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Re: [RC] New/used tractors - Karen Sullivan----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Latiolais" <latiolp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> I need advice on tractors to manage horse pasture. I finally convinced my wife that we can't manage 6 acres without a tractor. *What do you want to DO with the pasture (mow, disc, seed, etc?) QUESTIONS: What is best value? What add-ons do I need? *I researched tractors for months; looked into new and used....best deal I found was at our local rental place, it only had 420 hours on it; paid $11k for a 35 hp Kubota with a scraper and front loader. It has roll bar but no cab top. It was mechanically well maintained, tires great. . NEW VERSUS USED: My wife thinks we ought to buy new. That might be best, if interest rates are good on them. I have not done mechanical work since I was a young guy and had to. I even have the shop work on my lawn mowers, so NEWER is probably best. *I didn't find good deals on new tractors and they would have depreciated right away. EQUIPMENT: So far on my list I have: Front loader, PTO, 4-wheel drive (it is wet here in the winter) , brush hog (or other mower attachment), manure spreader? *Mine is 4W drive....then I found a guy with a mower for sale.(brush hog, rotary), he had only used twice; snapped that up for $400 ($1200 new). I liked the hammer flail mowers, but they are way expensive. What about horse power? *Mine is 35hp with about 28 on the PTO takeoff. In my opinion, this is borderline too small for much beyond mowing and scraping poop. I do not know I would be very successful discing, for example, on hard ground. However, if I did have a real arena, I would get a disc.....and get the ground worked with not hard as a rock. I am NOT a fan of discing pastures for the heck of it. Destroys the integrity of the soil (benefical root funguses), and creates a ton of dust. *Forget anything much under $30 hp.....that is a glorified lawn tractor (know I will probably get flammed for that statement!). *Stay away from older tractors where somone has jury-rigged a front loader....they probably aren't balanced for handling that. *I use mine the most for scraping poop, scoopiing it up and dumping over fence into veg. garden area....and mowing the star thistle in back field. Switching implements is a huge, enormous pain in the butt, and involves my husband, crowbars and a lot of swearing. Even with the 3 pt. hitch...it is a chore, and nothing ever lines up right. Takes more brute strength than I have...... Karen Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, -Paul =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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