[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Some very good advice!

Ford 8N is a good tractor. How did you arrive at your HP requirements? SeaHawk has a good amount of land but his Massey is great for the work he requires to get done (low HP). I have only about 58 acres and the 60HP Case is appearing a bit too little in HP though it gets about every job done and done well. IF you get a tractor, try and get one with a front end loader. You will not believe the things you can do with a front end loader....

We have a 110HP Deere on the big farm. We hate that tractor!!!!! It is ALWAYS breaking down. But it does have an air ride seat and a cab....

What activities do you need? Just mowing and nothing else? Why a tractor? Get a zero turn mower. Work faster for less fuel, take up less storage space, better at mowing than a tractor. Lasts a long time as well. Some models can tow a small trailer. Many options.

How many hours are you going to put on it? If only 50 or so hours a year then this will not be a workhorse. Gas engine might do you very well. An old 70's Perkins Gas Engine will last many thousands of hours without issue. They can be run all day for long periods of time.

Old tractors: Massey, Case, Ford, Farmall are a bit more fuel efficient than others. Do not be sold on the color.

If you need to put in hundreds or more hours per year you likely do need a new tractor or a VERY well gone over (PPI) old tractor. You will need to spend a bit of money.

I bought my last tractor new via a reverse auction. I gave the specifications and an end date for the auction. I had more than 80 tractors provided for me to choose from. I chose a tractor that had sat on the lot for over a year with a front end loader that was three years old but never sold (read this as new). The little thing just goes and goes. Farmers in the area love my little tractor! They compliment it all the time from their green and blue ones. Mine has never had an issue from hour 2.5 on. Cannot say the same for the tractors around me. I also got a $40K tractor for less than $25K out the door. Remember, it had sat on the lot for a long time!


I forgot, for a new modern tractor also look at LS. They make a huge amount of tractors for other brands. The LS XXX might be the exact same tractor as a green/blue/white/red/etc.