Guest deadeye270 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 I am not in an agricultural area and tractors/farmers are scarce. Also in our area hunting is made up of pine thickets with food plots. Most food plots are 1/4-2acres in size. I would like the abilty to use a tiller type implement. I am looking for a dependable tractor. I have heard good things about Kubota. What size/ HP tractor would fit the bill here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots Kubota. They are priced fairly, and they are very under rated. I have a M 4700 4wd. It is really a bit big for just small food plots. An L or B size kubota in the 22-29 hp range would be perfect for food plots. We are probably eventually going to buy another kubota in the more compact size for yard maintenance and garden work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots If you are going to be plowing up to 2 acres at a clip, you will want a tractor with a Category 1 3-point hitch. That way you'll be able to fit the size of implements you'll need for the job. I don't know how big you have to get in a Kubota to get that. I know my dad's 21 hp Kubota is a Category 0. If I were you, I'd look for an older, good used machine for way less money. Maybe an 8N Ford, 1010 John Deere, D15 Allis Chalmers, 454 International, Oliver Super 55 or 550, just to name a very few. You should be able to get something 35 to 45 hp in nice working shape for $3500 - $5500 easily.............a far cry from $20000 for a new Kubota of size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots B series kubotas do have category 1 3 point hitches with lift capacities ranging from 1300-about 1700 lbs. They start around here last time I checked for under $10,000 and go on up to well over $15000 depending on what you want. Just remember a used tractor you can get in over your head if you buy something that has problems, or has potential for problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots O.K. They musta changed the 3-point in the last 5 or 6 years. My dad's is a B2100 and is a Category 0.......unless there was a choice of hitch options?? You are correct in that a fellow can get into a "bill of goods" with a used machine. You really oughts have an equipment mechanic look it over......just like a used car...........if you don't know what you're looking at. Still..........I think if I had to do my plot work with the B2100........I wouldn't have any plots. It's a good little tractor. But it's just that. Little. I don't have a lot of time to devote to food plot prep. We do a total of abot 7 or 8 acres. With our 584, a 3 bottom plow and a 10 foot disc it takes a couple very full days. You can but a lot of used tractor for $10000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots With whatever you go with, if you do buy used, be careful. I have been down that road and learned my lesson the hard way with "good used" massey fergusson and john deere tractors. It is very frustrating to say the least when for every hour of work in the field you are spending an hour fixing your tractor, not to mention it can also get quite costly especially if you have a tractor that is green and has non stocked parts that have to be ordered in. Then you sometimes have the frustration of the wait factor for parts. For the smaller plots, the compact tractors would be ideal. Just my opinion. Kubota has a great warranty, though it is doubtfull you would need it. The compacts are able to utilize both cat 0 and 1 with their 3 point hitch. I have a pamphlet here from where we looked at some b model tractors just last summer. The past couple summers kubota has run a promotional zero percent financing on their b model and some other model tractors too. Not to try and influence your decision one way or another, but shop around. Look at masseys, look at deeres, look at mahindra and compare prices in like size tractors. If you havemore than one kubota dealer around, it might also be worth your while to compare the prices between dealers. I saved quite a bit on my tractor by shopping around so to speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots [ QUOTE ] ..... not to mention it can also get quite costly especially if you have a tractor that is green and has non stocked parts that have to be ordered in. [/ QUOTE ] That's why we run Red!! (...and if ya gotta go green, go Oliver) [ QUOTE ] Kubota has a great warranty, though it is doubtfull you would need it. [/ QUOTE ] From our experience...........stay away from the Kubota hydrostats. Dad's 2100's hydro went out at 500 hours. Out of warranty, non-rebuildable and it was $2300 just for the new part. Other than that (if that's not enough) it's been a decent machine. But it's had more than its share of the "nickel & dime" stuff. Again, this could have just been our particular machine being a lemon, too. My father-in-law and his brother have been running 3 Kubotas (all std. shift) with few problems to my knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots A lot of good tractors out there. You have to consider your budget and needs. In new tractors I'd look at the Kubota L series, New Holland Boomer series, John Deere 3000 series, etc. Something between 30 and 45 hp with a front end loader. The lower end of that hp range will let you run a 5 foot tiller and rotary cutter, and the upper end will allow you to run 6 foot equipment. If you can swing it, buy a 4x4. You won't regret it. If you're shopping for used, I would look in the same hp range. In the $3000 to $6000 range I'd look at older Massey Ferguson 135's, Ford 3000's and 4000's, and small John Deeres. You won't be able to get 4x4 on these models, but for the money they are hard to beat. Like mentioned above, have someone knowledgable about them give it a good look over before plopping down your hard earned money. For somewhat less than new ($10,000 to $15,000 for a 39 hp tractor) if I would have had the money a month ago, I would be the proud owner of a used John Deere 1070 4x4 with front end loader. From what I've read this tractor is a bullet proof tank that would be ideal for food plot work. For a wealth of info on tractors and tractor stuff, you can also check out tractorbynet.