Don't buy a bigger tractor than you need.

[hedgerow]

I think for a lot of first time tractor, acreage buyers budget plays a large roll in the size of tractor they buy. The cost of moving from town to the country is already a shock and then buying a larger tractor on top of that just may not be in the budget. I have a friend that has a five acre acreage that he takes care of and doesn't own a tractor at all. Ten years ago when they bought the place I gave him a Grasshopper zero turn mower with five hundred hours on it for a house warming gift. They have a concrete long circle drive and he scoops it or blows it with a five horse snow blow he had when they lived in the city. This is a five hundred thousand dollar acreage and he and his wife both have good jobs. They both drive newer pickups and the acreage is paid for. There are just both close with a buck. Last winter he had a lot of snow and looked a little at buying a tractor with loader then spring came and the looking stopped. His place doesn't have a weed or a limb down in his small timber. He doesn't mind working hard. He comes to help me at the farm and I know he thinks I have too many tractors. I farmed with junk and folks seconds for years so I could buy farms and get them paid for and now I can afford extra , nice tractors so I have them and enjoy them. Buy what you can afford and enjoy it. If a 100 Hp tractor on your one acre makes you happy or your BX on your section of ground makes you happy so be it.

 

[chim]

I've said to buy your 5th tractor first. While this is said partly in jest, that's what i DIDN'T do. I went up in size and capability in steps. The first was in 1990 and last - at least for now - in December of 2018. Admittedly it was more "want" than "need".

I dont NEED to mow 3-1/2 acres in less than an hour and a half, plow the parking lots at church, lift heavy things onto/off of trailers, move and spread crushed stone easily, etc. The first tractor would still mow and take care of the snow in my driveway. The rest could be handled by someone else. I could still use the open station in the heat, cold, wet, dust and pollen. But, I'm 75 and choose to do what i want (with approval from wifey of course).

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yeah, wifey, mine said to get rid of the combine, so I did( gave it away) it took her 8 DAYS to see it wasn't in the driveway and she passed by the empty spot 4-5 times every day......

 

[McMXi]

I have a friend that has a five acre acreage that he takes care of and doesn't own a tractor at all. Ten years ago when they bought the place I gave him a Grasshopper zero turn mower with five hundred hours on it for a house warming gift. They have a concrete long circle drive and he scoops it or blows it with a five horse snow blow he had when they lived in the city. This is a five hundred thousand dollar acreage and he and his wife both have good jobs. They both drive newer pickups and the acreage is paid for. There are just both close with a buck.

I have neighbors who moved to MT from CA and they're on 22 acres. They bought the property six years ago for $750k along with a house in Kalispell that they sold three years later for a good profit. They have a tiny JD sit down lawn mower but no way to move snow, or do much of the work that they do around the place. They've been paying for snow removal the past five winters, but their tenant bought a really old truck with a snow blade for $4k (I'm talking a real rust bucket POS) and is now taking care of their snow removal for a fee. I don't understand their way of thinking at all. Independence and self-reliance is a big deal to me.

 

[Yotekiller]

I tend to believe that acres has less to do with a tractor choice and that intended USE plays much more in the decision. Someone who needs a tractor to mow 100 acres probably has different tractor needs than a guy who uses a tractor to maintain trails through a 100 acres of woods. I bought a tractor to be used %99 of the time in heavy woods with narrow trails.

 

[ken erickson]

I tend to believe that acres has less to do with a tractor choice and that intended USE plays much more in the decision.

When I shopped and purchased my Kubota my main criteria was ranked like this.

My primary use and then secondary jobs
Budget
Reliability and less complex in electronics and emissions.
Tow-ability
Dealership location and reputation


Acreage was barely an after thought.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Anybody see Jeremy Clarkson buy a Lamborghini tractor? He didn't replace it with a smaller machine, he widened the gates.

 

[McMXi]

Anybody see Jeremy Clarkson buy a Lamborghini tractor? He didn't replace it with a smaller machine, he widened the gates.

That was one of the funniest moments in all three seasons! But in the end it wasn't too big for what he needed to do. I stopped by his farm shop this past Christmas.