My wife and I are looking for a compact tractor in the 35 hp range. If you have one, what brand do you have? What implements do you have? Any brands to stay away from.

I want the good, bad, and ugly.

Thanks!!

ZETOR is one to run from. We had a dealer near hear years ago. I bought one as the dealer was close and the sails pitch good. The little diesel engine is great, but everything hydrollic including brakes, clutch, steering, and the main pump for 3pt have given me problems after the warranty ran out. Oh, and the parts are near impossible to find after the dealer went out of business.

Start with a good dealer if buying new. If buying used, the old Ford 2000 and MF 35 are tried and true with parts readily available for reasonable prices.

i have a 35 horse kubota i can't complain about except it's toooo small.

We went to the Kioti dealer yesterday, and if I would have know the Mahindra dealer was only a few miles down the road, we would have stopped there too.


Theres plenty of dealers around here carrying other brands as well John deere, Kubota, and New Holland.

I have a 3240 Kubota. Great tractor. Run a cultivator and a 6' disc behind it with no issues. Has a loader and backblade also.

I've owned a Kubota L35 (35 hp) 4WD for about fifteen years. Its a rugged little machine. It has a 5.5 ft., 11 cu. ft. front loader that will lift 1,600 lbs up to nine feet. It has a BT 900 backhoe with a 2 ft. bucket that will dig to nine feet with a digging force of 5,000 lbs.

I use it for everything imaginable, trenching (digging footers), plowing snow, grading driveways, digging out stumps, gathering firewood, spreading and grading topsoil, hanging deer to butcher, moving large rocks...

I've got around 1,400 hours on it and it's been trouble free other than normal maintenance.

I also have a ten-ton dump truck. I can load it with the L35 and have been for fifteen years but an extra foot or two of front loader lift height would be nice. My next one will be a size up.

Did I mention it just sips diesel fuel?

Edited to add: I have two good dealers within 20 miles.

I have a Ford 3000 and absolutely no complaints. 3 point, live pto and runs my 5' reverse tine tiller and 6' brushhog just fine. I also rake all my hay and pull a 273 new holland square baler with it just fine. It is too small to run a disk mower but would run a sickle mower just fine. I do not have a loader on it as I have a John Deere 4020 with a loader but if I just had a single tractor, I'd probably step up around a 55-60 hp model with a loader.

Brands I would look for - John Deere,Case International (Farmall), Massey Ferguson, Ford/New Holland, and Kubota - which ever bigger dealer is close by can usually still get parts for older stuff. I would look at models under tractordata and see how many of each model were made and read about each. A good old tractor today will bring more than what it was brand new off the line.....

If only the old 2000 Ford had enough power for a tiller, or low gear ran slow enough for a tiller. Their only fault.

I have always owned Ford and New Holland tractors of different sizes. They have been very good for me.

Avoid turf tires. They are lousy.

Tractors are made in a series. There are usually 3 that have the same body size and weight, but different horsepower. So the relative power to weight ratio, usability, fuel economy, versatility, traction, useful load capacity, and sense of being “light on its feet” vary greatly.

I have a compact tractor that is just like you are asking about. New Holland 1520 4wd 35hp. This is the middle power in a 3 tractor series. 1510 has 25hp. 1530 45hp. If buying new, I would have bought either this model or the 1530. However, I found this tractor for sale in showroom condition with only 22 hours of easy use - it was in the garage and had never been dirty. It is extremely powerful, has excellent traction and incredibly versatile. I like everything about it. It has the versatile industrial tires. The rear tires are loaded with beet juice. It has a NH 110 loader. The loader is the quick-tach style for easy removal. The main frame stays on the tractor. It has a 4 way joystick control. It has skid steer style connection for easy bucket removal and other tool use. It is very easy on fuel. This Tractor is not for sale, ha.

In my opinion, stay away from John Deere anything. Avoid Deutz-Allis.

There is a guy on YouTube who gives good advice. Ask Tractor Mike.

The NH dealer is about 8 miles from home.

Be careful that the dealer does not over or under sell you. Buy what is useful to you. Get more than you think you need. Have you heard complaints of too much horsepower?

Implement choice depends on your use and location. Lighting also is something to consider - front, rear, side, roll bar, led, flood work lights?

