Did you just dip your fingers into the cookie jar of homeownership? Congratulations! But before things settle down, you will realize how wild the grass and bushes around your home can grow. That is why we always advise homeowners to be ready and have the best small tractor for small acreage to take care of such matters. However, it’s usually a lot easier said than done, and a lot of people struggle to find a good tractor for small farm. 

So to help you make a good and thoughtful choice, we’ve decided to conduct a little research and bring the results in the form of this little article. Here we will tell you about the best small tractor for small farm, how to use it effectively, and the brands that have some unmatched quality tractors.

Small Tractor for Small Acreage Buyer’s Guide

Buying the best tractor for small farm is very bewildering, especially if you’ve never purchased anything similar and have no idea where to start.

But the truth is, buying the best compact tractor for small farm is not as difficult as it seems. All you need to do is to pay attention to several very important aspects – they will ensure that you find the best utility tractor for small garden, that will have supreme quality and affordable price. So with that said, what are these aspects?

How to Choose a Small Tractor for Small Acreage

Chances are you’ve already checked some small acreage tractors, if so then you must have noticed how many options there are. How to make sure that you purchase only the best small tractor, from such a huge variety? Well, you need to pay attention to details:

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Transmission Type

Transmission can make or break the performance of even the best small tractor for small acreage. For a rather long time tractors, in general, have used clutch-oriented transmission, since it claimed to be the most reliable and proven. However, nowadays more and more tractors switch to hydrostatic transmission. This method makes it quite easy to control the speed and direction of your small tractor, making it easy to use. The hydrostatic transmission also eliminates the chances of burning the clutch, which is a big plus for small acreage farmers.

Hitch Category

Hitch refers to the interface at the back of the tractor for attaching implements. Typically, the hitch comes in three-pointers. The smallest hitch is classified as CAT-0 and is only suitable for the smallest tractors.

But truth be told, we don’t recommend using CAT-0 hitch on your tractor for small acreage. First, because they are costly. Second, they give rather poor results. And third, they are hardly available in the second-hand market. 

So for the best small tractor for small farm we recommend using CAT-1 hitch. This category is versatile, easy to use, and comes in a range of sizes for your small acreage tractors. Overall, CAT-1 hitch is considered the standard size for small tractors for small farms, so this is the best choice for you. 

As for CAT-2, it’s larger and you have no reason to get a hitch in this category unless you have deep pockets and a large farm.

Category	Hitch pin size: Upper link	Hitch pin size: Lower links	Lower hitch span	Tractor drawbar power
0	5/8 inch	5/8 inch	20 inches	Less than 20 hp
1	3/4 inch	7/8 inch	26 inches	20 to 45 hp
2	1 inch	1 and 1/8 inch	32 inches	40 to 100 hp
3	1 and 1/4 inch	1 and 7/16 inch	38 inches	80 to 225 hp
4	1 and 3/4 inch	2 inch	46 inches	180 to 400 hp

Attachments

Attachments are very important for every tractor for small acreage apart from the obvious? They make sure that your small tractor is a lot more versatile and performs a lot better. Thus, always make sure that your small acreage tractor has a lot of attachments, and it will be even more effective!

Level of Comfort

A good tractor for small farm must never leave you with a painful back after a day of work. So always make sure that the tractor is very comfortable and easy to use.

Brand

When you’re looking for the best utility tractor for a small farm it’s important to keep an open mind and don’t be dedicated to just one specific brand. It is often people hear good stuff about one specific brand, and assume that they must get only this one since it has good reviews. While it may be true in some cases, it’s also important to consider alternatives. And often you will find that you can find the best small tractor for small acreage, regardless of whether you’re familiar with the brand or not. So while popularity, and thus more user feedback is important, don’t focus solely on the brand.

Horsepower

Horsepower is essential so that your machine could pull a big load. So it’s essential for even the best compact tractor for small farm to have a lot of power. However, remember that the higher the horsepower, the more you have to pay for the tractor. So think through whether you need less or more power for your small acreage tractor.

Tires

Wrong/bad tires can affect the effectiveness of even the best small acreage tractors. So always make sure to choose the right ones, since the right tires will make your work easier and extend the service years of your tractor. 

Also, keep in mind the weather, it will determine the size of the tiers you need. For example, if you live in a mostly wet, rainy climate, then make sure to equip your small tractor with wide and deep-rutted tires.

Small Tractor for Small Acreage Types

All the best small tractor for small acreage come in different sizes, shapes, and brands. So let’s take a look at several types of these small acreage tractors and determine, which one will be perfect for you.

Compact

These small acreage tractors fall in both CAT-0 and CAT-1 categories. Compact tractors have a load of 900lbs, and their diesel engine is a 3-cylinder type. The standard model of these tractors is usually 4×4.

One of the biggest advantages of compact tractors for small farms is that they significantly cut emissions. Also, it means that their horsepower is slightly below or above 27hp, which is usually an upper bound for lawn mowers for 5 acres. Overall, you can easily find the best small tractor for small acreage of compact type.

Sub-compact

The sub-compact types are cheekily referred to as lawn tractors with steroids. Some small tractor for small acreage reviews refer to them as self-propelled wheelbarrows. And there is some truth to it. They belong to the lowest curve of tractor power and fall into CAT-0. With a load limit of 500lbs, they are considered one of the best small tractor for small acreage.

Mid-size

Tractors in this category are flexible, versatile, convenient, and give adequate horsepower to plow your small farm in a short time. While most of the machines here come in CAT-1 tier, a few manufacturers are making them with CAT-2 hitch. The horsepower range between 35hp and 65hp, and that is a true definition of the right small tractor for small acreage.

Full-size

Some small tractor for small acreage reviews tend to use this phrase, “You get exactly what you pay for.” Full-size tractors are a perfect example of that phrase in use. These are the “Goliaths” of the small acreage tractors and rightly so because they pack horsepower not less than 80hp. Another thing is that they can get big for a small acreage tractor. And, thanks to their size and super-power, full-size tractors can be rather pricy.

So overall, a full-size tractor may be slightly bigger than the regular best small tractor for small farm, but they are highly effective and powerful.

Final Thoughts

And that’s pretty much all there is to know about the best small tractor for small acreage! As you can see, the most important thing you need to determine first is what type of tractor you need. Also, pay special attention to the horsepower, and choose whether you need more horsepower or less, depending on your goals and budgetary capability. So other than that, keep our little tips in mind, and you’ll find only the best tractor for a small farm in no time! So good luck, and feel free to let us know which model you think is the best and why! Perhaps you have some experience with a specific brand and/or type of small tractor for small acreage? We would love to know!