I know some of y'all have them. I just bought a new house on 13 acres of property and I'm going to need to mow it and do maintenance on it. Then there is the ever important shooting range backstop to be built. I'm thinking something in the 25-40HP range with loader, and PTO for mower and PHD. Would love to have the backhoe attachment since I'm on septic and have two wells and a lot of pipeline to the corrals, but that can always be purchased later.

Here is what I'm working with:


Nearly 1000 ft of feed bunks for feedlot, with built in cattle waterers and hydrants in almost every pen. Have a neighbor that wants to lease the pens this fall to feed calves.

Why are you only thinking compact?

Well I don't really need a huge tractor, I guess a utility tractor would work in that price range. I would like as well something kind of newish, don't want to have to rebuild a old cheap tractor right away. Plus if I need a large tractor I can always call on a neighbor who farms the fields behind my house.

My first suggestion would be Kubota, but finding one under 20 grand would be a feat.

I would take a hard look at Mahindra if I were you.

Mahindra is the largest tractor maker in the world...out of India. They're just getting started in the US. However, I have an acquaintance who bought one 3 or 4 years ago. The nearest dealer was 180 miles away. That dealer dropped Mahindra as of March so I don't know where he'll go for parts, etc. now.

Kubota was first on my list, but the price has me balking. Looking at Mahindra online but I have to drive to Ft Collins and that's nearly 200 miles. Kioti, LS and a couple others are a little closer 30-90 mile drive. Tons of Case/IH, Ford/NH, and JD but there all out of my price range.

Off the top of my head, I think I'd just start looking at tractors, small, and larger. By larger, I mean say, up to 60 horse.
Narrowing the search might make it harder to find a good one.

The newer models have bells, and whistles that are nice, but more to break down as well.

I've owned two Mahindra's and liked both quite alot. Its a Japanese industrial product, so quality is good.

Two more thoughts, a diesel will run cheaper, and I'd think about local dealer support.
Running a long way for parts is not good.

A compact Kabota or anything else isn't going to do what you want and certainly the Kabota has it all over the Mahindra.

I consider the 16 Hp Kabota as compact. Same as the little 4wd JD.

You are in the right HP range, but you need a little bigger tractor to get the weight you need especially when moving dirt that you want to do. When the bucket goes up in front with a full load, your back end comes up too.

Keep looking on Craigs List or ? and watch for something 3-5 yrs old .

Anything new with a bucket, etc. is going to be in the 30K range for what you need.

I run an old 52 Ford 8n with a bucket, blade, brush hog, disc and manure spreader. I think they were rated at about 35 HP.I had the engine rebuilt and I almost run out of power at times I can move soft dirt ,but can't dig much, and it has a small bucket.
Basically if you spend the $20K or less on a little tractor within a year you are going to be kicking yourself in the butt and find as time goes on, it is really inconvenient to borrow the neighbors

I have the smallest Kioti-20HP with FEL and have been happy with it. However, I only use it for bushhogging snow removal and dragging an occasional log out of the mtns. My brother has a 26HP Kioti and uses it for about the same. Both are 9-10 years old and have been pretty much trouble free. For what either us paid they have been worth it but neither of us need a tractor to make our living so take it for what it's worth.

I can pick up an old used tractor on the cheap, but my job doesn't give me much time off to work on it myself. So by the time I pay someone to get it in working shape add a loader, and some other attachments I might blow my 20K budget.

This LS Tractor has me interested, and I have $5K left over for loader, mower, PHD, and taxes. I'd have to go to Ft Collins to get the deal. There is an LS dealer a lot closer. However, he wouldn't/couldn't match the price on this particular tractor.

http://www.tractorhouse.com/list/li...OHN+DEERE&Mdltxt=4310&mdlx=exact


The 4310 will do anything you need done and at your price range. I have the next model down - 4210 - and it's been a true workhorse.. You won't regret it.

in laws have a small JD. Piece of junk in my books. Works ok, but it just doesn't have the HP to do things with teh bucket.

As noted, I"d sure buy a used one with a bit more HP behind it like around 50. YOu'll be a lot happier.

