First tractor research

[pilotpip]

Wit the seed drill, don't forget the weight of seed added to it. Could be another 200+lbs.

NEw tractor emission equipment. I don't think its a big deal. GHuy in my club got a L series Kubota. They said to mix some kero with the diesel, like 10% or so. And keep the rpm up. Low rpms causes catylst issues.

I don't know a lot about tractors, but I know quite a bit about fuel.

Low Sulfur Diesel has higher lubricity than kerosene. In my younger days I fueled aircraft and managed QC for the fuel facility I worked at while working on my pilot ratings. The old ford fuel trucks we ran loved running Jet-A mixed with diesel in the winter when straight diesel would gel. Jet-A is essentially kerosene. We would run straight diesel in the summer because mixing it was a great way to burn up piston rings, fuel pumps, etc.

They're probably doing this thinking it helps with the reduced lubricity of modern low sulfur fuel, but they're exaggerating the problem by adding kerosene.

 

[b116757]

I’ve got a JD 4700 I wouldn’t even consider a smaller machine if/when I replace it the replacement will be a larger machine but I use mine a lot maybe for light duty the smaller machines are ok.

 

[pilotpip]

It's been a while so I figured I would update this a little. I've shifted my search to Kubota. Specifically a used L3901. I went and looked at a new L3902 at a local dealer and immediately liked it more. It doesn't have bells and whistles like the JD E, but it has a much beefier frame like the JD R. It also has significantly more loader and 3point lift capacity.

I'm finding a ton of used JD E models within a reasonable drive, and a few Kubotas, but very few JD R models. The ones I'm finding, are nearly as much as new while the E and Kubota are a bit less. I don't think I would need the electric PTO and differential brakes on the left side that the '02 has so I'm going to try and save some money and go used. There are a couple dealers in the vicinity of my property, not as close as JD but let's be real. If it breaks down time isn't as critical for me. I'm not earning a living with the thing.

Like the green tractor users, if you have an orange one I'd like to hear about it.

 

[bigboreblr]

Do basic maintenance yourself on a quality tractor and you have no worries about where the dealer is. Owned a L3200, and the L3902 would be the first thing I would look at again if going new. L3200 was underpowered If I were doing alot of implement work.

Mine was HST which helped with the lower HP.

IF price is an issue, there is alot of good food plot equipment out there besides a no-til drill. No-til is considered disturbing the soil less than 30%. Even no-til drills lightly till.

You can use one of these. I am considering buying the 12v 4ft seedbox for $1600 or so for few acres of what I do. Make a mount for my row discs and my cultipacker. ATV evenly distributed seed foodplot system.

Micro Food Plots: The All-in-One Pull Behind for Your ATV/RTV

Micro Food Plots® offers many pieces of equipment as part of its complete food plot system that allows you to disc, plow, plant, cover and cultipack all at the same time, which in the end saves you money, or as individual implements you can add to your existing equipment, also saving you money.

www.mossyoak.com

The landpride aps1548 I think goes for around $6500. About anything bigger than a BX would be able to use that. maybe even a BX too.

Great foodplots are easy to make. Hate to see someone spend $50000 just to keep 2 or 3 acres of foodplots rolling. Smaller tractor and more baic seeder would probably save you around 15k.

IF you don't buy one by spring I have a till vs no till test going on at my home with rye. Spread then lightly disc, vs disc then seed, either one rolled in after ward. And then did just seed n roll. All was sprayed first. Also this plot is kind of 3 pieces in one. One was rye n clovers in existing plot, middle section was mowed about monthly to a clover plot, and last section was a recovered lawn section, with woodchips tilled in a year before. Thinking Seed then disc will be the winner.

Likely keep using my ATV, can borrow my sons kubota B3030. IF he moves away likely buy a used 50hp 2wd. Best bang for the buck. Was haggling down an older deere this year, then someone paid his full asking price of 6500. Came with bucket and backblade. 1990's vintage garaged homeower owned. MY botehr in law has case 30ft and 40ft air seeders for his farm, never gonna beat the jones' there. I did pass on him selling a 2wd kubota M series he uses for the cleaning the cow barn and running the manure pumps for the yuck pond. Think he offered me like 4500. Kid just bought his b3030 a month or to before that.

