Narrowing my tractor choices

[DavesTractor]

I want to stay with a reliable, known manufacturer. Where does Farmtrac rank? They are not in the Big 4. But does that mean they are in the same category as Branson or Lenar? Or perhaps somewhere in-between?

Mahindra, if you have a dealer close buy, should be considered. Correct me if I am wrong, but I suspect they outsell most if not all of the non Big 3 (4) brands. The "00" series is a heavy, tough, simple tractor, at a reasonable price. And they are heavy enough to do a good job in 2wd, even with a loader. Of course 4wd gives you even more versatility.

 

[dgl24087]

"Here are the models I have picked to choose from. I think these fall under the category of "Value".

Massey Ferguson 533 or 543
New Holland TT60A
FarmTrac 555
JD 5103 or 5105
Kubota M4800, M4900, M5000su
Case JX60"

Take a look at a NH TD75D as well, value priced, 4 cyl. diesel. Larger frame, heavy tractor.

 

[BarryinMN]

I think you have a pretty good plan.

I have an old Uncle that raises beef cattle and feed crops for them on 1/2 your acreage. Ground is pretty plush in MN so he measures cows per acre vs acres per cow in more arid areas. His tractor is an old 2wd JD 3020 65 pto HP. Has a skid steer for additional loader work because it's small & quicker. Uses an ATV with a plow to clear lighter snow, a blower on the back of the JD to clear snow from the once in 5 years dumping we get.

An observation: a section is 640 acres which is 1 square mile. If you were to run a combine over the remaining 140 acres in the section a GPS would show ~ 80 miles of travel. Running a 5-6' bush hog over that 140 would be how many road miles? 140 is similar to your stated 1/3 open space.

Any plan to continue or start exotic animals and/or hunting leases? Being centered between 3 major population centers might generate some easy access traffic.

 

[Highsmith]

I think you have a pretty good plan.

Any plan to continue or start exotic animals and/or hunting leases? Being centered between 3 major population centers might generate some easy access traffic.

Nothing exotic unless I am so successful with my meat goats and steers that I have money to burn. No hunting leases. Hunting will be reserved for a few close friends and family, no charge. Maybe get a little free labor though.

Went tractor shopping today. Visited NH/MF and JD dealers. Here is what the JD dealer quoted me:

• JD 5103 $13,490
• JD 5203 $14,595
• Frontier 6' Mower $1500
• JD 512 Loader $4450
• Frontier 200 PHD $1000
• Frontier 6' Tiller $2825
• Frontier 6' Box Blade $850
• Frontier Bale Fork $480

The JD dealer said he liked people getting information off of the internet as it saves him time educating people.

Here are some pics:

 

[GreenWannabe]

You might also consider a Challenger MT300B series tractor, 45 - 85 pto HP. They are corporate twins with the MF 500 series, and are sold and serviced by Caterpillar dealers. The closest to you would be Holt Cat in Austin. I have read at least one post where the poster was able to buy the Challenger at a better price than he could find for the MF.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Z-Michigan]

• JD 5103 $13,490
• JD 5203 $14,595
• Frontier 6' Mower $1500
• JD 512 Loader $4450
• Frontier 200 PHD $1000
• Frontier 6' Tiller $2825
• Frontier 6' Box Blade $850
• Frontier Bale Fork $480

The tractor price quotes look decent; a little better might be possible. FEL price is about right, maybe a bit high. I would be inclined NOT to get mostly Frontier implements, as I think you can get better quality for about 10% more from Woods or Landpride, or equal quality for a bit less from some other manufacturers. Since you're in Texas, I would look around for Modern brand implements - made in Houston, not available in my area unfortunately (I would like a galvanized box blade and mower).

 

[GaryCrowell]

Skip the farmtrac, same with mahindra. The other manufacturers are good and established, you'll be able to get parts 20 years from now. I bought an off brand tractor about 15 years ago, now I can't get parts and it's a boat anchor. Nothing but brand names for me from now on out.

