Buying Advice Trade in skid steer for..?

[piaffepony]

My ex got to sell our skid steer in our divorce leaving me with a 2014 JD 5055 (i think). It didn’t have a loader which I use extensively, so I traded it in on a 2004 NH Ls170 Skid.

I bought 60 round bales from a guy who lives 25 min away. He had an assistant follow him with a second truck and trailer to bring their tractor to unload all the hay. Seems like an unnecessary hassle right? Holy cow! It got the job done in a fraction of the time vs. using my skid. It got me thinking... maybe a tractor would be better for my farm than a skid?

I LOVE my skid... so easy to drive and operate the loader at the same time. It can fit in some pretty tight spaces too. More available accessories and easy to hook up. I can get through gates a lot easier too.The downsides are...it’s slower than Christmas. My property is almost a mile long and can only carry one round bale at a time. I put out 15 - 20 bales a month. Other draw backs are: visibility when transporting bales and occasionally getting stuck in the mud (I’ve broken spikes trying to get myself unstuck.) Not to mention, the really cool accessories are way expensive.

The thing I hate about tractors? The **** clutch and backing to hook up implements. I’ve never had the easy 3 point hook up thingy so I don’t know how big of a difference it is. Help can be hard to come by when it comes to hooking that stuff up. My left leg is always sore after a day on the tractor. There are times when I need to put hay out, box blade arena and mow in the same day!

The benefits of a tractor though? I can carry 2 bales out in 1/4 of the time. I wouldn’t have to borrow the neighbor tractor to mow or box blade. I can get an auger for a fraction of the price..

Your thoughts?

 

[nybirdman]

How heavy are your bales?If you go to an HST tractor you won't have a clutch.Problem is you will need about the largest they make H.P.wise(60 or so) to handle your rounds.Another option is a power shuttle shift tractor.

 

[teg]

....The thing I hate about tractors? The **** clutch and backing to hook up implements...

HST (hydrostatic transmission), There have been a few around here with just the basic standard L's that lift big bales (put the 3ph on first) - might have to bump up the pressure a wee bit

Getting into tight spaces, that's a bit more tricky. Do you have to sell the skid steer to get the tractor?

 

[Tractorable]

I know people love their skid steers but I couldn't imagine the slow choppy ride over acres of fields, tearing up the grass with every turn, no PTO, super expensive hydraulically powered front implements, poor visibility, etc. Great for the construction site, but not well suited on a farm unless it serves a dedicated purpose, like tight loader work.

Yea man, either keep the skid steer and get a tractor (best option), or sell it and get a tractor with HST and enough size, weight and loader capacity to handle round bales.

 

[the old grind]

As a tireless HST advocate for most any tractor <50 hp, I urge you to seek a shuttle-shift and get the most of what you want. I say this expecting you to find the most variety and best deals in that category and 'size'.

Suppose SS and UT weight(s) and hp(s) are about the same. Balance and broader footprint favor the tractor for spearing/toting rounds, esp in pairs. Getting stuck may be less likely, tho' that's only a guess.

What Tractorable said about having both. :thumbsup:

Please say there might be a way for you to have both, ... soon enuf and w/o compromise. :tractor:

 

[piaffepony]

HST (hydrostatic transmission), There have been a few around here with just the basic standard L's that lift big bales (put the 3ph on first) - might have to bump up the pressure a wee bit

Getting into tight spaces, that's a bit more tricky. Do you have to sell the skid steer to get the tractor?

I’m not sure what “basic standard L’s” are?

I guess technically I don’t HAVE to sell the skid... BUT I don’t think I’d use it enough to justify the extra maintenance expense. Skids are also a pain to work on!

How common are hydraulic quick connect plates for tractor loaders? I’m lazy. I don’t want to have to climb out of my tractor to change buckets, forks etc... any idea on what this feature costs? Do they have auto leveling available for tractor loads?

Also, is the HST different from shuttle drive? Sorry for the stupid girl questions... I’m sad to say I’ve owned 6 tractors from an old 8N to a brand new 80hp NH but I’m not very familiar with all the options available. I know more about skid steers. I just want something that’s super easy to operate and maintain (because I have to do the maintenance by myself) and can move 2, 5x6’ round bales.

I’m not even sure what size I would need.. to buy new or used... what brand...(I’ve owned Massey Furgeson, David Brown, John Deere, New Holland). This was my ex’s department and this would be my first big girl tractor purchase flying solo lol. I’m assuming 50hp? I can’t remember if we moved 2 bales at a time with our other 50hp tractors... is that enough? After suffering through my ex playing goldie locks with many tractors, skids, trailers, UTV’s and welders, I subscribe to the buy once, cry once philosophy lol.

 

[piaffepony]

How heavy are your bales?If you go to an HST tractor you won't have a clutch.Problem is you will need about the largest they make H.P.wise(60 or so) to handle your rounds.Another option is a power shuttle shift tractor.

They are 5x6 coastal round bales.. so at least 1000 lbs each.

 

[Tigershark]

I have a Kioti and really like it, if I had to do over again I would have gotten the 60 HP HST. Mine came with a Skid Steer style quick disconnect bucket, I can swap my bucket for my pallet forks in just a couple of minutes. I think a 50 HP tractor could easily handle one up front and one on a spear in the rear.

 

[teg]

I’m not sure what “basic standard L’s” are?...

They are the bare bones, economical (cheap) ones vs. the Grand L's with all the bells and whistles attached.

I would wait on selling the skid steer in case it fills a niche that the tractor can't do. My sister has a horse business and ran it fine with an 8N... she has upgrade to a kubota with a front end loader (FEL).

hydraulic quick connect plates for tractor loaders? Yes they make them but it cost you some (not sure how much). "Lazy" and horses don't seem to go hand in hand...

HST and shuttle shift are two different transmissions, HST varies speed with how you push the pedal. Shuttle shift uses hydraulic fluid to depress the clutch for you (both saves the knees) Shuttle shift is a geared tractor made easier. HST is a little more precise (slowly creep into things) but you lose engine HP to ground engaging implements.

 

[ArmyDoc]

If you don't care for tractors, you might want to take a look at a compact telehandler. It has many of the advantages of a skid steer in terms of maneuverability, even better lift height, and a much higher ground speed. Check out Xfaxman's thread on the bobcat page for examples of what he does with his...