The Tractor Thread

[bowhunter1023]

Curious who owns, or has owned, sub-25hp tractors with bucket and either a belly mower or 3' brushhog. It's a pipe dream right now, but it'll happen sooner than later. 11 acres and the type of life we live on it almost demands one. I'm getting close to selling some toys off to make it work $ wise. Not the year, but next spring might be well timed.

Just looking for experiences with Kubota, Mahindra, Kioti and Deere. Dad's Kubota is perfect, but a little pricey. I'd be comfortable $5-7,500 likely, so I feel that should get a solid deal, but please say so otherwise.

I'd also be curious to know if anyone still has a Gravely brush mower. That would remedy a lot of my issues and I'd like to have a good one of those, but I never see them anymore.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[switchhitter]

I have a Mahindra but it is 30 horse. It is 8 years old and has 300 hours on it. Before the mahindra I had a Ford 1310 it was around 15 horse. It ran a 4 foot bush hog with no problems. The ford had about 1000 hours on it but was nearly 30 years old and was starting to get in reliable. I would not hesitate to buy a used ford or mahindra I have had good luck with both of them


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[5Cent]

Scratching my head...$5-7.5K would have that Ford 600 sitting pretty with a mower and bucket.

 

[Clay Showalter]

I have a kioti 35 horse and a new Holland tc30 that both belonged to my father. The kioti has more standard features, both tractors work good.

If I was shopping for a new one I would look at mahindra

 

[bowhunter1023]

True. However, I have no interest in putting a bucket on that tractor. It's as nimble as a D6 dozer and is not ideal for the terrain at the farm. I'd want 4wd in a subcompact tractor, too. I see them as two different kinds of tractors.

 

[jagermeister]

All brands you mentioned are solid. Deere and Kubota are the cadillacs of the bunch and you'll pay for that. Your best value is in the Mahindra IMO. They make some nice tractors at a good price point. I have no experience with Kiotis. I would probably lean towards 25-40 hp rather than going with a sub-25. Running short on power and capability is very frustrating. But obviously the bigger machines bring more money too.

 

[hickslawns]

I had an older Kioti LK3054. Nimble. "30" HP. Had a two stage clutch I wasn't a big fan of. All in all a nice tractor we probably used harder than it was designed to be used. Not familiar with the newer models but the Bobcat tractors were Kiotis with Bobcat badges. I don't think they would put their name on them if they wouldn't hold up.

Not sure on any of the others.

 

[CJD3]

All brands you mentioned are solid. Deere and Kubota are the cadillacs of the bunch and you'll pay for that. Your best value is in the Mahindra IMO. They make some nice tractors at a good price point. I have no experience with Kiotis. I would probably lean towards 25-40 hp rather than going with a sub-25. Running short on power and capability is very frustrating. But obviously the bigger machines bring more money too.

You will "Outgrow" a smaller unit in a very short time. Then 2 things will come to mind.
1. Wish I had more power. Beating up a smaller unit due to lack of power will just accelerate the wear-n-tear on motor, clutch and other parts.
2. Wish I had a bigger bucket.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Dad will even say that with his 55hp Kubota. I'd like to error on the "homeowner" side of the spectrum for $ reasons, but I could definitely see a mid-30s model making the most sense long term. The Ford 600 that I inherited has a 4' brushhog and I can use it around the house some, but it's not ideal for what I need and ultimately, I'd like to restore it to factory original condition and take it to the local fairs and do parades with it. That's a 10-15 year plan. Adam makes a great point, it just doesn't interest me. Having used dad's 23hp around the house, having that 60" mower with power steering makes it super convenient. It's really capable of much more than the 600 would be for the same $ out of pocket.

 

[cspot]

If your Dad's size mower was about perfect then I would go with that size. If you are not mowing around alot of stuff in the yard then a rear finish mower may work well for the yard and then have a brush hog for the food plots. If mowing around much then a belly mower would be better. Advantage to a finish mower is easier to take on and off if using the tractor for other things.

