Buying Advice on Used Tractor for Hay and Manure Handling

[hosspuller]

In your situation, I think $25k is a bit low... for a cab tractor All my tractors are Open station, but I don't have to feed or plow in the Winter or rain.

I would also favor loading the tires AND spacing them as wide as you can. Had a loader tractor with loaded tires that felt much more unstable than a similar tractor without loaded tires. Increased the rear tire spacing to match and the stability increase was astounding. Only 8 inches total increase,

 

[Farmer495]

Nothing less than a utility tractor, I'd want 60 HP class minimum. Open station works just fine, might help get a better tractor than looking for a cab model.

You will hate life trying to handle round bales in snow and mud with little front tires and low ground clearance.
Bigger tractor will walk right through conditions the little tractor gets hung up on.

4x4
gear drive
QA loader with QA bucket, get a real manure fork and bale spear.


How many cows are you running that you need 700 4x4 a year?

I pull 2 bale wagons, I carry 16 bales, no way would I want a hydro compact on that.

you'll need the lift height to stack high in your barn. I can stack 4 high "nested" easy.

Buy a ride on mower for the lawn chores.

 

[Hay Dude]

Aren't those Ms kinda big for just simple grass mowing?

I put a 90” Deere 390 flail on the back of mine. Just big enough to cover my tracks.
I figured if he wanted to move loads of bales and pull 8 tons, he would like the power of a 90-100HP. I don’t know if a small hydro would be powerful enough for what he’s doing.
The hydraulic reverser and powershift transmission would be great for loader work. Not quite as good as a hydro, but I have worked a loader for a month straight with a loader loading mushroom compost.
I was also thinking he would like the pre 2012 models I suggested for simplicity and less cost than a 55HP HST with all the pollution add ons.

 

[fried1765]

I put a 90” flail on the back of mine. Just big enough to cover my tracks.
I figured if he wanted to move loads of bales and pull 8 tons, he would like the power.
The hydraulic reverser and powershift transmission would be great for loader work.
I was also thinking he would like the pre 2012 for simplicity and less cuts than a 55HP HST with all the pollution add ons.

I was pilling your chain....again!
Forgot the emoji.

 

[Hay Dude]

I was pilling your chain....again!
Forgot the emoji.

You actually make a good point. That size tractor would only be useful with a 90” or 96” flail.
The Deere 390 flail is real nice for barn yards, but not front yards!