We bought a used one many years ago and ahve had very little work done to it. Think it was a late 60s MF around 60 hp. Its had a fuel pump put on and an injector pump rebuilt and really thats about it. Dnot' know where you get the idea that a used one would take a lot of work... Probably havbe put hoses and belts on a few times too plus oil changes...

Any used machine is a crap shoot, some new ones as well.
If a tractor is in fairly decent shape to start with, a good diesel engine will do a lot of work for a long time.
Having said that, it's a crap shoot.

You can get a new 35hp 4wd mahindra for under 20k, my neighbor hasnt torn his up yet so they must be pretty good. I prefer a Massey with a Perkins Diesel myself.

Affordable used ones around here are pretty ragged. Then there is the fact that a lot of small vegetable farms and alfalfa fields in the Arkansas Valley with irrigation you pay a premium for a small tractor. Anything around 60 hp in decent shape and not 30+ years old is going to blow the 20K budget on the tractor alone.

I'm not going to be digging a ton of stuff, and the guy who wants to lease the pens agreed to clean them with his equipment. Then there is the fact that I should have added in the newer it is the easier to finance. I blew most of our savings and all the money we made on the sale of our old house for a down payment on this place, to keep the wife at home and have a payment of less than $700 a month on a 15 year note.

25hp you'll need 4WD to move anything other than loose fill/manure etc with a loader. 40hp, like a NH 3930, is getting big enough to make a loader useful. A 60hp 4wd with a loader is a whole 'nother animal.

If you lease him the pens be prepared for a stench! Big tiime!

I'd be looking for a Kubota MX5000 like this; LINK

I'd get a Danhuser bucket mounted auger (NOT a PTO unit!) like this; LINK ,

and not look back.

I have a 50hp Kubota L5030 with a Kubota loader and that auger as well as a 7' Bush Hog, a 6' Box blade, a gang disc, two-bottom plow, 9' boom pole, spray rig, and a couple of other small attachments for our 100 ac horse ranch.

Ed

Take a look at the Kubota L3800 if you're sure you want to add a backhoe later. You should be able to get that tractor for the price you mentioned. I priced them a year ago and it was under what you've listed with a bushhog included and 0% financing for 5 years. That was the non-hystostat model (+ $ for the hydrostat). I ended up going with a Deere 3038 mainly because it was several thousand cheaper with a better package deal and 0% for 5 years....to get the 0% on the Kubota it automatically added $2000 to the price.... With the Deere there was no aftermarket backhoe attachment (at that time) and the loader was non-removable, neither of these were an issue for me.

I recommend 4x4 and hydrostat no matter what you get, but your place may be a lot different than mine. I've got uneven ground on much of it and wet weather, pond banks, etc. It's a trade off on light weight vs heavy weight on some of these things. For my use I went with light weight and I'm really happy with it. I've been really pleased with the tractor and I've moved a lot of dirt with it and done a lot of bushhogging. After a year and a half I'd not change the one I purchased, but everybody's got different uses/needs and what is great for me may suck for you.

Visit some of the tractor sites. I did a lot of research and the tractor talk forums can tell you a lot learning from other people's mistakes and good choices.

dang Lee, if you'll personally deliver it to my door, I'll take it!

would love to have one of those small tractors

never mind Lee, Ed is gonna drive this one up to my house!

If your land is flat, you may want to look at a bigger 2wd tractor. You spend a lot more for 4wd and you may not need it. This would allow you the $ to get a loader. I personally would rather have 4wd and hydrostatic.

$20k can get a nice *used* 4x4 with loader.

if you plan on using the loader to move stuff alot then 4x4 for sure.

shuttle shift with a loader for sure.

and remember what ever you get you'll wish you got a size larger.

I can handle the smell, I grew up around feedlots and sale barns my whole life. My wife and daughter is the big?

I'm a little underwhelmed with my regional Kubota regional "Support", and get alla' my Kubota parts and pieces out of Texas.

.....string of outlets running under the OLD name of Ewald Tractor,.....I reckon they've been in Seguin forever, and well into a second gen show,.....CLASSY service from the original vendors of my older Kubota unit. They had the original owner's complete file, and They treat me as though I'd bought it new, yesterday.

