Buying Advice Keep or Upgrade

[RNStar]

Hey guys,
First post here but I've been a lurker for a long time, thanks for being so awesome and helping me through so many projects!


My goals are this, maintain my acre of land 1/2 horse pasture and the rest lawn, chickens etc. I want to be able to dig up the arena, feed hay, move feeders etc, do slight garden landscaping around the house and clean out my stalls in my lean to.
My dilemma is this, I own an AC 5020 with only about 600 hours and in good shape that I have a blade and spring harrow for. My tractor is in great shape but the harrow doesn't get the arena deep at all in the spring and the blade is ok but doesn't have the tilt of some of the others I have. I can use it for cleaning out stalls etc and moving dirt so I'm definitely keeping it.

I've decided I really want a front end loader and I'm not sure if I should try to get one for my current ride or sell it as a perfectly working tractor and buy something like a MF 135-165 that already has a loader on it... or buy one and add a loader to that depending on price and condition etc

I want to buy a pto tiller (and anything else you can recommend for my chores) so I want that capability and not necessarily much more capacity than I currently have. I think I can sell mine and not have to pay much more to get a new MF with everything I want

Or do I keep mine and just try to find a install a loader, which will likely cost more than the difference between mine and a new one but I don't have the hassle of buying and selling and learning a new machine

Any feedback you can give me is encouraged and appreciated

 

[TheMadOne]

First question-What's a rough budget?

Second question-How much loader work do you see yourself doing?

 

[topbuilder]

I would go to a bigger tractor. The 5020 4wd eats front axle parts (which there are no more of) with a loader mounted,
and the 2wd with no power steering was not the greatest loader tractor. You have a gem of a tractor! I have worked on many of them. My E280 is the same tractor with a few more ponies.

 

[jeff9366]

You probably will not get much if you sell your orphan A/C tractor and you may get myriad problems if buying used from someone else.

According to tractor data.com, your A/C has a Ferguson Three Point Hitch. LINK: TractorData.com Allis Chalmers 5�2� tractor attachments information

A PTO-powered Roto-tiller would be helpful.

As substitutes for an FEL, consider a Dirt Scoop and a Boom Pole:

VIDEO: tractor dirt scoop - YouTube

tractor boom pole - YouTube

I use my Field Cultivator frequently but how many implements can you tolerate for one acre?

VIDEO: How to Use a Ripper / Field Cultivator - Gardening Series - YouTube

 

[RNStar]

Thanks for the quick replies guys,
I honestly had no idea that a couple of those implements even existed.

I guess for a little more clarity I'd like to switch hay to the larger 300-400lb square bales so I'm not always stuck stacking by hand. I'd like to dig out and build a small pond as well as the moving etc required for laying pavers and sand and general landscaping uses. I'd also like to upgrade to oil pipe fencing around my arena and I fell like the right tractor and attachments would be a huge help

I think a boom pole would solve most of my lifting issues but even a dirt scoop doesn't give me the kind of maneuverability I'd like. Plus you can use a bucket as portable scaffolding when working up high and can have your tools up there with you

A couple more things to add. I used to weld for a living and have all of my tools and should be plenty handy to maintain and repair anything that I come across but I"m definitely not looking for somebody else's flailed project and hidden band aids.

To be honest most of my land is pasture and arena, farming would be a bit of an exaggerating and I've so far been able to garden and do all of its related chores by hand... Though it can be time consuming as well

Am I better off finding work around for mine or buying a different machine? I guess my biggest fear is having something happen and having no parts avaliablility even though my existing tractor gets very light use as is I've never been one to 'make due' if I can avoid it.

ETA, what should I hope to get in a sales price, I've seen them go for anywhere from 3500-4500 around here, that same dollar may well buy me a MF 135 with a little shopping?

 

[RNStar]

Just to close out the thread (I hate it when we don't get closure)
I ended up trading my AC in on a new Kubota L2501 at a dealer about 150 miles away.

His prices were over 4000 cheaper than the Kubota dealer by my house and their service was much much better besides.

 

[ultrarunner]

Always great to have followup!

How are you finding the L2501?

I have always liked the L series because they are simple capable tractors that get the job done...

Our L3800 is just right around the Christmas Tree farm

 

[Omega Woods]

Just to close out the thread (I hate it when we don't get closure)
I ended up trading my AC in on a new Kubota L2501 at a dealer about 150 miles away.

His prices were over 4000 cheaper than the Kubota dealer by my house and their service was much much better besides.

Very good! That kubota will make you happy!

 

[RNStar]

Its as good as it could be realistically. I've found the limits when digging out stumps etc but nothing beyond what could ever be expected of it. Small enough to haul on a normal size trailer without any trouble yet big enough to do some significant work. I run 98% loader or grading work anyways so PTO power isn't any kind of issue and I like not needing DEF

Now collecting implements and finding jobs I didn't know I needed to do has become my new hobby. Seat time is good for the mind though

To anyone reading this in the future. HST, good loader, and filled tires are something I will never live without