Best Small Tractor

[Goodlife]

I am in the market for a small tractor with a scoop. I need to pull a brush hog, small disc, harrow and planter. I also plan on getting a post hole digger for it. It is not for farming crops, utility work around a small cattle operation so to maintain the pasture, move some dirt or gravel from time to time, dig fence post holes, and drag around the cow poop, and other small uses as needed.

What do you recommend? I was considering the JD 3000 series? Any good or bad opinions on that?

 

[bigbull338]

you asked a loaded q,so your going to get meny answers.to me the 3000 jds are way to little.why dont you look at a MX5100 HST 4x4 with a fel.that is a nice size for loader work shredding an moving hay if needed.

 

[Limomike]

I tend to agree with Bigbull.. unless a 42 horse tractor is all u want or think you will need. I would go with at least a 60 hp tractor with a 4x4.

 

[saltbranch]

We bought a used case 485 with FEL, its a 53hp, 2wd. Its done good so far, can move 2 bales at a time(FEL/3pt). Pulls an 8' cross cut disc pretty good. My cousin just bout a new 4wd Case FEL tractor, not sure on the model...said Case gave him the best deal in this area.

 

[circlebllc]

I have a Ford 4000. It has been a great tractor. 52 HP, paid $7500 with a loader.

 

[kerley]

I bought a 50 hp.Kubota MX5000 /with front loader. I use it just like you described. It has been a very reliable tractor. If I were to buy another Kubota it would be one size larger with 4x4. I work this tractor hard and no problems. Purchased it in June 2004 and serviced it this week at 600 hrs.

 

[dieselbeef]

50 hp aint a small tractor for most...small is my kubota bx2200. its 22 hp...my massey 1240 is 30 hp. its big enought o move round bales and run a 5 ft bushhog thru some heavy grass

 

[bigbull338]

50 hp aint a small tractor for most...small is my kubota bx2200. its 22 hp...my massey 1240 is 30 hp. its big enought o move round bales and run a 5 ft bushhog thru some heavy grass

50hp is a nice med tractor,an itll surprise you with what it can do with 4wd drive.my tractor has pulled 9000lbs with no prob.it lifts hauls an handles 5 by 6 bales with ease.

 

[shaz]

I have a JD 5205 45hp with 4wd and loader and it does 90% of the work around the farm. I have some bad hills and smaller tractors tend to be too tall relative to their width.

 

[High Cotton]

I vote orange also. I work for a city that has several 40-50hp tractors. I have ran some 4000 series Deere and the equivalent in a kubota. I would pick a kubota. They seem to hold up better. They are put through hell here bc some people don't care and run it till it wont move. The 3 kubota's are rarely in the shop besides an occasional flat. I havent ran a small CNH tractor enough to give an opinion.

 

[dieselbeef]

yeah but a compact like my kubota is 15k with a belly mower and a loader..25 hp dzl now...move up to a 30 series jd or 30hp kubota and ya are into the almost 30 k range with a loader and mower..finish deck now to be fair..my 30 hp massey moves the round bales. working it tho...next yr trade up again..into a 40 or bigger kubota or jd. always was trying to do it all with one but it just cant be done

 

[Caustic Burno]

I tend to agree with Bigbull.. unless a 42 horse tractor is all u want or think you will need. I would go with at least a 60 hp tractor with a 4x4.

Better get a 60 if you ever want to buy round bales or move them. Anything smaller gets light on the ass end especially if you have to unload a float. As far as brand goes be sure you have a dealer handy you will need parts sooner or later.
It doesn't matter what color it is if you have to spend a day driving to get a part.
As far as brand I have owned orange, green, blue,and red a 1977 Red one is still here with a 2007 blue one.

 

[Angus Cowman]

heck you better go with a minnimum of an JD8225R if you want to do any kind of work at all the rest are just play toys

 

[High Cotton]

heck you better go with a minnimum of an JD8225R if you want to do any kind of work at all the rest are just play toys

I don't know, you might have to jump on up to a 9000 series and get a real tractor. :hide:
I will never own a Massey or any agco product for that matter. The closest dealer is an hour and half away. Diesel I don't know about the prices in Flordia but they are a lot cheaper here. The farm I work for just bought an 8540 cab and mfwd for 32 if I remember right.

