Tractor Sizing Looking for a tractor...

[gk527]

Hello everyone.

I’m looking for a tractor to do a few things. I’ve got a house on our family farm of approximately 140 acres. On a weekly basis I finish mow approximately 5 acres with a Kubota B2650 that has a 60 inch MMM. It’s a little rough riding which I suspect is due to the loader and loaded rear tires.

We are in a partnership with a guy down the road that does all the cutting and rolling of hay and has a batwing for the fields. So he’s got that covered.

What I’m wanting is a little bit larger tractor that I can lift a 5x6 hay roll up with by the loader and another by the 3 point hitch to take to the fields for the cattle, but not too large so that I can finish mow with it. I’d get a 72 inch rear discharge 3 point hitch finish mower.

I’d sell my B2650. I don’t have to get another Kubota, so I’m open minded to anything. I do have a couple models in mind, but would like to hear other opinions.

I will say I do not want a zero turn. I’ve tried them a few times and it’s just awkward to me.

Thanks!!

 

[nybirdman]

Approximate weight of your 5x6 bales?Maybe a L6060 Kubota or similar.Do you want or need HST?

 

[gk527]

Approximate weight of your 5x6 bales?Maybe a L6060 Kubota or similar.Do you want or need HST?

The rolls weigh around 1400 pounds.

HST isn't needed.

 

[jeff9366]

The rolls weigh around 1400 pounds.

A Kubota L3560 with LA805 (1,750 pounds lift capacity) Loader will do it. I would outfit with optional soft-riding low pressure radial tractor tires to minimize ground pressure while retaining traction, with rear wheels set wide. ~~$28,000

(I have an L3560 with LA805 Loader but R4/industrial tires inflated with air.)

B2650 and L3560 have similar deluxe kit.

LENGTH: B2650 = 101" L3560 = 115" ~~~~~~ WIDTH: B2650 = 54" L3560 = 60"

BARE WEIGHT: B2650 = 1,786 pounds L3560 = 3,400 pounds

A heavier tractor with large diameter wheels/tires has more tractive power pulling ground contact implements, pushing a loader bucket into dirt or hay bale and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires mean more ground clearance, enabling a heavier tractor to bridge holes, ruts and downed tree limbs with less bucking, yielding a less disturbing passage over rough pastures and woodlands.

VIDEO: Kubota Standard L Series VS. Grand L Series - YouTube

 

[Tractorable]

Yea, a L3560 and LA805 loader with the multi trac turf tires would be a sweet setup.

 

[LouNY]

I am going to disagree with the previous recommendations,
Handling round bales especially 5x6s is not the best use of a compact tractor, if you have rough pastures and or get any frozen rough ground to maneuver on you need more tractor to safely handle those bales if you are carrying bales that routinely run 3/4s of your loaders max capacity you are overloading and stressing your loader and your tractors front axle.
Your loader shouldn't be carrying more then half of it's capacity if you expect to get a long and useful life from it.
Go heavier and stronger and don't even think about mowing lawn with a working tractor.
I know that many on here think the little compacts can do anything and they may for a little while but not for long.
Best of luck.

 

[jeff9366]

I’m looking for a tractor to do a few things. On a weekly basis I finish mow approximately 5 acres with a Kubota B2650 that has a 60 inch MMM. It’s a little rough riding which I suspect is due to the loaded and loaded rear tires.

If your tires are filled 100%, versus 75% or 50%, you have zero tractor suspension, liquids not being compressible.

If your tires are filled 100% consider decreasing fill to 75% or 50% which will improve ride quality with air introduction.

Larger wheels/tires will cross pasture more smoothly than small wheels/tires.

 

[jeff9366]

Handling round bales especially 5x6s is not the best use of a compact tractor, if you have rough pastures and or get any frozen rough ground to maneuver on you need more tractor to safely handle those bales if you are carrying bales that routinely run 3/4s of your loaders max capacity you are overloading and stressing your loader and your tractors front axle.
Your loader shouldn't be carrying more then half of it's capacity if you expect to get a long and useful life from it.
Go heavier and stronger and don't even think about mowing lawn with a working tractor.

What I want is a little bit larger tractor that can lift a 5x6 hay roll up with by the loader and another by the 3 point hitch to take to the fields for the cattle, but not so large so that I can't finish mow with it.

We are in a partnership with a guy down the road that does all the cutting and rolling of hay and has a batwing for the fields.

Finish mowing is the OP's designated primary task.

Moving bales he will have one bale on the FEL and a second bale as counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch. No high lift specified.

Grand Ls have the potential for very wide rear tire spreads designed in, if OP desires same.

 

[kthompson]

How high do you need to reach with the bale? Be sure the loader has that height. Do not forget where the bale is on the fel when you are checking that. Most people I know using fel to move round bales come into the bale about half way it's height so you are loosing some of the height of the loader if you do that.

