We just moved into a new house on 7+ acres and it's time to start looking into getting some equipment to use to maintain and work on the place. I'm looking for recommendations on brands, deals, places to look, experiences, tips/tricks... pretty much anything you can provide to help me out.

I can handle mowing the area around the house with my pushmower I currently have, but will need something larger for mowing the pasture area and in/around trees. I'd also wouldn't mind being able to mow around the house with a riding mower. I would like a small tractor (or lawn tractor) with a 3-point hitch and PTO. In my preliminary searches I have seen some of the smaller ones from Kubota that have a mowing deck as well as the 3-point hitch for implements which look good, but am open to any brands/ideas.

My parents live on much larger acreage, so I am familiar with these things on a larger scale. They have a riding mower for use around the house and then large tractors for everything else. I am hoping I can cover both of those uses with one machine.

My initial list of things to acquire so far (brand recs welcome):
- chainsaw
- heavy duty weedeater/trimmer
- tractor or mower of some kind
- shredder

Depending on how much you are looking at spending, John Deere has smaller tractor package deals that are pretty reasonable. Usually come with a trailer and a couple pieces of equipment.

Stihl power equipment and John Deere tractors.

Hard to go wrong with either IMO.

http://www.sfstractor.com/

For an example. You can contact a dealer and they can customize the packages for you.

agree with the guys who suggested a john deere tractor. Uncle has one that we borrow when we need a small area shredded, its a small utility tractor that can pull a 6 or 7 foot shredder which should be fine for your 7 acres minus the house and yard. Plus it has a front scoop loader on it so its good for dirt projects or moving things as well. Kubota or someone else may have something similar thats cheaper, but I think that general style of a tractor would fit your needs well.

Not to go chasing rabbits, but what part of the state?

Thanks guys. My boss has one of the JD packages that he really likes, so I might go out and look his over sometime. I figure the Kubota stuff will be a little cheaper, but that might not actually bear out when I start looking.

Not sure on a budget yet, but might look into finding something used if I can to save a little bit.

Liberty Hill

i think you should go with the most expensive tractor, but make sure you insure it

Haha, thanks for the input.

If the whole reason to buy JD is to buy American vs. Import. There are few domestic built tractors of <100hp.

I don't have a preference on American vs import. I just want the best bang for my buck to fit my needs.

I'm biased but I'd look into a Deere 3032 package, a husqvarna Rancher 450, a gas 4 stroke troybilt weedeater that you can get other attachments (pole saw, tiller, edger, etc.) as well.

I think you need to fix up your fence... and get some goats. No major equipment necessary....

You would need to build a barn to store your new equipment, right?

Order of events

• purchase heavy duty weedeater/trimmer
  
• fix fence
  
• buy goats
  
• build barn
  
• buy tractor
  
• go to chilifest (cabrito!)
• profit
  

Goats are definitely the way to go...and lots of them. You could not only use them to help tidy up the place, but you could then move to breeding, selling, and milking them. I hear there is good market for goat products in the Austin area.

If goats don't work, i would go with Deere and Stihl products all the way.

I had 5+ acres when I bought my land and used a Mahindra 3036 tractor brand new for the first 2 years with a shredder, box blade and front end loader attached. If I had to do it all over again, I'd get something with more horsepower and a cab on it for in the summer. I dont know how pretty you want to make it or the type of grass you have, but if you have coastal, you can keep cutting it low and after it gets thicker, you could buy an under mount cutter for the tractor and really manicure it. But like I said, I dont know the type of grass, terrain or how pretty you want it to be.

I use a Dixie Chopper 60" zero turn on it now with no problem.

Thanks for the comments so far guys!



Except for AgEng08.... you can EAD.

I rock a 1952 Ford 8N with an unknown make 4 foot shredder. I bought a 3 point scoop for $55 on an online auction, a carry all from TS. That little tractor is a hoss and monkey simple to work on with it's gasoline powered flat head 4.

The 8N fits my needs just fine and you can find them craigslist for fairly cheap. Amazon and TS have pelnty of parts for them when needed.

haha...

You're off the team, dude.

