Buying Advice What size tractor do I "REALLY" need?

[namyessam]

Boy, after looking closely at Mahindra, I think I'm going to look a little closer. Like I said, I have a dealer close and although I still have the desire to buy "American"'' most of the tractors I have looked at in this size range are at least assembled and or manufactured overseas.

 

[texasjohn]

You "really" need 50hp as a bare minimum. Around 60 hp would give you some slack, extra capability.

I have a 50 hp Kubota 5030. A 6 foot bale on front spike makes rear end light...dangerous if no extra weight on it and careless driving. I start with one bale on rear fork...which can be handled without any problem with an unweighted front end...then spike a front bale as necessary. This front/rear duo can be carried at speed over regular pasture/fields and feel safe.

 

[flusher]

Just one bale of FEL and one on a rear spear.

Something the size of my 2008 Mahindra 5525 (55 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, partially synchronized tranny 8F/2R, power steering, triple rear hydraulic remotes) with the ML250 FEL (2950 lb lift at the bucket pins to 10.5 ft height) would handle your chores. The tractor weighs nearly 7000 lb with the FEL and rear tires loaded with fluid (water in my location, no worry about freezing). The 3pt hitch can lift over 3000 lb. Cost new: about $19K.

All of the major tractor manufacturers have equivalent models. Find a reliable dealer with good parts and service departments close to your place to start you quest.

Good luck.

 

[TSO]

I still have the desire to buy "American"'' ...

I don't know that ANY of them in these sizes are "American" anymore.

 

[dickedm]

Well, I found out that the hay that we have contracted out are 6' bales that weigh between 1,000-1,600 lbs. There is a used NH Workmaster 55 here locally that the dealer assured me would carry the weight on a FEL no problem safely. It has 1,000 hrs @ $19,500. But, which new Mahindra would be better suited to carry just one bale on the FEL and use a 6'-7' bush hog (not at same time of course) the 5035 or 5010?

 

[RPW]

You can find a JD 5083e fairly inexpensive on tractorhouse.com. My 2 cents would be that the 5083 should be the smallest size to get. Just because you can do the job with a smaller tractor doesn't mean you should. I've got a 5103 and can do what you want but many times I wish I had a larger machine to do it more efficiently and safer.

 

[tjkadar]

Most of what I do is move round bales, mow, and drag the riding arena. Miscellaneous is anything I can think of with a grapple, plant fence posts, spray chemicals, broadcast seed and fertilizers.

I started with a small 1956 Harry Ferguson. That was our first tractor and it was okay for a first machine. Next was a 32 hp machine with MFWD and a FEL. Better tractor until we moved away from square bales and started doing round bales. Next up was 60 hp open station tractor. After a few years of mowing in 100+ weather, we moved to a 83 hp cabbed tractor. Had that for 7 years (issues with support from the dealer and manufacturer) and finally ended up with a 90 hp tractor.

This beast is about as big as want to go for the size of our farm. It is capable of doing everything we need and still small enough to fit where it needs to go. A few more horses would have been nice. Running a 15 foot batwing mower would be nice, but more power means a bigger frame. A bigger frame is a larger tractor and maneuverability suffers.

Plan out what you intend to do today and in the future. Buy accordingly. I would rather err on the side of too large than too small.