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots [ QUOTE ] From our experience...........stay away from the Kubota hydrostats. Dad's 2100's hydro went out at 500 hours. [/ QUOTE ] Sorry to hear of your dad's misfortune. Kubota has the most bullet proof hydro tranny on the market. I am on my 2nd Kubota (a little toy compared to real tractors). The first one I had was a B9200 (22 hp) and its hydro was still running great with close to 2000 hours on it (and 19 years old) when I traded it off. If you will use it to mow a yard or do loader work, hydro is the only way to go. If you will be using it for mostly food plot work, save the money and go with a gear tranny. The gear tranny would be better suited for ground engaging implements anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots There was a 2002 30 hp 4wd model L kubota in the paper here with loader and a 5 ft finish mower a couple weeks ago for $8500. I was pretty tempted to go and look at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deadeye270 Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots that seems like a pretty good deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots Really good deal if it hasn't been abused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots I've got one of these: with an 8 foot chisel, a 12 foot tandem and a 12 foot grain drill. But I'm doing quite a few acres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots [ QUOTE ] Kubota. They are priced fairly, and they are very under rated. I have a M 4700 4wd. It is really a bit big for just small food plots. An L or B size kubota in the 22-29 hp range would be perfect for food plots. We are probably eventually going to buy another kubota in the more compact size for yard maintenance and garden work. [/ QUOTE ] I agree with William. I have a BX1800 and it's just a hair too small for any kind of food plot over an acre or so. It has a Cat I 3pt on it, and weighs 900 I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots I have a kubota L3400--does a great job on the food plots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots I have a Ford 2110 which is rated around 37 HP. I think it might be a little underrated. It runs a 6ft. rotary cutter with ease. A 48" tiller is no effort. This tractor was built in 1987 and was the last model year called Ford. The next years models were New Holland. The 4wd is priceless, the loader works well. Even at its age it is worth around 10000 dollars. Compact tractors really hold their value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots If you do get a loader on a lighter model tractor, definitely go with a 4wd, as letemgrow stated the 4wd is in fact priceless. I opted not to have my tires filled so I could go light in the bottom, figuring I could always add weight with implements if I needed to. With using the 4wd along with something heavy on the back(in my case the 7 ft box blade with concrete piers) the size kubota I am running will push up some pretty decent sized trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots I just traded a 33hp 4wd Yanmar for a smaller compact Deere. Looked at a Kabota but it was a tad smaller hp wise and almost $1000 more than the Deere...plus Kabota wasn't offering 0% finacing. Got a John Deere 2305...23hp, 4wd for mowing the yard and will soon add a front end loader...0% for 3 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots You might check ebay stores for some good info and ideas of pricing. Wengers of Myerstown also has some used tractors listed. You can use this as a guide to values. Tractor data.com is a good site to get specs. on tractors. Sometimes you can buy a tractor too big for your needs but cheaper than the compacts. The big HP tractors do use fuel! No tractor is cheap to repair. The more popular brands are easier to find parts for. No doubt John Deere, Kubota, New Holland and Case International have good resale value. If you are looking at an import be sure parts are readily available and the dealer is well established. Seems like more and more import tractors are coming in with alot of pop up dealers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots i just purchased a john deere '87 855 it has a 25 horse diesel, 4 wheel drive, came with loader, belly mower, and a 60' bush hog it works great. chose green because of availablity of parts and plus the previous owner kept it in perfect shape paid 9646.00 not bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots Use to be a link from tractorbynet or maybe it was in tractorbynet that had price estimations for purchasing new kubotas, pretty useful tool when shopping around. It would give what was considered to be good prices after you plugged in what you wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SRA Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots i have a John-Deere 855..... about 23-24 horse...works great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter109 Posted June 15, 2006 Report Share Posted June 15, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots all you need is a small tractor we have 59 acers and we have two size tractors a big one for most of the work we do and the littler one for puting hay in for cows and for pulling wagons fool of hay. i would just get a good ford or john deere that is used but make sure there is nothing wrong with it before you buy one. you can find alot of used tractors that are hardly used or from farmers that are getting out of the farming biz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny_gun Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Re: good tractor for food plots Sounds like you have been give a lot of good advise. As far as your plots go I am not an expert by any means but for the size of the plots you are looking to put in I would not waist my time with a plow. We have used both a plow and a roto-tiller with our 55 HP New Holland and the roto-tiller will save you a ton of time and provide you with much better results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Re: good tractor for food plots here is what I use..I like to get the job done quick..LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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