I have the same problem as pcr2 . My Kubota is an L4400, it's done everything I've asked it to do .. I agree about the too small.. When I was looking I asked a farmer .. He said "It's real hard to find a job you're tractor is too big for, But It's real easy to find a job It's too small for.. Buy all the tractor you can afford".. Kubota has never let me down , on performance or company repairs and maintenance. Good Luck in your search.
I have a box blade and a flat blade bush hog and rock rake , also a roto tiller and a post hole digger.. No complaints yet, well except size matters.

I bought a new 40 hp Kioti 4 years ago. No issues so far. Used mostly for moving hay and road grading.

John Deere should have their stuff painted gold.

Green is good, green is expensive. Green also has excellent resale value.

WS

2120 Ford front wheel assist. Really like the tractor. It is border line on what I need though. We use it for baling hay and misc. stuff. Flat land is a great baling tractor but in the hills it is not big enough.

At my hunting club we have a Yanmar three cylinder Diesel.

With the dealers you have listed , It would be between Kubota and NH IMO. I have both and they have served me well. See whoppers opinion above for JD. Theres a cpl older ones on the farm I wouldn't get rid of for the world, but the new ones are not worth the price difference against other brands. As also mentioned above, if you think you need a 35 horse, get a 50. With anything, parts availability is key as they will all need some at some point. Good luck and happy tractoring.

Been running John Deer equipment all my life. Yes it is expensive, but you can find the parts you need & not have to cross 3 states to get them. They also hold value better than most of the others.

I have a couple of JD 950’s. They are simple geared tractors with enough weight to get the power to the ground. If you have any interest in a used tractor check out the Deere 850, 950 or 1050.

I've had a New Holland TC40 since 2002 and have been very happy with it. Like someone said they tend to come in a series with 3 engine sizes. The TC40 is the middle size. It has been trouble free. Put on a Bush Hog front end loader in about 2008 and have a rotary cutter, finish mower, box blade, post hole auger, and disker. Wish I had a rotary tiller.

I looked at JD and Mahindra also but found I could get a lot more tractor for my $ with NH than JD and I liked the NH better than the Mahindra.

Yep if it had one more lower gear mine would run a tiller fine mines a 1964. I made a 6 shank danish tine cultivator with a drag harrow behind it works really well working up the soil.

I'd look for used deeres at the deere dealer, thats what I did.

New Holland is supposedly more cost effective and its dependable other family have them and like them.

Both dealers are about 20-30 minutes from the house.

Dad has a mahindra in the 25hp range. Smaller than you are looking but quality wise we have not had any issues. Use it to dig stumps, move logs, work and create food plots, and landscape projects. We only have the bucket and a hitch attachment for the 3 point. I would recommend the hitch( a 2" reciever that mounts to the 3 point) if you have any trailers, it's great to just lift up the 3 point and move a trailer without cranking the front jack up and down.

While the brand of the tractor is of importance, IMO, the #1 factor is to select something with a good, stable local presence. No matter the brand, you will need parts and/or service eventually and if you buy cheap now and cannot get parts/service later, you will be kicking yourself severely. (Don't ask me how I know. :))

IMO, you should be looking more at the dealer than the tractor. There are many suitable brands available IMO.

Bump up. Thanks for all the replies.

I have a boomer 3050 new holland with loader I really like it, very easy on fuel. I have a disk, cultivator, blade, rotary mower,dirt scoop for back, sprayer, sickle mower,plow,two row planter,I would take this over a green one anyday

I agree 100% I own a small diesel Bolens with the Iseki engine. Bolens is now defunct. I had to order parts a time or two and I believe they made them to order in J.A.Pan. $$$$$$$$! The loader and tiller are handy, especially the loader, which is my favorite part.

Got an off brand but built like a tank 32 horse diesel last year. A Rhino 324 made in China.
Runs like a champ and in 4 x4, it really digs!!

So how is the tractor shopping? Any progress?

I must emphasize the importance of a front end loader. I know my back would be in much better shape if I had one 35 years ago. I now cannot imagine being without a loader. Both of my tractors have them. Sometimes it is in the way, but I have gotten used to it. My loaders are easy to remove, but I don’t bother. Be sure to get the skid steer type quick attach bucket for easy switching and versatility.

I used to have a plow, but sold it. If you buy a plow, it is important to learn how to use it properly because a plow can ruin a tractor. Look for a trip style plow. I used to have other attachments but have streamlined and sold them - no longer needed. I have a 3 point hitch hydraulic forklift that lifts to about 7 feet. A disc, grader blade, rotary cutter, pull type 100 gallon sprayer, 3 point boomless broadcast and gun sprayer for food plots, a smaller gun sprayer for hot brush killer, front end loader bucket mounted precision broadcast seeder, 500 pound fertilizer spreader, and some specific orchard equipment that probably would not interest you.

