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City Boy buying first tractor needs advice

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Bob Wilbur

01-11-2003 14:08:06

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Yep finally bought the farm....well... woods lot that was a farm about 80 yrs ago. Its kind of a hilly lot in Maine, some mature hardwoods with a sea of small (1" to 3") trees in and brush in between.
I cleared and burned about a 1.5 acre spot for the house by hand. Now I'm not the worlds smartest fella but when I finished I figured out that there was probably an easier way to get the job done. I still have to build the house. A local contractor with the dozer and excavator and backhoe will take care of the big stuff.
I've been looking into used tractors to do some of the other things like snow removal, landscape some, clear some walking trails, build a small bridge, haul firewood, cut the grass and any other jobs that will wear on the 50+yr old back and legs of my wife and I.
I think I need about a 20 - 25hp machine with a loader and bush hog. It looks like a 4wd machine at $7000 to $9000 is outside my budget ....do you think 4wd is absolutly necessary?...
Any other advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any/all advice.

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Joe Smith

04-29-2005 13:15:46

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META HTTP-EQUIV=Refresh CONTENT= in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

<a href=http://pussy.matures-stories.com/>mature pussy</a>

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Chris Charalambous

07-06-2003 00:30:37

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

Well I bought a ranch and now I am looking into buying a compact tractor but I don't know which brand to buy. How do I know if I am getting a good deal or if I am getting a bad deal. I have zero knowledge about tractors. I have an acre and a half mini ranch. Manuare, arena and round pin and loads of DG is what I would use the tractor for so I need all the help you can offer me about which tractor i should look into.

thanks

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Shawn in MN

01-12-2003 14:45:58

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

I bought my dads farm two years ago, with 20 acres. The first thing I bought was a tractor. I ended up with a 414 IH. It has a 2 stage clutch for live power, power steering and a 3pt. I run a 7ft lornze snowblower and a 7ft finish mower. I have had pretty good luck with it so far. The tires are filled with fluid wich makes up for the traction issue. I will eventually end up trading for a new compact utility with a loader and front wheel assist, but I had to start somewhere and I picked up at a resonable price. Good luck and enjoy your farm..... .

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F14 - Howdy, Bob`

01-12-2003 05:07:22

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

I'm here to tell you that if you go with a compact utility tractor (which would be my recommendation) you WILL need 4wd. They're great little machines (I have a JD 750) but they're essentially worthless in 2 wd. I can't even bushhog reliably with mine without engaging the front wheels. And don't even THINK about snow removal without it.

Personally, having both, I'd recommend a newer compact diesel over an older farm tractor. You'll get it serviced easier, you'll get parts more readily, and you find more suitable attachments.,

And, not that it matters particularly, but I live in Maine too, so I know the sort of terrain you're working with.

JMHO, YMMV.

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sod

01-11-2003 22:27:58

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

Keep your eye on the auction sales in the area that you are going to live. Look for a Farmall 400 or 450, a JD 730 or something similar. Other people on this site can give more equivalents, but the thing that you need is a 40 - 55 hp unit that is new enough to have live power and the three point hitch. Don't buy the first one that you hear of... bid low.
good luck
sod

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Bob

01-11-2003 19:31:17

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

You do what you can but I have 3 tractors ranging from 29-85 HP and the smaller tractor with 4 wheel drive liquid filled tire and front weights will out do either of the bigger 2 wheeled drives with weight. You do need a little more hp than 29 or you will always regret not having done it. If you plan to pull a 5 or 6-foot bush hog in heavy brush you'll need 45+ hp to get anything done. Buy a good tractor and a good bush hog. Don't buy a new 5ft 495-dollar piece of junk. Bush hogs can take a lot of abuse if you have a good one. You can pick up a good used one for 4-600 hundred at an auction. If you don't find a Tractor locally look on "ironsearch" across the border from you in Canada. They have more 4 wheel drives available and are reasonably priced. Importation of farm equipment costs you nothing the dealer will handle it. Good luck and keep us posted
.....

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F14

01-12-2003 05:19:49

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Re: Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob, 01-11-2003 19:31:17

...If you plan to pull a 5 or 6-foot bush hog in heavy brush you'll need 45+ hp to get anything done...

I guess that depends on what you mean by "get anything done". It'll go a lot faster with 45 horsepower for sure, but I've mowed some pretty serious brush up to and including 2" alders and poplars with my 5' Woods and an 18 horse JD750 diesel. Slow going, but it WILL do it. Had one feller tell me it wasn't possible while leaning on the fender of my tractor and looking at a field I'd just done it to.

I suspect some of the difference is made up by the extra torque of a diesel over the evquivalent horsepower-rated gas engine.

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Roy B

01-11-2003 17:29:26

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

Bob, For $0.02 worth of advice from a neighbor in New Brunswick, don't buy a tractor without power steering, three point hitch and some form of live power take-off. Go as big as you can afford. I think you will be happier with a unit over 30hp, but don't rule out going larger. As with most everything it is better to have and not need, than need and not have.I can't stress the importance of a good set of chains in our location. Not just for getting things done, but for operator safty. Hills,ice and tractors make for a dangerous combination. Good luck with the new place. Roy

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kydavid

01-11-2003 17:06:41

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

What I'm about to say and 56 cents will get you a cup of coffee :). 1. I'd get a lot more horsepower. As hp goes up price goes down (as a rule) all other things being equal. More hp (and weight) will go a long way toward replaceing the fwd (esp in the snow). Case in point (at least here) 4600 Ford will cost you $8000-$10,000; 7600 Fords run 6000-8000. Other option is to consider renting dozer. I just turned in a 550 JD that cost me under $900.00 a week from a national chain. About the cost of 2 major repairs to an old tractor. Do all your land clearing in one swoop and then clean up with the tractor. I certainly agree with the other post, you can not get too much ballast.

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Illini Case

01-11-2003 14:52:54

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

A 4WD is not necessary. I am like you and play on my "little farm". I would recommend that you look for something in the 30-40 H.P. range such as a Massey Fergusen 35 or 135 or a Case 430 or 530. A 25 H.P. tractor is pretty small when you hook it up to a 5 foot bush hog. These tractors should fall in the $2,500-$5,000 range. If you are going to push or blade snow you would want to have the tires filled with liquid.

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350 Don

01-11-2003 14:35:04

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Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to Bob Wilbur, 01-11-2003 14:08:06

It might not be absolutely necessary, but it is highly desirable. Many have used two wheel drive tractors for a long time but they are generally likely to be experienced. The 4 wheel will be especially handy when moving snow and for loader work. By the way, in Maine you will probably get lots of snow and you might want to consider chains for your tractor too, especially if you get a 2 wheel drive unit. Good luck with your search. Keep this website in mind as you get other questions. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here who are willing to help a newcomer.

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mike

01-11-2003 18:35:34

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Re: Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to 350 Don, 01-11-2003 14:35:04

When you go to buy a tractor, don't just buy the one with the new paint ,new seat , so on . Buy a tractor that is mechanically sound . If you have to hire a tractor mchanic to go with you and advise you. The money you spend may be the best money you send. I see so many people buying tractors and giving top price for a wore out, piece of junk, by the time you get it back to good shape you could have paid for two tractors.

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Hayman

01-12-2003 02:45:18

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Re: Re: Re: City Boy buying first tractor needs advice in reply to mike, 01-11-2003 18:35:34

I would sure like a cab and a sprung seat for my 55 yr. old body.

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