What can I buy for $5,000 to $6,000?

[BT4Life]

I recently bought 40 acres of hunting land, and I would like a tractor for mowing the front 10 acres and preparing the food plots for the wildlife. I have never owned a tractor before, so I appreciate any help. While my father loves his 1953 Ford Jubilee, I would like to purchase a new tractor. I am guessing Chinese is the only way to go in my price range.

Is this an acceptable price range, or do I need to spend more? I don't NEED a loader right now, but I am sure it would be nice around the farm.

Suggestions? Best value for the money?

BT

 

[greg_g]

I was going to ask 2wd or 4wd, and whether you planned to use a finish mower or a rotary cutter. But then I remembered foodplots. So assuming you're going to buy 4wd and a rotary cutter too, consider that it takes about 5 PTO horsepower per foot of rotary cutter swath. In otherwords, a five foot rotary cutter is best powered by 25 or more PTO horsepower. But that would exceed your budget, so you might want to drop down to a 4 foot rotary cutter and a 20 PTO hp tractor. Gotta make more circuits with the mower, but it will keep you within budget.

That said, I'll step aside now - so the member dealers can tell you what's available relative to your needs.

//greg//

 

[OKnewguy]

From what I have noticed in the past few years, the prices have gone up slightly. The newer epa approved engines are a factor and also the price of steel. I bought a year and half ago, and I got a 224 jinma (with koyker fel) for around $8000. At the time there were some that were very basic. The 200 series jinma (i think) that could be had in your price range, but they were non power steering and only 2wd. Loaders were definnetly not recommended on those little guys. But, they are great little mowing rigs, for about the same price as a moderately priced mower, and much more versatile. I would suggest that if a loader is even remotely possible in the future, you raise your funds up enough to cover a larger rig. With that much land you will find endless uses for it. My rig, is suited really well for all of the clearing I have been doing, but for a lot of dirt work I would want a larger rig. Good luck, this site has a number of great dealers for these tractors, and I highly recommend buying from one of them. There have been MANY instances were someone bought from some no name dealer and the dealers on this site ended up being more of a help to them. BTW, read lots of post on these machines, you can start to get an idea of the great tools they can be, some people rag on them because you might need to turn a wrench, but if you are mechanically minded they are very simple and easy to work on. I have not had anything major with mine, except the clutch pedal depress switch got ripped out hogging, but it took just a couple of minutes to fix. I now have 60 hrs on it and love it.
Good luck, DAve

 

[Mike1]

While I enjoy my Jinma 304 very much, in the 5,000 to 6,000 range - you might want to consider grey market. It will be ~ 20 hp like the lower cost Jinmas, but probably could be found with a loader. Or, you could get a 30 hp grey market without loader.
Where are you located? I bought my Jinma from Frederick's equipment here in North Alabama, they carry an extensive line of reconditioned greys as well.

 

[BT4Life]

I am in Central Ohio. Any dealer members in this area?

BT

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I am in Central Ohio. Any dealer members in this area?

BT

You might check with Little Miami Trading Company (LMTC on TBN): http://www.lmtcompany.com/

 

[777777]

Hey BT,

Central Ohio, well, Rural King sells Fotons which are an assembled product. Rural King has a store in Wooster but don't know if that would be close to you. Is in Ohio if that helps at all.
The 25 HP 2wd lists for $4500 or so and the 25HP 4wd is about $6k.
Maybe there would be some assembly deficiencies as not real mechanics that put them together but they do come with a parts\labour warranty for 6 months, I think, and could probably buy a longer warranty if warranty was an issue to you.
I think that Greg has seen them so maybe he could chime in here.

Have a great one and good luck on your search.

Tom

 

[greg_g]

Rural King sells Fotons which are an assembled product. Rural King has a store in Wooster but don't know if that would be close to you. Is in Ohio if that helps at all. The 25 HP 2wd lists for $4500 or so and the 25HP 4wd is about $6k.

Both have about the right PTO horsepower for a five foot rotary cutter. Both seem to have better fit and finish than the equivalent Jinmas RK sold up 'til this year. More bells and whistles too - for about the same money.

What puts me off about them (the 40hp too) is that pair of tall 6V batteries blocking about 40% of the radiator, and the air filter housing that blocks another 25%. I'm also less than impresssed that it's only got an 8" clutch. Strange colored paint too - reminds me of Rustoleum rusty metal primer under clear coat.

//greg//

 

[777777]

Hey Greg,

Actually just checked the specs on the Rural King web site for the Fotons and both the 2 and 4wd are showing as having a 10" dry clutch.
Maybe they have changed them a touch since you saw them last or maybe they changed back to the 8" but haven't updated the website specs.

Yes, can see the batteries would create and issue but could be replaced with a smaller 12volt easy enough.

Color does seem to remind me of some of my older cars.

Later
Tom

 

[greg_g]

Actually just checked the specs on the Rural King web site for the Fotons and both the 2 and 4wd are showing as having a 10" dry clutch.

I'm inclined to speculate the Rural King website is in error. Only last week the specs said 8", and I doubt that overnight every 250/254 Foton in every store magically grew a bigger clutch.

The first 200 series Jinmas to hit US shores had an 8" clutch, eventually upgraded to a 9". The 40hp Foton has a 10" clutch, my 45hp KAMA has an 11" clutch. If there was a RK-specified clutch upgrade, logic dictates it would be a 9" like their Jinma cousins. I can guarantee you that nobody at store level can verify clutch size, that answer would have to come from the buyer at the Mattoon headquarters.

//greg//