Help a Newbie buy a tractor??

CJTOM · Sep 10, 2005

I have been reading the great posts on this forum and appreciate all of the great info. I am a home builder/general contractor I have rented/operated most types of equipment. I have never owned a tractor. I am in the market for a tractor that will do everything that a skid steer loader will do and more. I am thinking about a TC45DA with 17LA loader and supersteer. I will probably get a box blade and shredder in the near future. I plan to get the quick connect bucket so I can use skid loader attachments. Should I be thinking about a smaller model? What options really add to the usability of the tractor? Do I need supersteer?

What are the differences in the Case DX45 and the TC45DA?

Thanks,
Tom

Bob_Skurka · Sep 10, 2005

SuperSteer is exclusive to the New Holland line, so while the Case and the New Holland are made/marketed/owned by the same company, the Case Farmall DX line does not offer SuperSteer & Sensitrack.

CJTOM · Sep 10, 2005

I noticed that the SuperSteer is exclusive to NH. I have been reviewing all of the specs for both the TC45 and the DX45 and the tractors are virtually the same except for a couple of minor differences. I should probably buy based on Dealer and Price. The differences are insignificant and could easily be replicated on either of the machines except for the SuperSteer. I own part of a 1800 acre ranch that needs a significant amount of road work and brush hogging. I would never attempt to clear a ranch like that with a Compact Tractor, but I assume that the 45HP will be enough to do basic tasks that I would use a skid steer to accomplish. I have hundreds of hours of skid steer time under my belt. Am I making a bad decision purchasing a tractor instead of a skid loader?

Thanks,
Tom

Bob_Skurka · Sep 10, 2005

Am I making a bad decision purchasing a tractor instead of a skid loader? 

I've rented but never owned a skid steer. In fact I've rented several of them and used a few different brands. I've owned tractors and driven many differnet models of several differnet brands. But I've never really compared them side by side for similar tasks. I think that they are different enough that I'd want to rank the tasks I was going to be doing and really look at the tasks very hard to see what machine type was better for the majority of the hours of work. Certainly a tractor can do loader work that a skid steer is better suited for, but it will be slower. A skid steer will power a mower, it will also do other tasks that a tractor might be better suited for. So really you need to figure out which machine type will be better for you.

DocHeb · Sep 10, 2005

( I am in the market for a tractor that will do everything that a skid steer loader will do and more.)

You will be disappointed with any tractor, despite the options, if this is your goal. A tractor is made for pulling things, and can be fitted with a Front-End-Loader (FEL) to perform some skidsteer-like tasks. It will not match the skidsteer in digging and lifting tasks, however.

You will not be able to use hydraulic attachments from a skidsteer effectively on a NHTC45D. The hydraulic pump flow on that tractor is only ~9 gpm, which is about 1/2 to 1/3 of a skidsteer. There is also no neat/tidy installed factory routing of hydraulic lines to the front of the tractor for hydraulic skidsteer attachments, although some on the forum have done it using aftermarket parts themselves.

The supersteer option does add some increased maneuverability for the tractor, but does come at a cost. Supersteer causes a paradoxical motion of the tractor FEL when turning the steering wheel at rest. This is best learned by trying out a SS tractor with a FEL, and I would not recommend purchasing a SS tractor without doing so.

The options that are the most helpful for this tractor are:
Quick-Tach FEL plate
Grill Guard
Fiberglass Canopy
Rear remotes for hydraulic lines (dealer installed from factory components). Get the maximum (3) number of remotes installed (~$700)
Front and Rear extra lighting (dealer or owner installed from aftermarket components).

CJTOM · Sep 10, 2005

Doc,

Thanks for the analysis. The reason I am interested in a tractor is that it seems to be the best of both worlds, or the best compromise. I typically use a S185 50+HP skid loader, or a large Tractor with Loader and Backhoe. I know that both of my usual rentals are larger and more capable than the TC45. I guess I need to use/rent a compact tractor and try it out for some of my usual tasks. Keep up the commentary, it is helping.

Tom

jinman · Sep 11, 2005

Tom, I think we would not be giving you all the best advice if we didn't mention the Bobcat Toolcat as an option for what you want.

Bobcat Toolcat

It's a very capable machine (but pricey) and uses all the Bobcat style quick attachments. It will give you all the flexibility of the skid steer and much more. Check it out before making your decision.

The TC45DA compact tractor might disappoint you in the beginning, but with that tractor, you get the 3-point hitch that can attach low-cost mowers, boxblades, plows, and many other low cost implements. I dare say that all your implements will cost much less than comparable ones for the skidsteer. However, with the skidsteer you can rent implements, so that may be a wash.

I think the main thing you will find as a great advantage of the tractor is being able to have one implement on the front of the the tractor (loader attachment) and one on the rear at the same time. Skid steers only operate one implement at once. I also think you will find the traction of the tractor will be much higher than a skidsteer. By locking the rear differential, you can have those big wheels really giving a push.

Finally, don't overlook the TC55 and TC48. These tractors have much more lift in the FEL and also have almost 4 more gpm of hydraulic pump flow.

If you aren't rushed, I'd definitely try all options and see which one works best for you. One thing for sure is that with a tractor, you will probably own most of your own implements. With a skidsteer you may not; depends on rental availability.

BrianSouthernMD · Sep 13, 2005

Tom and jinman,

Now that a New Holland and Ford owner has brought up the Bobcat Toolcat, I'll jump in as a new Toolcat owner and encourage you to consider that option. A Toolcat should come closest to your desire to "do everything a skid steer can do, and more."

I use the same front-mounted implements used by skid-steers and CTLs. I bought seven and can rent many more. And the Toolcat now is available with Rear Hydraulics and a Rear PTO option to pull PTO implements such as PTO hay mowers, PTO hay balers and PTO batwing mowers.

Over the past year I considered a wide range of machine types, including the Case-IH Farmall DX45 and NH TC45/48/55, skid-steer loaders, all-wheel-steer loaders from Gehl and Bobcat, and what I chose, the 4WD, 4-wheel steering, axle-oscillating Toolcat. See my still active thread: Bobcat Toolcat 5600 or Power Trac 1850 for 168 ac?

Be sure to get your nearest Bobcat dealer to give you a demo on your property, as well as try out conventional compact tractors.