Your hay guy uses a batwing mower for hay cuttings? Does that work well? Know the cutting will cut well but the crop being cut short by a mower deck compared to a mower that cuts the stalk and does not recut is why I am asking. Not saying it does not work, just never seen it done.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Look at getting 50+ hp old iron and keep current tractor

 

[jeff9366]

Our family farm is approximately 140 acres. We have larger tractors and bushhogs for the fields. Here's where I need advice. My parents have a house there and I'm building a house on the farm too. We'll have about 7 to 10 acres of land that we'd like to keep nicer looking than the fields. My yard, my parent's yard, driveway, common areas, etc. The land isn't flat, there are some steep areas so I don't think a zero turn would do it. Plus I'd like to have something with FEL to have in the winter for snow removal, rock, mulch, etc.

There are fences to think about, so that was making me lean more towards a pull behind finish mower instead of a midmount mower. It would be easier to get in corners with the pull behind, right? But on the flip side would the weight of the tractor smash the grass down where the pull behind mower wouldn't mow it as well as the midmount.

I drove my truck up and down the hill with my iPhone sitting on the center console. It showed to be anywhere between a 11 degree and 15 degree slope. I was holding it on its side. I guess that's accurate. When I was on flat ground it showed a zero.

Further OP background.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I wouldn't use a Kubota L3560 for 5x6 round bales. That's too much weight for that tractor. I sure wouldn't want to lift a 1,400 pound 5x6 bale off the top of a large stack with that tractor.

I'd be looking at something around 50hp - 60hp with a front end loader rated for a heavier lift capacity and a higher reach on the loader.

I know the OP said he would have a bale on the FEL spear and a bale on a 3 point spear, but I would sure want to be able to just haul a bale on the front from time to time. For that, you'll need a heavy tractor and you'll still want some type of ballast on the 3 point.

 

[gk527]

How high do you need to reach with the bale? Be sure the loader has that height. Do not forget where the bale is on the fel when you are checking that. Most people I know using fel to move round bales come into the bale about half way it's height so you are loosing some of the height of the loader if you do that.

Your hay guy uses a batwing mower for hay cuttings? Does that work well? Know the cutting will cut well but the crop being cut short by a mower deck compared to a mower that cuts the stalk and does not recut is why I am asking. Not saying it does not work, just never seen it done.

They don’t use a batwing for hay. I meant they have a batwing for areas that don’t get cut for hay. We also have a Ford 3000 and a 307 model Bushhog for getting tight spaces that cattle don’t go too often.

 

[gk527]

The highest I’d lift the bale is to get it in to a hay ring or off another bale. We only stack two high.

I think I would lean more towards the L5460 or L6060. But like I said before. I’m open to other brands besides Kubota.

I do need to check loader max reach.

 

[jeff9366]

The highest I'd lift the bale is to get it in to a hay ring or off another bale. We only stack two high.

I think I would lean towards the L5460 or L6060.

In that case, consider the MX 4800/5200/5800 series with LA1065 Loader too. Same weight, same dimensions as L5460/L6060 but wider front tires. Wider front wheels with with low pressure radial tires would decrease ground pressure mowing. Somewhat less money than Grand Ls.

Were I intending to operate a Finish Mower behind L5460/L6060 or MX 4800/5200/5800 as a primary tractor application I would order one of the lower horsepower, non-turbo models (L4060/4760, MX4800) and NOT fill the rear radial tires with liquid. Most Finish Mowers have rubber belt drive to the blade spindles. You can apply only limited PTO power to a Finish Mower before the belts slip.

With a L6060 or MX5800 many would load the rear tires AND install cast iron wheel weights to get power to the ground. Combination of loaded rear tires and wheel weights very likely will rut turf.

These models push 4,000 pounds bare tractor. With a Loader, fluids, etc., operating weight will be over 6,000 pounds, 7,000 pounds with loaded tires and cast iron wheel weights. CERTAINLY MORE STABLE MOVING HAY BALES.

BARE WEIGHT: B2650 = 1,786 pounds

VIDEOS (2): Kubota MX series walk around and features by Messicks. | MX48 MX52 MX58 - YouTube

Kubota Grand L Series VS. Kubota MX Series - YouTube


RADIAL TRACTOR TIRES: Kubota Tire Choices: Why it Matters - YouTube

What I want is a little bit larger tractor that can lift a 5x6 hay roll up with by the loader and another by the 3 point hitch to take to the fields for the cattle, but not so large so that I can't finish mow with it.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Not sure there exists a tractor that can handle big bales and also mow your lawn well. A 60HP tractor will compact your soil badly, especially if you have clay soil. Since you said there are already some large tractors on the property, why not use those for the bales?

As a general comment, 5-7 acres is a lot of lawn to mow. There are attractive options that don't require as much maintenance.

Good luck on your search.

 

[MickeyDBC]

You need a 60hp tractor and a 60" zero turn mower. Lawn will go faster and look better and moving hay and doing other farm things will be so much easier with a bigger tractor.

 

[Texasmark]

My 6530 will do that. Wouldn't go any lower for 2 bales simultaneously especially if terrain isn't level. I had an IH 464 (45 hp) and couldn't pickup a 5x6 without adding about 300# to the front...no FEL, no 4WD, one bale at a time on it. Had it had a loader would it have made it with 2??????? Don't know.