I also agree with get as big as you can afford. You can NEVER have too much tractor, excavator, boat, airplane, truck, or burn pile!!
This is a topic about which I've had some strong discussions. Bigger is not always better. I've downsized, and downsized some more. My little 4 cylinder 4WD truck does everything I need, plus I can park it in a parking lot when I go to town.
My other "pickup" is an old Ford F-700 dump truck. It gets used about six times a year. My pickup gets used everyday.
I'll take my kayak and canoes any day over a power boat.
My 13 HP side-by-side UTV, with Continuously Variable Transmission, 400 lb. capacity dump bed, 1100 lb. trailer towing capacity, snow plow, winch, etc., does everything I need. I don't need a fuel injected 40 HP machine that can outrun the Dukes of Hazzard.
I've got my little 23 HP 4WD diesel tractor, and anytime I want it, I've got access to a 65 HP 4WD, with a cab. Both have front-end loaders.
I find that my little 23 HP tractor is far more versatile and useful, for what I do, than the 65 HP tractor. I can't drive the big tractor into anywhere near the places I can drive the little tractor. For road grading and snow plowing, I far prefer the smaller tractor with a 7' blade over the big tractors with a 9-foot blade.
My main garden area is 50' x 100' foot. It can easily be plowed with the little tractor and a single bottom plow. It is darn near impossible to plow that small area with the big tractor and a three bottom plow. Same for my brush hog mower.
I also agree 100% with what ESSHUP says above. I wouldn't recommend a 3-pt. log splitter. It really restricts you when you are cutting and splitting firewood. Kind of like having the backhoe on the tractor when you want to do something else.
The idea of renting several pieces is by far one of the best ways to figure out what you want.
Your much younger twin,
Ken
