tractor rookie...what size

Hello, Looking at 20 ac. of land with about 12-15 ac. open pasture. What size tractor would be recommended for general use here? Mowing, clearing, etc. Gasoline or diesel? I need some tractor education. thanks

Level ground, hills, swamps, sand, loam, clay? Ice and snow in winters? Shop facilities and your ability to perform service from oil changes to engine rebuilds . Area of country? Using a front end loader? Know how to operate a standard transmission?

Something with live pto, live hydraulics, three point hitch , a real drawbar and an selective control valve(SCV). This rules out the Ford N series.
What brand and distance are the three closest dealers?

Looks like you have already started to list the "work" the tractor would need to perform. Complete the task and then decide how many hours in a typical week would you use the machine. This might be a good way to separate the gas-diesel issue. Secondly, decide what your primary mission is. Such as bringing back the worn out pasture/acreage or repairing old somewhat marginal equipment. A small acreage operation may also benefit from availability of a front end loader...which may lead to the need for a 4wd machine. If you like to tinker with machinery buy something old, cheap and worn out. if you want to be productive..clearing, tilling,building fencing, moving stuff... etc. look at something like an "L" Series Kubota or a small New Holland...with available parts and close by dealer.

for me, i"ve found that 4X4 is first, then a loader, around 35 HP., i do like the hydro"s, don"t make the most common mistake of getting something that won"t work because of price, go the extra mile and get .....4X4 w/th loader and at least 35 HP....you"ll never be sorry...

Also, you don't mention if you plan on 'farming' or what you think you'll be doing with the tractor... If you're just mowing/bushhogging, then a 35hp utility tractor would work fine. If you need to move dirt/material, you'll need a FEL (front end loader). And a backhoe comes in real handy... If price is not a concern (really?), then I would suggest a Kubota diesel. They make a couple of different models in the 35-ish HP range with FEL and BH. If price is a concern, you might be able to get away with an older, gently used, tractor. I personally like the Massey Ferguson 35/135 with the Perkins diesel.

The land is relatively level. Located in east Texas. I am a fair mechanic. I have used my dads Allis Chalmers 5030 years ago so I know a little about the use of a tractor. I just don"t want to get the "wrong" machine. thanks

Do you need a tractor to help work the farm? Or are you looking for a toy to play with on the weekends? For 20 acres with 15 in pasture, a little cleaning up and simple clearing, all you need is a small 35 HP farm tractor, not a compact. Be sure to get live PTO and 3 point hitch. You can live without hydraulics. You don't need 4x4 or a front end loader. Gas is much simplier than diesel and easy to start in the winter. I'd suggest a wide front. Much safer in my opinion.

A perfect tractor is a MF 35 or similar in a variety of brands. Lots around in good shape.

That tractor, a 5 ft bushog, a pond scoop to carry dirt. a grader blade, a good log chain and a chain saw will get you by. You will also need a pickup truck and a small trailer. If you need to seed and fertilize pastures you may need an old disc and a cone spreader for seed and fertilizer.

Lots of farmers with more acreage have survived with that or less.

Knowing how much you have to spend would help us a lot.
Oh, and I don't know why but Buickanddeere has some odd sort of monomaniacal hatred towards the Ford N Series. Got his toe run over by one when he was little or something.

Might I suggest.....

People who don't understand things, tend to malign them......

You're sellin yer '55'????

First consideration is parts and service. Who"s the nearest two dealers? Go with one or the other, go with their models, you"ll be glad. I have a Case-CNH dealer less than a mile away, man is it conevenient.

How would your dad's A-C 5030 have stacked up against your current needs? If it would be adequate, maybe find another one or something similar for yourself?

Tractors themselves are pretty versatile, your implements adapt them to do different jobs. It is hard to get an absolutltly wrong tractor unless it is way too big, or way too small to do the job you need it for, unreliable or too expensive.

The main requirements are:
3 point hitch,
live PTO,
live hydraulics (especially with a loader),
power steering (loader),
working brakes,
enough horse power,
and enough weight (traction),
to do the jobs you want to do,
It also has to be reliable.

A quick-tach loader is very handy because you can remove one quickly to mow without having to look over the top of a big loader frame and bucket.

Have fun.

My, we certainly have differing opinions on this post!
Flat ground, no front end loader work, just mowing and clearing?
I wouldn't rule out a Ford N. However, for a few dollars more I
would suggest you step up to a hundred or thousand series.
Assuming we were talking about Fords. The later models would have live
hydraulics possibly live PTO and power steering depending on model.
They range from about 30 HP to 50+
If that's not your color, an Oliver S-55 like RRLund posted, or maybe
an Oliver 550 would be a good choice, much the same options.
Fergusen 35/135 also good choices and all short enough to fit in
a garage for storage or repairs instead of needing a tall barn.
I'm not seeing where 4X4 without loader work will get you much
on level ground except more components to wear and break.
If you ever plan to use a moldboard plow, which most people don't,
I would skip the sub-compact and compact utility tractors.
The one I had couldn't cut that mustard. JMHO
Gas or diesel? Diesel is more fuel efficient. A bit more expensive to repair.
Gas is easier to start in cold winters, but today's gas goes bad quickly.
One thought I haven't seen mentioned yet, rent one. Or three.
If they do what you need, or they do not, you'll know.
You'll also get to experience the differences before committing.

Oh good Heavens no! There are others out there though.

Massey 175 and 165's are a good bang for your buck. They're plenty powerful for there size and in a small package. Like others said, go with what dealers you have in the area.

I would think 40HP is plenty for you, but it all depends on what you want to spend on what you buy. A new 40HP utility with loader would be the most convenient.

I would want the following:

wide front end
power steering
live hydraulic and live PTO
3 point lift
diesel (for fuel economy)
syncronized transmission, preferably with shuttle.

I see a lot of responses that suggest a loader.
I don't have one and get by easily. My neighbors that have loaders don't use them all that much.
Loaders that work about double the cost of an old tractor and most are not all that useful on small tractors because of the high weight on the front axle and the light weight of the rear end.

I can hire a bobcat/operator for $65/hr and he can do more work in a morning for $250 than I could do with a loader in 2 days.

Another factor no one has addressed is how much free time do you have? If you want to play with a tractor as part of your off/recreation time then by all means most of the recommendations given are sound. There is a local "summer" guy with a lakeshore home who bought a 7 thousand dollar commercial duty zero turn. He will not pay to have someone mow for him and doesn't want to spend his weekends mowing lawn. So his mowing time is now about 1/2 hour. With that in mine an older full sized tractor could be in order. Like the 06/66/56 IH series if price is an issue. They can be had pretty cheap, often cheaper than say a 4000 Ford Utility because of demand. Those are too small for the big farmer and too big for most land owners with 10-80 or so acres. And many brands to choose from. JD, MF, Oliver and all the rest made tractors in that size range. Here a good Ford 8N can run over 3K. A good used IH 560 diesel can be purchased for about the same price. The 560 will handle a pretty good sized Bush Hog, 8-10 foot, no problem. About all an 8N will handle is 4-5 foot. The biggest thing to look for in your area is dealer support. Here an AC is about worthless with current dealer support (that includes anything covered by AGCO like MF and Oliver). No parts in stoc. Have to order just about everything or drive 50 miles to get anything. Good JD, CaseIH Ford Newholland support at 25 miles.

Rick

I did have my foot run over by a N series Ford when I was a kid. Fortuately I was able to pick the tractor off my toes and hand it back to the owner.