UTV vs compact tractor

[G-Man]

the problem with borrowing a tractor is they develope quirks that the owner know and you may not. and if it breaks its on you.. friendships can be lost over it. if you like jd's look used, there is a reason you neighbors have tractors... you will want one for sure. i had a friend that started with a utv and finially bought a tractor, the utv now sits till his grands kid come out and take it for a joyride..

[WNYBuckHunter]

thanks everyone for the great input, I spoke to a few neighbors and all suggested not to buy a tractor as I could borrow theirs whenever I needed one, I have been checking out the Kubota's for a while, I like there reputation but I don't find their design aesthetically pleasing ( I know this shouldn't be a factor), I am partial to the JD and Polaris Rangers (mostly for looks as otherwise have no experience with them), my land has a lot of hilly, rocky areas (foothill of the ADK's), WNYB did you get to test the 900 on a hilly area?

 

The JDs are really nice too. Thats what I would buy if I was buying one right now, and they do have a diesel model. The Kubotas are ugly, but they just plain work. Our area is pretty hilly, not like a mountain or anything, but some good, steep elevation changes and deep creek beds that we have crossed with it. We actually disced up a trail we had just cut, and had to cross a drainage ditch thats about 4 feet deep with banks that Id think twice about climbing with my truck, and we ran the disc right through there with the Kubota towing it. No problem. I should have taken a video, because all 4 wheels were not on the ground climbing out of that ditch.

[landtracdeerhunter]

The JDs are really nice too. Thats what I would buy if I was buying one right now, and they do have a diesel model. The Kubotas are ugly, but they just plain work. Our area is pretty hilly, not like a mountain or anything, but some good, steep elevation changes and deep creek beds that we have crossed with it. We actually disced up a trail we had just cut, and had to cross a drainage ditch thats about 4 feet deep with banks that Id think twice about climbing with my truck, and we ran the disc right through there with the Kubota towing it. No problem. I should have taken a video, because all 4 wheels were not on the ground climbing out of that ditch.

By ugly, are u refering to Kubotas not being user friendly?

And just to add: their is not an American tractor made in this country below 75 hp..

Edited September 30, 2013 by landtracdeerhunter

[phade]

As far as rangers go, I have a fair amount of seat time in their two row model...that thing is very nice. Very sound build, too.

 

 

[WNYBuckHunter]

By ugly, are u refering to Kubotas not being user friendly?

And just to add: their is not an American tractor made in this country below 75 hp..

 

No, they are aesthetically not pleasing.

[WesternNY]

For a guy with 170 acres a tractor is a no brainer.   Likely you will also at some point want an atv/utv or electric cart.

[Berniez]

I am thinking I will hire this part out to a local farmer and maybe buy a utv to keep up with maintenance,

 

Before do that.....make sure the local farmer will do what you want when you want.   I was a city boy and found out that the farmer will do what he wants which is not always what you want.  A tractor with a bucket and 4wd is a much better choice because you decide when, where and how. In the spring a farmer is really busy putting in his crops for a living...with you he thinks its a rich boys hobby and what does it matter when or where the plots goes?

I have both utv (kubota diesel) and a tractor( 82 hp Belarus)  the tractor does the majority of the heavy work but the Kubota lets me do some of the light work Rolling, dragging snow plowing around the house/barn  and driving around looking at stuff with the dog.  If it is a one or the other scenario and you are serious about food plots....a Tractor that is as big as you can afford and fits the size of your fields (large HP tractors have a large turning radius and on small fields its a pain if not impossible work the field when you are dragging equipment behind. For the most part Bigger tractors do the job faster with less strain on the equipment.(that means less repairs)   You can do small plots with a utv.  It all depends on just how nuts you want to go. (FYI- I started my food plots 24 years ago with a 100 x 300 ft food plot.  Now I am up to over 40 acres with perennials (alfalfa,clovers and switchgrass (16 acres) and the rest in annuals.(Corn, beans, oats. barley, buckwheat, sunflowers and those miracle super special food plots that  the deer will run through a mine field to eat except not so much on my property.  LOL  Lots of fun all year long.) Whatever you decide just do it and the heck with us