HELP! Tractor size

[Jusgunn3]

Hello there, I am trying to figure out what’s size tractor I should buy. I have never owned one but I need one now that I have 25 acres of land to maintain. I am in the rolling hills of California with pastures of wild grass, blackberry, oak trees, and some other bushes/shurbs. I was thinking a compact [25hp] would be good but folks have told me I should spend the extra money and get something in the 40HP range. I will be getting a mower, backhoe, grapple, and post hole digger for fencing. Thoughts and advice welcomed, thanks!

 

[Squareground3691]

Hello there, I am trying to figure out what’s size tractor I should buy. I have never owned one but I need one now that I have 25 acres of land to maintain. I am in the rolling hills of California with pastures of wild grass, blackberry, oak trees, and some other bushes/shurbs. I was thinking a compact [25hp] would be good but folks have told me I should spend the extra money and get something in the 40HP range. I will be getting a mower, backhoe, grapple, and post hole digger for fencing. Thoughts and advice welcomed, thanks!

Yea , I would spend the extra and stay in the 40hp range , especially with the extra equipment to run them properly, that’s a good sized parcel to maintain,

 

[Dicky]

I wouldn’t want a 25hp tractor for that size of property. Buy once, Cry once.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Maybe you want to ask on a tractor forum, similar to owning a chainsaw there's a lot more to owning a tractor than HP:

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[RCBS]

Depending on what your budget is, I highly recommend the flat floored Kubotas. I have a smaller one, but prefer it over the standard models of similar power. (flat floor, hydro steering, quiet hst, quick adjust lower links, cylinder 3pt lift, and a few other niceties) They do draw a bit of a premium.

Why do I freakout over a flat area below operator? I'm on and off the seat quite a bit at times (opening/closing gates, hitching/unhitching logs). Easier to step off/on than 'climb' in/out of. Little things make use more pleasant/efficient for me.

 

[Squareground3691]

I bought this a couple years ago, I like it L2501 , and no DEP emissions fluid it falls below the HP requirements, but with ur parcel I would stay in the higher HP class

 

[jblnut]

Will you be mowing the entire 25 acres ? If so I wouldn’t want to do that with a 25-40hp machine. That’ll take quite some time. You’ll be using a 5-6’ mower. If the going is good and you can go 5mph that’s roughly 3 acres per hour with a 6’ mower. I have a Deere 2038r and a 6’ brush hog and it fills its shorts. It’s more of a 5’ machine but I got a smoking deal on the mower so off I go nice and slow.

The other activities will also benefit from having a larger machine as well. More lifting capacity and stability when using the loader and 3pt stuff will come with a larger machine.

I have that Deere compact tractor as well as Bobcat S300 and S185 skid steers and a number of other larger tractors from 55-550hp on the farm and that little Deere is one of the most handy things ever. I’ll use it for anything it’ll do before jumping in the skid loader even if it takes a little longer than using the skid loader.

If you plan to put a belly mower under the tractor you can only go so large but if you don’t I’d go into that 55-60hp area in a heartbeat. I’m quite brand loyal but having a good dealer close by is more important than getting hung up on one brand or another.

 

[Ryan Browne]

I'd strongly suggest the MX series from Kubota. And since you're new to machines and will be operating on hills, whatever you buy should be hydrostatic. Also, I'd very much counsel you to skip the backhoe and use the money you save to either rent an excavator or hire an operator with a machine. In my experience a backhoe on a compact tractor isn't very capable for the money and they're enough of a hassle to take on and off that it kinda ruins the convenience factor of having your own digger. If you want to send me a PM, I'd be happy to chat on the phone. I've helped several of my friends buy tractors to suit their needs and often a few minutes on the phone can really clarify a somewhat confusing number of options in the marketplace.

 

[hacskaroly]

I was thinking a compact [25hp] would be good but folks have told me I should spend the extra money and get something in the 40HP range.

I had a lot of customers who wanted a larger chainsaw (MS 400 and up or a Husky 572 and up) for the work they needed to do but had a hard time with the price tag and would end up buying a smaller saw. Usually a few weeks later they would be in getting the larger saw because while they were initially saving money, they found out that a little more spent would get then exactly what they needed for their job. At this point they spent more money than they would have if they initially just bought the larger saw. Lots of good advice here so far!

and no DEP emissions fluid it falls below the HP requirements,

I hear that DEF tanks have a habit of falling out equipment, happened to my friend's Chevy, the DEF tank fell out and now he gets better fuel economy! Who knew?

