You may be wondering what you should do before purchasing your first compact tractor. There are a lot of decisions to make, and it can be overwhelming! Here's the thing: not all tractors are created equal. Some have more horsepower than others, some cost more than others, and some just simply will not work for what you need them to do on your property. Before we get into specific topics that you should research before making a purchase, let's take a look at 5 general topics that will help narrow down which type of tractor is right for you so that we can then focus on those individual topics in detail later in this post. A first-time tractor buyer should research what is required for their tractor before they make a purchase.
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A first-time buyer should consider what they will be doing with their tractor before making a purchase. So, take some time to make a list of what you'll be using your tractor for.
You should base your horsepower directly on the chores and tasks you are looking to accomplish. John Deere offers quite a range in horsepower in the compact tractor category, starting at 22.40 with the smallest tractors (with 1 series) up to 65.90 on its largest models (with 4 series). The average horsepower for a compact tractor is 40.
If you are looking at handling heavy equipment, such as plowing fields or hauling trailers with the tractor, then you will want to invest in one of John Deere's models that offers over 50 horsepower. When it comes to tractor horsepower, the difference is clear: more power goes to the ground. Depending on how heavy you want to lift and how much you want to pull will determine how much horsepower you will need.
A PTO horsepower (or power) rating is the input power or energy delivered to the machine. It's calculated by multiplying torque times rpm, and it's typically used to operate certain types of implements such as a rotary cutter or rotary tiller.
There are many important factors when it comes to selecting a small tractor, including understanding the size of the land you will be working and terrain it sits on. For example, if you will be working on flat grounds with few trees and little to no hills, then a tractor with 22.40 horsepower may suffice. But for those who work in more tough terrain where there are many obstacles such as rocks or large tree roots that can get stuck under the tires of your compact tractor--then it is best to invest in one of John Deere's models that offer 30-50 horsepower.
As well as understanding what type of soil types you'll need to plow through; whether its sugar-sand clay-like heavy soils or other gravelly terrains...etcetera. These various factors help determine which size tractors meet your needs while also being budget-friendly and not overworking the engine too. When considering how much workload you'll have, be aware of underestimating the amount of strength needed. Efficiency will come into play as well. Speed of your tractor does vary with horsepower. You Compact tractor speed varies from 9 mph in your 1 Series Tractor to 15 mph in your 4 Series Tractor.
A small tractor is able to obtain a variety of different attachments by using the hydraulic system and has various implements that make it easier for any task. Front end loaders, box blades, backhoes, pallet forks, and mowers are just a few of the attachments that can be found for small tractors.
If you are looking at handling heavy equipment, such as plowing fields or hauling trailers with the tractor, then you will want to invest in one of John Deere's models that offers over 50 horsepower. When it comes to tractor horsepower, the difference is clear: more power goes to the ground. Depending on how heavy you want to lift and how much you want to pull will determine how much horsepower you will need.
The front loader is one tool used to help with moving logs, gravel, sand or other heavy materials. It attaches at the front of your tractor and it gives you an extra set of hands in order to move things around on site. They're also great for loading up dirt from digging trenches! A note about using John Deere's quick attach front end loader is they make it easy to attach the loader on the go.
Used for shaping soil, a box blade is a 3-sided rectangular metal device that attaches to your tractor. It's perfect for leveling out the ground and smoothing it so that you can plant your crops or some grass seed.
A backhoe is a handy attachment to have on site for lifting earth, digging trenches or doing other heavy work like building fire breaks in brushy areas. If you need an extra hand with this kind of task--then be sure to get yourself one!
The forklift allows people to move materials around without even having to touch them. It features two different attachments underneath which help lift up heavier items such as logs and beams without causing too much strain on either side (the tractor needs support).
Connect a mid-mount mower deck to the tractor in less than 60 seconds. No more time-consuming installation and removal of the mower deck. It's conveniently accessible from ground level, making it easy to work on when you're in a tight space.