Which one of you is this? I will also need some fence built at some point...

LongBranch Ranch and Ag Services


Thanks for the link, AgEng08...

I have a similar set up just down the road from you. I have a Scag zero turn that I use for my yard area. Expensive but highly recommended. Echo trimmers, chainsaw. I also have a Stihl that is great. I also have a small Mahindra tractor that is only 20 hp. It gets the job done but I wish I had a little bigger tractor. I'm going to sell it in the near future as I would like a bigger tractor at the house. Just want to spend as much time shredding as before. The one thing that little tractor was great for was the landscaping (box blade, front end loader). I have a large Kubota at my ranch and I'm going to get one for the house. PM me if you want to come look at the tractor or just take a look at my place for ideas.

My dad got one of the small Kubotas with a belly mower and a loader. While I don't use it all that often, my experience has been really positive with it. Obviously it's got some limitations in what it can do, but he's been really pleased with it after having it a little over a year.

Drip torch

For 7 acres I would save money on a new tractor package and get a used tractor (30hp range) and 5' brush hog. You can cut then pile up brush and burn it. Get a hand held sprayer and spray your fencelines.

Also with the money you save from getting used equipment maybe look into buying 5 or 6 calves and turning them out on your land.

Get an weedeater/trimmer with interchangeable attachments..Get yourself a pole saw attachment. I have used mine quite a bit to trim low branches. I have an Echo brand and very satisfied with it

Kubota make a great 45 hp tractor from my experience. Will do everything you could ever imagine on that scale.

With that, a finishing mower for your PTO, and a good trimmer, your mowing would be easy.

Why bother buying goats when you can just rent them?

30+ hp on the tractor. I have 25 and it barely does the job on some things. Also get a front end loader. Used is fine. I have a 40 year old ford 1600 and it is reliable, for example.

Pole chainsaw is nice.

A small utility trailer to pull behind the tractor. Also a shredder and box blade, 1 foot wide per 5hp on the tractor max.

Anyone have any experience or opinions on the John Deere 2320 or Kubota B2920 tractors? I have a line on one of each of these that appear to be really good deals...

Both good machines, but I give the deere the advantage based on ease of operation. The kubota treadle pedal is a pain vs side-by-side pedals on the deere.

I bought a 9.5 acre place a few years ago. I have a 18" Stihl chainsaw and Stihl straight shaft weedeater that I love. I don't remember the models (I think the weedeater is a FS90) but I bought them from the local tractor dealership.

I bought a Ariens 21 hp mower from Home Depot on one of those no interest for 12 months deals 2 years ago to replace my 12 year old Craftsman mower. It gets the job done around the house and this year with all the rain I have using it to mow the fencelines and edges of the driveway. I have left the field (6 acres) in front of the house alone to reseed because the drought has been so bad the past few years.

I have a JD 950 tractor (no fron tend loader) with a 5 ft Brush hog that I use a couple times a year to mow the field. I bought it used and it does a great job when I want to mow the whole thing. I am considering selling the tractor because I don't feel that I use it enough. I can rent a tractor and shedder for $150 and if I only use it a couple times a year that might make better sense than keeping the big tractor.

Definitely get you a small trailer to pull behind your mower. You can mow and throw ant killer, weed sprayer, pickax, weedeater and other stuff in trailer so it is handy when you see stuff as you need to treat as you are mowing. If I am trimming trees and building my burn pile, the trailer is handy too and a lot cheaper than a front end loader.

Baby doll sheep?

I don't like goats, given their propensity to get out of/into everything, and eat everything.

Though sheep may not be the best for your land, either.

Cattle are great, but a bit more of a pain, IMO... Of course, I never raised sheep, so...

Unfortunately both tractors were gone by the time I was able to contact the seller. They were both great deals as well (I was leaning towards the Deere). Oh well.

If anyone comes across something is that same size range (compact tractor, 20-30hp) please let me know.

I've posted this on another forum on this board, but check out vogeltractors.com. They've got tractors around the size you're looking for and if they don't have it, They can find it. Good, reliable family business and the owner is an Ag.