Help me choose my first tractor

Hello folks, I'm new to this forum AND to land management. I'm fairly handy...lived on a boat and maintained a Ford Lehman 120 for a while. I'm not afraid of an older tractor and my budget prefers an older tractor's price, but I'm open to spending on a newer tractor if it's justifiable.

Here's my situation.
1. 10 acres of planted pines. There's a half acre with no pines in the center, but the entire property is overgrown...maybe 10+ years of growth.
2. Flat dry ground, hot summers in florida.
3. I need to clear and level the homesite, and clear all the under brush to make room for animals and campers.

I have a gas station with gasoline just 5 minutes away, but diesel is 20 minutes away. That's not a huge deal as I could simply buy and store surplus diesel, but the convenience of nearby gasoline is a factor.

I've never run a tractor, but very comfortable running just about any type of clutched manual transmission, although I'm sure there will be some learning curve.

I'm leaning toward NO front loader as my workload will rarely consist of digging or carrying more than what a 3pt carry-all could handle.

I'd love your input on what I should be looking to buy.

My current interests are 8n, early model Massy, 90s model Deere, or newer Branson/TYM.

How much do you have to spend

I can spend either about $8k now or about $400/mo on finance. But Id really really love to not have debt.

Not sure how big you want, but to clear 10 acres with rotary mower i would not think the a 8n is going to help you much, i would say a 50-70 horse Ford with a 3 point would be the size your needing !!

i cant find in your post what u want to do with a tractor. nor how many h.p. all i see is u have a half acre and want to clear more, presuming its treed. so i dont see how a tractor is of much use clearing tree's. u need a small dozer but even that dont know how big your trees are? little tractor info u gave. the 8n is not much of a tractor other than riding around crop checking like a quad.

Number 3 on my little list. Clear brush and level the homesite and clear brush from the rest of the property.

Ok, so one vote for 50+ HP

I dont need to clear all the brush for 10ac immediately. Thats a longer project to reclaim it all over maybe a year

Id suggest a John Deere 350 dozer with 6 way blade then trade up to a utility type tractor when you get the clearing leveling outs the way.
Sounds like what youre going need .
Level and push the trash into piles burn it or chipping it.

My 2 cents worth will be choose a tractor with a factory 3 point hitch, live hydraulics and live or continuous PTO. These are just a few things that will make using whatever tractor of your choice much easier and safer to use. I'm sure many people will give certain brands and models they would prefer.

Sounds like you'll be using a mower and a box blade mostly.

An N series Ford is a little light, plus it doesn't have live PTO, which means a rotary mower will push the tractor even with the clutch disengaged! There is also the age factor. Unless you happen to find someone's hobby tractor, plan on doing a lot of work on it.

Something a little newer, with 2 stage clutch, power steering, modern hydraulics, better brakes, ROPS and other safety features would be a better investment, especially if other people will be using it. Shop carefully though, many are foreign made with limited parts availability.

Nearly everything is now diesel. Advantage is longer life. Disadvantage is repairing one is very expensive! No shade tree short cuts allowed like a gas engine. Buying one too new will get into complex and troublesome electronics and emission controls. That started around 1996-2000.

Stay in touch, see what you find, ask first, we'll try to get you on something you'll be happy with.

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense. Wife will likely be taking her turn on the tractor. Along with older sons in a few years.

So 90s JD 790? Something like that or comparable?

Wife and kids to be drivers...10 acres to mow...another must have would be power steering.
Even without a loader, that wheel gets to a pain after time and tight places.
It's a option on a lot older machines and less as you look at really older machines, and
as said below about enough HP and PTO choice.
look twice and buy once.

Oliver 550, Massey 135, 165, IH 354 364 384 424 434 444 either British or US versions. Renting a small dozer may be a first step. They will do the brush removal and clearing/leveling with ease. A tractor will not do that. The tractors I posted should be at 1/2 the $ and allow equipment purchases. Jim

Don't buy a tractor. Buy a mini excavator, way more useful, especially if you are doing land clearing. With the extra hydraulic circuit you can essentially do anything a tractor can do plus a lot more besides. Wait to buy a tractor till you are done with the land clearing.

For what you describe, I'd be looking at something like a John Deere 2030, a Massey Ferguson 165, Ford 5000, or International 574. Those can be found in your price range, are big enough to do the jobs you describe, have live PTO, and new or used repair parts and dealer network are available. And all will still be worth close to what you gave for them when you decide to sell or trade.

U wong be clearing bush or brush with a tractor. At least give us an idea how big these tres are. As I can see others posting about tractors. Well I am scratching my head, or they have no land clearing experience. U need a small cat as I said. Then u break the land. Then u proceed to get it worked up. Them little tractors dont pull a breaking plow. But as I asked the size of trees is the game changer here as no clue till that is observed. Even a picture of this land. If its good sized trees then a D7 cat is about right. And is this the 10 acres of planted trees 10 year old ur mowing over ? Sure not doing that with any tractor. Best is to hire the job out , then once things are in order buy a tractor to suit ur needs.

I've cleared and leveled a lot of ground in my time.
My vote is a loader/backhoe. Another tractor for mowing.
I have 4 old and 1 new tractor. You need to find friends with tractors and ask if you can let you take a ride on them.

Talking about tractors isn't the same as using one.

Step-son has an 8N and he's finding it has limits to what it can do and can't do. He found out the grader blade does little good on his gravel driveway. Gravel is too packed.

He thinks he can use his FIL 4 ft tiller on it.
It will be interesting to see how that works.
It has a sherman 2 speed.

There is a gismo you can add to the PTO to prevent a brush hog from pushing you.
















This is a few pic of my tractors.
Stop by and I'll let you drive them.

Massey 35 was a good little tractor, but a massey 135 would be even better and they don't cost that much more.

Fellas, he asked about a TRACTOR for around $8K.
Sheesh!
Scottymags,
At least LOOK at a Ford 3000 or 4000.
8K will get you a good one with some money left over for a couple of implements.
Both are simple, reliable, have good new and used parts availability.
Whatever tractor you buy do as J Hamilton suggests and get one with Factory 3 point hitch.

Before you buy someones well used tractor with what ever problems, go to a local Kubota tractor dealer and whatever other dealers in your area. Check out what they offer , some have 0% financing at times, and a warranty. The diesel will not be as big of a problem as you think, 2, 5 gallon cans will go a long way. I wish you luck, take your time and make your choice. joe