 

[Jusgunn3]

Thanks all for the reply’s, I am going to look at this one on Monday. Let me know your thoughts on this one.

Almost new Mahindra tractor and attachments - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist

TAKING OFFERS!! Located in Anderson, Ca. near Hawes Farms. Paid about $63,000. Asking $45,000. Because of a motor vehicle collision where a texting driver planted his large truck inside the bed of...

redding.craigslist.org

 

[hacskaroly]

Thanks all for the reply’s, I am going to look at this one on Monday. Let me know your thoughts on this one.

Looks like a great deal especially with the smoking hot operator!!

 

[Bill G]

People get stuck on horsepower ratings. That is a huge mistake.

 

[Jusgunn3]

People get stuck on horsepower ratings. That is a huge mistake.

What are the important factors?

 

[Ryan Browne]

What are the important factors?

Weight. Weight. And weight. Also tire size, wheelbase, lift capacity front and back, hydraulic flow and optional hydraulic remotes.

 

[Jusgunn3]

Weight. Weight. And weight. Also tire size, wheelbase, lift capacity front and back, hydraulic flow and optional hydraulic remotes.

Makes sense, I need to be able to drive through my gates. What do you think of the Mahindra tractors?

 

[morewood]

Ryan has made a couple of good points. Weight keeps you planted, and more weight can add traction. I have a 40-ish hp tractor, 4wd, and a non hydrostatic transmission with a power reverser. Everyone has their favorites. Also, there is a reason i own an excavator and a tractor, not a backhoe attachment. I have multiple attachments for both. I'm not a brand ambassador so I would say to pick one that you like and go ahead and see what attachments you can find for it, that way you will know if you can get it down the road if you want it. Dealer service should be a factor too.

Mr Awesome

 

[Ryan Browne]

Makes sense, I need to be able to drive through my gates. What do you think of the Mahindra tractors?

Personally I have only been around a couple. Like any brand, they have made great models and poor models. I believe they, more than some other brands, rebadge tractors made by other OEMs as Mahindra, so you have to dig a little to find what you're actually buying. I think it's super important to shop a dealer as well as the tractor, but the ad mentions Dave's Tractor, which I think is supposed to be a great dealer to work with. That said, buying used kinda skips the first step in your relationship with a dealer.

As far as the actual machine, I still think buying a backhoe is questionable. For the amount they're asking, I'd personally be shopping for a new MX4800 Kubota and renting an excavator when I need it. Honestly, I think they're gonna have a hard time selling it. Lots of people thought they needed $50k tractors during COVID and now that they have to pay for them every month while they sit there doing nothing they're trying to sell. Meanwhile, dealers are sitting on inventory that no one is buying and financing is cheap, so the case for buying used at 80+% of new is hard to make.

How wide are your gates? I'd much rather mow a slope with a 6' tractor than a 5' wide tractor.

 

[Coupe]

I would go bigger the thing is you a better with more power than not enough. If you are
going to be driving a mower and a few other implements 25ho would probably struggle a bit.

 

[Jusgunn3]

Most of my gates are plenty large at 14ft I am going to replace the smaller ones while I do my new fencing anyways. I think I might just visit Dave’s first and get a feel for the dealer and their inventory. She mentioned that her warranty at Daves is up next month, it was a 2 year deal.

 

[Woodpecker]

Thanks all for the reply’s, I am going to look at this one on Monday. Let me know your thoughts on this one.

Almost new Mahindra tractor and attachments - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist

TAKING OFFERS!! Located in Anderson, Ca. near Hawes Farms. Paid about $63,000. Asking $45,000. Because of a motor vehicle collision where a texting driver planted his large truck inside the bed of...

redding.craigslist.org

Just my humble opinion but you’re going to get more bang for your buck with the Korean tractor manufacturers. Kioti, TYM, or LS. And yes the heavier a tractor is the better. I also agree you will likely end up wanting 40+ HP for heavy work.