foreman Etexas
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2011
- Messages
- 3,338
- Location
- texas
- Tractor
- Kubota (2010)M7040,(2012)M7040,New Holland(2004)TL100
I've been tractor shopping for almost a year now. Looked at most major brands new and used. I'm leaning toward the Mahindra and in particular the 5525. I'm still new to tractors, though I've managed to pick up a few things along the way of this year long quest.
I think I need something north of 50 engine horsepower to mow about 50, mostly flat acres and to groom and snowblow a long driveway. I picked up an MF model 41, 7' sickle bar mower this past summer and plan to purchase a brush hog and box blade along with the tractor. The FEL, and blower will likely come later as I feel like I'm biting off quite a bit at this point as it is.
I've been undecided about whether or not 4WD is necessary. I plan to keep the tractor for the duration so my sense of it is, if 2wd does the job, resale won't be an issue. But while the added cost of 4wd is significant, I don't want to lean too hard on cost and get something that's not completely up to the tasks at hand. I'm very comfortable operating the manual gear transmission.
My next door neighbor farms a few hundred acres of potato and grain. He says absolutely no need for 4WD. What say you?
TIA.
What size tractors is he using? I am going to guess north of 80hp,totally different tractors(frame size,weight) than a 50hp. I mean you could move up to a 80/90/100 hp and 2wd may serve you well. Just curious what he is running for your him to say no need in it. We have used 2wd on the farm for along time and got by yes but now only run 4wd and like said may not use it all the time but the times you do NEED it,it is there. For loader work it makes it so much better,were sometimes we get the front tires down into a hole and couldnt back out would have to dump load and use bucket to push yourself out,4wd just backs out. And were we would have to get a running start to get under hay bale(3point) in the sand and then turning sometimes the front tires on the 2wd would kinda slid on top of ground,these 4wd just turn. I think that the best thing I can see from moving to the 4wd's is the ease of the everyday farming duties,with less ground impack in areas before.
I cant say you need one in your area but just hearing using loader and snow blowing,I think it would benefit having it. But you will always have a neighbor that can pull you out if needed