New Farm and Need a Tractor..

chaded · Jan 12, 2018

Hey guys, my wife and I just bought a farm back in October and I am going to be needing a tractor. The previous owner had two tractors and left one for his dad which is a real close neighbor (has a little lot carved out of my property) and he gave me a key to it and I use whenever but I would like to get my own.

We have 257 acres. I have a 30 acre hayfield and i have a pasture (so beef related tasks). My driveway is very long and uphill and needs to be plowed. I also burn wood for heat so I will need it for trees and whatnot. I will also put food plots in and do some bush-hogging. The property is in southeast ohio and is really hilly.

Dealers close to me are Massey Ferguson, John Deere, and New Holland so I would like to keep it to those three. I would like to keep price around 30-45k and get something used? I was hoping you guys could get me going on the right track with which models I should be looking at.

Thanks!

gersus · Jan 12, 2018

Welcome to TBN!
Will you be baling hay or needing to lift/carry round bales?
You're gonna be busy with your tractor so I'd get a nice one, and definitely with a cab.
Many of New Holland tractors are made by LS. You can buy a LS for quite a bit cheaper and they're great tractors. There's a dealer in Bremen, Foltz Ag and Diesel service is thats close to you.

I would want a 50+hp tractor. Maybe a LS XR4155C unless you're gonna be haying. Then a LS XU model. There's lots of other great tractors though from Kubota like a MX, or a 5 series JD.

jaxs · Jan 12, 2018

When it come's to which brand is best,flipping a coin or asking your barber beat's asking on a public forum. Asking which brand used is three times as problematic. If the neighbor was kind enough to lend his tractor,he will be happy to help chose a tractor to suit your needs. Point is that judging used cars and tractors is an art that take's years of experience and can't be taught through posts on the net. I use those in my sig,if I thought there were better choices I would have bought them instead.

chaded · Jan 12, 2018

gersus said:
Welcome to TBN!
Will you be baling hay or needing to lift/carry round bales?
You're gonna be busy with your tractor so I'd get a nice one, and definitely with a cab.
Many of New Holland tractors are made by LS. You can buy a LS for quite a bit cheaper and they're great tractors. There's a dealer in Bremen, Foltz Ag and Diesel service is thats close to you.

I would want a 50+hp tractor. Maybe a LS XR4155C unless you're gonna be haying. Then a LS XU model. There's lots of other great tractors though from Kubota like a MX, or a 5 series JD.

Thanks, gersus. I will eventually need the tractor to bail and lift bails. As far as the LS, I have looked a little bit and there’s nothing close as far as i know.

chaded · Jan 12, 2018

jaxs said:
When it come's to which brand is best,flipping a coin or asking your barber beat's asking on a public forum. Asking which brand used is three times as problematic. If the neighbor was kind enough to lend his tractor,he will be happy to help chose a tractor to suit your needs. Point is that judging used cars and tractors is an art that take's years of experience and can't be taught through posts on the net. I use those in my sig,if I thought there were better choices I would have bought them instead.

I’m not asking which brand is best or which brand used. I gave the three brands to choose from because that is the only thing I know of close that I might have support if I need it? The previous owner has a new JD Deere 5100e that he barely even used and a Massey 243 (that im/his dad) uses.

I get your point though and I do have someone experienced with tractors I plan to talk to and hopefully get to take with me. Just thought i would get some reccomendations from here on some models to look for, assuming they are in good condition.

jeff9366 · Jan 12, 2018

chaded said:
My wife and I bought a farm in October. Therefore, I need a tractor.

The previous owner had two tractors and left one for his dad which is a real close neighbor (has a little lot carved out of my property) and he gave me a key to it and I use whenever but I would like to get my own.

Tell us the brand and model of the tractor you access and how it meets your perceived needs. Does it have a Loader? Is it 4-WD?

Give us some detail what is growing on the balance of your your 257 acres, beside the 30 acre hay field.

jeff9366 · Jan 12, 2018

chaded said:
The previous owner has a new JD Deere 5100e that he barely even used and a Massey 243 (that im/his dad) uses.

