Advice re: New Holland/Mahindra/Deere

[GaryCrowell]

Go bigger and skip the industrial tires, they're for mowing lawns. For everything else you need ag tires.

[knute_m]

Originally Posted by GaryCrowell

. . . skip the industrial tires, they're for mowing lawns. For everything else you need ag tires.

Whoa! I'm glad some of my friends don't know that. My next door neighbor has a Case 580K loader/backhoe and a Case skid steer. Poor devil doesn't even have a mower for either one and they've both got what appear to be R4s.

For where we live, in the mountains of West Virginia, I find that the industrial tires do a much better job in the woods than ags. Where I'm at we have a lot more sandy loam and rock, than we have clay. Your terrain doesn't sound that much different from ours. They don't tear things up as bad. For loader work and for grading they are just fine too. And they certainly don't tear up the lawn like ags.

Back on subject ... the seat time that others talked about is probably the very most important thing in determining which tractor to go with. If you are going to be using it in the woods, get down on your hands and knees and look hard at the underside. Look especially at the front-end to make sure the axle is sturdy, and the steering arms, ball joints, etc., are well protected.

For what you described as far as mowing, grading, moving rocks, etc., a 30 hp tractor certainly would be very adequate. I skid a lot of pretty good size logs with a little 20 hp - without a skidding winch (I use a modified carry-all, and when necessary, a come-along). Before that, I was using a 17 hp 4wd machine with very aggressive ags. For the few things I can't handle, I've got neighbors, and it seems like I am frequently a storage lot for tractors in transition.

Good luck,
Knute

[dmp437]

I would start by sitting on them and comparing ergonomics, which is "easier" to use? I would also get the tires filled with www.rimguard.biz which has the benefits of CaCl with none of the downsides.

[birdseye]

Thanks to all who posted reponses to this thread. Let me update you on my decision process after following the advice you've given.

I rejected the TC30. The front end did not seem to be built as strudy as the others.

I really thought I would end up with the Mahindra 3215 HST. However, when I sat on it and drove it the forward and backward pedals were too close together for my big size 13 foot.

Now it's between a Kubota 3400 HST and a JD 4120 w/ eHydro.

In terms of tires, I'm leaning toward industrials filled with water & windshield washer solution.

Any other input or thoughts?

Thanks again! This is a great discussion site.

[IH3444]

Sounding like you'll onto the right trail partner.

[wolc123]

It sounds like you are at high altitude there. If this is true, the turbocharged 4120 would be the better choice since it will still deliver full power. Non-turbo engines may lose 20% of their power at higher altitudes. The 4120 is a fine machine, I have about 100 hrs on mine with no problems. Although mine is gear, it sounds like the single pedal hydro control on the Deere is a little easier to use as it permits the use of steering brakes with your other foot. This will make it a little easer to move around in the woods.

[daTeacha]

Regarding the tires: R4 or industrial tires are a compromise tread pattern, but are built on a tougher carcass than either the R1 Ag tread or the turf tread. The R4 will not give the best traction in dirt, but will handle rocks and rough terrain with less chance of damage than the Ags. They will not be as easy on lawn or turf as tires designed for mowing, but will give much better traction in loose soil. They will load up with mud more easily than Ag tires, but not as quickly as turf tires. They look tough and rugged, give a slightly decreased ground clearance and a bit more flotation than the Ags. They are very popular in the compact tractor segment.

Let your planned jobs be your guide as to size. Don't think in terms of logging the whole 96 acres unless that's what you want to do. If you just want to maintain the driveway and nearby areas, maybe some trails, that is not too much for a 30 - 35 hp machine. If you plan to be moving large logs and rocks around, then think bigger. Ask the dealer about showing you how big a rock one of the tractors can handle. Rocks are deceptively heavy, especially the igneous ones out in your area. I can easily overload my DX29 loader with glacial drift -- granite, basalt, stuff like that, but it will quite happily carry a full bucket of #57 limestone. Logs can be tricky. Think in terms of lifting one end and dragging them rather than carrying them around. The dumbell effect of a long heavy log carried on the loader is pretty impressive, and can easily make your life more exciting than you might like.

[birdseye]

wolc123

Unfortunately, our elevation is onlynabout 1800'. Wish we were higher, we won't have so darn much poison oak!

DaTeacha

Great input on the tires and tractor size. From your response, I'm guessing you teach geology.

Where is Funk, Ohio? When I was a kid I spent summers on my grandparents farm between Fredericktown and Chesterville.



Thank you both for your responses!

[birdseye]

Well, I finally did it! I bought the JD 4120 w/400X fel, 448 bh, a 7' bb and a Farmi skiding winch. The tires are filled R4s.

Thanks for all of the input to help me make my decision! Hopefully, you will help me figure out how to use this great new tool I have.

This is a great site! Thanks again!

[ridgerunnerinwv]

Originally Posted by knute_m

For where we live, in the mountains of West Virginia, I find that the industrial tires do a much better job in the woods than ags. Where I'm at we have a lot more sandy loam and rock, than we have clay.Knute

I live in Wood County WV and I had the R-4's on my tractor the 1st winter I owned my tractor and I spend a lot of time in the woods and those R-4 tires just plain sucked as far as I am concerned, as soon as I got the $$$ together I went an bought the R-1 and removed the R-4's and the R-4's are in the barn gathering dust for the 3rd year in a row. I will take an R-1 AG tire ANY day of the week over the R-4's ,sand, loam,rock and red clay for serious traction.When I bought the tractor new it had the R-4 tires on it and I cussed the tires all winter the 1st and only year I ran the R-4's. Those R-4's would load up with mud and it was like I had slicks on all 4 wheels. The R-1s give you more clearance,when I installed the R-1's the tractor set higher it was like I moved up to a bigger tractor. I could never skid timber out of the woods or go the places with the R-4's that I can with the R-1's.
I put about 400 hours a year on my tractor.