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Started By
Message
First Time Buyer of a Tractor
Posted on 12/26/16 at 5:50 am
Posted on 12/26/16 at 5:50 am
Long time reader, first time poster. This City Boy is moving to the Country. Moving to 23 acres and looking to raise about 10 head of cattle. Not doing any crops. I've never bought a tractor and will need one. I'm obviously a novice so I need one that is reliable. There are a lot of options--Kubota, Deere, Mahindra, CaseIH, etc.. Are these all the same machines with different paint jobs or are there differences. A lot of experienced folks on this board and would value all opinions, positive and negative, before I buy one. Also interested to know which attachments to the tractor are beneficial or not. 
14
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:07 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
To start off with, how much pasture you have? It sounds like something in the 50 hp class that you will need. That and how much you are looking to spend.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:09 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
Really can't go wrong with any of those brands. Mahindra may be the best bang for your buck. Sometimes you can pick up a package deal with them that includes trailer, bushhog, and box blade. Even without doing crops a set of disc are nice to have.
One of the best implements I ever bought was a pto generator setup for it. Has come in handy a few times.
One of the best implements I ever bought was a pto generator setup for it. Has come in handy a few times.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:11 am to fishfighter
I've got 20 acres of pasture and great question about how much to spend. Since I'm a rookie I would pay a little more to get something reliable.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:14 am to biohzrd
I see where John Deere has a package deal available.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:20 am to biohzrd
Interesting about having the discs and the pto generator as attachments. I hadn't thought of those.
Mahindra markets itself as being the easiest to interchange implements.
Mahindra markets itself as being the easiest to interchange implements.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:21 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
I think most dealers will do the package deal thing for any brand, so don't let that be the determining factor.
John Deere makes the best product IMO, and also the most expensive. You need to consider how much time you'll spend on it to decide if it's really worth the extra cost. Basically, you're paying more for comfort. If you're going to spend days on it (bailing hay for example) than it's worth it. If you're just going to put out hay in the mornings and bush hog a few times in the summer than it probably isn't. I don't think the JD's are any more reliable than mahindra/Massey/kubota/etc.
If I remember right you need about 40hp to run a 6' bush hog. If a front end loader isn't in your budget right now that's fine, but get the remote hydraulics for a front end loader. You'll want one eventually and having the hydraulics in place makes it a painless upgrade.
Buying a tractor isn't like buying a car. It's a lifetime purchase for most people. Buy exactly what you think you want/need. 23 acres and 10 head doesn't take much. I'd look for a 30-35hp tractor, not a compact because they cost more, get a 5' bush hog, grader box, trailer, and go from there.
John Deere makes the best product IMO, and also the most expensive. You need to consider how much time you'll spend on it to decide if it's really worth the extra cost. Basically, you're paying more for comfort. If you're going to spend days on it (bailing hay for example) than it's worth it. If you're just going to put out hay in the mornings and bush hog a few times in the summer than it probably isn't. I don't think the JD's are any more reliable than mahindra/Massey/kubota/etc.
If I remember right you need about 40hp to run a 6' bush hog. If a front end loader isn't in your budget right now that's fine, but get the remote hydraulics for a front end loader. You'll want one eventually and having the hydraulics in place makes it a painless upgrade.
Buying a tractor isn't like buying a car. It's a lifetime purchase for most people. Buy exactly what you think you want/need. 23 acres and 10 head doesn't take much. I'd look for a 30-35hp tractor, not a compact because they cost more, get a 5' bush hog, grader box, trailer, and go from there.
This post was edited on 12/26/16 at 6:26 am
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:30 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I sure do see a lot of green tractors out on the countryside but I didn't know if it was just people being copycats or if it was warranted.
I would like a front end loader so I was going to budget for that.
I'm keeping my day job so I will be doing this allegedly part-time but I do like comfort.
I would like a front end loader so I was going to budget for that.
