Trying to find the right tractor...

[bige1973]

I just bought 12 acres of land and have no idea what kind of tractor to buy. The land was clearcut about 15 years ago so it is mostly underbrush and rotten limbs and stumps. I would like to eventually fence in the property so an auger will be important along with typical bush hogging, box blade, etc.... The only other thing I would like to be able to do is use it to mow my lawn with some type of finishing mower. Any advice given with regards to size, type, etc...will be appreciated.

 

[Johndeere50d]

Mabe like a John Deere 970 I have one good tractor for you uses accept for mowing a regular lawn.

 

[Transit]

You are going to need HP to cut the brush. The rule of thumb is 1 hp for each foot of brush hog width. A 5 ft hog will need 25 hp min. I would be looking at 30 to 35 hp. for a 5 footer, no telling what you may dream up next week and you do not want to be short on hp. Yes, you can push it, but why?

 

[Gobblin Tom]

My new 2520 has worked very well on my 22 acres of hilly terrain and cutting my grass. Bigger would have been nice but was not an option.... Good luck on your search!!

 

[tessiers]

All depends on your price range, mechanical ability, comfort level ect. The numbers I am quoting are real in my area, there is always someone telling you they can get a new JD 4320 with loader and mower for less but lets be realistic here, you may get it for a little less, but not much. As for used, I can find a pile of junk, or buy one from my uncle for a little less, but realisticly for a working tractor on the street?

New JD 4320 is what I want, but will probabaly never get.
$30,000

JD 790 (3005 now I think) is what I got, real nice 4x4 with loader, works hard, easy operation and maintenance, reasonable price.
$20,000

Thousand series Ford, New generation JD 1020, real nice older tractors. Independent PTO nice option, not as comfortable, no 4x4, heavier for mowing lawns, real workhorses.
$7000

Ford 8n, Fergusen TO, still real workhorses, transmision type PTO, I work withan NAA (next gen 8n) weekly, even choose it over my JD a lot of the time.
$2500

Farmall H, Allis Chalmers WD, same as 8n except no 3 point hitch, Implements must fit tractor and are getting harder to find. I also have one of these and use it a lot for drawbar work (mowing hay, baling hay, chopping green forage, ect) but it is much more limited. You can get aftermarket 3 point hitches for them for $1000 but thats a lot of money to put into an old tractor.
$2000

Just my 2 cents. Good Luck!!!

 

[Grandad4]

I'd suggest you need something with at least 30 hp, but equally important, something large enough to handle a rear blade and a good front end loader (FEL). The FEL will be extremely useful for your brush clearing and land levelling chores. The more hp you have, the quicker you can get the work done.

My preference is Kubota, but the other major manufacturers also make fine equipment. Finding a dealer who is competent and honest and finding a brand and model of tractor you like are the challenges. Good luck!

 

[Travis_R]

Take a look at the Mahindra 25 series (4025, 4525, 5525) or the Massey Ferguson 2600 series (2615, 2625).

FIRST thing I would do is set myself a price range.

Second, If you're buying new, I would see what tractor brands are sold 'locally'.
Third, I would ask myself a few questions:
1) Is there anything I might plan on doing with my tractor in the future?
2) Do I need an FEL (front end loader) ?
3) Do I need a 4WD (four wheel drive) tractor ?
**If you buy a tractor with a front end loader, you should definately consider 4WD**

You already have some implements chosen... What size box blade do you want? What size bush hog? What size finishing mower? It all depends on how fast you wanna get done with your yard work.
What kind of fence are you putting up? This determines the size of auger bit you'll initially need for the post hole digger.

Last but NOT least... When you choose the right dealer to go with (if you're buying new), tell him everything that you're planning to do in detail. He'll give you options to choose from.

For 12 acres, I wouldn't buy a tractor under 35 engine horsepower. Personally, I would be looking more into the 40-50 hp range.

You never know what you may wanna do "in the future"...

