First Tractor Advice Please

[blb078]

Hello, recently I bought a little over 13 acres and we're a building a home on it currently(home isn't done will be towards the end of the year). There is about 1.5 or so of it cleared the rest hardwoods and cedars(about 65% cedar). DISCLAIMER... This will be not only my first tractor but my first time owning land too. So I really have no idea what I will need it for yet although I do see things that I would like to take care of. I've been narrowing my search down to the B2601, B2650, and the JD 2025R. I looked at the BX and 1025r too but think I might like the larger tires and better ride. I do not have a separate barn or garage yet although my garage on my home will be 34'w X 30'D. with 8' doors.

My questions are what all items should I be looking to get, and I'm referring to things that might make stuff easier for use later on. I already know I want a loader, 60" deck, maybe a backhoe and tiller(the tiller I've seen you can get King Kutters for about a grand cheaper will they work ok w/the 2650 or 2601 or will I have to buy some special items?). For the backhoe I'm not sure if it's worth the 6-8k, I can see where I'd use it but not sure if I have 6-8k worth of use, maybe I will eventually just not sure. I've read the r4 tires are the way to go. I will be using this for mowing and what other duties I may need around my 13 acres.

I'll be paying for this in cash, I've read sometimes you can get a better deal with cash. Knowing that should I wait until we negotiate a price to bring up the cash or let them know upfront? Other than that, I really have no idea what I'm looking for or in for or which brand and model I should be getting. From what I've read the Kubota seems to have a little more power and lift ability than the JD but the JD seems to have better attachment ease of use?? Correct me if I'm wrong here and any other advice would be welcomed. Thanks

Brian

 

[Tooljunkie]

For a new buyer,dont know if you ever operated a tractor before it may be best to find a buddy that owns a tractor or two ang get him/her to show you a few things.
I personally dont care for the new fangled remote cable activated hydraulic controls, and if you plan on any landscape work with the loader dont go green.
I was horribly disappointed when i borrowed my buddy's Deere.
Felt unstable and controls had no fine controls whatsoever. It had about 60 hours on it, so wear wasnt an issue.

Implements woul be 3 point mower, box scraper and forks and grapple for loader. Backhoe would be handy but i could never justify the price. Ballast box is a must if you have the loader.

Regardless of what you decide, test drive every machine. Research each model you are looking at, specifically ones running tier 4 emissions. Some are very problematic.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

blb078,

WELCOME!

I bought a slightly used L3800 with a bashed in hood and roof. It came with a KingKutter 72" tiller which I have not yet used. I am holding on to it for possible "future" uses.

I also got a 72" KingKutter rake which has been fairly handy. By far, most of the use has gone to the KingKutter box scraper. Even with a loader, any dirt work on the ground can likely be done better with the box, unless you are picking it up and hauling it far away.

All the KingKutter implements have been well made. I keep them inside my barn on rolling carts.

I bought a set of Titan 4000lb clip-on bucket forks and they really were an odd product. The forks move the moment arm out so far you really reduce you lifting capability. If you get a FEL (loader is a MUST!) with a quick attach like a skid loader uses, you can lift more because of the shorter arm length.

You can hammer out the best deals on implements when you buy your machine. Must-have is the loader, and the box scraper. I'd have them fill your rear tires for more stability. Frank is right about the 3-pt weight box but, I don't have room to store a weight box so when I need weight, I put on the scraper, which weighs 400 lbs.

Forget the backhoe. Its a royal pain to remove and install. When its on, it raises your CG and eliminates use of your 3-pt. If you need to do a bunch of digging, go rent a mini-excavator for the day.

If there is anyone in your area that has a tractor, go talk with them. If that doesn't work, your dealer should be able to help you out with implement options. You can bounce utility off us here on the forum based on what you need to do on your property.