A rotary cutter tractor implement is a tool used by landscapers to cut grasses, reeds, and other vegetation that are too tall for the lawnmower or belly mower. A typical rotary cutter consists of blades that rotate rapidly at high speed and are pushed through the ground by an overrunning clutch or gearbox. The key advantages of using a rotary cutter instead of a lawn mower or belly mower include heavy-duty cutting, increased efficiency when used on large areas, and have an overall reduced cost.
As a first-time buyer, you need to pay attention to the tread types that fit your work. What landscape are you going to be working on? Smooth, or rough? Hilly or flat? The treads will make or break your day, depending on what you're doing.
You'll want a tractor with tires that have deeper grooves and more lugs to help in the gripping of slick surfaces. This is for smaller tractors when used only infrequently during light workdays.
The most important thing about hill climbing is traction (grip) at the bottom of the wheel to help prevent you from slipping backward. You'll need a tractor with deep grooves and more lugs for this type of terrain, which is where smooth treads come in handy as they provide better traction on hills than rough treads do.
If you're working mostly on level ground, the tire type that will fit your needs best are those with smaller grooves and fewer lugs to help save costs thanks to less wear and tear from friction.
When buying a tractor, you will have the option of either paying in cash or financing. There are some great deals, sometimes even offering a 0% interest rate.
You'll have to pay the full cost upfront and not incur any interest fees.
The tractor will be purchased with a loan (sometimes at an attractive rate) that gets paid off gradually over time, usually for five years or more. When you purchase your first tractor, we recommend you look at your financial situation to determine which option is best for you.
Apply For Finance TodayYou should now be well-prepared to start your journey of buying a small tractor. You can even jot down some notes from this article, so you can come well-prepared to any live viewing and test drive of a tractor. Remember, you should purchase the type of tractor that is best suited for your current needs. That will ensure you get the most out of your first compact tractor purchase for a long time to come.
Don’t just pick a color and hope for the best
Buying a utility tractor, especially your first tractor, carries a lot of uncertainty with it. On one hand, you’re attracted to the prospect of easing your workload and accomplishing new tasks. On the other hand, a tractor is a major expense, and if you make a bad choice you’ll have to live with it, maybe for years.
And if it is the first tractor for your acreage, you may be tempted to go the used-equipment route—after all, your grandfather got along with a model, didn’t he?
Most utility tractors in the 50 to 100 horsepower range can handle just about everything you’ll do around the farm. Compact tractors are sometimes built on a little smaller frame and have around 25 to 50 horsepower. Subcompact tractors are generally those under 25 horsepower, but most have all the bells and whistles of their larger counterparts.
Let’s address some common questions.
How big a tractor do I need?
“Many tractors are purchased with only a couple of tasks in mind, but what owners find is that they can use their tractor for more tasks than they ever imagined,” says Jeremy Unruh, the Marketing Manager for Small Tractors at John Deere. “They’re incredible versatile.”
It makes sense to choose a horsepower range for what you can afford and envision…and then add more. “You don’t want to buy a tractor that’ll handle 900 pounds,” notes Adam Sills, a Massey Ferguson product specialist “only to have it break when you need to move pounds.”
He tells prospects “if you’re ‘bush-hogging’ up a hill, picking up some round bales from the bed of a pickup truck, or maybe go a little faster, then you want to jump up to a compact size” because it is built on a heavier frame to withstand that use.
Physical size can be an issue if the primary work is inside the barn, such as mucking stalls. Look at a tractor’s dimensions to make sure it will fit and still give working room. Subcompact tractors may work best.
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What attachments are most worthwhile?
Utility tractors are all about getting things done and attachments make it happen. “There are four attachments that will help folks get the most out of their tractor across their acreage,” says Daniel Rice, Territory Manager for Kioti Tractor. “The most popular attachments for tractor owners are front end loaders, rotary tillers, brush cutters, or finish mowers.”
Front end loaders help you dig and haul just about anything—dirt and rocks, hay, what-have-you. People who have also equipped theirs with grapples rarely regret that choice.
Rotary tillers do the hard gardening work for you. Brush cutters and finish mowers are suited for people with landscape to maintain—brush cutters (the “bush hog,” for example) can get help clear rough ground, and finish mowers turn your subcompact or compact tractor into a mowing machine.