 

[jedstivers]

heck you better go with a minnimum of an JD8225R if you want to do any kind of work at all the rest are just play toys

I don't know, you might have to jump on up to a 9000 series and get a real tractor. :hide:
I will never own a Massey or any agco product for that matter. The closest dealer is an hour and half away. Diesel I don't know about the prices in Flordia but they are a lot cheaper here. The farm I work for just bought an 8540 cab and mfwd for 32 if I remember right.

Well he did ask best SMALL tractor

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

NH 6030 seems a good size for loading and unloading hay. Handles 2 rounds at a time with no trouble.

 

[Goodlife]

Lots of good info here. Perhaps a little scope creep too though. I will need to be able to move round bales. Lets put a better limit. You know what my need is. What would you recommend on a $15k budget?

I do have a JD dealer close. I have seen a lot of Kubotas so there must be a dealer close. I am new to this area (Waterloo IL)

Ed

 

[Caustic Burno]

There all foriegn made tractors in that hp range so don't be fooled by paint.
Neighbor bouhtt my old 70's model Kubota parts are higher than a cats back.
I have owned Ford's,Masseys as well as New Holland been most satisfied with Red or Blue paint.
The 1977 Massey was in the hayfield until I sold my bailing equipment this year.
I owned a Kubota, Kioti, both were terrible on fuel operating range for 540 pto was 22 or 2400 rpms.
Hard to beat a Massey with a good Perkins operating range 1650 rpms for 540.
I have a New Holland that run's at 1900 rpm's with a Fiat diesel.
Through them all the old Massey has stayed. Had 135 some nut offered me way more than it was worth so it left a few years ago.

 

[dun]

There all foriegn made tractors in that hp range so don't be fooled by paint.
Neighbor bouhtt my old 70's model Kubota parts are higher than a cats back.
I have owned Ford's,Masseys as well as New Holland been most satisfied with Red or Blue paint.
The 1977 Massey was in the hayfield until I sold my bailing equipment this year.
I owned a Kubota, Kioti, both were terrible on fuel operating range for 540 pto was 22 or 2400 rpms.
Hard to beat a Massey with a good Perkins operating range 1650 rpms for 540.
I have a New Holland that run's at 1900 rpm's with a Fiat diesel.
Through them all the old Massey has stayed. {b]Had 135 some nut offered me way more than it was worth so it left a few years ago[/b].

Wouldn;t have been someone in their early 20s that restored it and thinks it worth a multi-millions of bucks now would it?

 

[Caustic Burno]

There all foriegn made tractors in that hp range so don't be fooled by paint.
Neighbor bouhtt my old 70's model Kubota parts are higher than a cats back.
I have owned Ford's,Masseys as well as New Holland been most satisfied with Red or Blue paint.
The 1977 Massey was in the hayfield until I sold my bailing equipment this year.
I owned a Kubota, Kioti, both were terrible on fuel operating range for 540 pto was 22 or 2400 rpms.
Hard to beat a Massey with a good Perkins operating range 1650 rpms for 540.
I have a New Holland that run's at 1900 rpm's with a Fiat diesel.
Through them all the old Massey has stayed. {b]Had 135 some nut offered me way more than it was worth so it left a few years ago[/b].

Wouldn;t have been someone in their early 20s that restored it and thinks it worth a multi-millions of bucks now would it?

No it was someone much older and should of had better sense. I had one with power steering and remote hydraulics.
Offered me 6000 for the old thing and I had rebuilt it once . I said YES and helped him load it. Had a dang good motor terrrible hydraulics, horrific to work on. Had to pull that side plate and the top cover to replace a roller bearing in there several times it was like a Swiss watch. The three point lift lever moved another internal levervia this roller bearing that dirrected the hydraulic flow. I finally had a roller bearing made at local machinist shop so I could cotter pin the little devil to keep it from jumping out.