I will tell you this: About the second day you use your machine on your new property, you will quickly realize how wonderful and capable these machines are. I just remodeled my back yard and used my Kubota to haul in and out around 200,000 lbs of material. Try that with a shovel and wheelbarrow!
I am on five acres, half of which is inaccessible Sonoran desert. In the three years we have had our Kubota, we have paid for it in what rentals or hiring contractors would have run. And, our machine is still young and in great shape at 250 hours. Plan on making a nice big garage addition or tractor barn for your machine. It will pay off in adding years to its life.

Have fun. Any questions, you know where to find us.

Ray

 

[cerlawson]

Definitely see a friend first. Drive one and use one for typical work. I'd not trust a dealer unless they may loan youi one for trial, etc.

 

[85Hokie]

Brian,

"I'll be paying for this in cash, I've read sometimes you can get a better deal with cash.

TYPICALLY THIS IS A TRUE STATEMENT, AND I AM SURE YOU WILL, BUT CONSIDER PLACING THE CASH IN THE BANK AND COLLECTING SOME KIND OF INTEREST....AND TAKE THE ZERO %..........NOW IF YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THAT AND WISH TO EMPTY THOSE POCKETS, THEN BY ALL MEANS DO SO! IF YOU GET MORE THAN 1K OF THE 0% PRICE THEN PAY CASH - AND THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST BET - HOWEVER, IF YOU GET LESS THAN THAT - MAKE THAT CASH WORK FOR YOU IN OTHER WAYS.

Knowing that should I wait until we negotiate a price to bring up the cash or let them know upfront?

GET THE BEST PRICE THEN OFFER CASH - BECAUSE THE "BEST PRICE" WILL BE STILL AT 0%......

Other than that, I really have no idea what I'm looking for or in for or which brand and model I should be getting. From what I've read the Kubota seems to have a little more power and lift ability than the JD but the JD seems to have better attachment ease of use??

I WOULD NOT AGREE ON EITHER OF THOSE STATEMENTS........JD MAKE BETTER USE OF HYDRAULIC POWER AT A LOWER RPM, HOWEVER DO NOT REV AS HIGH AS KUBOTAS. PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT JD - PLASTIC THIS, PLASTIC THAT ........AND THEY ARE 1K MORE THAN KUBOTAS TIT FOR TAT

IT IS TOUGH TO BEAT THE LIFESPAN OF THE KUBOTA .....PERIOD.

Correct me if I'm wrong here and any other advice would be welcomed"

MANY SAY RENT A BACKHOE WHEN NEEDED......IF YOU SEE YOURSELF USING THE HOE, LIKE 20 HOURS A YEAR.....THEN BUY IT!!!! I USE MINE ABOUT THAT MUCH AND COULD NOT SEEING RENTING ONE......OTHERS WILL DISAGREE, IF HAVING TO DO OVER - I WOULD BUY THE HOE FIRST THEN THE TRACTOR!!!

THE LARGER TIRES ARE NICE, NOT SURE YOU WILL GET THAT MUCH BETTER RIDE, I AM SURE IT WILL HELP SOME, THE BX WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU NEED, THE B SERIES WILL DO THE SAME BUT MORE POWER ACROSS THE BOARD. GET THE TIRES LOADED FROM THE DEALER, AND DONT LET HIM CHARGE YOU FOR THAT ......

I AGREE WITH THE REST - FIND SOMEONE THAT HAS SOMETHING ORANGE AND ASK THEM 6,234 QUESTIONS, NONE OF THEM WILL BE STUPID - AND ALL OF THEM WILL HELP YOU LEARN THE MACHINE BETTER.

OR YOU CAN ASK US !

 

[RonBoyBX25D]

All good advice, if you can try to rent a tractor for a day & see how it works on your land. My dealer will rent and if you buy use the rental fee toward the new tractor. I rented a BX25 from my local Home Depot, sold me after a couple hours. The BX is perfect for me, it is a Swiss Army knife of tractors. I almost went with a B, could have had a great deal on a B2650 cab but it wouldn't fit in the garage. Truthfully it would be too big for my needs, but there are times I would love the capacity increase when it comes to stumps.

Good luck and ask away that is how we all learn.

