Newbie looking for tractor

I'm looking for a tractor. In my dream world, I truck on down to the local Deere or Ford dealer and buy a nice compact 4wd with bucket and brushhog and grader blade off of the lot. But, the budget does not allow for that.

So I'm thinking something older, but still useful for what I want it for.

I want it to maintain a 1000' dirt and gravel driveway, including removing snow. I want a brush hog to be able to earn some money up the street mowing the game club property. I want to drive around on my 14 acres of woods and carry rocks to build rock walls...and harvest firewood.

I was dead set on a loader for a while, but now I'm not too sure. I think that I could do all of my driveway maintaining and rock moving with a rear dirt scoop...but one with a hyd upper link. I was dead set on 4wd, but now I'm not too sure. Using the dirt scoop would allieviate the need for 4wd (though my property is hilly and the 4wd would be a big bonus). I do want a live pto.

I like the Ford 800's. In fact I like all of the older Fords, I'm just not too sure that the N's have enough oomph to pull that brush hog and I don't think that the N's have a live pto (but I'm a newbie...so what do I know?). I'm not adverse to any brand: JD, Case, MF, etc. Gas is fine with me...this is a homeowners tractor, not a farmowners.

Ideally, I would be able to find this tractor in southern New England.

Thanks for any input.

Bob

The older Ford 800 series (860 or 861 to get live pto) can be had for $2500-$4000 depending. This is a pic of a 960 with live pto and a wide front that I looked at on Saturday. Owner is asking $2500. All gears work and so does the clutch. However, it is nowhere near southern New England!

You are correct, the N's did not have live pto, some even did not have live hyd which means you can't operate the 3-pt & pto independently....

You'll like a loader for rock work.... Your call tho. I would not think 4wd is important if you get a good old cast iron tractor & weight it properly.

--->Paul

I am a ford owner, and have always liked all old fords. But if the budget allows, try to get in to the late 50s early 60s (600, 800, 2000, 3000) to get live PTO and hydraulics. Someday when my budget allows I want a 3000 gas - nice big tractor with live everything, 8spd manual, etc. But here in NY a nice one creeps toward $5,000. So it will wait a few years.

Beyond fords, the Massey 135 is an excellent choice, as are the Oliver 500 series - though I know little about them. If you do end up wanting a loader, really make sure you get power steering. There is nothing that you cant get done with an old tractor - it might not be as easy to handle as a little jap compact, but it will be more stable and powerful. Also, please do a self-assessment on your mechanical skills. All old tractors require some wrench time, just be sure to know what you are getting into. I buy tractors that are right on the borderline of 'ready to go' and 'working project' - so I expect some work in the shop. But that might frustrate some people.

Good luck and have fun.

If you go with a newer compact tractor, consider 4wd. The smaller the tractor, the more it becomes important, especially with grading/landscaping work.

I think a box scraper is excellent for maintaining my driveway. More consistent than the rear blade which will dig in all the time and make things uneven. It will fill low spots quite well and create a smoother surface. You'll have to use it every few months to keep things looking good.

Good luck.