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 Expert
Posts: 2276
  
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | So we are going to be needing something to drag the arena, dump or move manure and other random tasks! But we don't know what to buy!
Where's the best bang for your buck? Could we get by with something like a side by side or a 4wheeler? We obviously don't want to spend or finance a lot since we are buying a home but we need something.
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
 
Location: Where I am happiest | We have a tractor and a 4 wheeler. The tractor will out work, is much more versatil, and alot more usefull then the 4 wheeler. You can buy different impliments as you go as finances allow and the tractor will hold value much better. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Older gas tractor would me my suggestion. I would get a big enough one (50-80 hp) with a loader. That way, it will handle big round bales safetly as well. Diesel tractors cost more to purchase and repair. Something like a JD 3010 gas or so can be purchased for 6k or so with loader. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | As already stated in above posts you can purchase a tractor that will last much longer for less than you can a four wheeler or atv that is large enough to do the tasks you will need to accomplish. A four wheeler that is large enough to drag your arena will be very large and costly. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Tractor, and get one with a loader. Like somone else said a tractor will outwork all the others. |
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 Stinky Cat Owner
Posts: 4097
Location: Oregon | I didn't have the money to spend on a tractor and everything that went with it so I bought a big quad and just use it to spray my fields, keep my roundpen and riding area worked up, it came with a plow so I can push the poop out of the pens or keep the manure pile pushed up, use the manure spreader, etc. My place is small (3 acres) and it works fine for me until I can save enough to get a tractor. |
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | We've always had a tractor with a plow and drag but my parents use it so it can't come with us. Can you finance a tractor? Ofcourse a tractor would have been my obvious choice if money wasn't an issue. Well. It's my really an ISSUE but along with buying a house, fencing and all that. I'm definitely going to look into a tractor more now. our land is 6 acres and mostly pasture except we're going to make a small arena.
Edited by lexyy12 2014-05-09 12:22 PM
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 Roan On The Range
Posts: 7889
Location: Stephenville, TX | lexyy12 - 2014-05-09 12:20 PM We've always had a tractor with a plow and drag but my parents use it so it can't come with us. Can you finance a tractor? Ofcourse a tractor would have been my obvious choice if money wasn't an issue. Well. It's my really an ISSUE but along with buying a house, fencing and all that. I'm definitely going to look into a tractor more now. our land is 6 acres and mostly pasture except we're going to make a small arena.
Yes, you can finance a tractor. Most manufacturers offer in-house financing on brand new tractors and 0% for 60 is pretty common. You can't go wrong buying a decent used tractor either, but you'll have to find your own financing. I used to work in the service department at a tractor dealership and saw all kinds of stuff LOL. Based on that experience, I'd suggest buying a tractor with more HP than you think you'll need, buy a major brand (it'll be easier to get parts, implements and find someone to work on it), treat it like the investment that it is and take good care of it.
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | Thank you for that Running Roan! We are looking into it! :) |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | A used mule works well to..drag arenas... get shavings .. scoop poop .. haul feed and hay.. etc..
Edited by Bibliafarm 2014-05-09 8:27 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | Bibliafarm - 2014-05-09 9:26 PM A used mule works well to..drag arenas... get shavings .. scoop poop .. haul feed and hay.. etc..
Oooh..didn't even think about a mule. Isn't there a lot of similarities between a mule and a side by side? |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I guess. I had a polaris 6 wheeler.. a atv and a kabota .. loved them all but had more property.. i think a atv or mule would work fine if you have a way to mow ...id not suggest a 6 wheeler.. its hard to turn and tears grass up pretty bad.lol.. 4 wheels is 
Edited by Bibliafarm 2014-05-09 8:42 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Depending on where you live, if you have a rental place fairly close by, that might fit your budget better. You could rent a skid steer to clean pens, a tractor to work your arena, along with the attachments to go with it. Also, that would get you an idea on what you need.
A tractor can be more budget friendly, but all the attachments can quickly double that price.
Just fyi, the rental place I used to work with, the implement was fairly reasonable to rent, but the trailer to haul it on, was another story. One could of bought their own trailer in just a few years of rent.
Good luck! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
Location: Sunny California | We just went through the same thing. I just had an arena built and we debated getting a tractor or something like a gator/mule. We decided to go with the Kubota rtv with a dump bed. I figured I'd use it more than the tractor and the place we bought it from is reasonably cheap to rent a tractor for a weekend if we really ever need one. It does a great job dragging my arena (which is the main thing I wanted it for) and I don't have a tack room down at the bottom of the hill so it works great to throw my saddle/tack in to take down to saddle. I'm very happy with our decision. |
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | So your drag attaches to it like a tractor? We have a drag that my parents won't use but my dad needs to keep the tractor we've always used. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
Location: Sunny California | No, it doesn't have a 3 point hitch, just a regular ball. I found that you can add a 3 point hitch to it aftermarket, but it was around $3,000. I bought the ATV drag from Rotoharrow (look them up online). It just pulls behind using chains. It works very well. We also looked at the tine drags from tractor supply. If you type in atv drags online there are actually quite a few designed to be pulled behind and atv/mule, etc. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | you can even make a drag .. for what you need it for and pull it behind a mule or atv .. |
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Roan On The Range
Posts: 7889
Location: Stephenville, TX | You really need to consider the kind of work you're expecting to do on your property. A tractor will be the most versatile choice because you'll have the loader and the 3-point. With the right attachments, you'll be able to mow, work your arena (not just drag it), move hay, scoop poop, blade your driveway, aug holes, etc. A skid steer would come close to a tractor. Mules, Rangers, Gators, RTVs, etc are handy little vehicles, but aside from their compact size and the dump bed, they're about as usable as a small 4WD pickup.
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