check out all the brands near you and test them all.

 

[Mushroom]

Yes; I meant 4WD. I am not a "Brand" kind of person. Granted, you basically get what you pay for, but I have a hard time paying the extra dollars the big brands demand "to pay for their marketing". JD is in my area, Kubota is in range as well. I was hoping my needs were fairly narrow in the market >a small tractor with big power on the four wheels, & PTO for lifting. I don't need speed, but heavy lifting/pushing seems valuable and I do have some sticky mud in an area I plan on harvesting some muck for my gardens (I was thinking that is more a tire selection, but then, I'm dumb as a rock about tractors). I don't plan on doing much mowing, but want to set up a rough portable saw-mill off the PTO to take advantage of some of the timber on my property. To build chicken coups, small tool sheds, etc. As far as going to the dealers, I was hoping I could learn a little here, so as to qualify whether the dealer rep. is pulling my chain, and feeding me a line, I have know way of knowing he is B.S'ing me! Thanks for the input, I feel dumb to not even know how to shop out my needs with a tractor. I have used a couple, one being so small, that my foot wouldn't fit anywhere to get on and off it. That was a surprise, was obviously built for small little people, because I'm not that big myself. A Montana I used, had some feel good features, but felt like it was going to break when I was using it(might have been a power thing or??just felt like the whole machine was stressing without much load.....if that makes since? It was a 3940 HST. So, just didn't know if anyone could narrow it down to several models to consider. Yes, I am overwhelmed just looking at the number of possibilities, but I feel most are too big, or some pretty little model that "looks tough, but ain't"! Sorry for the rambling, just trying to get it out there, best I can. Steve

 

[bp fick]

Steve, that helps.

You have operated a tractor and that experience will serve you well.

You need to remember the size/horse power of that machine you used. It sure sounds like you wish it were larger and had more power. Start there. If it was a 40, then cast your eyes on up to a 50.

This is how it goes. It isn't just horse power figures either, in fact they can be somewhat misleading. You need to sit on tractors at various dealers until you get a better sense of the size, physically, you need. Basing it off your past experience with the Montana is a great place to start as a point of reference.

As for brands, I'd not pay too much attention. You need to narrow down your general physical size first.

Once you have that in focus, you can begin to compare models X and Y from Green against models A and B from Orange against models M and N from Blue and so forth.

Otherwise, it is indeed baffling to try and sort through 120 models from the top 8 manufacturers.

BTW, the PTO is the drive shaft in the rear that spins rear attachments. It doesn't lift anything. You'll want to understand the 3 pt system on the rear and lifting power of the loader in the front.

 

[Dmace]

The Kioti CK20 is a pretty tough tractor to beat for size, power and price.

22 HP / 17.1 PTO HP
105.7" long x 44.1" wide
4 year warranty / unlimited hours.
8 speed manual (6F/2R) or 2-range HST transmission
4 wheel drive
2,125 lbs tractor weight
7.66 gpm pump
Front End Loader lifts 1,074 lbs to 88" max height.
6.5ft dig depth on the curved boom backhoe.
Rear 3pt hitch lifts 1,305lbs 24" behind the bar pins.
Features like a suspension seat, fender mounted loader control, rear differential lock, foldable ROPS, cruise control, tilt steering, cup holder, etc... that cost more on others if they even have it at all.
Also, new Factory Installed heated and A/C cab for all current CK series tractors. :thumbsup:

 

[magicheater]

I have aprox. 6 acres; mostly wooded with a few open garden plots. I need a tractor for turning manure/mulch piles, hauling compost and logs for raised beds, etc. about the property, some digging future garden plots about the property. Trying to keep a small foot print on the property and grow among the trees "It's too hot in Florida", I need my tree canopy as a shade house in summer and green house in winter. Any brand / model suggestion would be very much appreciated.

Based on what you have stated up front I would consider the attachments you might want to have first, and then size the tractor accordingly. If you need to "lift" a lot of weight then a larger tractor will be needed. Smaller tractors are very nimble with HST and can actually outperform larger ones because of this and being shorter. I have orange and have been very happy, seems the differential between the colors is narrowing somewhat so explore before you buy. Good dealers will allow you to "try it out" gratis before you buy. Spring is coming so get things lined up, work the machines and then make a decision. Good Luck!

 

[bp fick]

Steve,
Before you get bombarded by a dozen well meaning guys here either recommending their tractor model or a model they would like to own, you need to focus on the general size and ability, not on color or specific model. That, along with finding the dealer who won't BS, as you stated above, is all you need do right now. Bit by bit, it comes into focus. Rush the process and you risk rushing into the wrong tractor. Not a good thing.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Welcome to TBN!!! I'd look at the Kubota BX series or the new JD 1000 series...

 

[Mushroom]

Thank you, it gives me direction!

 

[jimmyj]

LD1 had good advice. Many brands of tractor are very good, and they'll all have one in the "size" you need. BUT, a good dealer is super duper important.

I love my Kioti, but I'm sure I'd be good with JD or Kubota or others too. For me the deal maker was features combined with price and the dealer all blended together. If I bought again I'd get a DK45 personally, but again that speaks to my dealer as much as anything.

Like the fellas say, learn and take your time. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

Oh, by the way, there's the budget thing too of course!!

 

[KFree]

want to set up a rough portable saw-mill off the PTO to take advantage of some of the timber on my property.

How much horsepower at the PTO is this going to require?

 

[Mushroom]

KFree,
size of the PTO for a saw mill would be a whole new thread. I am "clueless", to even picking out a >tractor< for my needs; I am sure you would get some interesting perspectives, concerning set-up, gear boxes, and a head full of things to consider i.e. Size of timbers, what ya gonna do with it, etc. I'm thinking even your portable table for the logs to rest on, would be an issue. But, with that said, the log cutting feature for me is more a "want", then a need, and won't be on my >short list< for shopping out my tractor. You could probably shop out a portable saw-mill for a cost cheaper then building something "that functions good enough", to fit your tractor; but then again, I am too green in the tractor world. I think I have gotten some good responses so far, and I do need to qualify my dealers, because sooner or later, I may need services; but I don't think I can afford "new". It always seem my need/want in a tool tends to be just out of MY financial reach! It seems the "rule", not the exception for me! And, I am not a big bells n whistles kind of guy; just want good equipment when doing a job. So, with this tractor thing; I honestly wouldn't know "value" if I came across it. It may be sitting in someones pole barn, and I just would not know what I was looking at! And, that's the learning curve here; exposing my soul to it's ignorance when it comes to tractors!