I am looking for an 84” two lid grapple bucket for my big tractor.

Keep us informed on your progress. Best wishes.

In my opinion a compact tractor is just about worthless if you dont have front wheel assist you would be disappointed without it.

Was just having this discussion around the supper table Friday.

I am in the very beginning stages of tractor shopping myself.

My parents have a NH TN75. It has held up well. I have put the lions share 9f the 1900 hours that it has on it. It has been in the shop once for a fuel pump issue. Other than that just routine maintenance.

It gets worked hard with the rotary mower. I am in the process of mowing the 25 acres of mine that has not been converted to pasture with it now. I can't imagine anything smaller. I need a bat wing mower lol.

It works well on the pond levees with the rotary and sickle mowers. It has had it's share of the hayfield too.

I would not want a tractor without a quick connect front end loader.

I am thinking about going a little bigger and getting an enclosed cab when I buy. Yes it is pricey but my little farm is growing and as I get older I think I will appreciate a more dust free and climate controlled work environment.

I am going to try and find an older compact tractor as well to work in the yard and around the barns with. It is hard to beat an old Massey 35.

Just thinking about it makes me aware of my wallet in my back pocket.

Edited to say that I would not buy a newer tractor that is not 4wd. That will be my main hang up if I want to buy an old Massey ot Ford.

I'm waiting until spring and then I'm getting a 2R series John Deere. We just bought a small homestead farm and could really use a loader!

With the quick connect it is nice and easy to remove the bucket.

I recommend 4wd especially with a loader. Actually every tractor should be 4wd!

A cab would be nice but I enjoy the view. I have a canopy for one tractor but took it off. Annoying around trees and field edges.

I have the wide industrial tires on my NH and they seem very good. They are new to me. Never experienced them until last fall. Great for not tearing up sod but excellent traction so far. I am still impressed with them and 4wd.

My large tractor has 4wd, very large Ag tires, and a loader which makes a great combination for traction and utility.

I always had Ag tires and 2wd with no loader which is great but can be a huge challenge in many ways.

Make sure that your new tractor has rear differential lock. All tractors should, but I have seen some that do not. Unsure about the new compacts.

Consider getting rear hydraulic remotes in case you need it in the future. It can be prohibitively expensive to add later.

Good advice about the 4WD and diff lock. My Kubota L35 weighs around 6,000 lbs. with the loader and back hoe attached (the way it's almost always configured. That might sound like a lot but it's not nearly enough weight to make the rear tires stick when trying to dig with the loader. And I have ag tires all the way around.

The 4WD and diff lock are useful in our slippery clay and when logging in the swamp.

A short vid of my bota hauling a blocked up oak out of my swamp:

We keep looking. I'm not set on a new one, but if we go that route I think it would be a Kioti CK35HST. I found a few 30hp used for sale, but when I was looking into tillers, it seemed there was plenty of people recommending a tractor larger than 30hp.

I definitely need a loader, and eventually pallet forks for the weld shop. We don't plan on buying a separate riding mower, so we would also like to get a finish mower, and a brush mower for maintaining 1-2 acres that will eventually be fenced for pasture.

Wish list items would be a tiller for the garden. MY friend and "financial advisor" thinks I should just buy a used tractor. I have been looking all over online at used as well.

Lugnut - that is a nasty wet spot. Since you have a backhoe, can you divert the water? Those tires look like industrial type. Did you switch to R1 Agricultural tires?

More ideas that are hopefully helpful.

Good used tractors are out there. They can be hard to find. Sometimes dealers get nice trade ins because someone wants to move up in size. They sell fast.

Last summer I was shopping and gave up finding a used one. I knew what I needed. On the way to an appointment I had a tractor brochure on the truck seat. I was planning to call the dealer and order one while driving. However, on the drive, I saw exactly what I wanted for sale in a driveway. 22 hours and had never gotten dirty. I made a deal on the spot.

Many people want too much for used if it is any good. Be careful of used because many folks don’t understand how to use a tractor and loader. They sometimes seriously damage and try to dump it because there is a strong demand.

Another great tool is a 3 point skidding winch. Mine pulls 8,500 pounds single line with 165 feet of cable. I have a 100 foot extension that gives extra reach.

