Go BottomTractor needs
 | John D
Join Date: Posts: 1 
|
2002-12-20 46349
I just bought a small 21 acre farm with about 11 acres combined pasture and apple orchard. Any reccomendations on compact models and HP? I know I will also need a mower, but is there any other attachments or options that might be deemed necessary on a property this size?
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
 | Billy
Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 975 Southeast Oklahoma 
 Pics
|
2002-12-20 46350
FEL...finish mower...brushcutter...box blade. It might help if you could give us some idea of what all you might be doing with the property. Another thing, on the HP range, do you want to do it slow, medium or fast. The more horses you have, the less time it will take you.
Billy ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
| John D
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
2002-12-20 46351
I will continue to cultivate the apples and renovate part of the orchard. 1/2 acre vegatable patch. I have a six stall stable , so may board horses. I have a regular job and will begin things as a hobby farm for now. However this is where I plan on retiring. I also like to be thrifty where possible. I do have a screwed up back so will rely on the tractor to do all of the grunt work. ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
| Billy
Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 975 Southeast Oklahoma
Pics
|
2002-12-20 46352
Nothing wrong with being thrifty. You might want to look into Kioti, if there's a dealership close by. I'd say for the HP, somewhere between 35 and 45 HP. 45 HP should give you plenty of room to grow on.
Whatever brand you decide on, I'd buy a brand that had a dealership close by, with available parts. There's nothing more disheartening than your tractor break and be down waiting on service or parts.
Billy ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
| slowrev
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 231 Winchester , KY
|
2002-12-20 46357
yep Billy has it right. Find a dealer you like with a good service department. All tractors will have some problems, whether it is something you broke or something breaks on the tractor of its own accord. As far as brand, go with the green/blue/orange, or the other orange - Kioti. They are all very similiar in quality. Do not get less than a 30 HP unit if you plan on doing much brush hogging.
A Fel will work out nicely for moving both unprocessed and processed hay to and from the stables. Saves a lot of lifting. I know I have a bad back too. With a bad back you will find many uses for the FEL.
You might like the hydro transmissions or the synchro-shuttle shift type the best. Just check out the dealers and brands in your area to make the best purchasing decision you can.
Good luck and enjoy your shopping and purchase. Let us know how it goes.
Ben in KY
....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
| TC29 in Wa.
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
2002-12-20 46363
Considering the orchard work that you will be doing. I would suggest something in the mid frame 30 hp area. You might find the tighter maneuverability to be an asset. as well as keeping your head out of the branches. The tighter steering will also be very handy in and around stall work for your horse barn. I would suggest you check into the New Holland TC29D's'or TC33D's with supersteer. Or on a more economical note maybe thier new TC30. And make sure it is equipped with a loader. Other implements that would be handy would be 3pt mowers, both finish and rotary cutter, a tiller and a landscape rake, to start with. ....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
|
2002-12-21 46389
Yes and I had TC's thoughts that I figured I'd make before reading his comment. I think orchard work is a bit specialized and there have been some discussions about it maybe buried in the archives here. There also have been discussions about using tractors in horse stables. Both uses place a premium on maneuverability and low headroom.
There also have been discussions about compacts and hay bales. It would be good to know what size bales a supplier uses and to make sure a compact can handle them. Compacts don't do well with large round bales. The intended uses may be a case where one size doesn't fit all very well.
....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add PhotoTractor needs
| Jeff Earthwerks Unli
Join Date: Posts: 1
|
2002-12-22 46464
You may want to consider a Power Box Rake (a.k.a "Harley Rake"). It can replace a:
6' box scraper,
6' landscape rake,
6' rototiller (depending on what you are doing with it).
I used the power rake to rototill my buddy's small garden with decent results (whole cornstalks, tomatoes cabbage, etc.), maintain a .7 mile gravel road packed hard as cement (box scraper wouldn't touch it even with 5 scarifer teeth down all the way). The 2" long carbide-tipped teeth will chew up 2" tree roots, break up bricks and concrete in the ground, and just about anything else in the way.
I bought a used one (one year old) from a rental fleet; called a "Piranha". This company even offers a rotary broom attachment to replace the carbide-tipped rotor. I paid $4200 for it and worth every penny.
I have it on my "blue" TC33D with super steer. I wouldn't recommend anything less than 33hp
....
Reply to |
Quote Reply |
Add Photo
Go Top
Share This