Looking to buy the right tractor the first time!

jagjag · Aug 28, 2004

This is my first post, so go easy. I've been reading through this site for a few days and have gained several insights and perhaps should already know the answers to my own questions, however will throw them out anyway.

My wife and I have a 155 acre property approx. 40 miles NE of Denver, CO. We have lived here for about 5 years.

We have 50+- acres in alfalfa and 100+- acres in dryland - wheat or oat hay, etc. Thus far we have had neighbors do the farming for us. We share crop the dryland and pay $1.10 per bale for the alfalfa to be cut, baled, and stacked in small square bales.

We currently have 4 horses which we keep in a couple acre pasture area. We have a 75' x 120' arena area, a barn with 4 stalls and a paddock area. Our driveway is gravel, 1000'+-.

We have a JD LX-255 lawn tractor and a Ford Jubilee with bush hog, 6' back blade, disk, sprayer, and post hole digger. The PTO on the Ford has a problem where it will not shut off (are told is a fairly significant fix, $500-1,000). This is not the safest situation and we don't want to put that much into that to fix it, so are phasing out its use.

We are looking at buying a new tractor with a FEL to keep up on general maintenance of the propety. We are not sure if we will take on any of the farming. If we did, it would be the haying of the alfalfa. We have head a lot of different ideas about what size tractor it takes to do hay, from 40 hp to 80 hp mininmums.

At this point we are thinking of something in the 55 - 65 hp range as something that might do everthing, well most things. We are concerned that any smaller precludes the ability to do hay, and that anything larger is cumbersom for the general maintenance and FEL work. We also want it to be user friendly for my wife, me too, so are interested in HST. I thought we were 100% sure of this until I read a post here that specifically recommended against this if any farming was involved. Does HST not perform well in farming applications?

We have looked mostly at the Kioti DK 45-65's and the JD 5320 and 4720. IF we were to choose today, it would be the JD 4720 w/ FEL. We can get this for about $29K. We will also probably get a manure spreader, box blade, a small ripper and 60" tiller. I don't consider myself a mechanic so are looking to buy new. The JD dealers in the area seem to be much more full service than the Kioti.

I hope I have provided a good enough picture our situation. Any and all feedback is appreciated.

Thanks

beenthere · Aug 28, 2004

Welcome to the forum.
Sounds like you have a little bit of heaven there in CO. Pictures would be very welcome. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

You will go to the head of the class with the Deere 4720. The company, the quality, the long-term value are all positives, and if you have a positive on the Deere dealer where you are at, you could make almost everyone envious.

HST will only fall short if you are going into heavy duty land tillage, such as plowing. For the most applications, the HST will be the best for you, IMO. Not all agree, but with most FEL jobs, and all-around utility uses, HST is best.

RICHARDG · Aug 28, 2004

O.K.,,,you see all,,I do not recommend a jinma chinese tractor in this situation,,even though the 40 h.p. will run a baler and you can get fels and backhoes with them,,,he has got alot of tractor work he needs doing,he needs a big three or four,,,down side is,,,,,29,000 dollars,,,its all a matter of money,,,but in this case,,you got to have the tool to do the job with,,,thingy had to add,40 h.p nortrac,,,12,000 dollars,,free shipping,,,with fel,it don't say,,,probably,,,about 3,ooo more,,,so,,16,000 lets say,,,,,that sure beats the other price,,,,,but it ain't to girl friendly,,,not sure what that really means though,I mean there are girls and then there are girls,,,thingy again

Bird · Aug 28, 2004

( I thought we were 100% sure of this until I read a post here that specifically recommended against this if any farming was involved. Does HST not perform well in farming applications? )

You have to remember there's always personal preferences and personal opinions involved. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif If it were me in your situation, I'd go back to being 100% sure of the HST for the variety of jobs you mentioned. You'll certainly like it better for the FEL work and tiller, and my own personal preference is for HST on the other jobs. Now if you told me you were going to pull a plow in the ground all day at a constant speed, or spend all day lots of days spreading fertilizer where you want a constant speed to get even distribution, then I'd have a different opinion and would go with a geared tractor.

DieselnHooters · Aug 28, 2004

Like Bird said and also why a CUT for such an acreage? You say 55-65Hp range and then you lean toward a CUT?
You posted on a compact tractor site so naturally people on here will approve of a CUT,some on here believe a 4720 could farm half of Kansas but if you wanna buy right on your first purchase and not lose on trade-ins after trade-ins,then go for a utility like the 5000 JD series like you mentionned.

Maurice · Aug 28, 2004

There may be some confusion on the HP numbers with the origional post and the decision for CUT.

JAGJAG,
usually the HP numbers associated with an implement are stated for PTO HP not overall tractor HP. I'm not sure if you picked up on this or not. If you are not used to the tractor world this would not be an intutive thing. However you may be quicker than I am and already picked up on that PTO HP thing /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Glenn9643 · Aug 28, 2004

Do yourself a favor and check out the New Holland TN series. I believe you would be well served with a TN70 for what you describe.

OrangeGuy · Aug 28, 2004

For what you describe, a CUT is too small. I would recommend something in the 60-70 HP utility tractor or bigger. Even the new JD 4720 is too small when it comes to traditional farmwork.

OrangeGuy

P.S. Don't be afraid to look at used tractors. Generally there is a good supply of less than 1000-2000 hour 60-70 HP tractors in the market. Less than 1000 hours would be a low houred tractor.

rebelmedic · Aug 28, 2004

You could also concider new holland TC48da or TC55da the are a little smaller than full size but concidered a class IV. I have the TC48DA and what little i`ve used it so far i realy like it a lot. I got it with the 18la FEL for 22,000 in my area

RedDog · Aug 28, 2004

( We have looked mostly at the Kioti DK 45-65's and the JD 5320 and 4720. IF we were to choose today, it would be the JD 4720 w/ FEL. We can get this for about $29K. We will also probably get a manure spreader, box blade, a small ripper and 60" tiller. I don't consider myself a mechanic so are looking to buy new. The JD dealers in the area seem to be much more full service than the Kioti. )

If you are dead set on Hydro,, forget the Kioti. I believe the 4720 Deere is to small for your application.

I'm still in sticker shock mode with that $29,000 price!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I believe you could get the DK65 with cab for about that price and have much more tractor than the 4720!

I do agree with you about the JD dealers being more full service.

If you choose Deere,,, go bigger.

RedDog