Tractor

I have owned, or used New Holland, Case and Kubota small tractors. They were all good. 4wd for sure, diesel, and HST trans. HST makes it Much easier to attach implements and better to maneuver.

Steve,
This years auction at Lamb & Webster down in Springville, NY (219 & 39) is already over. But every year they hold a big auction and have all kinds of tractor, some really good and some really bad. You can always get really good deals at their auction. It is a all day affair. You can stop ahead of time and check stuff out. Oh, it always rains on auction day too! Think it was Sept 24, last month. You will have to wait a whole year.

My faves are: John Deere 1070 with Front Wheel Assist, a good utility tractor that can be outfitted with a lot of implements. Ford 8N,if buying used or, if you get lucky, a Jubilee.
Kubota is OK but the smaller ones don't seem to have the grunt, YMMV.

Be aware that the current compact tractor offerings from New Holland are not the same as what they had 2 years ago. They are now made by LG in South Korea (might still be assembled in Georgia, not sure), and no longer use the famous Shibaura diesels. I have a 2008 T2310, which is the same thing as a T40DA from prior years. Its a Class 3 compact tractor with a Shibaura 40 HP diesel, 33 HP at the PTO. Probably a size bigger than what you are looking for.

Many things must be considered when purchasing a tractor, weight being one of them. The heavier it is, the more work they can do. Tires are another factor, most people just don't need the agricultural tires. Turf tires are good if you're finish mowing with it, but if you're going to use the loader a lot, the industrial R4 tires are best as they can handle the weight. 2 wheel drive vs 4WD is another consideration. If you're going to do loader work, 4WD is the ONLY way to go. You'll wish you had it when you pick up a bucketful of material, and the implement on the back just isn't enough weight, and the rear tires loose traction. Also, if you are going to use hydraulics on the rear, NH does not have that as standard, and its almost $1000 to add it. Kubota and Mahindra do.

If I was going to buy a new tractor today, it would not be NH (or Case, same thing). I'd go Kubota, and it sounds like a 3200 would be as big as you need. Maybe a smaller one. Determine what transmission you want, shuttle or HST are the most popular. HST's are great, and easy to drive.

If you're considering green, please look closely at the construction, especially the aluminum rear end. The JD compact tractors are not built to the same standards as the larger agricultural JD's, which are excellent. Also look at their loader quick attach system and then find out if it uses the standard implements. Most do not.

I'd also consider a Mahindra, IF you have a good Mahindra dealer close by. Not a bad tractor actually, for the money. I know very little about the Kioti brand. Don't they make them for Bobcat (white) too? Not sure.

You won't go wrong with Kubota though. Excellent tractors.

I have a 2wd 50 hp FT60 by Farmtrac who are out of business. The tractor is the same/similar as a 3610 Ford with new power steering system upgrades/more fuel and air filtering but the same 192ci 3 cylinder diesel and noisey and very tough. Its not a tractor to use for a hay ride. The tractor has 2000 hours now and with just a water pump/hyd pump change. Its all I need for 40 acres.
Ergonomics is terrible. The operator sits astraddle of the tranny with little room for the feet or even to turn around unlike the new gen tractors with a flat work station.
The 3 point lift is way down by the right foot old style unlike the newer tractors with it by your right hand.
The engine is hidden unlike the newer gen tractors that the grill and hood swing up exposing the radiator/engine/every thing.

IMO your better off with the newer gen tractor. Right now I'm looking at a swap for a 4wd 50 hp Kioti and fel. My other neighbor has a DK40 Kioti 4wd and is one quiet smooth running easy to use tractor.

Thanks for all the responses.

I fixed the hydraulics (for now) and limped through the summer with my David Brown. There are still leaks at each hydraulic ram for the bucket and also at some of the connections, but I add a little fluid every few weeks for now. The 3-point hitch also works now.

I did go to a local New Holland dealer and he also carries Kioti. There was a nice 4WD model with a bucket for about $16K.

Next spring will be the time to look at new tractors (and newer used ones)as I still want something more reliable and newer.

Steve

I have a 45 HP New Holland. I have used it to move around our old 30' TT and my 33' flatbed gooseneck. The new trailer has 4500 lbs of pin weight so the tractor will not lift that with the three point. Other than that it has been very usefull!

I have a TYM HST 293. It is a 29 hp 4wd CUT with a 3 cylinder diesel Mitsubishi engine. It has mid and rear PTO, three point hitch, full hydraulics, cruise control, steering brakes and came with a front end loader and 6 foot front mounted snowblower. The same Mitsubishi engine is used in a lot of skidsteers, shredders and stump grinders. Tym is a Korean company that has done contract manufacturing and supplied parts to New Holland, Mahindra and many others for over 30 years. I have just under 500 hours on it and am very happy with its performance. Does everything a Kabota will do at a substantially lower price.

Kubota or New Holland. I have a New Holland 45 horsepower, 4x4, hydrostatic transmission with a loader. It is the Cadillac of compacts. I have ballast in the rear tires and use it a lot around the acreage. Don't spend the money for a backhoe unless you can see a lot of uses for it. I don't have one, but have had many friends get talked into buying them only to use them once. That's thousands of dollars wasted. If you have the grass, buy a nice finish mower or bush hog. I have a post hole driller that I use a lot for building sheds and fences. Get a diesel as they are quiet and efficient. I can run mine for many, many hours on a tank of fuel. I use the loader bucket to get under trailer hitches and shove them around all the time. Works great if the tractor is heavy enough.

PS- had to laugh at someone calling 3 acres a ranch. Where I'm from (not MD), that's a city lot and 1000+ acres is a ranch. That is where you would need our other tractor...

I had the same "exploding oil" problem about 8 years ago. Couldn't afford to just get a new tractor though. Replacing hydraulic parts every so often is now part of my maintenance schedule.

I've like Hydraulics Direct best (their website is here), but I've also ordered from Parker and Grainger in the past.