kemartin3
Bronze Member
Sizing tractor for 5\' bush hog
Well I've read Muhammad's book 2-3 times, and web pages till my eyes are crossed, talked to several folks I know, and made LOTS of trips to the dealers to look at different models; and I think I've got the list narrowed down. But before I really head down the purchase path, I'd like to submit my specs to The Collective and see what y'all think.
I suppose a little background is in order.
1. I've never owned a tractor.
2. My wife an I are in the process of purchasing 50 acres in S.W Virginia where we live.
3. Of that 50 acres, about 25-30 acres are in existing pasture/hay field. The rest will remain native woods. The fields have good, thick grass. I don't plan to hay them, though neighbors with the similar fields do. I just plan to mow (bush hog) them. They will be home to our two horses.
4. I plan to use the tractor to mow the fields, clean out the barn stalls, drag the riding ring, maintain about 700-1000 feet of gravel driveway, install fence posts, and the various landcaping and "movin' dirt around" kind of stuff that comes up on a farmette.
5. A NH/Massey dealer is the big player in my area. We have a couple of Kubota dealers within a reasonable distance, another NH/Massey dealer, and a couple of JD dealers. But the one dealer is about twice the size of anyone else. They are also the one closest to our property. They have good looking parts and service departments, and my two interactions with the sales folks have been very positive. A farmer friend of my wife's does business with them, and is positive about them. All good marks.
6. Based on my research, it appears that a tractor in the 30-35 engine HP range with a 5' rotary cutter is probably the best fit. A 6' cutter would be nice, but the reponses I've gotten about putting a 6' cutter on a 30-35 HP tractor have been luke warm, and the price of going to a bigger tractor is just prohibitive. Because my fields are already established, a light weight cutter seems like it will be sufficient. About the toughest thing I will hit is some berry vines growing along the edge of the field. Because my wife (small person) will also be using the tractor, I can't go for one of the big old monsters (e.g., MF 240) that are around. We need power steering, synchro selector or better transmission, live or better PTO, wet brakes, FEL....
7. A major item to me is to ensure that the design of the tractor is sturdy enough to run a 5' hog for years without damaging the tractor. No use in buying something that will get torn up in a few years. Unless something unexpected happens, this tractor should do everything I will ever need to do with on property. Yea, yea, I can hear the chuckles. I've ridden motorcycles all my life, so I'm very clear about the difference between "needing a new tractor" and "wanting a new tractor."
What my research has turned up is that
1. The second tier of brands (e.g., Long, TAFE) just aren't represented enough in my area to be viable.
2. The little Masseys (e.g., 1240, 1250) don't fit me. The levers hit me in the knees and are behind my legs. So they are out.
3. The little Deeres (e.g., 4300, 4400) crowd the levers too close to sides of the seat for me. So unless I was to turn up a great deal on one, they are probably out too.
4. I've gotten sizings/quotes from two major I'net Kubota dealers, and they both recommend a L3410 (34 HP) over a L3010 (30 HP). I'm not considering an L3000 (30 HP econo) because I want the mid-size frame, and the L3000 is built on the small frame.
5. The NH dealer feels that both the TC33D (33HP) and TC30 (30 HP econo) are a good fit for my requirements. The fit of the TC30 is OK, but I can easily appreciate the added creature comforts of the TC33D. So for the NH line, that is probably my fist choice. Well, actually a TC35D would be, but that money issue comes up again.
6. If I could find a good, clean, used Ford 1920 (33 HP) the search would be over. Because it is built on a bigger, heavier frame, it would seem to be an almost perfect fit. But unfortunately, good, clean examples appear to be hard to find. Would seem that others share the same opinion I have come to.
Well there you have it, the rest of the story. Now, what I'm hoping you will be so kind as to do, is to provide me a sanity check.
Have you run a 5' hog on this class of machine? Especially any of the current or reasonably current Kubota or NH models.
Will they cut thick grass at a reasonable rate? I won't be doing this for a living, so I am willing to slow down a little, but I don't want to have to go at 1 MPH.
Will they handle running a 5' hog for a long time without damaging the tractor?
