Tractor...New vs used, 2wd vs 4wd.

[Jordan Selsor]

Used tractors are great if cash buyer but not as good if financing. The rates are extremely high for used equipment. Made it worth buying new when I did the math. Check our Kioti tractors before you pull the trigger. I have owned a dk4510 (45hp) for a bit now an love it. I went with a 4x4 shuttle shift model. Out the door $20,300 If I remember correctly. It handles a 72” bush hog like a champ. Have yet to bog it down. If I could go back in time I go with a hydro unit though. My farm is mostly timber. Hydro pedals sure making weaving in an out of trees an loader work easier. My local banker beat Kioti financing. Best I could find was 4.5%.

 

[Dukslayr]

As many others have said, I wouldn’t personally buy a tractor without 4x4. I know your land is mostly flat, but at some point you will find yourself in a situation with soft ground and implements attached, or skidding logs, or using the FEL and really wish you had 4x4. For what you are describing the tractor I have sounds like a nice fit - it’s a Kubota L3830 (38hp engine/30’PTO) with a loader and 4x4. If you’re wanting to get into no till drilling hounwoikd probably need something bigger, but it’s calable of doing about everything else. Im in the process of selling it and getting a larger tractor now. I would think that anything around that 40 hp range would be a nice fit for you.

Did you say what your budget is? I have been looking at new tractors (and used) for several months now and you can definitely find some nice deals out there used it uiure patient and not dead set on specific brand/model if tractor.

 

[SwampCat]

Just curious......

Have any of us ever mused......"Gee,I wish I had bought a smaller tractor "........

bill

Yes - smaller tractor costs less money - more money for implements. Smaller tractor much easier to haul. I transport my jd 790 on my 16 ft trailer. I pay the dealer $300 EACH way to transport my 65 hp tractor. I have some tight spots to get to. Without cutting a lot of trees, I can’t get the bigger tractor in there. Did you know a 5500 lb tractor gets stuck much easier than a 2000 lb tractor? Not all implements are rated for the particular hp - I am talking those with a gear box. I was going to get a 75 hp tractor. Salesman asked what size equipment I was going to run and I said nothing over 8 ft. He recommended a 55 hp. Not one time have I wished for a bigger tractor. Fortunately, I kept my 28 hp jd, so I haven’t wished for a smaller tractor either. It has rained a lot this year at my place. I can’t get the big tractor out of the yard because it ruts everything so bad. It is time for the annual service- did I mention it costs twice as much as the smaller tractor. I put more hours on the bigger tractor, but I get on the smaller tractor a lot more.

 

[Dukslayr]

Yes - smaller tractor costs less money - more money for implements. Smaller tractor much easier to haul. I transport my jd 790 on my 16 ft trailer. I pay the dealer $300 EACH way to transport my 65 hp tractor. I have some tight spots to get to. Without cutting a lot of trees, I can’t get the bigger tractor in there. Did you know a 5500 lb tractor gets stuck much easier than a 2000 lb tractor? Not all implements are rated for the particular hp - I am talking those with a gear box. I was going to get a 75 hp tractor. Salesman asked what size equipment I was going to run and I said nothing over 8 ft. He recommended a 55 hp. Not one time have I wished for a bigger tractor. Fortunately, I kept my 28 hp jd, so I haven’t wished for a smaller tractor either. It has rained a lot this year at my place. I can’t get the big tractor out of the yard because it ruts everything so bad. It is time for the annual service- did I mention it costs twice as much as the smaller tractor. I put more hours on the bigger tractor, but I get on the smaller tractor a lot more.

Out of curiosity, how far is your dealership from your land? 300 bones each way does seem like a lot. I think my dealership charges around 100 round trip for my 38 hp Kubota. I definitely need to ask them what it’ll cost when I bump up to a 60-70 hp.

 

[SwampCat]

Out of curiosity, how far is your dealership from your land? 300 bones each way does seem like a lot. I think my dealership charges around 100 round trip for my 38 hp Kubota. I definitely need to ask them what it’ll cost when I bump up to a 60-70 hp.

35 miles. I don't think it really matters what size it is. I have had them carry my little tractor and bigger tractor at the same time - and it is $300 for the both of them. Not 55 mph highway all the way, either. It takes about one hour. A driver, a truck, and a large dovetail trailer. Two hours travel, then loading and unloading - probably three hours total time on them and their equipment, one way. I don't like it - but when you think of it being $100 an hour for driver, truck, and trailer - it doesn't seem so bad. A trip up there and back for $600 seems like a kick in the crotch.

 

[Northbound]

I'm of far different preference than the general consensus on here. I hate loader on tractors. Always in the way and tractors are way too slow for loader work. That's why God made skid steers! I'd much rather own a selection of older specialized equipment like a skidder, TLB, and a tractor than one newer jack of all trades machine. I have lots of old tractors that I don't use but my favorite to use is Ford 600/800 or jubilee type for food plot work. Easily found for a few grand and cheap to maintain. If you have loader work to do a skid steer is hard to complete with and I fully expect to start seeing more plot type attachments created for them now that no till is catching on. It sure is nice mowing clover with a skid steer, if a few branches seem to be intruding the plot just lift up the mower ten feet in air and trim away

 

[TreeDaddy]

