JD5105 (MFD) VS Kubota M4900 (MFD) VS NH TC-45

[snowbound]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I will be purchasing a tractor. I've narrowed it down to onw of the following three 4WD tractors;

JD-5105
Kubota M4900 SUD
NH TC-45

I will be using it to maintain 48 acres that I own and will be mowing about 5 acres of the 48 on a regular basis. Additionally, I will be using it to clear various portions of the 48 acres for hay production. I'm looking for a tractor that is reliable, easy to maintain and strong enough to handle my intended uses.)</font>

If you don't intend to run a baler with the tractor, then you are probably OK with these, or quite possibly even a little bit smaller machine.

On the other hand if you want to bale, then you probably want much bigger tractors than these. The rule of thumb around here (we had to buy a tractor capable of being an emergency backup for baling so we found this out this year) is that you really ought to have 50 PTO hp to bale at all, and a lot more (like 80 PTO hp) if you want to bale on a regular basis. If this tractor will be your emergency backup baler tractor (like our TN65 is) then only the Kubota M4900 would be close.

 

[Woodbeef]

Well first off you are comparing different classes of tractors. The Deere and Kubota are quasi utility(in that they try to bridge the gap between ag tractor/CUT),where the NH is pure CUT.

The Deere or Kubota would be a good choice,but both might be on the small side. Why not look for a slightly used or lease return utility tractor? You might be able to move up a size or two for the same $$$$ range.

 

[HayDR]

It is good to have a little more HP than recommended but 80 HP is not needed unless you are baling haylage or 2000+ LBS 6'x5' bales. Most small farmers bale 4'x4' or 5'x4' bales. Both of these sizes can be made with the Vermeer Rebel 5400 with a 40 HP tractor.

 

[slowrev]

CCI, I would not want to round bale with a 40 HP CUT. Not enough weight if you have much slope at all. The HP will run the baler, but the weight og the baler + spinning bale can be downright dangerous on slopes if your tractor is not heavy enough.

 

[Bobvt]

Cowboydoc,

Could you define "cheaper metal"? If you are talking about quality as oposed to cost, what are you basing your opinion on?

Bob

 

[cowboydoc]

It's the quality. I don't know if you get any of the farm magazines but there have been numerous articles about the quality of the materials that go into some of these tractors and Mahindra was one of them mentioned. There was just an article in one of them last month about the poor quality of metal used and this was the reason for the added weight. They thought it was pretty sad that here they were bragging about the increased weight of the tractor when the only reason the weight was increased was because they were using inferior materials.

 

[Bobvt]

I do not get the farm magazines anymore. (Use to get them all, when farming full time and while at the University.) Could you give me the name of the magazine that had the article last month.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Gatorboy]

Just wondering...do you NEED a 4WD tractor? What conditions do you have that would require it?

Your profile says very little about where you live, etc.

 

[MacMiller]

I vote for JD. The 5105 has a great build for long time life and durability. Not only that, you have the best dealer market for support of the product. I have delt with all of the different manufactures and have not found one that comes close to the Deere support.
Just my out look, but I've worked around John Deere since I was 12, worked for Kubota for two years, and am now back with Deere because of the backing of the manufacture and how they have supported all of my customers..

 

[scudbait]

The handle scudbait comes from my tour of duty in the middle east as a young officer during Desert Storm.