Tractor Sizing Tractor for 1.2 acres

[3inthedirt]

Adding to my previous post, my 1GC25, with FEL only, was $4k cheaper at Bruno's than my local dealer and $6k less than a comparable Deere or Kubota.

My property is about the same size but narrow. If it had been wider, I think i would have gone with the Kubota LX series (which is perfect in size but pricey) or the Massey 1E35. The Massey is cheaper than the subcompact Deere or Kubota.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Adding to my previous post, my 1GC25, with FEL only, was $4k cheaper at Branson's

Don't you mean Bruno's?

They are an advertiser here, they have a banner add in the Massey Ferguson area ...

 

[chim]

My first Kubota was a B7500 and at the time we had 2-1/4 acres. It seemed like a beast when I first got it. It would technically have been all I ever needed, even after the property grew to 3-1/2 acres. The B2601 should keep you very happy for a long time.

And by the way, Oliver bought Hoyt-Clagwell.

 

[3inthedirt]

Thank you Shawn!

Yes, I meant Bruno's. Getting too old to multi-task! Corrections made!

Apologies folks!

 

[Yander]

There is one about 30 min away. How has the reliability been?

The Massey GC lineup easily rivals Kubota and Yanmar SCUTs; they are better than JD IMO.

Kubota, Massey, and Yanmar are Japanese builders that build their own entire machines. Massey is built by Iseki, a very high-quality manufacturer of SCUTs. I had a Massey GC2400 for 5 years. I wish I hadn't sold it.

 

[Yander]

I say ... Just go ahead and buy the overgrown diesel fueled hydraulic powered lawnmower, get the backhoe too!

Then in two years, you'll buy a much bigger tractor to keep the little one company, like I did ... Then ... Well now I'm contemplating either a third tractor, or a Mini-X ... Unfortunately I don't see (or want) a cure!

I think I have this disease also, not rushing to take anything for it either

 

[Shawn T. W.]

The Massey GC lineup easily rivals Kubota and Yanmar SCUTs; they are better than JD IMO.

Kubota, Massey, and Yanmar are Japanese builders that build their own entire machines. Massey is built by Iseki, a very high-quality manufacturer of SCUTs. I had a Massey GC2400 for 5 years. I wish I hadn't sold it.

Yes, AGCO owns both Massey Ferguson and Iseki ... Iseki builds all the 60 HP and smaller tractor's sold as Massey Ferguson in North America and possibly other places ... A very dependable quality tractor ...

 

[anomad]

Circling around for a second post here. As you can see by my profile I have a BCS 2 wheel tractor. If you like to walk that might be a good fit and for way cheaper than a Kubota. The big down side is you won't get anything like what a front end loader has to offer. But for the 1-2 acre properties I have owned in the past a 2 wheel tractor would have been awesome. They make all kinds of attachments and implements for them just like "real" tractors. And they are heavy duty. Not box store riding lawn mowers.

I think Earth Tools: Walk-behind Tractors, Professional Garden Tools is the recognized expert on 2 wheel tractors if you want to read about them. I have a tiny bush hog and tiller for mine. Tiller only gets used a few times a year for weed control and garden prep. Bush hog is used to mow trails in the woods and places a conventional tractor won't go. I'm contemplating getting a heavy duty mower for it also for places that are not conducive to my fancy pants SCAG.

 

[ultrarunner]

Add a cutting edge to the bucket no matter which brand/model you buy. Keeps you from bending the bucket floor in to a grin, which makes it almost unusable for scooping/ leveling, back blading etc.

I use mine all the time maintaining about 3/4 of a mile of fire trail…

It is excellent using the heel of the bucket to smooth over fill and especially nice to finish after the bull dozer with the loader weighted with a load of rock/dirt back dragging in float using the heel of the bucket.

Not able to do the same with the Deere 110 due to its loader bucket geometry with quick attach.

Two nuts and the Markham Tooth Bar comes off

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I own two TYM subcompacts. The T233, and a T293-Cab. Basically the same tractor as the T25, only major difference is the engines my two have Mitsubishi SL2 variants. just different tuning to get 23.9 and 29.7-hp. The biggest difference between my two and the current T25, is that they moved the front axle forward slightly. Fender assemblies, hood, axles, transmission, rear axles, the brakes, and everything not directly related to the engine, and it's mounts is the same part numbers between teh T25 and my tractors.