Yes - smaller tractor costs less money - more money for implements. Smaller tractor much easier to haul. I transport my jd 790 on my 16 ft trailer. I pay the dealer $300 EACH way to transport my 65 hp tractor. I have some tight spots to get to. Without cutting a lot of trees, I can’t get the bigger tractor in there. Did you know a 5500 lb tractor gets stuck much easier than a 2000 lb tractor? Not all implements are rated for the particular hp - I am talking those with a gear box. I was going to get a 75 hp tractor. Salesman asked what size equipment I was going to run and I said nothing over 8 ft. He recommended a 55 hp. Not one time have I wished for a bigger tractor. Fortunately, I kept my 28 hp jd, so I haven’t wished for a smaller tractor either. It has rained a lot this year at my place. I can’t get the big tractor out of the yard because it ruts everything so bad. It is time for the annual service- did I mention it costs twice as much as the smaller tractor. I put more hours on the bigger tractor, but I get on the smaller tractor a lot more.

All good points,SwampCat

My dealer charges $150 round trip . well worth the money for me

bill

 

[SwampCat]

All good points,SwampCat

My dealer charges $150 round trip . well worth the money for me

bill

Even if I had the trailer and truck to pull a larger tractor, don’t think I would do it for for $150

 

[yoderjac]

Used tractors are great if cash buyer but not as good if financing. The rates are extremely high for used equipment. Made it worth buying new when I did the math. Check our Kioti tractors before you pull the trigger. I have owned a dk4510 (45hp) for a bit now an love it. I went with a 4x4 shuttle shift model. Out the door $20,300 If I remember correctly. It handles a 72” bush hog like a champ. Have yet to bog it down. If I could go back in time I go with a hydro unit though. My farm is mostly timber. Hydro pedals sure making weaving in an out of trees an loader work easier. My local banker beat Kioti financing. Best I could find was 4.5%.

I have an older DK45 4x4 Cab with FEL and shuttle shift. Most of the issues I've had with it have been pushing it too hard for its size (clearing and such with the loader). I looked a Kubota as well but went with the Kioti primarily because of the additional weight. The biggest problem with mine is a design issue, the AC. I'm gone through many compressors had other major parts rebuilt and it still is an issue. The glass cab heats up to the point where it is unusable during the summer in the sun without AC.

The design issue with the AC on mine is that battery sits in front of the small condenser and it has no screen. Behind the condenser is the radiator and it has a screen. The condenser clogs very quickly with debris and there is no screen to clean. This makes the condenser work hard and the clutch fails. You can't by a clutch as it is integrated into the compressor so you have to buy the entire unit. I have to stop every couple hours and use an air compressor to blow out the condenser. It seems it is always in the shop for the AC.

Other than that, mine has held up to a lot of abuse.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[JFK52]

Northbound The new quick detach loaders for Kubota tractors, which are the ones I am familiar with, go on and off in a matter of minutes. One person can do the job. So when the FEL is not needed, leave it off. I find my FEL to be one of the most versatile tools on the farm. It can do every job from moving 14 foot elevated deer stands, hauling buckets full of rocks out of fields to digging a hole for burying old barb wire fences. Just one reason I would never have a tractor WITHOUT a FEL.

 

[Northbound]

Yes I certainly see the value in a loader, I use mine a few times a week. I just dislike them on tractors is all. Tractors just don't have the speed and maneuverability that skid steers offer. I do buy and resell some tractors and have had the kubota quick detatch system. They are super easy to resell, I just see the prices involved and would much rather have a tractor and separate machine made for loader rather than a jack of all trades. Again just personal preference, I also don't mind having work equipment sitting outside. If you are particular about things always being indoors then ofcourse multiple pieces of equipment take up to much barn space for some

 

[yoderjac]

Yes I certainly see the value in a loader, I use mine a few times a week. I just dislike them on tractors is all. Tractors just don't have the speed and maneuverability that skid steers offer. I do buy and resell some tractors and have had the kubota quick detatch system. They are super easy to resell, I just see the prices involved and would much rather have a tractor and separate machine made for loader rather than a jack of all trades. Again just personal preference, I also don't mind having work equipment sitting outside. If you are particular about things always being indoors then ofcourse multiple pieces of equipment take up to much barn space for some

Most of us don't do enough loader work to justify a separate machine. It's like everything else. A machine made to do a specific task usually does it better than a machine designed to do multiple tasks. Folks using machines for profit can often justify the cost of separate machine. But for most of us food plot/habitat guys managing our own properties for recreational hunting, a FEL really extends the functionality of the tractor we need to do most tasks.

Thanks,

jack

 

[Northbound]

Most of us don't do enough loader work to justify a separate machine. It's like everything else. A machine made to do a specific task usually does it better than a machine designed to do multiple tasks. Folks using machines for profit can often justify the cost of separate machine. But for most of us food plot/habitat guys managing our own properties for recreational hunting, a FEL really extends the functionality of the tractor we need to do most tasks.

Thanks,

jack

Yeah I get that for sure, but fact it's these 4x4 loader tractors bring a very retty penny. Hence why I love to buy and resell them.

My home fleet of habitat equipment is under 20k. And I think I can do far more work and faster than any $20k 4x4 loader tractor could. about 3k for 641 work master tractor (disc. Mower, harrow, 2 row planter) , like $4k for 530 case Backhoe and if I remember right $12k 885 nh skid steer(tree spade. Loader and mower). Granted the only time I have heat and a cab is in the skidder and none have a/c