 

[blb078]

Thanks for the info. I'll look into renting one. So far I've just messed around for a couple mins on the dealer lots. I still plan to pay in cash. I try to pay everything in cash. I hate payments even 0% interest payments. Will dealers take a tractor to your land so you can test it out? I'm also maybe leaning towards a cab with the heat and ac. Mainly for the heat because in in Missouri the summers are rough. Winters aren't to bad we do get snow and some 0 degree days but usually it doesn't last that long and I like the idea of being comfortable while doing this or thinking a year or two down the road and saying to myself I wish I would of spent the extra 8k or whatever and got a cab.

 

[skeets]

It seems most dealers are willing to bring one out for you to play with for a couple days, just remember its gets buggered up you will pay to fix it. If they will bring one out to play with then you can get a good feel for the Mdl you might like, I dont know about your land up hill swamp woods you know that stuff will help you decide which one will fit your bill,, if it is all open with a little woods or just yard to work in,, While I work the snot out of my BX I will tell you there are days I wish I had a bigger tractor and a B would be nice and still be able to get around trees the house and such. And dont let any one tell you the MMM is only for finish work, I had 5 acers of wild roses and wild grapes in my lower field,,, the MMM on the BX chopped them up so they do stand up. A FEL yup is a nice thing to have a BH nice but again how much you going to use it, though I have to admit I wish I had one more than once! Mower I like the MMM for what I do unless your choppin hay fields. For road work a box blade is nice, and landscaping a rake is the ticket along with the box blade.
I guess what Im saying is get the basic tools you need and go from there, tractors are like hot rods and motorcycles the more you look at them more confusing they get, and everybody has their own ideas on whats best.
I wish you well and remember to come back, and PICTURES we love our tractor porn

 

[WFM]

13 acres is plenty of land to keep you busy. My advise. Buy big enough. I'd be looking at 40 horses to take care of 13 acres. Small tractors are a work horse. But go big. You'll have no regrets. Just my 2 cents.

 

[bearskinner]

Gotta agree with the above comment on the backhoe. I knew I would use mine a lot, and now I find I use it even more than I thought! Once you do it a couple times, you can remove the hoe and go to 3 point implements in 15 minutes. I use the backhoe almost as much as the loader, and more than any of the others.

 

[Vraz]

This will be not only my first tractor but my first time owning land too. So I really have no idea what I will need it for yet although I do see things that I would like to take care of.

Will be somewhat contrarian here and suggest you purchase a cheap older (likely non-orange) tractor to figure out what you really need. I have ~4 acres and purchased an old Ford 8N for $2700 seven years ago. It is far from modern but will run most any 3PT implement (blade, box grader, rotary cutter, tiller, etc). A few months and you will quickly understand what you value in a newer tractor (way better than any external suggestions).

Just purchased a new B2601 (though looks a bit worse for wear after only three weeks-- getting used in a big way). I knew exactly what was important and have been super pleased with my purchase. Would have been impossible without my prior 8N experience. You get excited by concepts like "Live PTO", fwd/rev hydrostatic drive and 3PT that doesn't sag after 10 minutes, etc. The earleir advise to rent is good, but suggest at least a month to gain real learning.

In my case, needed a narrow tractor with matching rotary cutter and the B2601 was only 51" wide-- did not appreciate how important until needing a chansaw to unstuck the 8N a few times. Best of luck!

 

[gmbc]

Welcome to the forum. I am very new at this also. Just bought acreage and never owned land or tractor before. Looked lots at different tractors and forums. Decided on B2650 HSDC . Get cab for sure now. Great when it is really dusty and hot out. Winter bonus for cold and blowing snow. I am in Canada so have both dust and snow. FEL is a must, I have MMM and it is great. Got forks and quick attach for FEL. Had some yard work done and wish had land rake. used mower to blow grass to center and loader to clear. Next is likely rotor tiller and box blade. Almost wished had gone a bit bigger as FEL only can lift about 1000 lbs. Any rate this tractor has worked lots for me. I put bolt on hooks on bucket . Got info for Bolt on Hooks from this site. Another great addition. Don't think would go smaller than B2650
Good luck and enjoy.