 

[bige1973]

Thanks for all the advice. I have considered an older tractor. Found a 52 8n for $2400 looks to be in good shape but didn't know if I should consider something that old. I just don't want to be working on something every time I get ready to do something. Then I thought about maybe going newer and taking advantage of some of this 0% financing. I live in Dothan, AL and we pretty much have every type of tractor dealer in this area, but yes money IS an object. I would like to just pay cash for something say under $5000, but I also want it to be reliable and not take on somebody else's headache. I would'nt think I would need more than a 5ft mower and maybe a 10 in auger. So when were talking about hp say a 30. What is the ratio to the shaft or is it pretty much standard no matter what brand you buy? Also if I do get an older tractor do the attachments still fit? Sorry if these questions sound strange nut I am a newbie. Thanks again for yalls help.

 

[art]

I'd identify what you might want to do with the property first!!! You do have a start but you need to figure out how much time you have to do it first and then you can better look at your needs.

You mentioned a ford 8n, are you aware that when you step on the clutch petal that the PTO stops? The hydraulics stop as well and there is no overriding clutch or system on the pto so it might also drive you through the fence you want to build?

When looking for a brush hog to mow your pasture you should look for a tractor that is also less width then the mower so it looks nice when done! Maybe you don't care but there are a lot of things to look at!

It's always fun to sit at the computer and spend someone elses money!!!!

 

[bige1973]

That's something I haven't thought about. I do want the pasture to look nice and I would like to mow my yard with the same tractor so the width is definitely something to consider. I plan on this just being a place for kids to play and ride a 4 Wheeler. Maybe have a small garden or something but mostly just a place that's well kept. As for the pto stopping when the clutch is engaged is that something I need to avoid?

 

[Reg]

I just bought 12 acres of land and have no idea what kind of tractor to buy. The land was clearcut about 15 years ago so it is mostly underbrush and rotten limbs and stumps. I would like to eventually fence in the property so an auger will be important along with typical bush hogging, box blade, etc.... The only other thing I would like to be able to do is use it to mow my lawn with some type of finishing mower. Any advice given with regards to size, type, etc...will be appreciated.

My guess is that digging out or grinding those 1/2 rotted stumps is the hardest task there.
Also, if it has been left for 15 years you probably have some fair sized saplings in there by now.
Digging with a back hoe doesn't take much horse power, just force and time - weight helps too.
Stump grinding doesn't take much HP either.

If you will be using a loader the old 2 wheel drive tractors from 50 years or more ago may be a poor choice, they are GOOD as "TRACTORS", but not that good as loaders.
8Ns are quite light - which can be good in some ways, bad in others.
R4 tires and 4WD start to make sense when thinking about loaders.

Ahh, "Trying to find "THE" right tractor" - suggests you think you will only buy ONE ?
Many/most of us probably started out with THAT thought (-:

 

[Travis_R]

Thanks for all the advice. I have considered an older tractor. Found a 52 8n for $2400 looks to be in good shape but didn't know if I should consider something that old. I just don't want to be working on something every time I get ready to do something. Then I thought about maybe going newer and taking advantage of some of this 0% financing. I live in Dothan, AL and we pretty much have every type of tractor dealer in this area, but yes money IS an object. I would like to just pay cash for something say under $5000, but I also want it to be reliable and not take on somebody else's headache. I would'nt think I would need more than a 5ft mower and maybe a 10 in auger. So when were talking about hp say a 30. What is the ratio to the shaft or is it pretty much standard no matter what brand you buy? Also if I do get an older tractor do the attachments still fit? Sorry if these questions sound strange nut I am a newbie. Thanks again for yalls help.

If you have $5000 to spend on a tractor, then why not save just a little more money and get a good used diesel?? Even if you have to wait on the attachments for a little while, I'd get the tractor first.

