Illinoisdmax
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2011
- Messages
- 79
- Tractor
- International 504
Howdy everyone, I'm really enjoying all the good feedback on this site!
I don't know how to make this post without gettin too complicated but here we go.
I'm gonna start off this spring makin hay for the first time on 10 acres of old horse pasture on my 52 acre property. I have another 20 tillable at this location that I currently lease out to a grain farmer. After taking the advice from some members here I've decided it would be best to start small and invest as little as possible doin this hay for now until I've learned the ropes a little better to move on to bigger things.
Here's my question. What should I be looking for in a good bailing tractor? Specific models would be nice. Green is out of the question, never been a Deere fan. I currently have an IH 2504, just a 504 utility model with a loader. I grew up with this machine and she's currently gettin an overhaul by me. It's a good little tractor but at 45 horse I can't do much but brush hog and haul around little things in the bucket. I don't know if its just lack of weight in the rear end or not but she just really can't push much.
So........ I'd love to have a tractor with a cab, but I'd also love to have somethin with a quicktach loader too. I'd like to keep my budget around 20k because I still have to buy hay implements.
Do I just stick it out with the 504 for utility work and find some way to improve its capability and for hay, just get an older 86 series that will only serve one purpose? Or do I look to invest in a nice AG/utility with a loader so I can finally let the old girl rest? Sorry for the long post.
I don't know how to make this post without gettin too complicated but here we go.
I'm gonna start off this spring makin hay for the first time on 10 acres of old horse pasture on my 52 acre property. I have another 20 tillable at this location that I currently lease out to a grain farmer. After taking the advice from some members here I've decided it would be best to start small and invest as little as possible doin this hay for now until I've learned the ropes a little better to move on to bigger things.
Here's my question. What should I be looking for in a good bailing tractor? Specific models would be nice. Green is out of the question, never been a Deere fan. I currently have an IH 2504, just a 504 utility model with a loader. I grew up with this machine and she's currently gettin an overhaul by me. It's a good little tractor but at 45 horse I can't do much but brush hog and haul around little things in the bucket. I don't know if its just lack of weight in the rear end or not but she just really can't push much.
So........ I'd love to have a tractor with a cab, but I'd also love to have somethin with a quicktach loader too. I'd like to keep my budget around 20k because I still have to buy hay implements.
Do I just stick it out with the 504 for utility work and find some way to improve its capability and for hay, just get an older 86 series that will only serve one purpose? Or do I look to invest in a nice AG/utility with a loader so I can finally let the old girl rest? Sorry for the long post.