Go Bottomsize and make of tractor
 | jfrench9
Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1 Warfordsburg PA 
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2005-04-17 109957
We just moved in to a new house with about 20 acres of ground. Between 5-10 acres is rolling hills with some trees but would need mowing (rough grass, tree stumps, not a finished smooth lawn). The remaining 10 acres or so is heavily wooded. We are looking to purchase a farm tractor and attachments for the following uses..... mowing/bush hog, plowing, tilling, hauling wood, digging (post holes and moving dirt), etc. We would like to buy a tractor that will eventually be able to do all of the above once we have purchased all of the additional attachments/implements. We will start with just the tractor and some type of mower. Can anyone help us with this decision? There are just so many makes/models out there that the decision seems overwhelming for two inexperienced individuals. We have looked at John Deere, Cub Cadet, Kubota, and know there are lots of others out there. HELP!
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 | Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 955 Central Iowa 
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2005-04-17 109964
Whew! That's not an easy one to answer. There are several good manufacturers out there that have a tractor that will suit your needs. One thing you will here often on this board is discussions about the local dealer. You will need parts and service. That is a fact. You may want to find out which manufacturers are represented by local dealers. Then go visit them and get brochures for the tractors that you will be looking at. Talk to them and see if they seriously talk to you or will almost ignore you once they find out you are not buying a $200k farm tractor.
Now, getting to the good part, the tractor itself. If you are mowing down fields, then you are talking about bushhogs. Those will need to run off the rear PTO. So, look at you size of land that needs to be mowed with that. Then look at the power requirements for several sized mowers. That will help you to determine your minimum power you need.
For example, My JD 4310 is 32 Hp and 25-27 Hp at the PTO. I went that route because that was the power I needed to run a 5 ft tiller and a 6 ft mower off the rear PTO. It fit what I needed it to do. Also, that was the best balance of need and cost.
Will you want to be finish mowing with this tractor or just rough mowing? Are you ok with pulling a finish mower if that's a need or do you want a mid mount? Remember, a mid-mount is not as easy to attach/detach like a rear mount mower. But I find a mid mount is more agile for going around my many yard obstacles.
Maybe a good start is to make a list of what you want/need this tractor to do. Then prioritize the list starting with the absolute must do items and the minimum you can tolerate for that. Then what are the items that are nice to do's but are not critical so you have more give and take.
Remember, more power can run bigger implements. Bigger implements can get the job done quicker like rough mowing 5 acres. But, more power costs money. Less time/more money or less money/more time.
I'm not sure I am being terrible helpful. But when I finally bought my JD, I had a list of critical items and their minimums (like a 72" mower deck). That gave me my minimum power and therefore my minimum machine. The I balanced the like to do's with the cost.
Another area to look at is gear vs hydrostat drive. If you are mostly working with constant speed stuff, then you may be able to handle a lower cost/but usually rock solid gear drive tractor. If you do much maneuvering like I do, then hydrostat is a huge plus. Is it just you or will your wife be using it? Can she handle a clutch and shifting a gear transmission? Mine couldn't.
Just start looking at things one item at a time and you will slowly start eliminating the tractors that will not work for you. That is a start at least.
Good luck! ....
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