Tractor/In-Law Help

My Father-in-law (of about 10 months) is bent on buying a sub-compact tractor. He originally wanted the Kubota BX 2200, but now is looking at a MF GC2310, and also a JD 2210. He's asking me because I grew up with a Farmall A and am therefore the 'tractor guy' in the family.

This isn't really a color war..I have no allegiance to any of these brands, so don't care what the outcome is from that angle. However, looking at these things, they just look like big toys to me...and the pricetag is no 'toy' pricetag. He likes the loader and backhoe, but honestly I don't see $16K worth of value in these.

The machine will be used for lawn mowing and some landscaping. He'd also like to mow brush with it.

Where he spends his money and how much is his business, but I get a funny feeling from the whole thing, being the son-in-law, and but being asked to make a recommendation on something I'm not too familiar with.

If I had to choose a choice of action, I would honestly tell him what I feel: that I'm no expert, but based on what I know, it's not worth it, and that his money would be better spent somewhere else.

Any advice from people with more experience either tractors, in-laws, or both is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Dave

In 1989 I rented a Kubota 4wd with front loader/box scraper for the weekend.

What I remember about it was it did great in 4wd but was useless in 2wd for loader/scraper work.

I prep'd a 100ft x 100ft area for my shop and put on about 18hrs in two days and our soil is very easy to work.

If time is not a factor, then I wouldn't have a problem buying a smaller "4wd" machine if you think of the machine of nothing more than replacing a shovel and wheel barrow.

From what I've seen with my limited experience, a 30hp plus tractor is more useful for lite work.

T_Bone

Around this discussion group we all probably think of older tractors first. ;) For a view of how people with those subcompacts feel & what they do with them/ uses for them, you might want to wander around www. tractor by net. com (without the spaces).

---->Paul

Here in Minnesota, a sub-compact that can only dig 5.5' deep is worthless - water lines need to be 6' deep. And those short & narrow category 1 'subcompact' 3pt hitches don't work well with many regular implements like post hole diggers or even landscape rakes - not long enough arms to do the job.

Heck, I have a NH 1720, about the same as your machine, love it. My brother in law's 15 hp Kubota was neat & niffty, but not sure it would accomplish much with a backhoe & loader. Since he only paid $2500 for a beater of sorts, it's a fine little tractor, mow lawn, run grain augers, ran a side rake even (put me in the dust tho!) did all sorts of odd jobs around the farm. If I were going to spend $20,000 for a whole outfit, then I'd be thinking the money would be better spent on a ~25hp unit. That would have more oomph, more veristility, and more stability for the obvious dirt-moving chores. In fact, it would be just like yours.....

Does that help?

--->Paul