Another place to look is all-power in lancaster, they have Cubs (Mistibishi I believe) and Massey Ferguson. I just bought a hold over model (1428v-Hydro) with only 6 hours on it for less than the current model 1528 gear drive. Not sure what their used lot looks like but if you are close, you could check it out. Also, Taylor equipment in canel winchester, south of the new Wal-Mart, always has some decent looking used stuff.
Good luck.

DuaneW.

 

You can find som egood deals at www.tractorhouse.com or www.ironworks.com
If you plan on realy having a loader that will do much, I wouldnt look at anyting below 25-28 hp, and look at teh hydraulic pressures its desogned to work at.
The JD's are good, the Kubotas are better(IMHO) in what you get for your $$ in teh smaller tractors.

 

I bought a new Kubota 7510 (21hp) and tried to mow with a 5' finish mower and it would bog down. Took it back to dealer several times and they couldn't understand why it would choke but couldn't ever give me a good answer so they wound up taking it back and giving me full credit towards my current 7610(24 hp)...now that's a good dealer.

 

Can I get an Amen, and pass the plate.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I am not opposed to the Kubotas, the one person I know with one has a 30-35hp model and it works well. Most of the actual farmers I know have deeres and they have great luck with them. Sorry Logan, but no case ih for me.

A Deere 855, 950, or 955 would work. What should I look for as far as hyrdraulics? A certain capactity or what?

Thanks

 

I debated about tractors for a while myself, I looked at the John Deere's at a dealer in my home town. I also looked at Massey ferg's, Kioti's, Mahindra, a Cub Cadet with a 28hp Cat diesel, and a couple other Korean off brands, I almost bought the Kioti but then I talked to a friend of mine that owns a Kubota so I went to my local kubota dealer and was eyeing the BX24 but decided it was not the right choice. I went with the B7610HST 54" belly mount mower, LA 352 front end loader, and a Landpride spreader to sand/salt my driveway. I also made a jig to mount a 7.5' fisher plow in the bucket of the FEL so I could plow my driveway. I have 2.5 acres of extremely uneven terrain so most of my mowing is in 4x4. The tractor never misses a beat pushing a foot of snow and running the sander, or mowing up the front of my yard which is appx a 7% incline. The mid mount mower floats so it leaves a perfect cut. I have also cut my neighbors empty lot when the grass was 1-2 feet tall and the tractor never missed a beat

The best advice I could give you is regardless of your choice of tractor, get what you really need instead of something smaller, then realizing you should have gotten a bigger one. It is easy for me to spend your money, I was looking to spend appx. 6-8 grand myself, but listening to everyone that I knew that had tractors and taking my time (4 months) on making a decision, I spent the money on a new tractor and I am really glad that I did, after all it is an investment.

In closing all I can say is I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER, the yard has never looked as good, the landscape work has never been easier, and my driveway is finally ice free. It was the smartest $15.000 I ever spent.


Good luck, Tim

 

Get a dixon Lawnmower and an actual tractor to do tractor work

 

Its only 4 acres, I don't need a huge tractor. If I can find the right utility tractor I can get by with one machine (less maintenace, etc). I probably could get by with one of the larger garden tractors, but what fun is that.

But those Dixons do look nice.

 

I see that makes sense Ive got a buddy who has a small kubota with a rotary tiller and 5'belly mower plus a box blade he likes it but has to mow his actual front yard with a push mower to keep that golf course look. I have to move round bales from time to time so that is where my seperate mower tractor thinking came from. My buddy with the kubota bought it from an old man for 2500 bucks with the attachments maybe you will be able to find something like this.

 

That would be a great deal. I don't need the golf course look, just a decent looking lawn. I can see where you would want a larger tractor for those round bales, the little ones wouldn't handle that kind of weight on the front end.

 

Since you asked me in the other thread, here I am

For a 60" deck, 20-25hp is fine...but it won't handle the 5" bush hog as well as I like them to. Personally, I'd go with at least a 30Eng HP model...we sell mostly 34Eng HP and 41Eng HP models around here!

$5-6000 is really limited in what's out there in decent condition...usually, they'll be 22hp and under in that price range...fine for mowing a yard, but it won't like the bush hog!

BTW, the Deere's and Kubota's are fine and good...but don't pass up a good used Massey Ferguson or AGCO just because it's not the right color. If I had to make a living on service work and parts from the compacts we sell, I'd be broke

Chris

 

Something I should have mentioned in an earlier post. Since you're just looking right now, go demo a few--heck, a bunch. Get some seat time and really get a feel for how different tractors operate at rated RPM. I work at a Cemetery and use newer Kubota equipment every day, specifically a 23 HP BX series with a loader and 60'' MMM. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent machine, but my buddy's 750 with its lame-o 18 hp is twice the machine. Numbers are a good place to start, but a bad vantage point to base your final decision on. Crank up the 2-banger in a 650 and you feel like you're operating a miniature farm tractor. Crank up that BX that I use and it feels like a glorified lawn mower--cupholder and all and they re-sell for nearly 10 grand! Keep a realistic budget in mind and drive a bunch of 'em and come to your own conclusions. If a dealer won't let you move some dirt around in their back lot...well, that should tell you something right there.

 

Thanks Chris. I am not opposed to the other brands, just really don't know anything about them. What really surprises me is that some of these 10+ year old tractors are still selling for 10k w/o attachments and they are 2wd. Chirs, do you have see much in the way of used compacts at your dealership? I see the cheapest at a certain Agco dealer in Jeffersonville (compact anyway) is 9500. Do you get many lower priced that that?

If 5-6000 is pushing my luck on price. What do you think I would be spending for a decent tractor 4x4 around 20hp with finishing mower (at least 60") and bush hog (at least 4') and a loader?

 

Unfortunately, I don't sell too many compacts...6-8 each year normally! Only every once in a while do I get anything used under 10K...right now the only used compacts I have used are 2005 models used for 1 season Anything I get cheaper than that, usually I'd hate to sell it to someone local just because I'm not sure of them...they hold up very well, but with enough neglect, everything breaks!

Finding something in your price range isn't impossible...just uncommon. I'll do a little looking around...I might know a place to find something At the same time though, finding another couple thousand $$ in your pocket will only help you find something closer to what you want with the right accessories!

Chris

 

As others have said, your price range really limits you. Unless it's a basket case, it probably won't have a 3 point hitch or rear PTO. These are important items if you plan to utilize all 4 acres. I have a Kubota BX-24 which comes with a FEL, backhoe, and Cat 1 hitch, and I added a mid-mower mower. This is a do-it-all small tractor, and I find it ideal for the homeowner with a small amount of land. I can dig stumps out (of which I have a lot), clear bolders, haul mulch, cultivate, remove snow as well as mudane grass mowing. You might be able to look at the older BX models like the 23, but I think you're going to have to bump your budget up a little in order to get something that won't need a lot of money to get it operational. Small tractors hold their value well, so you'll see a good return on your initial investment if you sell it some day as I plan to do when I retire.