Lets talk tractors...

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Looks like there’s a Kabota dealership in Crestview about 17 miles from Laurel Hill. The John Deere dealership and Jay is about 43 miles from you. Given the choice I’d probably go with Kabota just because they’re a lot closer. If you are partial to brand and you want John Deere my guess is the Crestview dealership could probably work on it to

There’s also a JD dealer in Freeport. About the same 45 miles away as the Jay dealership. And one in Samson AL about the same 45 miles out.

I think Kubota is a fine machine. I lean towards JD because American and parts/accessories.

And yes you are probably correct, the Kubota dealer in Crestview most likely would work on the JD if necessary.

When I was at the farm in Ponce de Leon they came to us from Dothan or Samson.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

The tires are filled with beet juice and it stinks to high heaven. Make absolutely certain the tractor is part if it all possible such that the valve stem is it for 12 o’clock position because the tires are filled about 80% maybe 70% with liquid. If you somehow decided to let some air out of the tire and the valve stem is down below the level of the liquid you’re going to find out what it smells like pretty quickly

What’s the beet juice all about?

[ratflinger]

Denser than water and readily available.


You want a 3rd function up front and at least 1 hydro in the back (2 is better). Make these part of the deal as they are expensive to add later.

[Sea Six]

It’s about 25% more dense than plain water. It’s the most dense liquid that’s non-toxic that’s why it’s used

[LATB]

Originally Posted by ratflinger

Denser than water and readily available.


You want a 3rd function up front and at least 1 hydro in the back (2 is better). Make these part of the deal as they are expensive to add later.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

It’s about 25% more dense than plain water. It’s the most dense liquid that’s non-toxic that’s why it’s used

Got it. Thanks.

[Sea Six]

Oh and stay away from the three-point log splitters. They are available and they do sell them but there’s a video on YouTube as to why you don’t want to buy them. Basically you can get a lot more splitting force with a standalone log splitter. Apparently the hydraulics of smaller tractors just don’t have enough oomph to have enough force to split logs as well and you’re probably laying out the same amount of cash either way. Also the portable ones you don’t have to bring your tractor along with you if you wannaSplit some wood at another location

[Sea Six]

You can park the tractor with a Vals gym at any position it’s just when you’re trying to add or take out pressure when you need to have the valve stem at the 12 o’clock position

[LATB]

Wife: "40 grand for a tractor and another 10K in implements?"

Me: "still half the cost of a new Corvette"

Wife: "and another 50K for a barn to put it all in?"

[Sea Six]

40 grand? Which model are you looking at

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

40 grand? Which model are you looking at

4044R

[Joey777]

My dealer filled my rear tires with windshield washer fluid. Probably not as heavy as beat juice but not as messy if a tire change is required.

[Joey777]

Originally Posted by LATB

Wife: "40 grand for a tractor and another 10K in implements?"

Me: "still half the cost of a new Corvette"

Wife: "and another 50K for a barn to put it all in?"

See how complicated this gets!

[CurtP]

Originally Posted by LATB

4044R

That's a nice little tractor. May want to look at the 4052M Heavy Duty too (in for a penny, in for a pound). If you need the extra ballast, consider wheel weights instead of filling the wheels with liquid - you'll be happier in the long run. I'd also have them do the OE 140mm rear spacers. You're probably not dealing with rolling hillsides, but getting the rear wheels moved out will make it more stable.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by CurtP

That's a nice little tractor. May want to look at the 4052M Heavy Duty too (in for a penny, in for a pound). If you need the extra ballast, consider wheel weights instead of filling the wheels with liquid - you'll be happier in the long run. I'd also have them do the OE 140mm rear spacers. You're probably not dealing with rolling hillsides, but getting the rear wheels moved out will make it more stable.

I lean towards the R models for the removable loader frame. I guess it really comes down to what is available and the cost.

[Sea Six]

Think long and hard about all the implements you will need when you buy. On the initial purchase you’ll get 0%

[Joey777]

I haven’t kept up on all the new models so had to look up the 4044R. That’s a very nice machine. Looking forward to following this thread. Pics are mandatory when you get it! These tractors are like time machines. You’ll wonder where the day went after you’ve been out working with one.

[LATB]

Another question for the experts…

Your opinion of a front loader mount hydraulic post hole auger vs a rear 3-point hitch mount pto drive auger?

Seems from my noob view the front mount may be more convenient but the PTO drive is maybe a better performing unit?

[TheRealBadger]

What jobs are you going to do? A 4044 seems like overkill on the land you mentioned. As for post joke diggers, almost universally I’ve been told not to get one for the tractor. They are hard on the tractor and hard to actually get lined up. Renting a dingo with an auger is way easier than using the tractor, as I’ve been told.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by TheRealBadger

What jobs are you going to do? A 4044 seems like overkill on the land you mentioned. As for post joke diggers, almost universally I’ve been told not to get one for the tractor. They are hard on the tractor and hard to actually get lined up. Renting a dingo with an auger is way easier than using the tractor, as I’ve been told.

I'll be working and maintaining 33 acres. A lot of it is debris left from pine harvest. I will be brush/bush hogging most of it except for about one acre around the homestead, I have a small JD S140 lawn tractor for that.

I will be doing other "farming" on the property. Not sure of the direction on that yet. And I will be doing a lot of fencing. The auger will dig the post holes and the bucket will stick the T-posts in the ground easily.

And of course I will be grading the site around the new home as well as grading and maintaining the gravel driveway.

Not much difference in cost from a 3-series compact to a 4-series compact. And the PTO HP is important for a big rotary cutter and possibly other implements.

I don't want to make the mistake of wishing I would have bought a larger machine. And it really comes down to what is available. Stock is very limited.