What's The Deal?

[mstewart44]

I first started looking at this message board last July when I was interested in buying a tractor to help me manage my 160 acres of hunting property. I ended up buying a 2007 model 5103 2wd (50 hp engine) with a 6 foot disc harrow, and a 6 foot rotary mower.

This forum has provided me with a wealth of information about the world of owning a tractor. That being said, I can't understand the fascination with the little tractors?? I mean, what's the deal?? It seems like 75% of the postings on this board are for 2000 and 3000 series tractors. I understand everyone has their preferences, but these tractors seem like buying a Ford Ranger when you could buy an F-150 for the same price or less. My tractor cost me approx $13,000 before attachments. A 2320 tractor list price is also $13,000 before options. This tractor has only 24hp. The 3203 has a list price of $15,499. Can someone help me understand the fascination with these little tractors when you can get a larger size tractor for less money? Seems to be a better value with the 5000 series. Can someone shed some light on the subject?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[AKfish]

Pretty straightforward equation, really.

There's a whole lot more folk's that own 2 acres and dog then those who own 160 acres and lot's of turkey's!

Count your lucky Turkey's!!!

AKfish

 

[elad]

You need a big tractor for a big lot and a little tractor for a little lot.
Makes sense to me. elad

 

[RollTideRam]

I have a 32.5 hp tractor and 3 acres. I have almost 11 hp per acre. You have 50 hp and 160 acres, with only 3.2 hp per acre. Now who wimped out? Different strokes for different folks. JC

 

[LBrown59]

I have a 32.5 hp tractor and 3 acres. I have almost 11 hp per acre. You have 50 hp and 160 acres, with only 3.2 hp per acre. Now who wimped out? Different strokes for different folks. JC

I have 2 15 hp tractors and 1 22 hp tractor.
I have 2.33 acres .
That's 22.32 horse power per acre.
The original poster would have to have a 3571.2 horse power tractor for his 160 acres to match that.

 

[LBrown59]

Ever heard the expression big thing come in small packages

I first started looking at this message board last July when I was interested in buying a tractor to help me manage my 160 acres of hunting property. I ended up buying a 2007 model 5103 2wd (50 hp engine) with a 6 foot disc harrow, and a 6 foot rotary mower.

This forum has provided me with a wealth of information about the world of owning a tractor. That being said, I can't understand the fascination with the little tractors?? I mean, what's the deal?? It seems like 75% of the postings on this board are for 2000 and 3000 series tractors. I understand everyone has their preferences, but these tractors seem like buying a Ford Ranger when you could buy an F-150 for the same price or less. My tractor cost me approx $13,000 before attachments. A 2320 tractor list price is also $13,000 before options. This tractor has only 24hp. The 3203 has a list price of $15,499. Can someone help me understand the fascination with these little tractors when you can get a larger size tractor for less money? Seems to be a better value with the 5000 series. Can someone shed some light on the subject?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[JiminGa]

most of these folks, including myself don't have alot of property, but enough to justify more than just a lawnmower. with that said, we still need a small nimble machine to mow the yard weekly. you need a seperate mower for your yard cause that 5000 series would really tear up a nice lawn. others here feel the hydro trans is a major factor and hp is not at the top of the heap for them. different strokes, that's all.

 

[LBrown59]

I don't use a 90 millimeter howitzer to target shoot tin cans when a 22 rifle will do fine.
== L B ==

I first started looking at this message board last July when I was interested in buying a tractor to help me manage my 160 acres of hunting property. I ended up buying a 2007 model 5103 2wd (50 hp engine) with a 6 foot disc harrow, and a 6 foot rotary mower.

This forum has provided me with a wealth of information about the world of owning a tractor. That being said, I can't understand the fascination with the little tractors?? I mean, what's the deal?? It seems like 75% of the postings on this board are for 2000 and 3000 series tractors. I understand everyone has their preferences, but these tractors seem like buying a Ford Ranger when you could buy an F-150 for the same price or less. My tractor cost me approx $13,000 before attachments. A 2320 tractor list price is also $13,000 before options. This tractor has only 24hp. The 3203 has a list price of $15,499. Can someone help me understand the fascination with these little tractors when you can get a larger size tractor for less money? Seems to be a better value with the 5000 series. Can someone shed some light on the subject?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[offroadr]

I think LBROWN59 likes to post to have a conversation with himself.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I live on 2 acres and manicure a little more than 1 acre. I would have loved to have a larger tractor, but it would have been absolutely silly on my lot. Also, the size of my lot requires a certain 'nimbleness' that larger tractors...even the Kubota B series, which is a matter of HUNDREDS more than the BX and not quite twice the size...cannot offer.

