Best Vintage'ish Tractor for Small Ranch, $10k Budget

[bulletpruf]

My buddy and I are in need of a tractor for a small ranch in the Fredericksburg, Texas, area. He has an 8N right now; that's ok for pulling a bush hog, but that's about it.

It would be used for all sorts of stuff - pulling a bush hog, moving dirt (i.e., needs a bucket), unloading building materials from a trailer (needs forks, too), drilling holes for fence posts (needs an auger), grading (needs a box blade), etc. The ranch is used for hunting, not agriculture, so no need to plow or disk anything, at least not at this point.

Besides the 8N, I have a John Deere 350 dozer. We do not have a skid steer, loader, or an excavator. At least not yet.

Whatever it is, it needs to have excellent parts availability; neither of us are interested in spending a lot of time sourcing hard-to-find parts. Of course, reliability and durability are two big concerns as well. Also, he and I generally do our own maintenance and repairs, so we'd really like to find something that's relatively easy to work on and repair.

My guess is that we should be looking for something with a diesel, maybe 60 hp or so, but that's just a guess on my part. Would be nice if we could get a John Deere to match the dozer, but that's not that important.

Any recommendations?

Here are a few that I'm seeing locally -

JD 2155 for $10k

JD 2040, $4,500.

JD 1120, $5,000.

JD 5210, 3 point inop, $6,000.

JD 1630, $6,500.

JD 5210, $9,500, cat not included.

JD 2940, $9,400.

JD 4020, $12k.

JD 5200, $9,500. Comes with bucket, shredder, hay fork, and a few other attachments.

 

[NDIHC]

You are going.to get recommendations from the JD crowd, the Ford crowd, the MF crowd, the AC crowd and every other brand crowd. I like IH so I'd want a 656/666/686 or similar. I really like my Hydro 70 and a Hydro 86 would be about the same. The hydros are my favorite loader and mowing tractors. All are around 70 pto hp. That's my $0.02, you will hear about everyone else's favorite tractor soon! Everyone has their preference.

 

[lodoc]

4 WD w a loader bucket. Diesel. 2000 hrs or less. Red, orange or blue

 

[urbancase]

From what I am hearing I would be looking at IH 686, 784 , 895 in that range or MF 65 or 175 and yes I also a IH guy too but it what I know. Never been around JD at all. Go on tractorhouse and use there filter and plug in the HP range you want, type of fuel and anything else including max price and go from there. Good luck

 

[NDIHC]

4 WD w a loader bucket. Diesel. 2000 hrs or less. Red, orange or blue

A low hour 4wd/mfwd/fwa tractor/loader might be stretching the budget, but would be nice to have. I use my tractors mostly for snow removal, loader work, bush hog type mower and general chores around the yard. I don't have any that are 4wd.

 

[da.bees]

It's not just about brand, it's mostly about condition but there's one most everyone should aggree is to be avoided at any cost, Deere 10 series, 1010,2010,3010. 4020 Deere diesel is my all time favorite. 4 cylinder Ford 4000 in gas or diesel and MF 175,275 not far behind. If you don't have an eye and nose for tractors, paying commission to someone that does is money well spent. Be very cautious with commercial tractors and tractors that have been recently repainted. Skid-steer attachment system and 3rd function are a couple of cherries on top you will love having.

There isn't a square foot of ground in Texas I don't enjoy but Hill Country is my favorite. Were it not for deer and fences, landowners couldn't find anything to fight over. If some of these heard what hunters pay landowners for 3 days accommodation,they might swallow their torque wrench.

 

[jddrawbar]

My buddy and I are in need of a tractor for a small ranch in the Fredericksburg, Texas, area. He has an 8N right now; that's ok for pulling a bush hog, but that's about it.

It would be used for all sorts of stuff - pulling a bush hog, moving dirt (i.e., needs a bucket), unloading building materials from a trailer (needs forks, too), drilling holes for fence posts (needs an auger), grading (needs a box blade), etc. The ranch is used for hunting, not agriculture, so no need to plow or disk anything, at least not at this point.

Besides the 8N, I have a John Deere 350 dozer. We do not have a skid steer, loader, or an excavator. At least not yet.

Whatever it is, it needs to have excellent parts availability; neither of us are interested in spending a lot of time sourcing hard-to-find parts. Of course, reliability and durability are two big concerns as well. Also, he and I generally do our own maintenance and repairs, so we'd really like to find something that's relatively easy to work on and repair.

