Tractor for 5 acres in Florida

[JohnFourteenSix]

Hello Folks

I'm buying a house on 5 acres of land in Central FL. The land is divided into about 1.5 acres "lawn" and 3.5 acres pasture. The seller has been using a ZTR and a Ford 1700 on it, and he's willing to sell me the 1700 for $2k along with the house itself.

The 1700 comes with a Schwartz front end loader and a kodiak bush hog (this is what the owner has told me). It reads about 1200 hours on it.

From the research I've done, it seems like most people have a ZTR for mowing lawns and a tractor with a bush hog for keeping the pasture from going out of control. I'm sure the 1700 is up to the task. However, ideally I'd have a tractor that can do more than just maintain weeds.

Is the 1700 good for the price he's asking for it, and will I be able to do other tasks with it - such as levelling, posthole digging, etc. or is this too underpowered? or is the deal good enough that if I find it underpowered, I'd still be able to sell it and recoup my costs, and buy a better one?

Or, going another route, considering I'm prepared to spend another 4k or so on a good ZTR, is there a single machine I can get that can possibly maintain both the weeds in the pasture and the lawn for me?

Sorry if I've asked anything silly, I've never maintained anything close to this amount of land.

 

[Streetcar]

If tractor is in decent condition, that is good price. You can add finish mower to tractor for the lawn

 

[disney]

Nothing you have written in silly. I am not familiar with a ford 1700, but if it appears in good, or at least usable shape, I would strongly consider it, especially with a loader. You did not mention if it is 2, or 4wd. Pictures always help. I think you will find that I am a local, so private message me, if you think I could be of any help.

 

[Reg]

Also, chances are good that he knows about what that tractor is likely to need next and who to talk to at (whatever passes for) the local Ford/New Holland service shop.
Yes, 2K is a good price even if it is only fair condition.
For 5 acres (minus the house, driveway, lawn, etc.) that should be adequate.
I would take it, get settled into the house, see how things look in a couple of years.

Sure, we can ALL find or imagine projects that "need more tractor" but the old 80/20 rule is hard to argue with.
Enough tractor for 80% of what NEEDS to be done - hire out the 20% that is too much for that tractor.

 

[bcp]

Welcome to TBM.

I'd buy the tractor.

TractorData.com Ford 1700 tractor information

Bruce

 

[jeff9366]

$2,000 for the Ford 1700 tractor is a great deal. With the Bush Hog as a package deal it is a steal. Buy it.

I doubt you will want a larger tractor, ever, for 3-1/2 acres of pasture. You can certainly level, but not too fast, with any of several Three Point Hitch implements, and dig post holes with a Three Point Hitch post hole auger.

In north/central Florida sandy-loam, where I am, I find it easier to use a manual post hole digger for up to ten holes at a time.

Steel T-posts and barbed wire make the most easily installed, utilitarian fence.


MORE: LEVELING PASTURE site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

 

[fried1765]

Hello Folks

I'm buying a house on 5 acres of land in Central FL. The land is divided into about 1.5 acres "lawn" and 3.5 acres pasture. The seller has been using a ZTR and a Ford 1700 on it, and he's willing to sell me the 1700 for $2k along with the house itself.

The 1700 comes with a Schwartz front end loader and a kodiak bush hog (this is what the owner has told me). It reads about 1200 hours on it.

From the research I've done, it seems like most people have a ZTR for mowing lawns and a tractor with a bush hog for keeping the pasture from going out of control. I'm sure the 1700 is up to the task. However, ideally I'd have a tractor that can do more than just maintain weeds.

Is the 1700 good for the price he's asking for it, and will I be able to do other tasks with it - such as levelling, posthole digging, etc. or is this too underpowered? or is the deal good enough that if I find it underpowered, I'd still be able to sell it and recoup my costs, and buy a better one?

Or, going another route, considering I'm prepared to spend another 4k or so on a good ZTR, is there a single machine I can get that can possibly maintain both the weeds in the pasture and the lawn for me?

Sorry if I've asked anything silly, I've never maintained anything close to this amount of land.

I have the Ford 1700 bigger and newer 1920 brother.
Absolutely BUY the tractor!
That is an amazing deal!
Even if you decide you don't like it, with a loader, you can EASILY sell it for more than $2000, and still keep the bush hog.

 

[BoylermanCT]

If the pasture is flat and smooth, I would go with a zero turn for everything. I good zero turn will mow circles around a tractor, but the ground can't be too rough. If the field is rough, then go with the tractor. I used to brush hog my 2 acre field once or twice a season, and then I switched to mowing it with my zero turn. Takes me an hour a week, and I like having a nice mowed field in the back yard. Will eventually fence the field in and get a couple of horses.

 

[Tractorable]

Go for the 1700, that's a great deal on a capable machine. Old 8N's go for $2K here in Virginia, and the 1700 has a lot more capability and value.

Get a riding mower or zero turn for the lawn and the 1700 for everything else. A two machine solution is superior to a one-machine compromise.

 

[JohnFourteenSix]

So it sounds like the 1700 is a pretty good deal even if it's in fair condition. It's a 2wd by the way. I'll try to get some more pictures and info tomorrow (or whenver the seller lets me see it again). Anything to look out for?

The pasture is flat, but I'm not sure how smooth it is, and I probably won't have a good idea either until I work with it. The current owner uses a ZTR for the front lawn.

By all accounts, looks like I'm in the market for a ZTR? Is attaching a finish mower feasible here in Florida? How long would I end up spending each week cutting the lawn (1.5 acres or so) on a ZTR vs. the finish mower attachment?