City boy shopping for first tractor
- Thread starter geedub
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texasjohn
Super Member
Geedub, it's simple to me.
HST... you are rightly thinking about its ease of use... and it is likely the one thing that will make the tractor consumately usable by the both of you. I consider HST a safety item..braking, precise movement, no jerky, no clutch slips, etc.
50 hp is what you need, or a couple more.. there WILL be things that you will attempt to do where the hp WILL make a big difference... you have the acreage and heavy stuff (trees, etc.) that dictates that you need to go to a heavy tractor and as much hp as you can get. Go light on horsepower and you will be struggeling with stuff... and it can get dangerous with too few hp... this is kinda like the HST... you just really need it.. some think you need 60 and that might be better, but you will be able to do, IMHO, everything you need to do with a 50+ hp .. but 40/45hp is just a little too light. I struggled with too few hp for a long time, amazing how much more I get done now.
a FEL will be mandatory
possibly a grapple
box blade likely
dual rear remotes
hydraulic top link some day
4 wheel drive
R 1's for traction although R4's which I have do just fine for me.
quick attach.. sooooo handy
heavy duty bucket, quick attach, and toothbar
seems like everybody simply has to have a shredder
put good lights front and rear on your ROPS, you will be glad you did.
Net.. your original thoughts were very close, go a little more horsepower, see if there is any way you can get around the features above, go used if you have to stay in the $$ you listed. Personally, I'd go for a used Kubota long before a new gray market. Reliability of Kubota is phenominal, IMHO, and worth paying more now for avoiding repairs later, but that's just me.
HST... you are rightly thinking about its ease of use... and it is likely the one thing that will make the tractor consumately usable by the both of you. I consider HST a safety item..braking, precise movement, no jerky, no clutch slips, etc.
50 hp is what you need, or a couple more.. there WILL be things that you will attempt to do where the hp WILL make a big difference... you have the acreage and heavy stuff (trees, etc.) that dictates that you need to go to a heavy tractor and as much hp as you can get. Go light on horsepower and you will be struggeling with stuff... and it can get dangerous with too few hp... this is kinda like the HST... you just really need it.. some think you need 60 and that might be better, but you will be able to do, IMHO, everything you need to do with a 50+ hp .. but 40/45hp is just a little too light. I struggled with too few hp for a long time, amazing how much more I get done now.
a FEL will be mandatory
possibly a grapple
box blade likely
dual rear remotes
hydraulic top link some day
4 wheel drive
R 1's for traction although R4's which I have do just fine for me.
quick attach.. sooooo handy
heavy duty bucket, quick attach, and toothbar
seems like everybody simply has to have a shredder
put good lights front and rear on your ROPS, you will be glad you did.
Net.. your original thoughts were very close, go a little more horsepower, see if there is any way you can get around the features above, go used if you have to stay in the $$ you listed. Personally, I'd go for a used Kubota long before a new gray market. Reliability of Kubota is phenominal, IMHO, and worth paying more now for avoiding repairs later, but that's just me.
dynasim
Platinum Member
I bought a used NH TC45D with FEL for 16.5K. I think this is about normal, if you look around a bit. I like it a lot, and would recommend it to anyone(get the Supersteer if you can). They are almost universally commended in the NH forum(almost).
Apparently NH has a sale on TC55D's(which come with an EHSS, which some people consider better than HST--no clutching to shift, but gear driven). I had seen somewhere that they were about 17K w/o loader after rebates. While this is a bit higher than your budget, that is a great deal, and more fitting for you acreage, and brand new. These are discontinued after this year.
Chris
Apparently NH has a sale on TC55D's(which come with an EHSS, which some people consider better than HST--no clutching to shift, but gear driven). I had seen somewhere that they were about 17K w/o loader after rebates. While this is a bit higher than your budget, that is a great deal, and more fitting for you acreage, and brand new. These are discontinued after this year.
Chris
D7E
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 10, 2006
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- manitoba
- Tractor
- Versatile 895 Versatile 876 Ford TW20 Ford TW5 MF 3505 FWA MF 390 FWA Ford 7600 Fiat 766 FWA JD 2030 MF 165 MF 35 Fordson major x 3 CAT 416 b Backhoe Case 580 b backhoe MF
Don't be swayed by the "NEW" gang there are many good older farm tractors around for less money and more power than you need and will make you're life a whole lot easier but don't be tempted by cheap eastern eoropean or copys ,Stick to the 4...Ford,IH,JD,MF..not to start a war but i'm sure the "Bota-boys" will have something to say ...ha.ha ?
texasjohn
Super Member
As a Kubota owner, I don't warry 
about the comparison tractors
about the comparison tractorsdynasim
Platinum Member
One thing to ask about are rear remotes. You will want at least one. Others say more.
The TC45 price is very good for a new tractor of that size. I would have bought new at that price(my local price was significantly higher).
Chris
The TC45 price is very good for a new tractor of that size. I would have bought new at that price(my local price was significantly higher).
Chris