Massey Ferguson 243

1999 - 2003 200 Three Series
Utility tractor

Manufacturer: Massey Ferguson
Factory: Coventry, England
Original price (USD): $20,050 (2003)

Massey Ferguson 243 Engine:
Perkins 2.7L 3-cyl diesel
full engine details ...

Capacity:
Fuel: 12.7 gal [48.1 L]
Hydraulic system: 8.5 gal [32.2 L]

3-Point Hitch:
Rear Type: II/I

Power Take-off (PTO):
Rear PTO: live (two-stage clutch)
independent (optional)
Rear RPM: 540

Dimensions & Tires:
2WD Wheelbase: 75.1 inches [190 cm]
4WD Wheelbase: 76.1 inches [193 cm]
Weight: 5045 to 5130 pounds
Front tire: 6.00-16
Rear tire: 13.6-28

Massey Ferguson 243 Power:
Engine: 52 hp [38.8 kW]
PTO (claimed): 47 hp [35.0 kW]
Drawbar (tested): 37.7 hp [28.1 kW]
PTO (tested): 47.6 hp [35.5 kW]

Mechanical:
Chassis: 4x2 2WD
4x4 MFWD 4WD
Steering: hydrostatic power
Brakes: independent wet disc
Cab: Two-post folding ROPS.

Hydraulics:
Capacity: 8.5 gal [32.2 L]
Pump flow: 9.5 gpm [36.0 lpm]
13.9 gpm [52.6 lpm] (optional)
Total flow: 9.5 gpm [36.0 lpm]
13.9 gpm [52.6 lpm] optional

chaded · Jan 12, 2018

jeff9366 said:
Tell us the brand and model of the tractor you access and how it meets your perceived needs. Does it have a Loader? Is it 4-WD?

Give us some detail what is growing on the balance of your your 257 acres, beside the 30 acre hay field.

160 something is woodland (mostly big hardwoods), pasture, hayfield, some other open areas that I will put i to food plots (clover, turnips, etc.)

chaded · Jan 12, 2018

jeff9366 said:
Massey Ferguson 243

1999 - 2003 200 Three Series
Utility tractor

Manufacturer: Massey Ferguson
Factory: Coventry, England
Original price (USD): $20,050 (2003)

Massey Ferguson 243 Engine:
Perkins 2.7L 3-cyl diesel
full engine details ...

Capacity:
Fuel: 12.7 gal [48.1 L]
Hydraulic system: 8.5 gal [32.2 L]

3-Point Hitch:
Rear Type: II/I

Power Take-off (PTO):
Rear PTO: live (two-stage clutch)
independent (optional)
Rear RPM: 540

Dimensions & Tires:
2WD Wheelbase: 75.1 inches [190 cm]
4WD Wheelbase: 76.1 inches [193 cm]
Weight: 5045 to 5130 pounds
Front tire: 6.00-16
Rear tire: 13.6-28

Massey Ferguson 243 Power:
Engine: 52 hp [38.8 kW]
PTO (claimed): 47 hp [35.0 kW]
Drawbar (tested): 37.7 hp [28.1 kW]
PTO (tested): 47.6 hp [35.5 kW]

Mechanical:
Chassis: 4x2 2WD
4x4 MFWD 4WD
Steering: hydrostatic power
Brakes: independent wet disc
Cab: Two-post folding ROPS.

Hydraulics:
Capacity: 8.5 gal [32.2 L]
Pump flow: 9.5 gpm [36.0 lpm]
13.9 gpm [52.6 lpm] (optional)
Total flow: 9.5 gpm [36.0 lpm]
13.9 gpm [52.6 lpm] optional

The Massey 243 was/is not used here for all the things I will be. I’m not saying it’s not capable but they didn’t use it for all of that. Someone else did the hay and they didnt move heavy trees around. I was thinking something bigger?