My guess is that we should be looking for something with a diesel, maybe 60 hp or so, but that's just a guess on my part. Would be nice if we could get a John Deere to match the dozer, but that's not that important.

Any recommendations?

Here are a few that I'm seeing locally -

JD 2155 for $10k

View attachment 156927


JD 2040, $4,500.

View attachment 156928

JD 1120, $5,000.

View attachment 156929

JD 5210, 3 point inop, $6,000.

View attachment 156930

JD 1630, $6,500.

View attachment 156931

JD 5210, $9,500, cat not included.

View attachment 156932

JD 2940, $9,400.

View attachment 156933

JD 4020, $12k.

View attachment 156935

JD 5200, $9,500. Comes with bucket, shredder, hay fork, and a few other attachments.

View attachment 156936

I'm in Fbg. & 4wd is not that important in this area. I would suggest a loader for sure. I've seen the tractors advertised that you have photos of.

 

[Ray,IN]

For comparison purposes, I bought my 2003 Massey Ferguson 451(52hp) (<400 hrs) W/ FEL + fork attachment, in Aug 2024 for a flat $14,000 at a local dealer. My point is, a local dealer is more likely to care about after the sale than buying off the internet. Personally I'd avoid commercial tractor models in favor of utility tractors designed for farming
Whichever brand you buy, condition trumps all else. Replacing rear tires is rather expensive these days. Since you mentioned requiring forks, that also calls for a weight box for the rear hitch for counterbalance, wheel weights don't do the job.

 

[Tony in SD]

First of all I read a long time ago that color does not matter but parts availability does. So I would pick a tractor with a local dealership. The tractor I have is a diesel with a front wheel assist with a loader bucket and pallet fork live PTO, 3 point, power steering, Hydro transmission.

 

[rrlund]

If you're bent on a Deere, stay away from the 2940.

 

[joeysmith]

First of all I read a long time ago that color does not matter but parts availability does. So I would pick a tractor with a local dealership. The tractor I have is a diesel with a front wheel assist with a loader bucket and pallet fork live PTO, 3 point, power steering, Hydro transmission.

X2

Especially if the tractor is not at your house

Local dealership might get you out of a bind sometime when you really need it vs waiting on the internet parts or dealership 100 miles away

 

[spacechem]

Big difference between "moving dirt" and digging dirt. About the only one in your photos that might do some digging is the first one. Scattering a loose pile- about any of them could do that. IMHO, all the 5000 series JDs will be too light weight for any really heavy work- they could replace your 8N and that's about it. The 2040 has the swept-back axle; not really suitable for loader work. 2940 and 4020; both a bit big for any close maneuvering.

 

[paul]

I’m not a JD guy, but other than the 4020 you are showing models that were not at all popular here in the farming region of the northern corn belt.

An industrial model like the yellow thing might be a lot better at moving dirt, but be sure any you look at have pto and 3 pt hitch - those might be options left off some industrial models.

Around here there are industrial JD dealerships and there are ag JD dealerships, I do not know how cross compatible they are for servicing and getting parts for the different models.

Paul

 

[DanielW]

As others have mentioned, you're going to get loads of different opinions. As long as whatever model you pick is generally well regarded, I'd look at condition more than price.

But something to consider: While 4wd is certainly not critical (we ran our 900 acre farm and woodlot right up until the early 2000's without 4wd), it really does open up possibilities and allow you to do a lot more. Especially moving dirt/gravel: Nothing beats the heck out of a 2wd tractor more than intense bucket work. It's hard to find any 4wd tractor for under $10k, and much harder to find one in anything close to reasonable shape. But the Olivers/Cockshutts that were really rebadged Fiats were popular 4wd tractors in some areas. They often go for around $10k or a little less, even when in good shape, only because most people who are into older tractors don't want something foreign/Italian. But they're fantastic/bulletproof tractors, with great and robust 4wd systems. Everyone who has one loves theirs. These are the models like the 1265, 1365, 1370,1470, etc. Of course, condition is still everything.

Of the ones you posted photos of, and given your description of what you want, I'd go with the 2155 hands down. Especially at a hunt camp - the 4wd is going to be almost a necessity in snow/mud, when you may have need to go somewhere down a trail or clear a driveway that hasn't been accessed in weeks. My only concern would be that those 55 series usually demand a premium. $10k for one might be a little on the cheap side, so I'd want to make uber sure there's nothing wrong with it.