Based on my experience with my tractors, I would buy a new TYM without hesitation.

I recommend that you go on eBay and check on the availability of parts for the engines in various tractors. The Mitsubishi SL2 engines, were used in a host of equipment from a multitude of manufacturers. So, any part I may need for my engines is readily available, at reasonable prices.

 

[CalG]

If you want a tractor, The B2601 is a great choice for small property.

Get it on turf tires so you can drive over the lawn. ;-)

I like mine, Used it today to clear the drainage at the discharge end of a culvert,

 

[lman]

My parents sold the 150 acre farm and bought a smaller place with only 40 acres. Dad sold all of the farm equipment and bought a 60" Cub Cadet mower to mow about 3 acres. I never heard him say he wished that he had a tractor. After cussing at his old tractors for 50 years, I think he was happy to move on. Mom still mows about an acre at 92.

 

[JurassicJet]

I had a B2601 and hated it. Engine vibrated. Construction didn't seem as good as my BX2380. Had it to the dealer twice and was told the engine just plain old runs that way.

Bought a Kioti. Love it. Sold that and bought a CK3520. Love it.

By the way... Bobcat tractors are made by Kioti.

 

[termilvr]

I had a B2601 and hated it. Engine vibrated. Construction didn't seem as good as my BX2380. Had it to the dealer twice and was told the engine just plain old runs that way.

Bought a Kioti. Love it. Sold that and bought a CK3520. Love it.

By the way... Bobcat tractors are made by Kioti.

I have considered a kioti CX2501. There are a few dealers within an hour but they are all as expensive as the b2601. There is a new 25 MY about 3 hours away on clearance for 4k cheaper but I know it is a heavy tractor for a grass yard.

 

[Yander]

For what you described, the Yanmar SA325 would be my choice. It is a lightweight tractor with probably the highest lift capacity of any tractor that is Sub 2300 lb. with the loader on. Take the loader off, and it is about 1,800lb.

Weight matters for lawn mowing and weight matters for lifting. You can easily add weight to the tires, and rear (Ballast) but you cannot remove weight for mowing from a tractor that is built more heavily.

A lot of the guys on this site will tell you you need a heavy tractor for lifting and serious dirt work. Which is hogwash. You can add weight to a tractor to reach the desired weight.

For about a summer I did a little bit of side work with my SA425 until Grandkids seemed to take a higher priority for my time. There wasn't really a job it couldn't do and do well.

Some of the jobs I did are pictured. But the SA325 is the exact tractor as my SA425, but with smaller tires. If you want more ground clearance for working in a woods, go with the SA425. But I can tell you, the SCUT tractors do not have much ground clearance (I've owned 3) and I would not pick one for doing a lot of lifting or working in the woods.

Having said that, you will be thrilled with whatever tractor you end up with as long as it has a loader. The loader is what I say gives you the tool you need to make your land yours. I have 5 acres and I never really felt like I owned 5 acres of land until I had a tractor with a loader; because when all you do is mow 5 acres, you really can't do much else with it.

I post the pics of just a small fraction of things I've done. The guys on this site who have owned tractors for years can contribute too. 1.2 acres "You don't need a tractor", hogwash. You need a tractor.

This pic is 9 acres of overgrown lawn that the homeowner got behind on because his ZTR broke down. I did this a couple of times with a rear finish mower.

Tilled and graded Two large yards for new builds.

Before lawn

After

Before

After

72" land plane, no problem at all. The SA425/325 come with two rear remotes standard.
I refurbished several large driveways that were full of potholes with this land plane. Made a little cash doing that too.

My own garden

This drive was the worst I've seen it had a washed out spot that you almost couldn't get through with a low profile car. These pics do not show the worst part. Pics are hard to show pot holes in.

But the homeowner was amazed I took even his worst potholes out in about an hour and a half. Big drive way too

Before (I did not get a pic of the worst part of the drive)

After (No gravel was purchased) I only charged them $150 do do the job since I had already done a lot of work for them.

 

[ETD66SS]

I don't know what size you should buy (I have 60+ acres and have many different pieces of equipmant for various tasks). But I don't agree with the people saying "you don't need a tractor, rent this, hire this guy, yadda". Once you have a piece of equipment you will find more uses for it, and it gets you outside doing more things.

 

[Blue Mule]

I just looked at the new workmaster 25, and it has a 12 speed shuttle shift. I have a BX2370 and do and have or will get everything he wants. The hydrostatic transmission is much easier and faster to use with all the forward and reversing he will be doing.

