Loader on Workmaster 45 2wd?

[garretttheboi]

Hey guys i'm pretty new to the forum, farming and tractors. My dad bought a 2013 Workmaster 45 2wd tractor with 50 hrs a few months ago when we bought the farm, and we've recently acquired a boarder with 4 horses in addition to our 2. We've decided we would like to have loader, but can't decide if we should sell this tractor and buy a older, heavier one, with more hours, and get an atv to keep hours down and save fuel or just put one on the tractor we have. We have 37 acres and would probably like to start baling hay, so downsizing to a smaller 4wd isn't really an option, plus he's like anti 4wd. So the questions are 1) Will i be able to get traction if i put one on the Workmaster 2) If i have 16k capital, what would be the best way to set up our fleet? We would like to possibly like to run 9-10 head of cattle in the near future, and we don't have a truck yet, just a soccer mom suv. 3) If i should put one on the Workmaster, what all do i do and how much will it cost 4) does it make sense to sell the new tractor to get an older one with more hours and a loader for the same price (about 12k) and buy an atv to do the small stuff to keep hours off the tractor and save fuel 4) what all do you guys do with your loader?

 

[Texasmark]

Scout the neighborhood and see what others are doing in your area. Stop by and introduce yourself.......don't tell them that you're "Norman New guy......to farming", maybe to the neighborhood, but not all out. They will use you for a Guina Pig and tease the heck out of you. My experience with after market loaders is:

Front tires and axle adequate to support a full bucket on uneven terrain.

Power steering required unless you want to work yourself to death.

Always in the way when you want to work on your tractor,

Lack of 4wd can get you into trouble when doing loader work around ponds or steep grades.

Hooking into hydraulic system and having adequate supply and flow to operate your loader as you would like to have it operated.

As I see it no one tractor can be everything to everybody. I currently have 4 for a small retirement place and have had as many as 7, all get used. If implements are a pain to mount, then usually a tractor is dedicated to that implement and you buy another for other things. I had an oldtimer who was my main annoyance who had 4 JD Bs with different plows and cultivators mounted to each because of what I said.

Good luck.

 

[r porter]

do you have much snow? or ice?

i have a 2 wheel drive WM 45 with a loader and get along great except for ice [ about all we get here ]

it will take very little snow or ice to make you want a 4x4.

 

[Farmer495]

Buy a loader for the 45, get the OEM one from NH or an ALO Quicke loader.

Either load the rear tires or carry something heavy on the 3pt and you will be fine most most jobs the tractor would even be capable of.

Ran a 42 PTO HP 2wd loader tractor for years here, manure, round bales, snow removal, it got the job done. Yes FWA is better, but 2wd still gets the job done if you plan ahead.

 

[Everhard]

I agree with others - 2wd is fine if you have the proper weight on behind. I hang an 800# concrete barrel on my 3pth and with that when doing loader work I don't use the 4wd option. (My preference - I use 4wd only as needed, the less I use it the less wear and tear.) Of course the counter weight needs to be sized for your tractor.

The only other thing I'd question is if it'll be more expensive at this point to add a loader vs just selling the tractor and buying one with a loader? I'd look into that. Also I'd suggest don't be afraid to buy an older used tractor - look it over top to bottom, if the hours aren't crazy then chances are it'll be a good buy. Certainly research the model you find online see if you find any common issues on it. By buying an older tractor you could possibly get a bit more tractor for same or less money. Just be patient, you'll find what you want eventually.

E.

 

[motownbrowne]

So you've got a tractor that's worth about $12k, you also say you have $16k in capital. Is that money in addition to the tractor? Is that money earmarked for tractors/farm vehicles? It won't be cheap to add a loader to your current machine. You're talking probably $6-7000. Then, the problem down the line is that you have a tractor that's not very desirable. Most everyone who want a loader tractor wants 4wd (there is a reason for this by the way).

Having a better idea of what you're willing to spend would help. The New Holland you have now would be pretty decent to start baling with, although it might be a little low on HP. To me it sounds like you're planning on being in this boarding/haying/beef operation for several years. In my opinion, a few years from now you'll realize that one tractor, no matter which tractor, isn't enough. My best advice would be to try to figure out what equipment you'll want in 5 years and build towards that goal incrementally. Visiting other similar operations is a good way to try to determine your needs.

If you put a loader on the NH could you clean out the barn with it, or is it too big and not nimble enough? I rarely see a horse operation that's making it's own hay without a skid steer on the premises. That's one option to consider. I'd guess you'll want at least 2 tractors. Depending on the tractors 2 could be enough. If you could add a 35HP 4wd hydrostatic loader tractor you could clean out the barn, feed hay, and also pull a hay rake or wagon with it. Your current machine, a skid steer, and another older 2wd tractor would be another option. The skid for loader work, and the older tractor for pulling a rake and wagons.

I guess I'm just suggesting that you try to look at the long range plan. Don't get tangled up with a 2wd loader tractor that you've put a much of money into that you can't recover if that tractor won't fit your needs in five years.

Lastly,i would urge you to be cautious putting your money into farming. Many many farms are not profitable, and many farmers work other jobs to make the numbers work. I'd recommend sitting down and really figuring out a business plan. Be brutally honest about this endeavor. What do you stand to gain? To lose? What's the best way you can do what you want to do while limiting your risks? Getting geared up to make hay is expensive. Maybe having someone cut the hay for you for a few years while you determine how far down the rabbit hole you're willing to go.

 

[gladehound]

Hey guys i'm pretty new to the forum, farming and tractors. My dad bought a 2013 Workmaster 45 2wd tractor with 50 hrs a few months ago when we bought the farm, and we've recently acquired a boarder with 4 horses in addition to our 2. We've decided we would like to have loader, but can't decide if we should sell this tractor and buy a older, heavier one, with more hours, and get an atv to keep hours down and save fuel or just put one on the tractor we have. We have 37 acres and would probably like to start baling hay, so downsizing to a smaller 4wd isn't really an option, plus he's like anti 4wd. So the questions are 1) Will i be able to get traction if i put one on the Workmaster 2) If i have 16k capital, what would be the best way to set up our fleet? We would like to possibly like to run 9-10 head of cattle in the near future, and we don't have a truck yet, just a soccer mom suv. 3) If i should put one on the Workmaster, what all do i do and how much will it cost 4) does it make sense to sell the new tractor to get an older one with more hours and a loader for the same price (about 12k) and buy an atv to do the small stuff to keep hours off the tractor and save fuel 4) what all do you guys do with your loader?

It would help to understand exactly what tasks you want the loader for. If I had a 2wd tractor, I'd try run all my implements off the rear and wouldn't put a loader on it if I didn't absolutely need to. If you must put a loader on it, I'd use ~2000 pounds of counter weight on the 3pt.

I really like the idea of using the NH for field work and getting a used skid steer for any loader work you need to do.

 

[Texasmark]

In addition to what Mr Browne said, you can't second guess the weather and it can kill your wildest aspirations. Ask any of these and other guys about the impact of weather on their farming business plan. Problem with it is you know not when it will strike, too wet, too dry, too hot, rain came too late, too soon, too hard and washed the field and seeds away, not enough ....seeds sprouted and died due to lack of moisture, and on and on. I know at least one family farming about 3000 acres in cotton lost their farm and equipment in a second generation farming operation just because of the weather.