Finish mowers are good. Make sure it has 4 wheels to prevent scalping and give a better cut. Running a finish mower with your loader on will be a long train and not very maneuverable. For a little more than the price of a good finish mower, you can get a zero turn mower. That is a great way to mow. More shopping!

When you decide what size will meet your needs, get the next bigger size. Nobody complains about too much horsepower.

Try to get out of the subcompact body size. Not enough weight and mass limits use. My buddy has one that is always the tail wagging the dog. It is only a matter of time before either my buddy or the tractor blows up - it will be ugly!

Are any of the new compact tractors turbocharged? I don’t know much about the other brands, only New Holland. My large tractor is turbocharged - it makes me smile. My wife says my large tractor is a babe magnet, but too bad because nobody will see it.

If you want to buy a tractor to use, and later sell for what you paid check out a New Holland Boomer 8N. It is a modernized 8N - very limited production and strong demand. Creampuffs are out there.

I was in that area to gather two large, standing, dead oaks. I would have taken longer to divert than it did to collect the wood. After I was finished I used the hoe to "brush out" my tracks and do some minor grade work out my last trip out. This was early last fall and it's hard to tell the area was disturbed now.

Those are the tires that were on the machine when I bought it so I assume they are OEM.

The video reinforces what you were saying about the importance of 4WD and differential lock, both of which I used to get up the hill coming out of the low area.

i've been using mine about the same size as yours Lug,to skid logs off the riverbottom and am really impressed with its ability for that.4wd and the correctb gear are the ticket.never even used the diff lock as didn't need it and kinda forget its there but its actually a little in the way sometimes.i'll figure that buggy out yet.

I rarely use my diff lock. When I do I got to kick a chain I keep on the floor out of the way and practically stand on the lever.

If I get stuck in 4WD with the diff locked, I use my hoe and loader to "walk" my way out.

skidding logs, moving things with pallet forks.......I would never want a compact tractor for that work. Will it work, probably, but I'd rather have the hp of a real tractor - again, I would step up into a mid 50 hp tractor at least bare minimum for a single tractor. I have never yet heard anyone say oh I wish that would not have lifted that so easily or I wish my tractor struggled more....subcompact and compact tractors cost just as much as many full sized, better equipped, heavier tractors

I agree with that, except that a smaller tractor is more portable.

I prefer my 70hp turbocharged Brute!

and I prefer my 90+ hp of my old JD4020 with an old 46A loader on it over my Ford 3000 for most jobs.....and you could buy one for the price of a newer compact tractor and still find all the parts you need. Its kind of like trucks - will an F150 or Chevy 1500 pull it - probably but a 350 or 3500 will not struggle as much....

A new Case 580 with loader and backhoe runs $100,000.00-$120,000.00. A new Kubota in the 40-50 hp range will run about $50,000.00-$55,000.00

The full size hoe weighs about 15,000lbs. and is not easily transported by the average property owner. A compact tractor weighs 4,500-6,500lbs. and can be towed behind most heavy duty pick up trucks.

And there is something wonderful about all that horsepower and torque!

However, my 35hp NH makes good money for me whe I take it on a job. It is certainly no slouch.

A guy could buy a Ford 3000 or 4000 series and do about anything. At least as late as the 4610 and maybe later they had almost no unnecessary baggage.

But, the original question was about a compact tractor. That is what I was trying to help him about. And give him many cautions like the tail wagging the dog scenario.

Even a big tractor can easily get overwhelmed. All it takes is a slope and wet ground. One of the best men I ever knew was killed by his own tractor on a wet slope at a slow speed. Another of my best friends was crushed when his started in gear while he was working on it. He survived and recovered.

Every tractor sold should come with extensive instruction. The horsepower, torque, gearing, leverage, pivot points, and countless other forces and issues can be deadly. Some things cannot be made completely safe or they can’t do the job - a tow chain, a chainsaw, or how about a vehicle. People kill and maim each other and themselves everyday on the highways in crappy cars.

It is disturbing to me when I see someone who is clueless and obviously unqualified buy something with which he can easily hurt himself or others. A kid with a brand new driver’s license especially scares the he!! out of me!

Well getting back to compact tractors,....,,..,,

i have a 90 horse n.h skid steer and moved it out of my way so i could pull them with the kubota.having the skid steer also taints my ability to judge the effectiveness of certain elements of the 35 hp kubota.