Just throwing this out as well. Would a zero turn mower work better for the yard and then just have a tractor as a tractor instead. I have never used the zero turns but alot of people swear by them. My yard is big with not many obstacles so I use a 65hp tractor with a 7' finish mower.

 

[twireman]

I snagged a 1990 34hp Kubota 4x4 with 1900 hours on it last year. Has a front loader that will lift 1000lbs. Came with all maintenance records which was good peace of mind. Will run a tiller/bush hog/finish mower. Dug 50 post holes with it. Every time I turn around I find a use for it. Bought $100 bolt on pallet forks for stacking/bucking firewood. Just all around handy. Plus the price was great.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Mowing trails and food plots will happen more than mowing yard. I can set the deck all the way up on dad's and it cuts at 8" or so, which is super convenient for food plots. You just have to do it more often than if you run a hog. Having a smaller hog on a more agile tractor is appealing even after I'd done a rough cut with the Ford. Having a bucket and tiller with a belly mower makes the most since. My major constraint when it comes to planting is needing to borrow equipment and time from my dad. If I can do it myself with my stuff, the sky is the limit.

This is a gas line right-of-way that runs past my barn. It begs to be maintained and planted in clover!

 

[cspot]

Honestly for food plot mowing, I would much rather have the brush hog than the belly mower. I know you have a young family right now, andI can tell you as they get older, you will have less and less time to spend mowing and for life in general. LOL. With a hog you can mow no matter the height.

Actually I would prefer to have both a belly mower and a hog. Then you have the best of both worlds. I have been somewhat looking for a belly mower for my little Kubota. Due to some family members have health issues, I am now mowing 3 yards.

 

[RedCloud]

I'll keep am eye on this thread.

Trying to talk work into getting a Kubota L2501 with front loader and rear deck mower.

 

[Clay Showalter]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2353515511372556/

 

[bowhunter1023]

Curious who owns, or has owned, sub-25hp tractors with bucket and either a belly mower or 3' brushhog. It's a pipe dream right now, but it'll happen sooner than later. 11 acres and the type of life we live on it almost demands one. I'm getting close to selling some toys off to make it work $ wise. Not the year, but next spring might be well timed.

Just looking for experiences with Kubota, Mahindra, Kioti and Deere. Dad's Kubota is perfect, but a little pricey. I'd be comfortable $5-7,500 likely, so I feel that should get a solid deal, but please say so otherwise.

I'd also be curious to know if anyone still has a Gravely brush mower. That would remedy a lot of my issues and I'd like to have a good one of those, but I never see them anymore.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Patience in a virtue. A lots transpired since my original post. We bought a camper in 2020, so that put the tractor even further on the back burner and honestly, I'd written it off with the inflated prices of everything. This weekend my dad asked me if I wanted his tractor and of course, I said I was all ears. He got a lowball offer from the dealer on trade and said "if I'm giving it away, I might as well give it to you". So he extended the lowball offer to me with payment terms no bank can compete with, and both wives signed off on it, meaning I'm finally the owner of a compact tractor! It has a mower and forks with it, so all I need is a small brushhog and a tiller and my food plot game just got bumped up a few levels! Regardless, I have a 24hp 4WD tractor with a loader to use around the house and that's simply TOO good!

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

So jelly... I know you'll continue to put that thing to good use. Congrats!

 

["J"]

That’s awesome Jesse!!! I’m lucky as I have use of my buddies tractor. He’s been hinting around he may sell it and I told him I’d kick him in the nuts if he didn’t give me first dibs on it. They’re worth their weight in gold when you have a consistent need for them.

 

[hickslawns]

The only downfall is you know the guy who abused the shit out of it before you. Oh wait, that was you!

I hate to say "game changer" but man are they nice. Sure will make a ton of your chores much easier and quicker. Happy for you. I'm sure it will serve you very well for many years to come. Great update, Jesse!

 

[Dannmann801]

Very good!