Looking for a Ford for 4 acres - Vineyard

[theedudenator]

I will be buying 4 acres of property.
I will eventually be planting a vineyard on some of it.

I know I will need a post hole digger for a fence, grape trellis and fruit trees

I would also like to mow with the tractor, between the rows.

At some point in time I would like to spread and fill the barn with gravel on the floor.

I was looking at the 9N and 8N, but someone I know has one with poor hydraulics.

Do the 600 series offer better hydraulics?

I was also looking at the compact tractors, 1620. But they do not seem to be as robust and the price climbs the newer I get.

Any suggestions?

 

[jinman]

Do the 600 series offer better hydraulics?

I was also looking at the compact tractors, 1620. But they do not seem to be as robust and the price climbs the newer I get.

Any suggestions?

The short answer is yes. The 600 series tractors have improved hydraulics and the hydraulic pump is located externally on the engine instead of inside the hydraulic reservoir. That means the hydraulics are "live" and do not require the clutch to be released to operate. The 600 is also an overhead valve engine.

If your budget is around $3,000, then you are limited in your selections. An older gasoline model 2wd tractor may be your only choice. If you go to $5000, your options will bring you a more robust diesel, but probably still only 2wd. If you approach $10,000 then you can find a 4wd tractor with a loader or a larger 2wd tractor with a loader. I believe you will soon find that a loader would be extremely useful in your vineyard, but your budget may be too restrictive for that right now.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[theedudenator]

Do all of the 600 series have better hydraulics?
Because I see some shown with Live PTO.

If it is not a Live PTO, then is it the same as the 8N?

 

[jinman]

Do all of the 600 series have better hydraulics?
Because I see some shown with Live PTO.

If it is not a Live PTO, then is it the same as the 8N?

The PTO on a 600 or any other Ford of that genre is not run by hydraulics. Live PTO has to do with a two-stage clutch that allows independent operation of the PTO and transmission.

Since the hydraulic pump on the 600 is located on the engine. The 3PH can operate anytime the engine is running no matter whether the transmission is in neutral or in gear and no matter if the PTO is engaged or not. If you lift the 3PH lever on a running 600, the 3PH lifts. That is not true on a 9N or 8N. If the clutch it depressed on them, input power to the hydraulic pump is interrupted. The 3PH will not lift.

 

[theedudenator]

So then any of the 600 series will do what I need to do...
Or actually the 800 series

What about the NAA and Jubilee models? Are they the same as the 8N?

 

[Soundguy]

A NAA is essentially a 600 ( 640 ) with upgraded axle seals.

If it was me, I'd get a 660 / 661 as it will have live pto in addition tot he live hyds.

Same with an 860 / 861

Finding power steering is -possible- on the 600/800.. and mor elikely on the 601/801.

the NAA and 6XX are about 32 hp, and the 8xx are about 48 hp... the 9n/2n/8n is about 27 hp..

soundguy

 

[TractorChick]

How much PTO horsepower do you need?

I just took a little 4WD hydro NH 1520 in trade, and I'm probably not allowed to advertise on this site, so I won't, but if 23 hp with a loader might work for you, PM me.

That's not a blatant advertisement, right, fellas?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

How many acres are you planning on planting? How are you going to spray? With both vineyards and orchards spraying is one of the most important step. You will want to choose a tractor to work with the sprayer you want to use. I know from experience a Ford 1920 will work the size farm you are talking without any problems. I wouldn't want to go any smaller then that. I also have a Ford 640 and I dispise it for in the vineyard. I think a 650 would be a better option as it has a better transmission. However, ideally you would buy yourself a nice 3910 or 3930 narrow and not worry about it.

But as I said, your biggest item to dictate what tractor you need will be your sprayer, the 3910/3930 will handle 100 gallon 3pt air blast sprayers as well as 400 gallon pull type without any problem. The 640 and 1920 will be light on the front with a 100 gallon air blast sprayer hooked to the 3pt hitch. The 1920 will handle it on flat ground and I never tried mine on the 640 but I fear it wouldn't handle it very well.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The short answer is yes. The 600 series tractors have improved hydraulics and the hydraulic pump is located externally on the engine instead of inside the hydraulic reservoir. That means the hydraulics are "live" and do not require the clutch to be released to operate. The 600 is also an overhead valve engine.

If your budget is around $3,000, then you are limited in your selections. An older gasoline model 2wd tractor may be your only choice. If you go to $5000, your options will bring you a more robust diesel, but probably still only 2wd. If you approach $10,000 then you can find a 4wd tractor with a loader or a larger 2wd tractor with a loader. I believe you will soon find that a loader would be extremely useful in your vineyard, but your budget may be too restrictive for that right now.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

I found the loader to be a huge hinderance in the vineyard and orchard 99% of the time. In fact, the loader on my 1920 has been sitting in front of one of my barns every since I went back to work. It is useless in narrow rows as it can catch vines and cause a lot of damage, in the orchard if you are mowing it will easily damage a tree if you are not extremely careful 100% of the time. Even putting a vineyard in doesn't have a lot of use for a loader. The only real use for a loader in a vineyard or orchard is for fixing the lanes (bringing stone in to fill holes) or using forks to load bins on and off of trucks and trailers if you don't have an off road forklift.

 

[theedudenator]

I have a Ford 2000 and 3000 that are for sale in my price local to me.
I am guessing there would be nothing wrong with these either.
the 2000 is gas and the 3000 is diesel.

My grapes and trees will only be on 2 acres - this is for personal consumption.
I would not image I would need a large sprayer for this?

I would like the loader to finish some landscaping and spreading gravel in the barn and drive.. I was not planning on using the loader after that.

I guess I could just use a rear bucket to spread the gravel - which I have free access too.