Ford 3,000 - TC45DA - TC55DA

[Robert_in_NY]

If your 3000 is as good as you say you should easily get $7500 for it upwards to $8500. There was one for sale here this summer the owner was moving and it sold for $10k with a couple of old attachments and a 5' JD brush hog. It wasn't for sale long either and was in remarkable condition with an original Ford loader.

I would go with the TC55DA also as I am a gear guy. Have run hydros but growing up around gear tractors and seeing how smooth these newer shuttle trannys are it is hard to see any advantage a hydro has. Of course I need all the horsepower out of my equipment and then some so I don't want to loose any hp which hurts a hydros case. If all I did was use the tractor for an hour or two every now and then it would be different. Or if all I did was use the tractor for loader work then I would go with a hydro but if you plan to use it for everything then go with a gear like you are use to.

As for brush chopper size, I use a 6' cutter behind my TN 65. It just covers the tracks but not by much and I don't have to worry about hooking any trees or fence post when I mow tight to them. I do want a larger cutter for the wide open fields and for chopping corn stalks but for what you want to do stay with a five footer unless you space the wheels on the 55 out.

 

[boomer4snow]

If you are questioning the loaders power now, forget the 45. I have a TC40DA and wish I had waited to get a larger tractor. You mentioned a grapple, that alone would make me look at a heavier tractor because once you put a 750# grapple on the front of a 17la, which has less lift cap. than mine does, you will run out of lift capacity. Learned that the hard way. I would also look at Ebay as a way to sell your old tractor, but consider keeping it as a trailer toter, back up for when the new one is being serviced, really nasty jobs which would grind, scratch, or otherwise dent up new sheetmetal ummm plastic.

 

[Slippy]

There is some good advice for you here. Don't buy on emotion and color blindness. This is (for most of us) a major investment. You should make sure the tractor is going to do what you want it to. The point above is well taken about a similar tractor to demo. Even if it is not the exact same one, it will be helpful. If your dealer does not have one, go to someone who does. Trust me, I have owned numerous tractors, and each one has its pros and cons, and frankly, I don't think there is a single perfect tractor. With the property size you have, you will be constantly strugling with size and agility issues. You end up trying to get something in between that can't do the big jobs as you like, and then can't do the small jobs as you like. You may get to the point that you decide you need two tractors.
Make sure that no matter what you purchase, your dealer is a good one. For a new machine that is important. You can check everyone of the tractor sub sections on this board and each one has complaints by new owners. What makes the difference is the dealer. In my opinion, even if you pay a few dollars more, it is worth it in the long run.
Also, check with your dealer about after purchase parts discounts. Some will do that if you buy the tractor from them.
As for the rotary cutter size, I would stay with the smaller one for your app. If you are already struggling with getting the 5 foot size, the 6 will be worse. For the big areas, the difference in 5 to 6 really is not much for what you will be using it for. If you are mowing 20 - 30 acers, that would be different and then again you may be to the point to consider two cutters, like a 10 foot and a 5 foot.
I have owned JD, NH, Mahindra, IH, Case & Kubota machines. Pretty good evidence that I am not brand loyal. I would look for the best equipment for the job and price point. Although, my first 3 tractors where JD and I thought they were the only tractor made.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
1. The 6' can be handled by the 55DA i think pretty easily.

2. The land work i have mostly consists of working around alot of trees and I already am hooking trees with the 5', I'm really worried of the close working in trees and brush with the 6'.

3. I have alot of roadway easement to mow with some ditches....wondering if the bigger, heavier brush hog will help stabilize the slant/rollover problem in these ditches or hinder it.....which one would be best for these conditions????
)</font>

CJ4, it seems you've made a decision on your tractor and I think it's a good one. I'm sure the TC55 can handle an 8' rotary cutter, but you have the same problem I have, trees. I have a 5' cutter behind my TC45 and it works pretty good in my trees. I have a boxblade that I put some rebar on for weight and it's about 6'6" wide. I'm constantly hooking that rebar on trees and am considering cutting off a foot. If you have trees, you have to size your cutter for them. Otherwise, you will tear up your cutter and tear up your trees. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'd leave the loader on when mowing your right-of-way. Keep the bucket low to aid in a low center-of-gravity. I mow one spot on my right of way that is so steep sometimes my tractor's rear wheels will slide sideways down a small ridge, but I don't ever worry about tipping. It is very smooth there and I go really slow also. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Messick, don't know what you mean by a "3 wheel" model....it's a Ford 3,000, about a 71 yr model, 2wd, and has 4 wheels on it.....never heard of a 3 wheel model....maybe i'm missin something or airheaded.... )</font>

I think Neal is probably talking about the tricycle front end model with the narrow front end that looks like a 3-wheeler. I believe it actually has two wheels, but the front wheel steering pivots as if it were only one wheel. Those were Ford "row crop" models.

You know... an interesting bit of trivia would be to find out when the last tricycle front end tractor was built and what was the model. Probably some model of Deere. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[billbill1]

Jim, have you ever seen the JD's that came with only one tire in the front? It was a pretty wide tire but only one in front from the factory. I've seen a couple of these but-at 53 yo the memory doesn't recall the model #'s.

 

[Soundguy]

The 55 is a fine machine.. and as for a 6' mower.. the 55 should spin it like a paper rag doll in the wind.

In the end.. I don't think you are getting a raw deal on the 3000 as trade, even though you may or may not get more in an outright sale. Sometimes timing and aggravation are worth $$ when you figure them in an equation.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jim, have you ever seen the JD's that came with only one tire in the front )</font>

I've also seen a farmall M or H with a single front. I believe the manual on my B shows an optional singe front, or the dual front rest0ride like my B has.

Soundguy

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jim, have you ever seen the JD's that came with only one tire in the front? It was a pretty wide tire but only one in front from the factory. I've seen a couple of these but-at 53 yo the memory doesn't recall the model #'s. )</font>

Yep, I had a picture of a 1949 Silver King with a single wide front wheel on last month's calendar picture. It has a fork over the wheel like the front tire on a bicycle. I've also seen tractors with a non-fork type where the wheel mounts on the side of the strut like most airplane single nosegear wheels.

I can't say that I'd want to take one of those on hills and gullys to do mowing. They work best doing farming chores on flat land. I believe I have seen one with a manure loader on the front though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[CJ4]

Thanks for the info Jinman.....I signed the deal today and it sure made me nervous spending all that dang money!!!! hahaha /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif As alot of you guys said...."A good dealer should prove to be worth alot in the long run".....I think I have a good dealer, I dealt all afternoon with the owner himself, in his office, asking all the questions, and he was super!!!! Was so patient and concerned about all of my concerns!!! I know he wanted to make a sale but you can tell when they really want you to shut up or really take pride in their satisfied customers.

Soundguy, good to hear you positive comments too....you guys have all been very helpful. I added 3 remotes at a whopping $500 each but everywhere i looked on here you guys said buy them now, so I did. I realized that on this 55DA you can't just reach down there easy and crank your top bar like my old tractor......so I bought a hydraulic top bar.....i figured at this point i can get off and crank the other arm......

Guys, I think I need a grapple but i don't know anything about them. The dealer didn't have any but one is on the way. Dang.....$2,200 was his price........I just couldn't spend that much without laying my eyes on it at least. I'm not sure if these things will reach down and get alot of these 6-10" trees by the roots or not??? Not even sure what they're capable of doing with my 55DA.....any suggestions?????