Almost there

[southernboy]

Well I am just about to pull the trigger. I have reviewed what folks have said on my first post and many other posts. To recap I have 40 acres of mixed woods and georgia clay. We have horses and do field maintainance, 1 -2 acre deer food plots both in woods and on edges, a good amount of FEL work ( manure, gravel and red clay dirt). I drag two drive ways regularly. I need to snake some small pines and get some roots up. At this time no rear hydraulic uses but may add a backhoe later.I use spring plow, a heavy 5 blade disk ,bushhog ,and a box blade. Old tractor is a 2100 fwd Ford. It is 40 hp /3758 lb tractor with a 770 loader and 5 foot bucket. For the most part it did the job. We are down to these choices. All are fwd. They are JD 4120 hydro/300 cx FEL ( seemed a little small and seat adjuster hits my wifes leg), Jd 5105 8spd sync/ 522 FEL,(nice but didn't spec out much bigger than the 4120). A NH TC45 Hydro/16LA FEL and a TN60 12 sync/32L loader. I like the TN60 but it is almost 5 grand more.My wife who will use it alot likes the TC45 best. It is higher than either JD by about 2 grand. A TC40 is also about 1500 less. Would I miss the 5 HP? All were priced at 2 local JD + 2 NH dealers Comments or suggestions?

 

[FULLPULL]

Welcome
The Tc40D i owned was a strong tractor i decided i wanted more so i traded up to a TC55DA EHSS what a big improvement in hp.I might have got by with the TC45D but you have to go with what you want. The 40 or 45 series is a good choice in my opinion they share the same engine block as the TC55DA turbo. If my wife wanted to use our tractor the hydro would be a nice option but she can still use the EHSS transmision.5 hp would be cheaper to buy now than later imo but i can say i miss the tc40 i had it was a good size . Check out the 55 series they was offering good deals on them also.

 

[RoyJackson]

I think the ground engagement work should be the focus of the tractors' capabilities (when you make your choice). All of them can do the brush cutting, drag and FEL work. However, I don't think all will compare well when factoring in the plowing and disking.

That said, I'd go with the wife's choice... Seems like the best compromise in power and cost. And the bigger tractor (TN60) might intimidate her (not for long, I think). And, if the 40 HP Ford had failings, do you think a 40 HP New Holland would do any better?

 

[southernboy]

Thanks for the replies. My wife drives my 2110 and it is nonsync so the tractor tranny and size isn't the real issue. It was a good tractor but its old and feeling its age and it was only under powered on some FEL loads I should not of tried and some deep plowing when the clay was wet. My wifes feeling is that we have burned a few clutches in the 2110's 20 year lifespan and it wasn't helped by slipping clutches while ramming in and out of manure piles or digging holes in the ground. She thinks it would be easier to operate with the hydro and would cause less problems. The TC 55 would be nice but I can not find one around here. There are some JD4320/5320 tractors around. My Jd dealer is hot on my trail. He is also trying to get a 5105 or 5305 to work price wise and has a killer deal on a rental 5325 (big tractor!) Since I do not make money off my place price is a factor and bigger may not be cost effective. But it has been said you spend alot of money so get the right size the first time. The trick is what size is that?