What is the right size tractor?

I am at best a weekend warrior and this is why I struggle with these decisions. I've gotten lucky so far buying older machines that needed a little work that I have been able to get out of for what I paid for when I upped my game. Life is a series of compromises, so choose them wisely right?

On a separate note, I assume it is universally agreed that a glass cab doesn't belong in the woods under any circumstances unless you have nicely graded and cleared/maintained forest roads?

 

Like I said though I have mostly woods. You can't use any tractor on most of it!! Other than say 2 miles of roads through it,as far as the tractor is concerned its like those acres don't exist.I finish mow about 2 acres and that takes anywhere from 1-2 hours depending upon grass. Your 55ho tractor just won't mow where I have to. And I bush hog maybe 6 acres tops 1-3x a yr. Would I like a 55hp yes but it and implements would cost way more, I'd use lots more fuel and I could not tow it with my current set up.

Every person has their own needs. I am not saying a 25hp will work for everyone nor am I saying that you can get by on a commercial operation with a 35hp. But there more factors than just acerage.

 

He is OK on fluids and stuff but the tractor sat outside all but some of the last few years. I never understood spending that kind of cash and not at least building a $700 lean to for it or one of those $600 metal instant carport things??

 

When I moved into town onto a .22 acre lot I didn't want to sell my tractor, argued with the wife but I won. My lawn wasn't big enough to turn around the tractor when the 6' finish mower was on the three point hitch. I would have to mow in forward and reverse -- took me about 4 minutes to mow the lawn though

S&W-- what's wrong with having two tractors?

 

You always need one more.

 

Their isn't anything simple with a ford selecto speed.

 

Are you saying that it was a hydro front wheel assist?

 

I'm talking a bit older than the fords posted here in this thread

 

1965 isn't old enough?

 

lars tractor is a 65!! Looks a bit newer to me?

 

nothing other than money and one more machine to maintain. But, I already started down that path when I decided I needed a 28hp 4wd diesel 6' front mow for my lawn and driveway I don't have any problem spending the money just want to make sure I spend it right for what I need/value.

 

might be Japanese but still has blue paint

 

Clem, maybe you are the rare case where buying more tractor than you think you need is not a good rule of thumb.

At the end of the day S&W needs to make his own decision, I am just throwing my perspective into the fray with the limited info we have been given.

I like the older tractors myself. My Workmaster 75 is out of warranty and giving me fits with safety sensors going bad.

 

The bigger machines sure are nice when doing things like skidding trees uphill in the snow. Our two cord cut would have taken a long time to skid out yesterday with the Ford and it wouldn't have been able to pull the truck out of the landing when I buried it. I guess I need to also consider the 2 machine solution with the biggest machine that will fit in the shed at the camp. The 2440 fit in there nicely when we had it up there. Thanks for all the input.

 

I would love 2 tractors but its not in my budget now. Yep all give opinions but solar wind is the final decision and needs to weigh all aspects of his situation.

 

I think the tractor you have at home sounds to be the right size.

Sounds like you need a small dozer for camp. It will make a 75HP tractor look silly. I'm only joking a little.

My uncle bought a bunch of property and bought a small case crawler with a loader and a hoe...put about 2000 hours on it, and sold it for a $500 loss when he was done with it. You could get something like this, get the heavy grunt work out of the way (moving boulder, clearing trails, digging stumps, building roads, digging) and manage the rest with your tractor.

I wish I remembered the model of that thing. It was small but surprisingly capable. Couldn't pull in on an bumper pull trailer with a pickup though (or at least I wouldn't want to try )

 

That's an interesting idea...a JD350 weighs in around 4 ton. That would be nice for taking the beating instead of an undersized tractor and with a bucket/winch might just be the machine to have at the camp.