(quoted from post at 08:05:53 12/11/18) Thanks! My main consideration besides looks is ease of maintaining the tractor. Of the Ford 8N, Farmall H, and Ferguson TO20, which ones will be easy to find parts and work on?
Where are you going to store or work on your tractor? If your door heighth is 7' or less you may want to consider the Ford or Fergie so you can easily get in the door with removing the muffler and having to duck everytime you go in or out.
I have an 8n and an H both work and run well. I prefer the 8n over the H for 3pt stuff but rarely use because I also have a 861. For flat towing and pulling the H has got it hands down for things like the hay rake, hay wagon and for pulling logs off the hill. Have bolsters on an old hay wagon for logs mind you we don't stack the logs real high, but works great. The H gearing can crawl or speed down the road where the 8n just knows how to speed. Throughout the wood processing season the N is the trailer queen, we park it next to the splitter and haul the split wood to the wood shed next to the outside furnace. One caution about any of them is if you can drive them check that they don't jump out of gear when heading down a slope. Can be a real Oh Shout moment! None of them have great brakes so learn not to count on them.
IMHO if you want an all around tractor to do more stuff look for an 800 series Ford or comparable MF, Case, AC. etc.
From easily maintained point of view My H is by far the easiest to repair and maintain. but none require a rocket science degree that can't be fixed without a little research and help from these guys at YT. Availabity to parts is a big deal whether new or used. In my area Fords Farmalls and JD's are the easiest where there are parts still laying in the hedge rows a few avid scrap collectors and a salvage yard about 30 miles away.
Can't speak to alot of other brands but I'm sure there out there given time to look.
The narrow front end doesn't scare me but it take getting used to, I put it anywhere I put the 861 or 8N. The most dangerous tractor I have is a newer NH with 4wd that I take more risks with.
I don't have any experience with the Fergie in fact I never even seen one in person until 2 years ago at a local tractor show. Not much help there.
Hopefully you can make a good decision with some educated reasoning from all these guys. But one of my greatest failings in life was to not following my own instincts many times and having regret. Use what you've learned and I'm sure you have a favorite we just haven't heard it yet. What color tractor do you want? I don't think there is a wrong answer.
Like OllieJunkie says "Go kick some tires"
Most of us grew up knowing what tractor we would buy, there must be reason or memory that's making you want a tractor. Surely you have pictured yourself riding on a tractor. What kind of tractor was that?