Implement Decision

[hunterridgefarm]

I am in need of a PHD, 2 bottom plow, and field cultivator. i have a Kubota 3130, 31-32HP. My plan is to buy 50 HP tractor this spring ( TN60, 5225, M5040).

I need implements now but if I buy for the 3130 will they be to small for a 50 hp tractor?

The PHD should not be a problem.

I was thinking 2-14 bottom plow for 3130; will this be to small for 50HP?

6' field cultivator is about the max for the 3130; would 6' work ok on 50 HP?

The soil in my aera is mostly red clay, however the 4-5 ac I will be plowing is river bottom sandy soil. I currently plant around 1000-1500 pumpkins, Indian corn, fall festival type crops that I sell and donate some to youth group at church for fund raiser.

Now you may be saying, why not go ahead and buy the 50 HP?
There is a possilility I will be buying a used dozer to clear a few acres and make some access roads. If I decide to buy the dozer I will put off buying the bigger tractor for about another year. This being the estimated time I think it will take me to clear 4-5 acres and cut access roads. ( And the wife says I can't have both /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif). I my also put off buying the dozer since we are building a house this year and I have plenty to keep me busy now...decisions, decisions.

My other option is to make do with what I have, single 16 bottom and 6' disc until I can MAKE A DECISION /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Let me throw out my .02$.. with this disclaimer... none of it may work out between your wallet and/ or/ wife.. but here it is anyway.

First.. 50 hp tractor? Though I'm a ford man.. have you looked at the JD 5103.. decent looking economy 50hp tractor.. southern jd dealers are offering all kinds of incentives.. etc...

Now.. that said. Have you considered a used 50 hp tractor. You can save thousands even if they are only 1-2 years old. might be the difference in having 2 tractors vs 1 tractor, if you get good enough deal.

I had a nice minty NH 1920 ( 33hp ).. and needed a bigger tractor to mow with... traded it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif at wifes urging, and got a 95hp 7610s .. It's a great tractor.. but.. won't do what that little 33hp did.. namely.. get into tight spots. I now have to rely on my antique tractors to do the small chores. In retrospect.. i should have kept the 1920 and either paid the extra for the 7610s.. or got a slightly smaller 'big' tractor .. etc.

( used ag tractors go int he 3500andup $$ range all the time around here.. might investigate that. ).

Your 33hp will pull 2 bottom fine.. if it was sandy.. might pull 3 .. draft controll would be nice.. but a good hand on the lift controll and position control is ok for plowing.

50hp ought to rip 3 bottoms thru hard pack clay like no tomorrow.. might do 4 bottoms in sandy environment.

Perhaps you could get a 3 bottom and remove a moldboard?

If you do get a 2 bottom.. consider an antique.. IMHO.. they are built way better than modern plows.

Soundguy

 

[Birdhunter1]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you do get a 2 bottom.. consider an antique.. IMHO.. they are built way better than modern plows )</font>

OH YEAH!

Those older implements are made much tougher.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Soundguy,

The 5103 is a good buy and tractor, however I need MFWD and shift-on-the-go.

I am checking the Agri sale papers I get for a 2-bottom, antique is fine since most of my implements fall into that catagory now.

A used tractor in the 50-60 hp is a good idea except I have 4 tractors now and there is no way I could talk the boss into a dozer and another tractor. I will most likely sell the 600 and 3130 when I get the bigger tractor.

My main concern was buying implements that were not too big for the 32hp nor too small for a 50 hp.

Thanks for the reply

 

[5103Owner]

I have a old 2-bottom horse drawn plow that was converted to a 3pt hitch, works great, a heavy plow for a two bottom. Lady gave it to me for free, just had to pull it out of a thorn bush. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you do get a 2 bottom.. consider an antique.. IMHO.. they are built way better than modern plows. )</font>

Chris,
I picked up this old JD 2 bottom pull type plows in poor looking shape for $50.
A few hours worth of repairs and painting and they are working and looking great.
(attached)

 

[Soundguy]

WoW! super nice pull plow.. I'd have jumped on that for 200$..

I paid 195 for my dearborn 10-1 2-12 bottms plow... Those old plows had better frame strength than modern ones in the same price range..

Soundguy

 

[Tarheelman]

Hunterridgefarm,

I agree that a 50hp tractor should not be a problem for any of the implements you described. Probably overkill, if anything. Any particular reason for a 50hp? The TN60 is rated about 55hp. If your looking at NH, what about a TC48 or 55 or something comparable in other makes? That wouldn't be so much overkill for your existing implements and likely a break on price.

Generally everyone wants to go bigger, but that's not always necessarily the best choice. I was in a similar situation and had implements for a Ford 3000 and replaced it with a TC48. Although I haven't had a chance to use it a lot (25 hrs), but I think the implements I have (i.e. 2 16" bottom plow, six ft blade, 8ft disc harrow) will work great.

Just a suggestion.

Tarheelman
TC48DA

 

[Varmintmist]

Buy a old 2 bottom 3pt and the dozer.

Its only 4-5 ac and you dont need this to eat if you are planning on donating it.

Use the tractor you have. If you are looking to use the 2 bottom plow on the 50 HP tractor you are not going to gain anything because you still have to make the same number of passes. Once it has been plowed once, you are not going to have a problem moving the 2 bottom with the 30HP.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

("Any particular reason for a 50hp?")

Tarheelman,
My land ownership has went from 50 ac to 162 ac in the last couple of months. I will be clearing some of the woodland and planting the 4-5 ac bottom. My BIL has about 30-40 ac of pasture that connects my property and I may in a couple of years buy a small bailer and would like the utility size tractor for this and the larger tires on the utility tractors traverse the fields a little easier.
I will most likely hold off on the field cultivator and buy a larger one after I get the 50+hp. I will go ahead an buy the 2 bottom since I am in need of it now.

I have looked at the TC 48 and 55 but can buy the TN60 for about the same money, same goes for L5030 and M4900, or the 4720 and 5225. I did a thread a while back about large CUT's vs Small Utility. I need the bigger loader and will be buying a grapple for moving brush. But I will also need to transport the tractor to a 29 ac farm in another county 2-3 times a year so like Soundguy said it may be better to buy an older utility. That way I could keep the 3130 to transport easier to the other farm.

I am still looking at used Dozers and trying to decide exactly what will benefit me the most in my situation, hiring the dozer work, and buying a backhoe attachment for the Utility size or buying a older model TLB.

As of this Saturday I used a pole saw to trim low hanging limbs off the old road bed so as to not have them slapping me in the head as I use the FEL on the 3130 to clear the small white pines out of the way to the house site. My thinking that day was to hire the essential dozer work done when I have the basement dug which would be possibly cutting a new road into the building site. Once the house is built and landscaping is done then look at getting a dozer to clear 5-10 ac.