Tractor or not...

Howdy All;
My quiestion is theoretical in nature, but need the perspective and wisdom of you all. We have about and acre or so in the mountains. I have never had a tractor in my adult life, but remember driving one on my Grandfathers farm as a boy. Having a tractor now, in
my 60's, to play with on our spot of land would be fun and of course I would use it move snow and grade the driveway. Most of which I can do without one. My question to you all is whether I am off base wanting one to play with and work on im limited knowledge
of tractor mechanics and operation, etc.
If anyone has an opinion on this delima, I would really appreicate your thoughts. My wife does not shae me enthusiasm about having a tractor. I am not sure which way to go...
Thanks,
Skip
Sugarloaf, CA.

As near as I can tell, you only get one go-around at life. If you want it and can afford it, get it. I am of a similar age with 3 acres in MI and own 8 tractors. I don't regret getting any of them and only consulted the better half on the purchase of 2. I know she agreed to one, the other, not so much.

looking at it as a hobby and not a necessity is a start. You might get a hold of Roger Welch's books about tractors. He was a college professor and a writer that started tinkering around with tractors. He wasn't a mechanic or a farmer yet he learned to enjoy tinkering around with old tractors.

I wouldn't be without one. If you can afford one, do your homework on what would best suit your needs and go for it.

By all means get one! When I got my first one I was living on a 75 ft. wide lot in town. I had to keep it at my grandparent's place because I had nowhere else to keep it.
They are a fun hobby and you will learn a lot, plus possibly get some use out of it also.
You can also stick a lot of money into boats, ball games, golf club memberships, and numerous other hobbies and past times.
If this is what turns you on then go for it!!

By the way, I now live on 5 acres of the same farm where I used to store that first tractor. My collection is up to 17, plus some old trucks and numerous pieces of machinery. And I'm loving every minute of it!

Absolutely yes. Everybody should have at least one tractor.

Howdy All;
Thanks for your insights. You may be right that the tractor is not a necessity but would be fun, if I only end driving around the mountain community neighborhood. I don't have a shop or garage to keep it in and it will sit under a tarp most of the time. But they seem simple enough to tinker with.
Thanks folks!
Skip

Absolutely get one. I've got three and I don't even farm. You could become a very popular guy in the community if you're the only one there with a tractor. They come in real handy for lots of things, especially if you get a carry deck and boom pole.

(quoted from post at 14:06:13 03/08/16) Howdy All;
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Click to expand...

Half the people on here don't need a tractor and yet they have one or 2 or 3 or.......

I brought home a tractor the other day. My Granddaughter said "How many tractors do you have?" I said 7 or 8 maybe 9 She said,"How many tractors do you need?" Probably two or maybe three, I'm not really sure. So in answer to your question.....YES GET YOURSELF A TRACTOR. If your wealthy enough, buy a new compact tractor with a loader and rear blade, like Kubota or John Deere etc. If your on a budget as most are start shopping... you'll need a three point hitch for a blade and a bushhog mower, maybe a loader(once you have had a loader, you'll never be happy without one). Once you get one, you will look for projects to use your tractor for. I don't like snow, but I love plowing snow with my tractor. gobble

You can always use one. What else can you spend your extra money on.

Tractors and pickups --- Having some is good, more are better and too many is just enough.

Get one and have fun. Once you have one you'll find more uses for it. The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Howdy All;
I may have settled on a 1957 Ford 850 gas tractor. No loader or implements yet, but in the future... who can tell.
Thanks Gentlemen.
Skip

You need a Farmall Super C

Sure! A good idea. Solid brakes are mandatory. A fast hitch, or 3 point is necessary. Live hydraulics is important. Live Power takeoff is mandatory. From Oliver super 55 to Massy 135, to International Utilities like 300/330/300/350, to Kubotas and other Brand Name compacts, you will find a unit with your name on it. To assure your success, teach your wife to drive it! Jim

That would be a good choice. Good parts availability, easy to use, easy to work on, plenty of power, 3-point hitch...
The shift pattern does take some getting used to...

If you only have an acre that's sure not very much area to use a tractor.

They will be a good match to your needs. Be sure to use a PTO one way clutch on the output shaft when using a rotary mower. This clutch device slips onto the PTO spline and prevents the mower's inertia from driving the tractor when the clutch is pushed in. For a novice operator it is dangerous as the tractor can keep going 30 to 50 feet!. the one way clutch drives the mower but will not allow the mower to drive the tractor. They are not expensive and can be found at Farm/Fleet, Fleet Farm, or other tractor supply stores and on line. Jim

I share ownership of a Farmall 400 and a Farmall c with my oldest brother, work on my older brother's b farmall, and drive dads Oliver 77 that was bought new. The Farmalls are used around the farm for spraying and food plots. The 77 is used on a 35 mile tractor ride that's close to the farm. I have a friend who is into restoring Olivers with new tires and paint and fixing whats need to be fixed. He lets about 10 people drive his tractors on the local tractor ride.

The problem is not too many tractors, there's just not enough time to drive them all!

I can plow snow with this little A . Spread mulch , back drag gravel. Fix erosion damage. You need an attachment to do something to have fun.

Hah! If you are looking for anyone to discourage you from buying a tractor, you are barking up the wrong tree on this site. Lol!

A tractor is one of those things that once you finally own one, you will ask yourself, "How in the name of all that is Holy did I ever get along without one?"

