Tractor advice.

I think it's time I sell my motorcycles
And instead buy a tractor.
I know I want a John deer or a Kubota.
Looking for something big enough to do wood, possible bushoggin( just for personal use)
And maybe run a tiller.
Use will be mainly for moving wood around at home and for dragging trees out of the woods at our property.
Will be buying used as we got 2 kids and money is a bit tight.
If both bikes sell I'll have a 5k roughly budget. So I know it will be older equipment I can affird
What models have served you guys well?

 

For 5k you don't have john deere money you have kubota money at best. At best.

The biggest question here: Do you need a loader

(the answer is yes, but if you can convince everyone the answer is no, then the choice is a little different)

 

Haha yes loader is the main reason.
I'm thinking early 90s machine
I know I can find old beaters around here for 5k
The reason I want a John Deere or Kubota is I have experience operating both brands.
I find them to be reliable machines.
Just don't know what models from the 90s were good.
But I'm open to other brands of people have had good luck with them

 

If you wait, n shop, n luck out a lil (a lot!?) You might could buy a decent 4x2 750/850 Deere w/ loader for $5k...

 

Don’t buy anything that won’t pick up a pallet or an IBC tote of your greenest, highest moisture firewood.

 

If you plan on doing wood keep a grapple in mind. I added one to my tractor ( although my machine is a little smaller than what you are looking for) and it was a great investment and a game changer.

 

My wood lives in a pile, I don't stack.
I mostly need it for loading/dragging logs off of my trailer, turning my pile, and skidding logs out of the woods

 

Yes, we have a grapple at work for tractor, skid, and dingo
Best attachment for moving wood.
What size is your tractor
My wife's grandpa has a jd 1025r and I think I could even use something that small.

 

As far as tractors go $5000 won't get you much. get up to around $12.000 and you can get a nice used tractor with loader. I prefer ford tractors in that price range.

 

I want to suggest a Deere 2305 but with loader they are out of budget. Will vouch for them up to 1500 hours at least. Had a quick look at Indianapolis Marketplace and for $5k with loader you're into some 80s machines and two wheel drive. They should be fairly simple to work on, but I don't have enough experience with them to give any meanigful advice.

 

The 650/750/850/950 series are some tough SOB's! There are still a ton of them out there too...

 

I’m sure you’ll be attempting to pick up logs like the beginning here. The opening on my grapple is 28”. Iron craft is made in Tennessee.

I don’t think a smaller skidsteer would fair as well. My lift rating is 1850 lbs, 1950 if I put on counterweight .

make sure you get a brush grapple then too and not a rock grapple. The bucket has twice as many plates in it and weighs twice as much reducing your lift capacity even more.

 

5k is a stretch for a solid used unit w/ loader. Not saying it isn't possible, but you will need to be patient.

I would recommend you include Ford/New Holland in your search. The latest 80's / early 90's series Ford/New Holland (same thing) are GREAT tractors w/ a Japanese motor.

I have a newer Kubota that replaced an 1989 Ford 1920 tractor. The Ford was a better unit in many ways! I miss it. Unfortunately, we left it parked outside too long....

 

Mine is a Massey 1723 , small sub compact. It would be nice if it was a little bigger but honestly all I need. It might take a little longer to do things compared to the next size up but if you take your time and don't try to push it past the limits it works really good.

I looked for about two years to find a used machine but it seems everyone wants top dollar for used and often abused so I went new.
My wife got tired of me complaining about finding a used one and she is the one that actually said " Just go buy a new one". Well I didn't want to argue with her.

 

I was a diesel mechanic for almost 10 yr.
Old mechanical injection diesels are just fine with me

 

I have a John Deere 2025r been good tractor only lifts around 1000 pounds but only at limited hight. Think it’s rated at 800 ish full hight, they’re expensive though. Older deer compacts were just a yanmar so might be able to find a comparable yanmar for less. I’ve seen a few 2wd and 4wd late
80’s early 90’s yanmar with loader for the 4 to 6000$ range

 

this is what you can expect to get for that money in mn

 

An old gasser is fine to.
My brother has an old 50s 8n I think?
That has done ok for him

 

Let's me broaden the search a little bit
Brands to stay away from?

 

Stay away from ALL Chinese tractors. Japanese have built some good tractors but the Chinese are junk and don't hold any value.