I found a brand new Bobcat (made by Kioti) I've been very happy with it. It was by far the cheapest "new" tractor w loader I could find. It's still under warranty, etc.. I only get to the farm on weekends, and I'm not the most mechanical individual. I didn't want to be drinking around with the tractor all weekend, when I finally got up there. You can still get a Kioti, that would fit under your budget. I do a lot of mowing with the brush hog, have made some trails through the woods using a box blade, and the loader. Hauled a lot of gravel also with the loader. I did fill the rear tires with beet juice. It made a huge difference on stability with the loader full. It's got four wheel drive, but that just means when I get it stuck, it's really stuck..
12 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep. RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (decreasing), SMB, and HSB (only two have been seen in 5 yrs) I think that's about all I should put in my little pond. Otter attack in 2023.