I'm keeping my day job so I will be doing this allegedly part-time but I do like comfort.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:44 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
We just sold a mahindra to buy a Deere. We had numerous problems with the mahindra mostly due to our rough and hilly terrain at the hunting camp. It was never the motor but rather broken axles, steering components, hydraulics. We now have the 4wd Deere and don't have enough hours on it to give a true review. All that said, if all I had was pasture and it was mostly flat, I would have no issues getting another mahindra. Like I said I just think it didn't hold up to our terrain.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:44 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
A few years ago (before I bought a house) I was tractor shopping pretty hard and what I was going to get was a Massey ferguson 2605 4wd with a couple of options and I remember the price being very favorable to the competition. I think Massey is the best value out there, but you will certainly sacrifice some comfort when compared to the Deere. Small masseys are kind of crude machines, more old school than the deeres. That's what I wanted. We had a old big Massey with about 7000 hours on it on the farm and it was largely trouble free other than stuff like tires and busted hydraulic lines/valves. It was a chore to operate and would beat the hell out of you though.
For comfort you can't beat a Deere. If you want to spend a little money, something like a JD 5205 with a front end loader will easily and comfortably do everything you'll ever need to do. Finance deals on tractors tend to be extremely good, so good that it might not make sense to pay cash for it even if you can. Shop accordingly and and enjoy your new place. I live in a subdivision now and I'm jealous
I just looked. JD 5055 is the model I was thinking of. My uncle has a new one and it's a fine machine.
For comfort you can't beat a Deere. If you want to spend a little money, something like a JD 5205 with a front end loader will easily and comfortably do everything you'll ever need to do. Finance deals on tractors tend to be extremely good, so good that it might not make sense to pay cash for it even if you can. Shop accordingly and and enjoy your new place. I live in a subdivision now and I'm jealous
I just looked. JD 5055 is the model I was thinking of. My uncle has a new one and it's a fine machine.
This post was edited on 12/26/16 at 6:51 am
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:59 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I know being out on some land won't be Holiday every day----too hot, too cold, rainy, etc. but I'm looking forward to it.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 6:59 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
JD makes great tractors. I had went with a L-series kubota, for the price point I was able to get a lot more tractor for my dollars. Nothing but great things to say about my 4060. Whatever you get, by a 4x4. My first wasn't and that was a lesson learned.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:01 am to gsvar2004
Fairly flat pasture without any hills or rough terrain.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:08 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
Length of a bushhog X 5 = minimum hp needed to pull that bushhog
Lenthe of a bushhog X 5 + 10 = ideal hp to pull that bushhog at optimum performance
Kubota and Deere are at the top. I prefer kubota
Get 4X4 and a front end loader
Lenthe of a bushhog X 5 + 10 = ideal hp to pull that bushhog at optimum performance
Kubota and Deere are at the top. I prefer kubota
Get 4X4 and a front end loader
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:33 am to Recovered
4X4 is a great idea. I don't want to be that guy who has to call his neighbor on Day 1 to help unstick his brand new tractor. I know I will have a lot of screw-ups but maybe I can prevent that one.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:37 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
5225 would be perfect for you
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:42 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
4wd is not just about getting stuck in the mud. No 4wd really limits you on your front end loader as well.
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:47 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
Another great question is where are you located. Pick a tractor that has a maintenance shop near you. There's no since in getting a John Deere if the shop is 3 hours away and a Kubota shop is 30 minutes away
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:47 am to Hatcher Hall Shrink
A used JD990 is about all you are going to need. They can be had reasonable and are bulletproof, built by Yanmar and pull 5ft implements with ease.
I would stay away from new equipment because of the tier IV emissions they now have. I don't want a tractor I have to buy DEF for at all and the tier III I'm not crazy about either.
LINK
I would stay away from new equipment because of the tier IV emissions they now have. I don't want a tractor I have to buy DEF for at all and the tier III I'm not crazy about either.
LINK
Posted on 12/26/16 at 7:57 am to tigerfootball123
The location of the maintenance shop is a critical factor for me. Thankfully, the JD, Kubota, and Mahindra shops are all no more than 30 minutes away.
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