Yeah I had a workmaster 25 with a hydro briefly but I took it back and got to workmaster 40 with a hydro because I wanted more power. The hydro trans really is nice for most things.

 

[thebmrust]

Does the OP “need” or “want” a tractor?

BOTH

Remember, the variables we do not have are:
Physical health
Mental acuity
Motivation
Time control

Tractors are physical energy multipliers, therefore time adjusters.

Yes we can dig a 150ft waterline ditch with a shovel, but how long will it take? At what energy cost?
Spread 10ton of gravel? Yeah, wheelbarrow, shovel and rake works, but what is the personal cost?

Being able hand shovel ditches is great for the arms, back, legs, and heart, but what if you had a really long hard emotional day and your motivation just isn’t there? Or you only have an hour this afternoon and digging 5-10 feet of ditch (out of the 150ft total), just doesn’t seem like a good investment of energy and time today.

We have 1.5 acres and we bought a T-25. I did several jobs in one day that have taken me years to whittle away at. Mainly, 165 feet of irrigation supply line replacement. Had the ditch done in 1.5 hours. It would have taken me months to do by hand. And I HATE digging.

Could I have rented? Oh yes. But I would have had $400-500 in rental plus time traveled. For the same price, I have a tractor waiting for me to use it for another 29 days. No travel.

I can spend 20 min on a job or 10 hours.

YES, I have that expense every month now for many years… but I also multiply my time and jobs get checked off faster in the past 6 months than the prior 5 years.

It’s also a tool to help sell the property in about 8-10 years. The tractor comes with. Selling point.

I digress…

Life changes, time changes, YOU change. A tractor on hand is a force multiplier and the monthly or total cost is the penance of convenience (so to speak).

Small tractors do similar things to big tractors. Just slower. Hand tools can do many of the same things as a small tractor, at a different cost basis.

What’s your time worth?
What are you willing to sacrifice for that time?

 

[Blue Mule]

Does the OP “need” or “want” a tractor?

BOTH

Remember, the variables we do not have are:
Physical health
Mental acuity
Motivation
Time control

Tractors are physical energy multipliers, therefore time adjusters.

Yes we can dig a 150ft waterline ditch with a shovel, but how long will it take? At what energy cost?
Spread 10ton of gravel? Yeah, wheelbarrow, shovel and rake works, but what is the personal cost?

Being able hand shovel ditches is great for the arms, back, legs, and heart, but what if you had a really long hard emotional day and your motivation just isn’t there? Or you only have an hour this afternoon and digging 5-10 feet of ditch (out of the 150ft total), just doesn’t seem like a good investment of energy and time today.

We have 1.5 acres and we bought a T-25. I did several jobs in one day that have taken me years to whittle away at. Mainly, 165 feet of irrigation supply line replacement. Had the ditch done in 1.5 hours. It would have taken me months to do by hand. And I HATE digging.

Could I have rented? Oh yes. But I would have had $400-500 in rental plus time traveled. For the same price, I have a tractor waiting for me to use it for another 29 days. No travel.

I can spend 20 min on a job or 10 hours.

YES, I have that expense every month now for many years… but I also multiply my time and jobs get checked off faster in the past 6 months than the prior 5 years.

It’s also a tool to help sell the property in about 8-10 years. The tractor comes with. Selling point.

I digress…

Life changes, time changes, YOU change. A tractor on hand is a force multiplier and the monthly or total cost is the penance of convenience (so to speak).

Small tractors do similar things to big tractors. Just slower. Hand tools can do many of the same things as a small tractor, at a different cost basis.

What’s your time worth?
What are you willing to sacrifice for that time?

Precisely. The tractor I bought new cost less than one back surgery.

 

[rScotty]

If you want a tractor, The B2601 is a great choice for small property.

Get it on turf tires so you can drive over the lawn. ;-)

I like mine, Used it today to clear the drainage at the discharge end of a culvert,

Gotta agree on the turf tires. We had them on our first two tractors - both were what i call "chore tractors" with 4wd & FEL. They are used for anything and everything around the property & barn... a 20 hp and a 33 hp. The turf tire traction is good enough, and they give more side ways stabiity along with a much softer ride. For snow or mud, we add chains.

We don't farm, so our big tractor has heavy industrial tires.
If I was buying a new tractor today, I'd look at the new radial tires.