A WELL maintained good used Kubota ( or perhaps a different MFG), from this particular outfit might be well worth a look.

New, used, or totally worn out, you NEED support from a legitimate and professional depot.

I can tell ya' the one in Tucson ain't it.

GTC

I don't know where you live, but for $20K, you should be able to find a nice package. Here are some prices from a JD dealer.

JD Packages

Trust me on this - IF you get a 2WD you'll kick yerself in the arse ten times a day..

I guess there are valid pros/cons re: gears vs. hydrostat. The dealer tried to talk me into hydrostat and I wanted gears. I won. LOT less cost to fix if/when something goes TU..

FWIW, I found out a year or two later that the shop was kept busy fixin' hydros and rarely had a gears compact in for any trans work. YMMV..

On the link I provided, note that a few of those came with loader AND backhoe. 1000 hours is nothin' on those.. The 4310 has a bigger hydraulic capacity than my 4210, but - for my uses - that's never been an issue.

Good luck with whatever the OP gets..

I wouldn't touch hydrostats with a barge pole.

Shuttle is the only way to go. I have that on my 95/40 Kubota 4wd.

Experience with neighbors around me, the most common repair bill is for the Hydrostatic and it's expensive.
Most all have the John Deere

I believe that I have a shuttle shift instead of hydrostatic. No problems what so ever and I highly recommend it with a loader.

Hydros cost more in fuel and lose a little horsepower to the ground. If you do alot of loader work Hydros are amazing,no shuttleing or clutching and a pleasure to work.

JD had a few bad Hydro systems, Kubota, LS, NH, and Mahindra seldom have a problem. I've heard of more problems with people burning clutches and ripping teeth of of gears than having Hydro trouble. If you are a gear guy, nobody will change your mind. If you are open to it take a Hydro for a spin, I love them.

LS make a hell of a tractor with a 5 year warranty, for a lot less than the big brands. I'm looking at a R3039 right now and it's right at $22K with loader. LS made all the NH Boomers in the last few years and all the Montana Tractors, they are built like a tank.

One thing for sure, buy a size or 2 bigger than you think you will need. Tractors shrink as soon as you get them home.

Try to get a Tier 3 tractor, the Tier 4 have a bunch of emissions crap on them that I personally don't like.

Don't know what they cost, but bobcat has tractors now.

Edit

Found a site and 2-4 year old are asking just over $20k for the 40hp version. 5-7 yr old are about 1/2 to 2/3 of that.

Bobcat got out of the tractor business a few years ago, theirs were made by Kioti.

Skip the compact wannabe tractor and get a 5000 series Deere. A slightly bigger tractor, more torque & hp and heavier for loader work and can do more with it, option-wise.

If I were to get a 2wd I'd have to double the HP at a minimum. Redneck thanks for the link, but none of them are very close to me. I won't buy a used tractor off of pictures alone, and then I imagine shipping across country could get expensive.

My dad picked up a new Massey 1705 (22hp) 4wd. He got a snowblower, brush hog, and a bucket for 17k.

It's not bad, something bigger would be nice but it works. I haven't been the nicest on it and it still works just fine.

Haters gonna hate. I have a soft spot for deere. Zero problems on any of them.
Enjoy the photos.

Especially if you get a loader. Watch and ask about hydraulic fittings. Friend got a used Kabota and it came without the rear fittings for Hydraulic hoses. Seems the old owner kept them to put on his new one, as they don't come with them. This is all hear say, but look close. miles

The compact tractors, what they used to call utility, are all jammed tight together. Hard to work on because there is little room under the hood.
I'm not saying not to buy one, just that working on them is harder.

What did the little one with the hoe run you?

First tractor I ever learned to farm with was a model 60 JD. No power steering and the hand clutch made it hard to operate for a 7 year old.

I highly recommend 4x4 for any loader work. Once the bucket is full, you get no traction on a two wheel drive. (unless you hang some super heavy implement off the back, like a back hoe) I can get as much loader work done in a day with a Ford Boomer 34 horse 4x4 as I can the 72 horse in two wheel drive.

Look to your local dealers in Ford, or Massey Ferguson for a 35 to 40 HP 4x4 with a loader package. My buddy bought the Ford Boomer 34 hp at about ten years old for around 10K.