 

[pilotpip]

That mossy oak thing looks like a rebranded plot master.

I have enough other work to do that I'll keep busy with a box blade and the loader. I already have a tarter plow/cultipacker for the ATV, spreaders, and other stuff that I had decent success with at the old place. The tarter is in great shape so I'm thinking about reaching out to an implement vendor and seeing about working a trade for a 3 point cultipacker and a disk or rototiller. For the next few years that would be good as I get this property figured out. I guess I could throw a 2" ball on the drawbar and use the tarter with a tractor to not run my UTV balls out putting stress on it.

Maybe down the road I'll look bigger, but right now I have a building with a 7'x9' garage door on it and fitting through that is a major criteria. I'm years away from being able to build something to accommodate a larger tractor.

I just got out there yesterday and from seeded the existing clover plot and another area the previous owner cleared last year that had lots of exposed soil with some Crimson, red and ladino as well as a couple hundred pounds of cereal rye to try and prevent too much weed formation. I didn't take the time to run over it with the cultipacker but northern Missouri is forecast to get 1-2" of snow tonight and another inch of rain in the coming week.

 

[Newbie]

I'm gonna chime in only because I recently bought a tractor and thought I'd share my thoughts/experience. I'm not a seasoned vet like many of the folks here, but learning as I go.

I went with a Mahindra 4550 - 50HP tractor coming in at almost 11k lbs with tires loaded and the backhoe on. I sacrificed a lot of the creature comforts to get a bigger/more capable machine (in my minds eye anyway). I have a dealer nearby that I've worked with before on other equipment and Mahindra was offering 7yr 0% financing which definitely got my attention. It has 7 yr powertrain warranty as well. I had my dealer track down an unsold late model ('24 when I purchased in '25) and saved probably $5k in doing so, but still a brand new machine.



There are some things that I like and others that I dislike in my opinion.

Pros: its a big heavy machine with plenty of HP for what I need. Lift capacity is 3500lbs. Backhoe capable of digging out mature tree root balls. It's all metal - so its built pretty rugged. I'm not particularly gentle on equipment and I think it has the physical build to take a bit of a beating. I've been grinding stumps with a 3pt stump grinder which is pretty rough on it and it's been handling it like a champ.

Cons: I sacrificed some creature comforts to go with a bigger rig. Its gear shift transmission which can be annoying, hydro is much nicer to work on. My dad has a 35hp hydro tractor and its much more user-friendly easier to drive and likely safer, but lacks the sheer power that mine has. Mine is basically a newly built tractor on a frame/technology of a 1980s tractor. Everything is analog. It is not a refined rig, but it has been capable.

The tractor is too big/heavy for my truck and trailer combo, but the dealer offers pickup/delivery for serving for like $150 (roundtrip) which drastically reduces the need for me to trailer it - basically nonissue since I live at this property.

I have mixed emotions on my decision. This tractor is capable to do basically anything I need it to, I don't think I will find myself needing more weight/power/etc., anytime soon. However, a smaller tractor with hydro would likely do 90%+ of what I do on a routine basis and do it with a little more grace and ease. Additionally, I think my wife and kid (when he grows up) would be a lot more comfortable operating a bit smaller hydro tractor.

All in all, I think there are going to be Pros and Cons to almost any tractor purchase you make. There will be a give and take depending on make/model/budget. I think it is very important to have a clear goal for what you want to do with it. If light duty clean-up utilitarian use is all you need, a smaller rig will probably do okay. If you expect to run a planter, do land clearing etc., I'd err on the side of something bigger and more powerful.

In my case, I knew I wanted something that was big and powerful enough to be put through the ringer. I've operated smaller utility tractors in the 30-40hp range and I can guarantee I would find their limitations on my property in short order. I wanted something I could "use and abuse" to some extent, but I made some sacrifices in doing so. I don't regret going bigger, even if at times it's a little overkill or unrefined.

I didn't want to pay a small fortune for a tractor only for it to struggle to do the tasks I set out to do with it

*Disclaimer* - I know you're not looking at this make/model or even necessarily this size but I thought I'd share my experience as I recently went through this process. Hopefully it is helpful in some way.

 

[jsasker007]

That's twice the weight of my 4 series john deere. Actually heavier than my 5 series john deere if that's correct.