I'm just starting to scratch the surface on researching a tractor for the cabin property to do various chores:

Picking up loads of various things, wood, rocks, etc...
Landscaping, levelling, etc...
Mowing and bush hogging
A nice vegetable garden later
Maintaining gravel driveway
etc...

Hell... I'm not even sure if I need a tractor, but I can think of many situations over the last 3 years of building this cabin that I could have used a tractor. Since we are going to retire up here and make this place our homestead and a small farm, it seems like a worthy investment.

I'm pretty sure I want the following:

A compact tractor.
A 4x4 tractor
Either a bush hog or a mower deck.
A front end loader
Possibly an excavator
Possibly a tiller
Possibly a box blade or scraper

I've been looking at the compact offerings from John Deere and Kubota, and just recently watched a video on the Mahindra eMax22. It's made in South Korea and seems like a pretty nice tractor.

I've never been one to finance stuff, but it seems like it's almost a better deal to buy a tractor new and take advantage of the 0% financing that most dealers are offering. Used tractors seem to hold their values really well.

Thoughts?

Buy new, buy big enough to start with, and buy with 4-WD and a loader.

Most of the 0% financing deals will also include implements at the 0% if bought at time of tractor purchase.

Get all of them in the beginning.

With that said, take a hard look at Mahindra.

I have a 75 HP I bought new in 2006.

It has been a great tractor.

If I was buying new today. it wouldn't be anything other than another Mahindra.

When you say compact, what size are you talking about? Compact tractors as a generic term can be anything from 20-35 horsepower. Personally, I don’t like the small new Deere tractors. They have a lot of plastic on them and are light. Now, if you don’t want a new one, a 650 like the one Hoggin was selling would be a great tractor. You can get a loader for it.

As for new, I am a fan of the mahindra products. If you buy new, you can usually get a package that will give you an implement for free. I would get a finish mower over a belly mower.
My uncle has a small Kubota with a backhoe. That thing is really handy to have. But, it is a pain to take on and off.

Kubota, go bigger than u think u need!!

35hp is a handy size but if u gonna be moving a lot of dirt around I'd go bigger

50 hp minimum.

If you go Mahindra get the Max over the Emax....Max is Japanese made 100% Mitsubishi and much better than those doydong South Korean jobs.

I'm in the process of buying a Mahindra Max 24 HST and love it.I also traded a bike for a Kubota B7610 HST. It's also a nice tractor. Id stay AWAY from LS above 25 HP

One of the L-series Kubota tractors will suit your needs just fine

All of our farm equipment is green but from what I hear and see in the shop at our local John Deere dealership, I would stay away from the new compact green tractors. I’m starting to see lots more mahindra tractors around and have heard nothing but good things about them. Now, for me, my go to tractors for work at home is Kubota. I have a 50hp 4x4 with a loader and a B8200 and both are great pieces of equipment and have had no issues with either one and I don’t baby anything. If I was to buy a new tractor now it would only be another kubota in the 30-35hp range and would definitely be 4wd and have a loader. If I was in the used market I would find an older model John Deere. The ones when a tractor was a tractor.

He doesn’t need a tractor that big. Bigger isn’t always better. Having said that, I wouldn’t personally buy a tractor under 30 horsepower unless it was for nothing but cutting grass.

I have been surprised by how capable our little Kubota 23 HP tractor can be. We've had it since 2012 with zero mechanical issues.

If I was buying new, Kubota for sure, but I might go a little bigger. And I wouldn't buy anything but a hydrostatic drive, unless you are going to start raising row crops.

Size depends on your needs, and the Kubota is built in Gainesville, GA.

I’ve got a Kubota L3800 4x4 FEL HST and I’ve been very happy with it. Big enough to do what I need and compact enough to maneuver in tight spaces. If you plan to mow grass (not bush hog) around your cabin, ag (R1) tires will tear your grass up when you turn. If this is the case then go with R4 tires. A hydrostatic transmission makes loader work much easier IMO. Transporting it should be another consideration. I pull mine with a Tundra with 5.7 V8 on a 7K trailer with zero problems. You should consider what you would need to move it if necessary.

Kubota L4701

I've got a 3032 JD 4x4 purchased about a year ago we use around the house. I've been very impressed with that little tractor. I'd buy it again. It's perfect for the around the house/cabin.

I've moved a lot of dirt, gravel, and worked 5' implements without any issues. Also have a grapple bucket for it and that is worth every dime!

I farm so my vote is hands down john deere. Kubuta is ok for medium use. Mahindra is a decent mahine, parts are stupid high. Some parts are hard to get. My father in law bought one new, 50 hp 4x4 with loader and its not a quality made machine. I would stay away from mahindra.

I have a John Deere 3038e and it has been a great tractor. I have a 6 acre yard that I use it to finish mow and about 3 more acres that I keep bush hogged. My driveway is over a quarter mile and it is gravel. So I use it to spread and level the drive. It is a great little tractor but if the rocks you are talking about are big, then it will not help a lot. It does not pick up very much on the front end.
I was able to get a great package deal though. Finish Mower, bushhog, box blade, and pallet forks for the front for the same price as I could have bought the same size Kubota with only 1 attachment. Good luck in your search.

The new JD compact have aluminum rear axle housing and you lose that much weight to ground vs cast iron

I have a 40 horsepower Mahindra and it is very well built. Very solid and everything it metal, it is heavier than the comparable size Deere or Kubota. I’ve never heard of anyone having a hard time getting parts, they have a good dealer network these days. The only thing I’ve had to do was change the oil and filters and keep it greased.

I have a small 26 hp John Deere and it has been running fine. Had one problem covered under warranty but that was it. For what I need it's perfect and reliable. I use it to bush hog, move dirt, disk food plots, fix driveway, and push downed trees out of the way. I wish I had more horsepower though. Maybe 35-40 instead of 26. Like everyone else says, make sure you buy enough hp to start with and definitely get an FEL. I'm very happy with John Deere so far.

I'll add we've had everything except mahindra...the kubota 108s we have gets put thru hell and always held up strong lots of heavy use