His is Hydro, and I hate it for anything except in and out loader work. I would much prefer a clutch and gears. I would also much rather pay the repair bills on the clutch and gears.

I'll get jumped all over for recommending the Jinma tractors. Northern Tools sells them.

I needed a tractor fast back in 2006, and there were none locally under $20,000.00 with 4wd and front loader. Northern had a 30 HP demo with 7 hours. I got it shipped with a good new front loader for $10,400.00. I've used the heck out of it since then and have had only a few small repairs. I replaced one tie rod end, a voltage regulator, and a shift lever I broke in an accident I won't detail here .

I run it on peanuts, too. The little 3 cyl diesel runs forever on a tank. It pulls well, has 5-high and 5-low speeds, decent hydraulics, adequate 3-point (not great) and a two-speed PTO.

These are very basic tractors and not modern in the sense of computer controlled anything. I like that, as I can do most repairs needed and service it myself.

Downside: The Chicoms make them.

I grew up using an old 8N Ford that we converted to twelve volt. That old tractor was a work horse and we used it for everything that we could.
I have a Branson(South Korea) 4X4 with 47HP. It has a front end loader that it has plenty of horsepower for anything that I need here.
You can get a Branson for the money you are looking for with a few implements to-boot. I guess this tractor has been a good value but there has been a few things that have broke that probably should not have. It does have a good warranty and they fixed everything so far.
I'd still start out with an old Ford. It'll be easier to assess what it doesn't do that you need done.

I have a Kioti Dk40se cab model 4X4 HST with front loader.It,s been flawless.I think you could buy Kioti 40hp shuttle shift with front loader for close to $20,000

Kubota for me I have a L SERIES AND a BX series good used ones are out there you just have to look for them I bought both of them with less than 200 hours on each one.

I prefer the l series it is 30 horse 4x4 with a front end loader and will do anything I ask it..

I think the Kubota has a better hydraulic system at least mine does compared to my cousins deere

Buy once..cry once.
Around here, you are going to pay for the word "compact". I have found you can get much more tractor for your money if you buy used and step up to something larger than what you really need H.P. wise.

The tractor (3320) with the front loader and the hoe and a 5' brush hog was around 35k.

Tractor 18k
Loader. 5k
Hoe. 9k
Cutter. 2k.

I'm not going to try and convince you to buy green but this thing is a brute. Weighing in at over 3 tons it easily moves 1 ton trees. The 485 hoe is very capable also and removes in just a minute.
You will get grief from other tractor owners though if you buy green. They will say you are paying for the name, or there tractor is blah blah blah. I may have paid a little more, but I feel like the 3x20 series of deere is second to none.......and I shopped the red and orange stores too.

Kubota is hard to beat. My brother has a 36 hp 4wd that about 16 years old that has been remarkably reliable.
I have a 95/40 with cab and air condition with loader and it has been trouble free.

Kioti is korean made. Also a good tractor from what I have heard.

I love the old 8N. I have been driving one since I was five years old while Dad supported us kids bucking bales for all the neighbors. I still use it with the terracing blade to clean irrigation ditches or for corrugating pastures.

But an 8N would be the last tractor I would recommend for loader work. Yes, the lack of live hydraulics can be overcome with a front mounted crank driven hydraulic pump.

It is just that the little Fords do not have enough weight to give them traction in any but the best of circumstances. Then you hang a loader off the front, with a bucket full of corral cleanings and the tractor becomes absolutely helpless.

I have new Firestone 12.4 x 28 tires on the back of mine and 6.50 x 16 tri ribs on the front. I insisted that the tire shop fill all four of them with Calcium Chloride. That does help some. The extra weight in the front tires is the only which keeps the front end on the ground when I lift the five foot 3 point John Deere disc out of the ground.

Well looks like it's going to probably be an LS, Kubota, or John Deere. That's the three compact tractors sold within 30 miles. I really like the idea of parts support that close.

