best SMALLEST tractor with smallest but 'real' FEL

[ayrabz]

My property is really tiny. I felt I was ok with a garden / lawn mower tractor, and I guess I ‘was’ until I really messed up my back. Now, I have to consider having a FEL…as I don’t envision being able to ‘hand’ shovel the manure bins out/into a spreader, etc. But my manure bins will require a small FEL to ‘fit’ into them.

I know everyone has their brand favorites and I’d love to hear all input, but one thing: I am having ‘equipment’ shed ordered soon…due to where I can place the shed, it will be 12 ft. wide x 26 ft. long. Contractor has on order for it to have 2- 8ft wide x 7 ft. high roll up doors, one at one end and one on one side. (envision a U drive in/ drive out) Not sure? if I’m planning these large enough?

in addition to your suggestions on the tractor brand, model, equipment, please advise the suggested? opening size for riding into and out of a building?

thanks so much!

[clanter]

regarding those roll up doors… make sure he has ordered them with wind locks in the guides… and don’t let the contract put on that those are expensive doors as the wholesale cost is just at $100 each

[ayrabz]

Thanks clanter! I would not have even known such a thing. yeah, he’s quoting $375 each…but…I do know that has his installation built in too.

[clanter]

[QUOTE=ayrabz;7741224]
Thanks clanter! I would not have even known such a thing. yeah, he’s quoting $375 each…but…I do know that has his installation built in too.[/QUOTE]

reasonable pricing for installed doors

now back to the tractor

[goodhors]

My small Kubota tractor has the roll-bar taller than 7ft. We have to take the bar off when we load the tractor into the horse trailer. There are smaller Kubota tractors, but a smaller machine will also have a smaller FEL, so it will have to make more trips to move large loads. I do like my Kubota, sorry, can’t think of the model right now for you to know size. Lifts 800# load, not a SMIDGEN more, which we found kind of funny.

[Equibrit]

Kubota have some nice ones; http://www.kubota.com/product/BXSeries.aspx
you’ll find all the measurements on the specifications tab. They also have nice financing at 5yrs 0%. (The roll bars fold down)

[ayrabz]

Kubotas are the ones I’ve found most folk are suggesting, too. But I do have one question: As a female, no male help (well, that’s dumb, meaning NO help) how important is buying local as far as servicing to you? I’m not a mechanic, and won’t have one around! And, (sigh) John Deere has a big dealer less than 5 miles away.

[airhorse]

Then I would go with a small Deere if they are close. 7’ is pretty low for anything with ROPS. You will want the ROPS up if using the loader. I would always say to get the biggest unit that will fit your needs, especially if using the FEL a lot.

[ayrabz]

Thanks airhorse! I will continue to research any other company suggested dealer to see? if another service option is available. Yeah, I’m thinking I should get the biggest door/opening the ‘metal garage’ of only 12 ft. wide and 9 ft. sidewalls will accommodate. I could? go up to 10 ft. high, but I do not think I can go wider in the designated pad area for the building.

[Equibrit]

By servicing I presume you mean changing fluids and greasing stuff for the most part. If you can undo a nut and use a grease gun you’ve just about got it covered. I have a larger tractor with large rear tyres. One got torn open a few weeks ago and I was faced with having to replace it. There was nobody who could do it for me. I was forced to remove it, take it to the tyre place who would replace and refill it with water, and put it back on. You cannot womanhandle weight like that. You just work out a way to do it ! Kubota also have pretty good manuals.

[SLR]

USEF members can get decent discounts for new John Deere equipment. Its worth it to join if you are not already a member.

[Calvincrowe]

We have the smallest Kubota with a FEL, the BX1850 and love it! I ran out and measured it for you: 69" tall with ROPs and turf tires, so even if you had ag tires, you’d be under 7 feet! With our mid mount mower deck, it is 6 feet wide. I can do all the regular maintenance and I’m not terribly mechanical. The closest dealer is 45 minutes away for any tractor brand for us. We went for cost/benefit in choosing the Kubota–much less $$ for same features. We’d borrow a flat bed if we need to take it in, but in 7 years that hasn’t been necessary.

[ayrabz]

Thanks ALL! hmm…flatbed…wonder if my rear tack folding door removed if it would fit in the back of my 2 H GN (with ramp)

[ayrabz]

Equibrit…I only assumed? with such an investment that IF something other than routine service failed…I’d be kinda stuck if there wasn’t anyone in a reasonable distance. I am NOT really good with stuff like that, and I wanted everyone’s weigh ins on if a very local service ability is something they value.

[Ghazzu]

I bought a Kubota due to the proximity of the dealership to where I worked.
At the time, it was ~45 minutes from where I lived. The service guys made housecalls, at a good price for regular maintenance.

I now live about 15" away, so it’s even easier.

My advice–you are better off with a little more tractor than you need than not quite enough. (I got an L3400). A bit large for where we were, but about right for where we are now.

[Bluey]

If you have a JD dealer closest, going with a JD is a no brainer.
The same if the closest one was any other brand.

You may never ever need them, but if you do, it really is best that they are close.

I think this is the smallest of the FEL tractors they make:

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/products/equipment/tractors/sub_compact_utility_tractors/1_series/1_series.page

You can check the dimension on all their sub compact utility tractors and get the biggest that will still fit in your storage area.
Then make do with whatever size FEL you get with it, if larger, good, if smaller, make more trips, just don’t overload any of them.

Most ROPS bars come with a hinge, so you can drop it to work/store it under low roof lines.
Be sure yours does.

Don’t forget to add pallet/fork points to the FEL, so you can move lighter pallets full of whatever you need to move, where a FEL doesn’t carry enough.

As already mentioned, many tractor brands have discounts to members of horse associations.
I know that JD and Ford have with the AQHA, APHA, NCHA and NRHA, someone mentioned the USET does also, so check with those.

I had a big discount with my JD gator and tractor thru the AQHA and for the Ford pickup also.

[ayrabz]

Thanks Bluey! I did look up their site, and they’re also offering a 60 month zero percent financing as well as a $1500 bonus if you buy two implements…This is on the small one family one…I wonder? if they will honor both that offer AND the USET (my membership is AHA)…

[saddleup]

I’m like you, completely NONmechanical (is that a word?) and I bought the Kubota just because the dealer was the closest. Last winter my tractor needed work and they came and got it for me and then delivered it back when they were done with it.

If the Deere dealer is closer, definitely go with them.

[clanter]

here is a little 2320 JD with only 140 hours on it for sale in the US Gov actions

2009 JOHN DEERE TRACTOR WITH LOADER AND MOWER

Sale-Lot Number: 41QSCI14528003

http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucindx/?sl=41QSCI14528003

also have several operational Blackhawk helicopters too

[vineyridge]

With tractors, there is really no reason to buy new. All tractor dealers have tractors for sale that have come off lease, and the savings are real. In fact, there is no real reason to buy from a dealer at all, since you can get bank financing for used tractors. JDs, new from the dealer, are outrageously priced. But if you get a used JD, you’ll still have access to their service. JD carries parts for ancient tractors.