First machine advice for small property (5–20 acres?)

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to get some input from those with more experience.

If you were starting out with a small property (let’s say around 5–20 acres), what would be your first machine and why?

I’ve been looking at sub-compact vs compact tractors (around 20–40hp), especially ones with a loader, but I’m not sure if that’s the best route long term.

Main things I’d likely be doing:

• light grading / driveway maintenance
• moving dirt or gravel
• basic property cleanup
• maybe some mowing

Would you recommend going smaller and versatile, or jumping straight into something bigger?

Also curious any attachments you consider “must-have” right away?

Appreciate any advice.

30 to 50 HP tractor with a loader and 3pt. hitch. Don't get a tiny little toy tractor. (35-40HP would be ideal) Knowing your budget would help? You have dozens of choices of implements for the 3pt. hitch to do what you need done. If there's a lot of grass a mower for the back would be the first implement. If it's lawn get a finish mower. If it's rough with small saplings/light bush gets a single blade bush hog like mower. A flail mower is a great option but more expensive. If the driveway is in good shape a rear blade would be good to maintain it and clear snow. You could use a land plane too to keep it leveled if it's a long driveway. If you want to do more landscaping a box blade could maintain the driveway and do other jobs where you need to pull material where you want it. A box blade has a bigger learning curve though. The loader lets you dig material, clear and move snow and carry bulky items.

I'd go with a 30-50 hp tractor with a loader. Make sure it has at least one set of hydraulic remotes at the back, preferably two. If your budget allows you could also get a 3rd function hydraulic remote on the loader on case you want to add a hydraulic grapple at some point.

IMO a utility tractor like this is a good all around tool for a small property owner. You can do light digging, grading, snow clearing, and carrying duties with the loader. If your budget allows you can add a set of pallet forks and a grapple to add even more versatility.

Rear three point attachments are readily available and there's literally one (or several) for every need. For a small property I'd recommend a box blade and a brush hog/rotary cutter or finish mower for starters. Adding a hydraulic top link to the three point hitch will make that box blade do amazing things...

If you have heavy clearing, stump removal, etc is recommend either renting a proper machine or hiring that part out as it'll kill a small tractor.

I run heavy equipment for a living but evenings and weekends I play on my little property with a John Deere 1025R. It's really too small for what I do but even so it's handier than a shirt pocket. It has a loader with bucket and pallet forks, a mid mount mower that gets occasional use, and a box blade and brush hog for the three point hitch.

If the tractor does not have a front end loader and 4wd, keep looking

I believe thi is the same poster that joined to talk about PLCs last week? No they own property but are unsure of the size?

Zewnten said:

I believe thi is the same poster that joined to talk about PLCs last week? No they own property but are unsure of the size?

Click to expand...

My nose sniffs back snot, yours Zewnten sniffs bots.

yeah same bot different BS.

skyking1 said:

yeah same bot different BS.

Click to expand...

Which version of @BeablossomR_ would you like?

My situation is similar. About 20 years ago i bought a Kubota L39. It’s about a 40 hp tractor with loader and backhoe. These are sold by the Kubota construction dealers not the Ag dealers. It comes with a 3pt hitch so the backhoe can be removed and hitch installed. It also has a skid steer type loader bucket that can be swapped for other stuff.

It’s about 7000 lb and the stoutest machine of its size i’ve seen.

I recommend one of these. Its been a terrific jack of all trades. I guess one of the things that makes it so nice over a compact track loader ( which i had and sold) or an excavator ( which i also have) is that it’s a fast mover. Transporting a bucket of stone or a grapple grab of brush, or something on pallet forks can be done very quickly.

And it has been very reliable. Zero issues in 20 years. Well, I guess maybe one issue, i just bought a new radiator for it because a tree fell on the hood of the machine and cracked the radiator neck. But i got online to a kubota dealer and click click and a new radiator is on the way, which came yesterday. So parts availability is good though not cheap.