I like Kubota for multiple reasons, and JD is overpriced IMO. I bought a Grand series L3240 which is on par with JD's 3xxx series. 2 years old with FEL for 17k with about 200 hours, it's been flawless for the last few years. Heavy, like 3600 pounds for just the tractor and don't be swayed by the 30 hp class in Kubota or JD that are too lite, weight and 4wd are your friend for getting traction to the ground. Also if you do loader work hydro is the only way to fly. Good luck, many good choices out there.

3 good ones and you are smart to buy the dealer.

Good choices but give this some thought. Horsepower is the cheapest thing you can buy. Buy as much as you can, then go up one more level.
One other thing. Please don't attempt to put in water lines with a backhoe. Go rent a Ditch Witch ride on trencher and you can be done within a day. Remember, after you've dug the trench, you're almost half way done. Whatever you take out of that trench has to go somewhere.
I just retired after 18 years in the underground construction business and you don't need to dig a 12" wide trench (the width of a small backhoe bucket) to put a 1-2" water line in.

I have a 60 HP Boomer.Glad I did not get a smaller rig.

Not putting in water line that's already done, I would get a trencher if I had to lay new line. Digging out hydrants, repairing water lines and such, maybe a foundation for an outbuilding, or around a stump would be the main uses. Besides backhoe's are handy any way you look at it.

Guys buy used tractors in TX and truck them out here to NV and CA to sell to CA transplants, now retired and on their Nevada "ranch"...10 acres of desert. They sell so high here that it is a lucrative enterprise.

A smaller $6,000 tractor in TX will sell for $12,000 here.

Yup.

We call em', "2 Gallon overhauls".

....LOTS of burnt out rice paddy tractors find a new home , in this venue.

Good used L-series Kubotas are pretty hard to beat, and where I'd put my $$

GTC

I have a 26hp cub cadet which is the same as mahindra and a few others produced by mtd which is a mitsubishi. I have no block heater and it sits outside and ALWAYS starts right up. I've had zero issues in 500 hours and have used it for lots of grading and tilling. It's swings a 7 foot mower, it doesn't know it's only 26hp....it will do everything my neighbors 35hp will do. I would buy it again.....I don't need a dealer though, I buy filters from Napa and have yet to need a part, which is easily available online.

Give them all a test run at the dealer, if you can. Check all for ease of loader operation. Find out hydraulic pump capacity. Inspect the 3-pt hitch for sturdiness (THAT was one thing that kept NH out of the running for me at the time), compare the front axles for strength (another blow to NH via JD), compare the ease of maintenance access (oil changes, filter changes, zerk fittings) etc..

Maybe the others have this as well, but I do like the Quicktach option on the JD. It makes the changing of implements on the back a snap - taking only a minute or two to accomplish.

Note diesel tank capacity - most probably have enough to run the machine a full day w/o refueling, but check anyway. When you're on board, note how controls, seat adjustment etc., fit you and if you're comfy with all positions..

Finally, let us all know what you end up with and what triggered the decision.. Best wishes.

I didnt read the whole thread, so its probably been said, but go to tractor auctions and by a good used tractor.

My BIL bought a 2004 JD 5105? ( 50 hp tractor) with a JD front-end loader for $12,000 in 2008. The tractor had less than 100 hrs on it and it looked new.

I see a 5105 (50 hp) with front end loader, 184 hours, 2 WD on tractorhouse.com for $14,600 (auction bid price at this time). That would give you $5000 to go get it or have it shipped to you and you would have much more tractor than a compact.

Just my $.02

I don't know what you guys get for fuel economy, but my tractor will till or mow about 40 acres before it needs fuel. The tank holds about 5 gallons. It's a serious fuel miser. I don't like the ergonomics of the older tractor, mine has tilt and you can step through without a shifter in the way. My loader control is the same as a backhoe.

Green ain't bad if it comes with this attachment.

Those attachments sure are fun but they tend to be high maintenance. That and all of your buddies are constantly asking to borrow it.

uh yes I'd really like to borrow that attachment!

Bart mentioned Branson, pard has one here that he had shipped up from Seattle, demo model, just a lil over 20K and he loves the thing.

can't blame him

I'd love it too if he'd let me borrow it more often!

Kubota

[quote=Mink] Green ain't bad if it comes with this attachment. [/quote
I don't know much about tractors. Is that a back hoe?