Any other salient thoughts are always appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Well I've read Muhammad's book 2-3 times, and web pages till my eyes are crossed, talked to several folks I know, and made LOTS of trips to the dealers to look at different models; and I think I've got the list narrowed down. But before I really head down the purchase path, I'd like to submit my specs to The Collective and see what y'all think.
I suppose a little background is in order.
1. I've never owned a tractor.
2. My wife an I are in the process of purchasing 50 acres in S.W Virginia where we live.
3. Of that 50 acres, about 25-30 acres are in existing pasture/hay field. The rest will remain native woods. The fields have good, thick grass. I don't plan to hay them, though neighbors with the similar fields do. I just plan to mow (bush hog) them. They will be home to our two horses.
4. I plan to use the tractor to mow the fields, clean out the barn stalls, drag the riding ring, maintain about 700-1000 feet of gravel driveway, install fence posts, and the various landcaping and "movin' dirt around" kind of stuff that comes up on a farmette.
5. A NH/Massey dealer is the big player in my area. We have a couple of Kubota dealers within a reasonable distance, another NH/Massey dealer, and a couple of JD dealers. But the one dealer is about twice the size of anyone else. They are also the one closest to our property. They have good looking parts and service departments, and my two interactions with the sales folks have been very positive. A farmer friend of my wife's does business with them, and is positive about them. All good marks.
6. Based on my research, it appears that a tractor in the 30-35 engine HP range with a 5' rotary cutter is probably the best fit. A 6' cutter would be nice, but the reponses I've gotten about putting a 6' cutter on a 30-35 HP tractor have been luke warm, and the price of going to a bigger tractor is just prohibitive. Because my fields are already established, a light weight cutter seems like it will be sufficient. About the toughest thing I will hit is some berry vines growing along the edge of the field. Because my wife (small person) will also be using the tractor, I can't go for one of the big old monsters (e.g., MF 240) that are around. We need power steering, synchro selector or better transmission, live or better PTO, wet brakes, FEL....
7. A major item to me is to ensure that the design of the tractor is sturdy enough to run a 5' hog for years without damaging the tractor. No use in buying something that will get torn up in a few years. Unless something unexpected happens, this tractor should do everything I will ever need to do with on property. Yea, yea, I can hear the chuckles. I've ridden motorcycles all my life, so I'm very clear about the difference between "needing a new tractor" and "wanting a new tractor."
What my research has turned up is that
1. The second tier of brands (e.g., Long, TAFE) just aren't represented enough in my area to be viable.
2. The little Masseys (e.g., 1240, 1250) don't fit me. The levers hit me in the knees and are behind my legs. So they are out.
3. The little Deeres (e.g., 4300, 4400) crowd the levers too close to sides of the seat for me. So unless I was to turn up a great deal on one, they are probably out too.
4. I've gotten sizings/quotes from two major I'net Kubota dealers, and they both recommend a L3410 (34 HP) over a L3010 (30 HP). I'm not considering an L3000 (30 HP econo) because I want the mid-size frame, and the L3000 is built on the small frame.
5. The NH dealer feels that both the TC33D (33HP) and TC30 (30 HP econo) are a good fit for my requirements. The fit of the TC30 is OK, but I can easily appreciate the added creature comforts of the TC33D. So for the NH line, that is probably my fist choice. Well, actually a TC35D would be, but that money issue comes up again.
6. If I could find a good, clean, used Ford 1920 (33 HP) the search would be over. Because it is built on a bigger, heavier frame, it would seem to be an almost perfect fit. But unfortunately, good, clean examples appear to be hard to find. Would seem that others share the same opinion I have come to.
Well there you have it, the rest of the story. Now, what I'm hoping you will be so kind as to do, is to provide me a sanity check.
Have you run a 5' hog on this class of machine? Especially any of the current or reasonably current Kubota or NH models.
Will they cut thick grass at a reasonable rate? I won't be doing this for a living, so I am willing to slow down a little, but I don't want to have to go at 1 MPH.
Will they handle running a 5' hog for a long time without damaging the tractor?
Any other salient thoughts are always appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
