Don't buy a bigger tractor than you need.

[Yotekiller]

A small machine on anything over 10 acres isn’t much fun, no matter what your uses.

I will have to disagree. I think your uses dictate the tractor you need, not the size of your property. I have well over 10 acres and my 2502 does everything I need it to do. I don't mow with it but do till deer plots and a large yearly garden and it handles those fine. It brings huge trees out of the woods with the grapple, it moves massive amounts of brush at a time, it dug a 30x50' hole for our swimming pool, it clears several hundred feet of blacktop driveway with no issues. I made a trail through a certain section of my woods that was steep hills and most guys would have never even attempted with their tractor, The 2502 was stable and did it perfectly.
But with that said, there are times I think about a MX series, I just hate the emissions. But some day I may buy an MX and delete it. I would like to have the extra lifting capacity but I have some giant logs still to deal with.

 

[McMXi]

But some day I may buy an MX and delete it.

You would not be disappointed.

 

[airbiscuit]

I will have to disagree. I think your uses dictate the tractor you need, not the size of your property. I have well over 10 acres and my 2502 does everything I need it to do. I don't mow with it but do till deer plots and a large yearly garden and it handles those fine. It brings huge trees out of the woods with the grapple, it moves massive amounts of brush at a time, it dug a 30x50' hole for our swimming pool, it clears several hundred feet of blacktop driveway with no issues. I made a trail through a certain section of my woods that was steep hills and most guys would have never even attempted with their tractor, The 2502 was stable and did it perfectly.
But with that said, there are times I think about a MX series, I just hate the emissions. But some day I may buy an MX and delete it. I would like to have the extra lifting capacity but I have some giant logs still to deal with.

Your L2502 is 2 frame sizes up from a BX series. I think you would be less happy doing your tasks with a BX.

 

[Yotekiller]

Your L2502 is 2 frame sizes up from a BX series. I think you would be less happy doing your tasks with a BX.

That's why I said choose the tractor for your intended use, not amount of acres. I put in months of research on what I "needed" at a minimum to accomplish my tasks. The L series fit the bill because it was more about tractor weight and lift capacity for me and not about HP. If my land was all field and I was mowing it, the L series would not have been chosen.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Heck I don't 'need' my BX23S but my neighbours sure KNOW I do !!!
I can just get the D-14/tiller between the garage and deck.just, and that's with some serious 'armstrong exercises'.

I agree tractor should be bought based upon ACTUAL requirements of what it's supposed to do.Seriously doubt a picture framer uses a sledge hammer in his workshop...

 

[CGMKCM]

Its ironic that Neal's next video he jumps up to a larger tractor for his personal use.

 

[Hammarhead]

meh. Any compact tractor is a joy to use. That said, I see way more comments from people wishing they bought bigger for their first tractor, than wishing they bought smaller.

Here is my rule of thumb +

View attachment 147600

It's funny how the perception regarding equipment sizing changes over time. I found this early Gravely ad interesting. I wonder how many people would agree with their point of view in 2025?

 

[nyawkpat]

Hi folks,I I'm a new member here.
My wife and I of a house on 16 acres of mostly hardwood on a mountainside at about 2200 ft. Our driveway is approximately 600 ft curving back and forth through the woods.
My wife enjoys gardening but digging through the hard pan and stone is torturously difficult. I would also like to get in to the woods more and harvest wood for our wood stoves.

I have considered looking for a used tractor (preferably diesel) that has capabilities for snow removal,hauling harvested firewood as well as excavating.(We have a 20 HP Craftsman tractor mower for lawn cutting which is pretty much useless for anything else.
I have a pretty limited budget so new is out of the question.
Thus I certainly would consider used however I'm apprehensive about where to look for something that doesn't turn out to be a money pit.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[nbryan]

Hi folks,I I'm a new member here.
My wife and I of a house on 16 acres of mostly hardwood on a mountainside at about 2200 ft. Our driveway is approximately 600 ft curving back and forth through the woods.
My wife enjoys gardening but digging through the hard pan and stone is torturously difficult. I would also like to get in to the woods more and harvest wood for our wood stoves.

I have considered looking for a used tractor (preferably diesel) that has capabilities for snow removal,hauling harvested firewood as well as excavating.(We have a 20 HP Craftsman tractor mower for lawn cutting which is pretty much useless for anything else.
I have a pretty limited budget so new is out of the question.
Thus I certainly would consider used however I'm apprehensive about where to look for something that doesn't turn out to be a money pit.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Anything not a "money pit" , with new pricing being out of the question, good luck with that!

It took me a couple of years constantly shopping used to realize that a Kubota with the attachments or implements that I needed was nearly the same price of new. They're incredibly good at holding their value.

So for a used quality manufactured CUT that's in good shape, been well maintained, and has what you need? You almost always spend nearly what a new unit costs. Or are very lucky.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I know late farmer here did 25 acres of 'market garden' using a 10HP tractor for decades.