Tractor Sizing Looking for a tractor...

[jeff9366]

Our family farm is approximately 140 acres. We have larger tractors and bushhogs for the fields. Here's where I need advice. My parents have a house there and I'm building a house on the farm too. We'll have about 7 to 10 acres of land that we'd like to keep nicer looking than the fields. My yard, my parent's yard, driveway, common areas, etc. The land isn't flat, there are some steep areas so I don't think a zero turn would do it. Plus I'd like to have something with FEL to have in the winter for snow removal, rock, mulch, etc.

There are fences to think about, so that was making me lean more towards a pull behind finish mower instead of a midmount mower. It would be easier to get in corners with the pull behind, right? But on the flip side would the weight of the tractor smash the grass down where the pull behind mower wouldn't mow it as well as the midmount.

I drove my truck up and down the hill with my iPhone sitting on the center console. It showed to be anywhere between a 11 degree and 15 degree slope. I was holding it on its side. I guess that's accurate. When I was on flat ground it showed a zero.

Further OP background.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I wouldn't use a Kubota L3560 for 5x6 round bales. That's too much weight for that tractor. I sure wouldn't want to lift a 1,400 pound 5x6 bale off the top of a large stack with that tractor.

I'd be looking at something around 50hp - 60hp with a front end loader rated for a heavier lift capacity and a higher reach on the loader.

I know the OP said he would have a bale on the FEL spear and a bale on a 3 point spear, but I would sure want to be able to just haul a bale on the front from time to time. For that, you'll need a heavy tractor and you'll still want some type of ballast on the 3 point.

 

[gk527]

How high do you need to reach with the bale? Be sure the loader has that height. Do not forget where the bale is on the fel when you are checking that. Most people I know using fel to move round bales come into the bale about half way it's height so you are loosing some of the height of the loader if you do that.

Your hay guy uses a batwing mower for hay cuttings? Does that work well? Know the cutting will cut well but the crop being cut short by a mower deck compared to a mower that cuts the stalk and does not recut is why I am asking. Not saying it does not work, just never seen it done.

They don’t use a batwing for hay. I meant they have a batwing for areas that don’t get cut for hay. We also have a Ford 3000 and a 307 model Bushhog for getting tight spaces that cattle don’t go too often.

 

[gk527]

The highest I’d lift the bale is to get it in to a hay ring or off another bale. We only stack two high.

I think I would lean more towards the L5460 or L6060. But like I said before. I’m open to other brands besides Kubota.

I do need to check loader max reach.

 

[jeff9366]

The highest I'd lift the bale is to get it in to a hay ring or off another bale. We only stack two high.

I think I would lean towards the L5460 or L6060.

In that case, consider the MX 4800/5200/5800 series with LA1065 Loader too. Same weight, same dimensions as L5460/L6060 but wider front tires. Wider front wheels with with low pressure radial tires would decrease ground pressure mowing. Somewhat less money than Grand Ls.

Were I intending to operate a Finish Mower behind L5460/L6060 or MX 4800/5200/5800 as a primary tractor application I would order one of the lower horsepower, non-turbo models (L4060/4760, MX4800) and NOT fill the rear radial tires with liquid. Most Finish Mowers have rubber belt drive to the blade spindles. You can apply only limited PTO power to a Finish Mower before the belts slip.

With a L6060 or MX5800 many would load the rear tires AND install cast iron wheel weights to get power to the ground. Combination of loaded rear tires and wheel weights very likely will rut turf.

These models push 4,000 pounds bare tractor. With a Loader, fluids, etc., operating weight will be over 6,000 pounds, 7,000 pounds with loaded tires and cast iron wheel weights. CERTAINLY MORE STABLE MOVING HAY BALES.

BARE WEIGHT: B2650 = 1,786 pounds

VIDEOS (2): Kubota MX series walk around and features by Messicks. | MX48 MX52 MX58 - YouTube

Kubota Grand L Series VS. Kubota MX Series - YouTube


RADIAL TRACTOR TIRES: Kubota Tire Choices: Why it Matters - YouTube

What I want is a little bit larger tractor that can lift a 5x6 hay roll up with by the loader and another by the 3 point hitch to take to the fields for the cattle, but not so large so that I can't finish mow with it.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Not sure there exists a tractor that can handle big bales and also mow your lawn well. A 60HP tractor will compact your soil badly, especially if you have clay soil. Since you said there are already some large tractors on the property, why not use those for the bales?

As a general comment, 5-7 acres is a lot of lawn to mow. There are attractive options that don't require as much maintenance.

Good luck on your search.

 

[MickeyDBC]

You need a 60hp tractor and a 60" zero turn mower. Lawn will go faster and look better and moving hay and doing other farm things will be so much easier with a bigger tractor.

 

[Texasmark]

My 6530 will do that. Wouldn't go any lower for 2 bales simultaneously especially if terrain isn't level. I had an IH 464 (45 hp) and couldn't pickup a 5x6 without adding about 300# to the front...no FEL, no 4WD, one bale at a time on it. Had it had a loader would it have made it with 2??????? Don't know.