Buying Advice M5640SU

[foreman Etexas]

I guess The big question is, not whether 4WD is better. I think that's a given, but whether a properly ballasted 2WD will work.
The fact of the matter is I cannot now, or most likely in the future, afford a tractor that will lift 2500# AND 4wd.
If a 2wd is not going to work except in ideal conditions, then I'm better off with the smaller L series that I now own and move smaller loads.

Are you going to keep the tractor you have now?

 

[xring100]

"To the OP you could probably max out the 3pt lift capacity with ballast and still have trouble maxing out the loader on anything other than pavement with a 2wd."

Is it your experence that if I had a 3,300# counterweight on the 3PH and maxed out the loader @ 2,500# that the tractors wheels would spin on anything but pavement?

I've never tried maxing out my 3pt capacity i don't need to with 4wd and i was not implying that you would for surely spin the tires but pointing out that you could probably easily put yourself in a situation that would be undesirable.

Right now i only have about a maximum of 2000 lbs of counterweight available but i will say that i don't have to come anywhere close to maxing out my loader before i have issues climbing hills or out while the ground is still wet, I'm on all Clay. I prefer to stay in 2wd drive when possible. If i go into a log pile and come shy of maxing out my loader with a full load of logs, even with this amount of ballast on the rear i don't have enough traction to remain in 2wd i don't usually have problems going forward even up slight inclines, backing up is the main issue. I was extrapolating this known data point out and its fairly easy for me to assume that this might still be a problem.

I would really hate for you to buy a larger tractor with the primary goal of being able to lift more and then not be able to move it very well. Buyers remorse has the potential to get very expensive. Around here probably 95% of the time newer 2wd tractors don't have loaders. I would say that probably 90% or more of the tractors in the Utility range are 4wd.

Something to think about; If you lift 3,300lbs with your loader, and the rears are off the ground, you have 3,300# + 10,000# all on your front axle.

Yeah i know its very hard on the bearings and axle I did'nt want to take my carry all off which was loaded full of wood. I almost always have some counter weight on the back. In this case i could not get the tractor in and pull the log out of where it was with my carry all on the back i was at my buddies.

Good luck with your shopping. I would much rather find a gently used 4wd in your case than a new 2wd if you didn't already know .

 

[Notforhire]

I would really hate for you to buy a larger tractor with the primary goal of being able to lift more and then not be able to move it very well. Buyers remorse has the potential to get very expensive.

Yes, that's what I'm trying to avoid, and I thank you for your input. When I was young you never saw a 4wd. My 2wd 504 farmall that I mentioned earlier had a loader. It wasn't like using a modern 4wd but it worked. It also weighed almost twice what a 5640 does.

My biggest fear in this situation is that I buy a 2wd, find out it doesn't work for me, and then not be able to sell it without giving it away. Xring you are correct that most loaders are 4wd. I do have two neighbors with 2wd loaders. But they are BIG HEAVY TRACTORS, and they still run counterweights.

Are you going to keep the tractor you have now?

At this moment yes, at least untill I'm sure about my next move. I don't need nor can I afford two machines. So I'll sell mine or trade it if I find something that works better for me.

I can go up to a L3940 and keep my 724 loader. Lift cap goes up a little I think the 3940 pressure runs a little higher. But I don't gain much. 7hp more and a little larger tires.

 

[TripleR]

There are a lot of discussions on 4WD v 2WD on here, this is just one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/182437-front-end-loader-2wd-tractor.html

 

[foreman Etexas]

I would really hate for you to buy a larger tractor with the primary goal of being able to lift more and then not be able to move it very well. Buyers remorse has the potential to get very expensive.

Yes, that's what I'm trying to avoid, and I thank you for your input. When I was young you never saw a 4wd. My 2wd 504 farmall that I mentioned earlier had a loader. It wasn't like using a modern 4wd but it worked. It also weighed almost twice what a 5640 does.

My biggest fear in this situation is that I buy a 2wd, find out it doesn't work for me, and then not be able to sell it without giving it away. Xring you are correct that most loaders are 4wd. I do have two neighbors with 2wd loaders. But they are BIG HEAVY TRACTORS, and they still run counterweights.

Are you going to keep the tractor you have now?

At this moment yes, at least untill I'm sure about my next move. I don't need nor can I afford two machines. So I'll sell mine or trade it if I find something that works better for me.

I can go up to a L3940 and keep my 724 loader. Lift cap goes up a little I think the 3940 pressure runs a little higher. But I don't gain much. 7hp more and a little larger tires.

I know with another brand say Mahindra something like a 4530,4x4,ldr(cap.2,950) will be around the Kubotas price if not less. And they are offering the 0%-84mnths...

 

[DieselnHooters]

If things turned sour money wise, like if I lost my job or sometning else and I had to part with most of my stuff, I sure wouldnt want to be caught holding a 2WD tractor with a loader that I paid big bucks for.
Especially not an in-between sized one like a M5640.

 

[case245]

bill i say wait and save for a 4wd like i said 2wd is not great

 

[Notforhire]

I know with another brand say Mahindra something like a 4530,4x4,ldr(cap.2,950) will be around the Kubotas price if not less. And they are offering the 0%-84mnths...

I was thinking about looking into Mahindra. There is a dealer in Winston-Salem not too too far from me. I'll drop in tomorrow. I don't know anyone that owns a Mahindra around here. It looks like they are from India. I have seen great variations of quality in equipment from India. I'll swing over to the TBN Mahindra site and see if I can find out about the build quality. Still there is no substitute for touchy, feely.

 

[Notforhire]

bill i say wait and save for a 4wd like i said 2wd is not great

I hear you Chuck. I would just like this to happen in this lifetime.

 

[Notforhire]

If things turned sour money wise, like if I lost my job or sometning else and I had to part with most of my stuff, I sure wouldnt want to be caught holding a 2WD tractor with a loader that I paid big bucks for.
Especially not an in-between sized one like a M5640.

That is a major concern of mine. The up side, is I can't loose my job. Don't have one.