Have you moved to a higher horsepower tractor?

[RobertN]

I upgraded. Mostly for power, partly for larger loader.

My old B8200HST was a great tractor. It is the fullsize B series. But, it was only 19hp. Now, that same size B series tractor has up to 30+hp. That B8200 would have been nice with a 5' loader, and 27-20hp. Kinda like a B2710 or B2910.

That was the only issue I had with that tractor. I bought it before I knew so much. I coulda got a B2150(was sitting right next to it on the lot), but I was able to get the
B8200 for cash. I would have had to finance a bit for the B2150, which I did not want to do.

My wife uses a L3410 at the nursery where she works. Really likes the power, larger chassis, and loader. When we originally started looking at tractors, that model was it.

We happened in to a good deal on a NH TC40D. We did not originally want this big of tractor(it is next size up from what a L3410 is). But, it was a good deal, and 40HP...

Now, I went to a 6' 1/2 yard loader, 6' rotary mower, loaded tires, and have power to spare.

I would note though, that I had saved up and added TnT to my old Kubota. I can not afford that right now for the TC40; I miss that...

 

[jbooth]

I went from a 16.5 PTO HP tractor to a 24 PTO HP tractor soley to have enough power for a chipper (which took about 5 more years). With my 2.5 acres, 24 HP was perfect!
Both of the tractors were collarshift (non-synchro gear transmissions) which, with the exception of reverse, I was fine with.
Anyway...bought a tractor (and a great great deal!!!) with a sync-reverser transmission. Now, this one has 30 PTO HP and weighs about 4000 (plus) lbs (including the loader).
I'm happy with it and it'll easily power any implement I buy...but it is a tad big for 2.5 acres.

Hey Roy; I like the way you think. 12 HP per acre. I have 120 acres, anybody know where I can find a good used cheap 1440 HP tractor. I might be able to squeeze by with 1000 HP if it is a good buy.

 

[allen in texas]

You guys are causing me to have an itch that I thought I had gotten rid of.
I still want a small tractor, something along the lines of a 7800 to go with the 3240. So far, I've managed to keep that at bay.
The 5740 might just aggravate that itch a bit more but I still have to resist it.
I'm already in the doghouse for telling my wife I'm going to trade.

As far as an M tractor, I've considered it but there are several factors keeping me from doing anything more than think about it. If I bought an M, I'd have to change the way I haul my tractor. My trailers are going to be a tight fit with the 5740. I don't think the M series has HST either.

 

[TripleR]

You guys are causing me to have an itch that I thought I had gotten rid of.
I still want a small tractor, something along the lines of a 7800 to go with the 3240. So far, I've managed to keep that at bay.
The 5740 might just aggravate that itch a bit more but I still have to resist it.
I'm already in the doghouse for telling my wife I'm going to trade.

As far as an M tractor, I've considered it but there are several factors keeping me from doing anything more than think about it. If I bought an M, I'd have to change the way I haul my tractor. My trailers are going to be a tight fit with the 5740. I don't think the M series has HST either.

The M Series are great tractors, we really like our M8540, but unless you really need the power and size which we do, in my opinion a Grand L is the way to go. Overall, I spend more time on my L than M year round.

 

[RoyJackson]

Hey Roy; I like the way you think. 12 HP per acre. I have 120 acres, anybody know where I can find a good used cheap 1440 HP tractor. I might be able to squeeze by with 1000 HP if it is a good buy.

Well, since I brush cut a 3 acre right of way, it's actually just under 5.5 (PTO) HP per acre...
The tractor size doesn't bother me...but I got a 7 foot RFM as part of the deal. Cutting an acre of finished lawn with a 7' mower is kinda overkill.

The first tractor...a Deere 670 (the 16.5 PTO HP machine) was a tool..and a great fit for my land.
After that (second and third tractors), it was as much of a hobby/toy as a tractor.

Well, some guys have sportscars..some have Harleys...I have a big green machine!

 

[crazyal]

I bought tractor size not HP. But I also don't have vast amount of work like brush hogging 100 acres monthly either so loader capacity and physical size and weight were higher on the list. Otherwise I would have probably stepped up to the 5740. I for see nothing happening that'll change it, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. Maybe I'll need that 1000hp tractor.

 

[allen in texas]

Ok, it's a done deal. Dealer called this afternoon and accepted my proposal. We were $1380 apart and I offered to split it with him.
So...
I take the 3240 over in the morning to leave it so they can move my remotes to the 5740 and add one additional rear remote.
I'll pick up the 5740 next Saturday.

I already feel the pangs of missing the 3240.
Or maybe that's buyers remorse.
Who knows?
Oh well, I'll get over it in a few days.

 

[teg]

Good luck with it... don't forget the photos...

 

[allen in texas]

OK waiting officially sucks

 

[Baby Grand]

Have you moved to a higher horsepower tractor?
No.
Back when I was just a lurker, some of the sages here on TBN suggested the best way to select a tractor was to list what tasks the tractor would need to do, then determine what size implements would be required to do those tasks. Using this information I was able to determine what size/weight/PTO HP tractor I would need to run the required implements. So far, I haven't seen the need for anything bigger and have no desire to go smaller.

-Jim