IF you wanted something around a 35 engine hp tractor, take a look at the Mahindra 3505 DI, 3525 or the Massey Ferguson 231 (which is what I own and it's 38 engine hp). All 3 of these tractors have "live" PTO and dual stage clutches, unlike the Ford 8N.

If you have $5000 to spend on a tractor, there's no way I'd buy an 8N even though they're good tractors. Just look at the $$ you'll be spending on gasoline for that tractor RUNNING IT ON 12 ACRES.

With 12 acres, I'd definately want 5'-6' implements for the tractor. I wouldn't settle for less. If I didn't have the money to buy what I wanted/needed, I'd save til I got it (and that's exactly what I done).

There are some good deals out there. You just have to search. Go take a look at Craigslist.com for your local area(s) or your local newspaper in the classifieds...

 

[TripleR]

I mowed our yard for several years with a Ford NAA and 7' finish mower. It can be done, but is not ideal.

 

[dusty3030]

What I would do since you asked and all.

1. Walk every inch of that place and sketch out and come up with a project list. What do you want to do to the property.
2. Don't be afraid to hire it out at the begining or to rent equipment if you are confident doing it yourself. Beat the snot out of someone elses iron on the hard chores. The tractor you might need to maintain it probably won't be as much tractor as would be needed to clear up a wooly piece of land.
3. Factor in a timetable for your projects. This is what is most important to me since I work full time and then some. I don't have time to repair equipment all the time.

A rented skid steer with a grapple you can do a whole lot in a days time. A hired out man on a track hoe can clear out a whole lot of trees and stumps on 12 acres in a short amount of time. The economy has a lot of people eager to keep a machine going they are having to make payments on, it's a buyers market.

 

[nwngunner]

If you want a good tractor with out spending a ton of money, look at getting something older. Personally i have an 806 international gaser that has been an amazing tractor. These older machines are built heavy, and are not hard to repair and prices for parts are not out of this world.

The 806 gas & diesel are around 100hp or more. Get one of the Torque Amplifier and turns the tractor in to an amazing loader tractor.With the ta you have 16foward gears, and 8 reverse. They did make them in a front wheel assist, how ever that wouldn't be a good loader tractor imo. I have pulled a good size disk with mine, bale 1800 pound round bales ect ect. Has a rear power beyond for additional hydraulics, tractor comes with two remotes as well. Thing i like about them, and mine is froze up atm, is you can adjust the amount of force that the three point arms have for down force making bladeing a lot easier.

They have way more then enough hydra power for any attachments you want to run. I have picked up over 4500pounds with my front loader. Best thing is you can pick these beasts up for a reasonable price.

 

[Johndeere50d]

All depends on your price range, mechanical ability, comfort level ect. The numbers I am quoting are real in my area, there is always someone telling you they can get a new JD 4320 with loader and mower for less but lets be realistic here, you may get it for a little less, but not much. As for used, I can find a pile of junk, or buy one from my uncle for a little less, but realisticly for a working tractor on the street?

New JD 4320 is what I want, but will probabaly never get.
$30,000

JD 790 (3005 now I think) is what I got, real nice 4x4 with loader, works hard, easy operation and maintenance, reasonable price.
$20,000

Thousand series Ford, New generation JD 1020, real nice older tractors. Independent PTO nice option, not as comfortable, no 4x4, heavier for mowing lawns, real workhorses.
$7000

Ford 8n, Fergusen TO, still real workhorses, transmision type PTO, I work withan NAA (next gen 8n) weekly, even choose it over my JD a lot of the time.
$2500

Farmall H, Allis Chalmers WD, same as 8n except no 3 point hitch, Implements must fit tractor and are getting harder to find. I also have one of these and use it a lot for drawbar work (mowing hay, baling hay, chopping green forage, ect) but it is much more limited. You can get aftermarket 3 point hitches for them for $1000 but thats a lot of money to put into an old tractor.
$2000

Just my 2 cents. Good Luck!!!

How do you like your 970?