Looking to buy soon - need your input - thanks

Bill_Ryan · May 19, 2001

First, what a great site! Lots of good info. and friendly people.

We live in New Hampshire and own 23 acres (15 acres "pasture"). Spent initial $$$ on house, now it's time to tame the land.

We grow field stone here in New Hampshire

and our pastures have lots of it sticking above ground (tough on brush hogs).

We've been hiring out to brush hog the fields one a year in the fall to keep the sapplings down, etc...

My needs are:
- Bury and or move field stone
- Brush hog fields and later mow them (once they are tamed)
- Move gravel, compost, bark mulch
- Snow plow (we get lots of the stuff here!)
- Possibly move/lift/drag some granite foundation slabs
- Plow or rototill large garden plots
- etc etc etc

Thinking about a JD 4300 from what I've read so far. Will it be enough tractor for my needs? Any other suggestions?

Most likely will need bucket, back hoe and brush hog to begin with. Which models do people recommend?

Also, what are people currently doing wrt baling hay? Seems one needs a large tractor to drive a baler? Do they barter with neighbors who have large tractors w/balers or ???

Many thanks in advance,

Bill
EnDeering Acres Farm
Deering, NH
billryan@gsinet.net

patton · May 19, 2001

WRT bailing hay, it is common around here to split the hay 50/50 with the person who bales it. Cutting and raking are normally done by the landowner, but with good quality hay, you can get a better deal.

Pat

You need 45 PTO HP for the smallest round balers I have seen. With a round baler there is no way to reduce the power demands by reducing ground speed. This will work somewhat with square balers.

If you plan on using round bales, make sure you have the weight to pick them up with a loader or 3 pt forks. Raking and cutting shouldn't be a problem.

cowboydoc · May 19, 2001

Bill,
From what you are listing I would go with at least the 4600 or 4700 jd. I've got the 4600 and I do all the same stuff that you are listing plus more. I also have a bigger tractor, but needed something small to get around the place better. I have a small round baler that I use on my tractor. I can make up to 1500 lb. bales with it. I also have a sickle and rake that I use on the 4600. I have a mower conditioner too but it's too much for the 4600, I have to use the massey for it. I have a square baler, new holland, that I use with the 4600 no problem. With my 4600 tractor I can move the big round bales no problem. I put one on the front and one on the back and away I go. I move manure, clean lots, move dirt, plow, disc, spray, etc. with the loader on mine and no problems. I have a seven foot rototiller on mine too that I use with no problems.

Also like has been said you can do shares but for 50% of the hay it doesn't take too long to pay for it yourself. For my rake, sickle mower, and square baler I paid less than a $1000. Also carver makes some small hay baling equipment for small tractor but you're talking big bucks there. That's all I can think of for now. Let me know if you have any other questions.

kerr · May 19, 2001

big chores call for big hp. and weight.no bailing .no big snow blower ,the 4300 should be just fine for all the other non ground engaging equiptment.

Bill_Ryan · May 21, 2001

Thanks everyone for your input.

What FEL would you recommend for the 4300?

What backhoe would you recommend for the 4300 and mount type (frame, subframe, 3pth)?

Thanks again,

Bill

Bill Ryan
EnDeering Acres Farm
Deering, NH

ejb · May 21, 2001

I agree with some of the others...the 4300 sounds kinda small for what you want to do...rocks can be very heavy if you want to try and move them get a bigger rig if the budget affords. Go for at least the 4600/4700 and if you can step into the 5000 ten/twnety series (i.e. 5210, 5310 etc). There is no comparison between the lines. I have the 5410 and it will easily handle all of the chores you mentioned, except it might be a bit big for a rototiller...too powerful I am told.

Also, you wouldn't want to put a belly mower on anything in the 5000 series so if you want to do that maybe stick with the 4600/4700 and hire out the heavy work.

Good luck.