Box and angle blades are ideal for maintaining your driveway, and a surprising attachment gaining popularity is a backhoe. Acreage owners use it to clean ditches, replace posts, transplant trees and for a farmer’s favorite activity, demolition.
Kubota product manager Kelcey Richardson advises that “their local dealer is one of the best resources for choosing the right equipment. They know the local area better than anyone.”
So, how important is my dealer?
It depends on the individual dealership and how they run the business.
Deere’s Unruh suggests narrowing down manufacturers that interest you and then visit local dealerships and ask questions. Can you demo the unit? What kind of financing do they offer, and what kind of warranty? “During these dealer visits, you’ll learn about the tractor and you’ll also learn a lot about how the dealer treats its customers,” he says.
“Expertise is key,” echoes Kioti’s Rice. “When considering dealers, experience, and service are two of the most important factors. Most people look for a dealer that has been around for a few years, understands the local environment and knows the business.”
If you know absolutely nothing about equipment dealers in your area, simply ask around—farmers are never short of opinions.
Do I need a cab?
Open-station tractors (i.e. no cab) are easier to get in and out of, but you will be working outside all the time, with no air conditioning or heat. Would you be comfortable plowing snow outside all day? How about tilling a field or large garden in springtime or working in the rain? Some people don’t mind, but others would.
“Open station tractors are the more affordable option, but you will become more exposed to the weather and various allergens,” says Kubota’s Richardson.
Maybe your acreage is like Kioti’s Daniel Rice’s: “My preference, because of the property I use my tractor on, would be an open station tractor. My wife and I have 35 acres, 25 acres of which are dense woods. The open station allows me to move through that wooded area with ease and doesn’t require I clear trees to create a path.”
So, take stock of your situation; it’s literally up to you.
Is an old tractor an option?
Yes, but…and it’s a BIG but: Just about any new tractor being produced today will be more comfortable, be safer to operate, and do more than any comparable model made decades ago. Plus, today’s engines are more efficient and pollute far less.
The diesel-versus-gasoline debate was settled years ago and diesel won. True, gasoline-powered tractors (basically lawn mower equipment, some say) are easier to start in winter. But diesel won on the basis of reliability, available torque, and fuel economy.
True, an old tractor that has been lovingly cared for by a fastidious farmer still has plenty of good years left. You might have to work with a dealer to find parts, however.
Do I need certain tires?
Yes, there’s an additional decision to consider, your tractor’s tires. Tractor manufacturers build equipment to the needs of specific markets. Most offer a choice of turf, worksite—called R4s—and ag tires.
Turf tires are the least aggressive and are ideal for mowing. R4 worksite tires are harder and resist wear on gravel or asphalt. Ag tires are made for gaining traction in fields, and often are recommended for snow removal or bush hog-type work.
So decide on which tire to specify according to the majority of work you’ll do: if 80 percent of the work is on grass, go with turf.
This is a sizable investment—will I have to build a shed?
A tractor is made for outdoor work—you can power wash the whole thing—but it is no different from your car. Keeping it outside will affect the longevity of the machine, especially the paint or seating material.
“Usually, the seat is mostly impacted by outdoor storage, but most tractors allow you to flip the seats up to prevent them from collecting water and being hit directly by the sun,” says Kioti’s Rice. To him, a shed is“ideal, but not required.”
On the other hand, having an equipment shed also provides you a workspace for other projects beyond equipment maintenance.
How long will my tractor last?
John Deere’s Unruh advises to follow recommended maintenance schedules and keep up with minor repairs for maximum life. If you are the “fastidious farmer” who dusts his tractor inside the equipment shed, it could go forever.
The real-life answer is probably “longer than you need it to,” according to Kubota’s Kelcey Richardson. “Most of our repeat customers are replacing an older tractor not because they need to, but because they want one with all the new ‘bells and whistles.’”
Ag dealers can spot a clean tractor miles away, and they are always looking for trade-in material. “Your dealer can work with you on a trade-in deal (similar to automobile purchases) that will reduce the cost of your next tractor purchase,” advises Deere’s Unruh.
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