If I had a mountain home/lot, some pasture somewhere, or ANY other reason to have a larger tractor, I would. Without that justification, my BX suits my needs perfectly. And it blows the doors off of any other mower I've seen in use in my neighborhood.

For me, anything bigger would have looked VERY out of place. Less, in my case, was more.

 

[RollTideRam]

I think LBROWN59 likes to post to have a conversation with himself.

He might as well, he is in his own world. JC

 

[LBrown59]

I think LBROWN59 likes to post to have a conversation with himself.

Nope ; Just like to share my wisdom with those like you who seem to have gotten short changed on it.
== L B ==

 

[LBrown59]

I live on 2 acres and manicure a little more than 1 acre. I would have loved to have a larger tractor, but it would have been absolutely silly on my lot. Also, the size of my lot requires a certain 'nimbleness' that larger tractors...even the Kubota B series, which is a matter of HUNDREDS more than the BX and not quite twice the size...cannot offer.

If I had a mountain home/lot, some pasture somewhere, or ANY other reason to have a larger tractor, I would. Without that justification, my BX blows the doors off of any other mower I've seen in use in my neighborhood.

For me, anything bigger would have been silly. Less, in my case, was better.

Same here with my 3 BXs.

 

[putt_putt_green]

For me the factors were
- My 3520 fits in my woods easier.
- My 3520 fits in my pole barn (8 1/2 foot clearance) with the ROPS up.
- The cost of implements
- I can trailer it to my retirement property with most of my implements.

 

[Nuru]

Well I think I might be an example of overkill with just 2.25 acres, 1.1 lawn, with some additional areas targeted for future lawn, and I just pulled the trigger on a 3520 Cab to replace my 4310. I got a deal I liked and decided to do it. I could get by with a 2520, but I wanted the CAB for snow plowing and pollen avoidance and AC in the summer. I could have traded my 4310 for 2520 and a Curtis or Joedale perry cab, but, no AC and the potential for fumes , stopped me there. Oh well afte rI put in the patio and increase my lawn, maybe I will need to think about trading down.

 

[Nuru]

and remove some stumps, install some fencing, loade groceriesinto the kitchen window, etc.

 

[Champy]

Its not how big it is, but what you do with it that counts.

We may have some TBNer's with fairly large farms using the smaller tractors because they do not need 65+HP. Models are more dependent upon the size of the task being tackled as much as anything else.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

In true ARFCOM fashion...get both!

 

[RollingsFarms]

my needs are quite different then most. I need the high horsepower of an ag utility but the manuverability of the smaller compact tractors. see, i have to keep up firebreaks that run all through my woods. i own 700+ acres, and probably 70% of that is wooded. the other 30% are open feilds with the largest field being 8-10 acres. i pull only a 5' disc, but its a HEAVY disc weighing at or over 900lbs. i cant have a cab due to working in the woods, but it sure would be nice when im bushhogging feilds in the spring and summer. i could use two tractors, BUT cant afford 2 and only have storage for one. i am looking at the tractors in the 5003 series but one of the criteria i HAVE to have is a certain width on the size of the machine to make sure i can get through the woods, but i need 50+ horsepower. height also plays into the deciding factor. also when it comes to bushogging, i dont want too small of a tractor as that would take forever to do the mowing i have to do. i can relate to the guys with the smaller compact tractors as well as the ones who own an ag utility.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Well I think I might be an example of overkill with just 2.25 acres, 1.1 lawn, with some additional areas targeted for future lawn

Nuru, we're in the same boat...we are on 2.1 acres, I'd be stretching it if I said .5 was lawn.... Got a F935 w/72" Commercial Deck & a Shiny new 3520 Cab...Overkill is my middle name....the straw that broke the camels back was I got tired of freezing my you know whats to the F935 seat this winter (Fabbed up a nice 56" blade when I got it). Not to mention, I grew up in a farming family with tractors of all sizes...had a tractor for any chore at my disposal...got REAL tired of saying "if I had a tractor I could do this..or that"
Not to mention, on the farm...we got tractors from 190 horse and down...guess what blew snow all winter? a TC33 (67 hours worth of snowblowing just this winter BTW)..... Sure bigger = better in some applications. But the right tool for the job is always the best. Its the same reason why I'm keeping the F935 around, it would without a doubt smoke circles around any 3x20 with 72" MMM at cutting grass.
In my opinion...those 50-75 horse tractors are the "whats the deal" type tractors...might as well spend a few bucks more and get a "REAL" one...Too small to do any "actual work" yet big & cumbersome...