Buy the tractor and enjoy.

I have a few acres with some cows, but have 3 tractors and am looking at another. I think a guy can't have to many.

Of course.. I find the relevant number to determine how many tractors I "need" is the number of Grandkids. So far, 13 Grandkids, but only 9 tractors.

I have to agree with everyone else. Look at your budget and go find a tractor. I am a fan of Fords but many brands are out there that are great starters. Don't overlook the imports including Kubota and Yanmar. Small tractors but seem to run forever.

The big question here is " Whats need got to do with it". I don't need any tractors , I don't farm or do custom work, but yet I have 9 tractors and a couple of parts tractors. Go for it.

You already know our answer to your question (and probably what you want to hear also) The real questions are: Do you go new? do you go antique? or do you go used '80,s -'90,s-2000,s ? Your money and your mechanical aptitude will answer those. If you can't work on them (or don't wish to) you best get the best one you can find out of the choices above. Another thing most will not bury their pride and do is find the most knowlegable tractor person for the type you are going to look at and even if you have to pay him/her to go with you...do it! Stay away from dealers as you won't get any history and probably only half the truth about the tractor. There's enough nice tractors out there being sold by the present owners and some of them by the original owners and that is what you want. I don't use the words never , all , none , every etc but I'm sure you can read between the lines. Good luck tractor hunting.

Yes of course you should have a tractor. But please be safe. I do not like the sound of mountain terrain, old tractors, and perhaps less than experienced operators. I would recommend a rops and seat belt for sure. And get the brakes and brake set fixed. Best wishes.

there are hundreds , at least, on here who have "city tractors" that is they really dont need a tractor , but they want one, many reasons for it, a few are a fun and relaxing, most of the time, hobby, that keeps you out of the bars and pool halls, some people grew up on a particular brand of tractor and just want a tractor to remind them of younger days, there are many more reasons, some of these are driven in parades ect, some just sit, doesnt really mater, what maters is that it makes you happy, that being said, you do have an acre, now you can buy a big box store Chinese made lawn tractor that will mow, the larger ones can pull a small blade ect, but my personal experience with ones made in the last 15 years is there not long lived when they are used that way, your better off to buy a real tractor, some consideration here as you wont stop at just the tractor, your going to want to use it some, probably a minimum of implements would be a rotary cutter [ brush hog] to mow the place, a box blade to maintain the driveway and any ditches ect and a back blade for snow removal if you need to, so get either a package deal, ie a small farmall or deere which comes with all that, from somebody selling out, or a ford or ferguson ect that can run the modern 3 point implements made today, a few items of interest you can buy a 8n ford which will do all this, but if you add a grand or less to the price of a good 8n, you can step up to the hundred series or even the early thousand series, the difference especially to a beginner is dramatic, you get live hydraulics as you move into the thousand series you get that plus live pto, and power steering, so look around before you buy, same with farmall and deeres, you can buy in the 40's but if you step into the 50's and 60's you can get much more tractor for not much more money . these tractors are a little more complicated but not so much so that you cant figure it out if you buy the manuals for it, most are available right there on this sight, as you look around at tractors , if one sparks your intrest snap a photo of it and post it, and folks here will tell you about it and weather its suitable for what you want, once your set up with it you wont believe how many friends and cousins you have never met that will suddenly drop by and need tractor work, when that happens, do not loan or rent your tractor to them, go, and do the work yourself and they pay you for it, a loaned tractor is a broken tractor

I have four tractors and don't use three for anything but looking at and parades.

Hello;
Thank you for your comments, insight and knowledge as well as suggestions of how approach owning a tractor. My only experience has been driving one on my Grandfathers farm when I was I kid, 60 years ago. I started looking at the Farmall B, Allis Chalmers B and C and IH Cubs. They are simple and very asthetic, but as youmentioned they are without a 3pt system. The Ford 9n, 8n are also very asthetic and have the 3pt system, I have now atarted looking at the 'hundred' series Fords. I may end up with a tractor first then look for implments as they become available, if I do not find a package deal. Here in SoCal, they are few and far between.
I will keep all posted and thanks again to all for your input, I do appreciate them all...
Skip

Hey Honey. I was thinking about building onto the garage...?

Yes, definitely. You could even get a car port or one of those tarp car garages.

I have thought about a carport or just a tarp at least. In the mountains (Big Bear) where the tractor will be, we have to deal with snow, so it needs to be substantial. My dream is a three space garage with enough room for the truck and camper , my workshop and br>my tractor, all I need to do is win the lottery...
Thanks again folks for all your thoughts. They bolster my desire to join the group and family of tractor owners...
Thanks,
Skip

I have 1.25 acres and 4 tractors. Could get by without any, but having one to push snow and till the garden is rather handy. Plus, the loader will move vast amounts of dirt and lift heavy things when I need it to. For a setup like mine, and probably yours, it's all about the fun of owning and playing with one. I say, Go for it!

Thanks Jeff!!
Sounds like it could be my plan... first a tractor then a loader and scraper blade...
Thanks,
Skip

Hello All;
It looks like I may have found a Ford 8n tractor. Not sure of the year yet and supposedly it will come with a reversible rear blade (good for moving snow and grading) a small harrow and and a rake. The person 'restored it' but not sure, other than paint, what that means. We'll see if it comes to fruition.
Thanks again for all your input...
Skip