I think you'd be better served with a bit more horsepower. A 70 HP engine/60 PTO tractor isn't that much more expensive than the size you're looking at, but will do twice the work of the smaller tractors. For example, a massey 533 can be had for around $13.5, a 573 for around $17. That extra $3500 gets you a lot more machine. The extra weight will help a LOT when doing loader work or moving bales, much more stable. 500 acres IS a lot of land, and you'll find yourself needing to do a lot more tractor work than you envision right now, I guarantee it. Bushhogging 166 acres of pasture is much more enjoyable with a big mower than it is spending the next two weeks dragging around a 5' bushhog.

 

[BarryinMN]

Here are some pics:

Me like your operator

Pixes reminds me I still have a Lakeplace in Bandera County (W of SA) that needs bush hogging.

Hill country has some pretty intense hunting - weird hearing jet engines spool up in the middle of nowhere & suddenly see a small bus jet pop over a canyon wall & rocket away.

Not many fences & gates in N MN but hitting a Deer on a hwy can be deadly does weigh in @ 180 & bucks are larger yet.

My avatar comes from a 500 pounder in the yard last summer. I was preoccupied watering the grass about 6AM looked up in time to see this animal larger than a 500g propane tank in full gait coming straight at me. He veered off & passed by about 30' away. Truly impressive. Reset my expectation about not being eaten by something in the woods. We do have a problem with a Wolf pack running cattle & taking stragglers. They just came off the Fed endangered list this week & fall to State control.

I been thinking about putting a radio on my gator when running thru the trails in the woods.

 

[Highsmith]

I read on another thread about someone wanting to use his tractor to smooth old furrows. It was recommended he use a disc and/or a drag harrow. Would the 50-55 HP range handle these implements or do these king of implements require more HP?

I am thinking 50-55 HP is adequate for any and all 6' implements. Please correct me if I am wrong.

A 2nd issue I have recently been made aware of is using offset attachments which require more HP. I searched "offset" on here but did not find anything that helped my understanding. Based on the description of how I plan to use my tractor, can anyone speak to an anticipated use for offset attachments?

 

[BarryinMN]

I read on another thread about someone wanting to use his tractor to smooth old furrows. It was recommended he use a disc and/or a drag harrow. Would the 50-55 HP range handle these implements or do these king of implements require more HP?

I am thinking 50-55 HP is adequate for any and all 6' implements. Please correct me if I am wrong.

A 2nd issue I have recently been made aware of is using offset attachments which require more HP. I searched "offset" on here but did not find anything that helped my understanding. Based on the description of how I plan to use my tractor, can anyone speak to an anticipated use for offset attachments?

When I bought the farm was given Uncles 1948 JD model A tractor gas 38 horse at 6,000 lbs. Attachments are aged & sized accordingly: 2 bottom 3pt plow, drawbar 8' disc, 8' cultivator, 5'.6'' bush hog, 2 row planter, etc. I replaced the cracked head & running it vs newer diesel it has little torque reserve (motor bogs down easily) but then full speed is 1075 rpms on the 2 cylinder 327? cubic inch engine. I still use it to pull dump wagon & misc work. No roll bar or other safety features so I stayed away fron steep slopes & hills. After the rear wheel fell off out on the highway pulling a load of concrete sidewalk I do not take it out on the road anymore. Plus the steering has a asphalt killer wobble that is non existant in dirt. I refurbed the whole nose assy when I replaced the gas tank so I know it's reliable & leave it at that.

Your HP should easily accommodate attachments, if your tires spin out add some weight. 1/2 the JD weight is in the rear tires & it stalls not spins out.

My new tractor is 55 hp & will easily mangle, tangle, and destroy the A attachments at 1400 (torque peak) rpm. (PTO rpm is 2000) I do use full power for snow clearing and field plowing - my plow is a huge trash plow at 4x18 was told I'd need 100 hp to pull it.

Offset attachments hang off the back & or side of the tractor. Bush hog among others has a ditch bank mower. You need weight to counteract the steering and tipping lever effect of the attachnment. More offset more lever effect. I was going to get one until I discovered ditch banks, creek banks, etc are susceptible to erosion, crumble & give away. I changed my cutting to approach head on or straight back, not run along side. Time wise it's a pain but less likely to end up with the tractor and mower piled on top of me at the bottom of the bank.

Last Summer was pretty dry & I sloped the pond banks from verticle for easier mowing & instantly had a Deer hangout in the front yard.