New(er) vs Old(er) tractor for me and petite wife?

[BigBob]

Re: New(er) vs Old(er) tractor for me and petite w

Very good point. Around here,(northern Indiana), there are a lot of Quality used 1-4 year old machines at considerable savings over a new one. Also a tractor with shuttle shift or hydrostat will be a lot faster using the loader than a conventional transmission. There, that puts me up to 4 cents worth now.

 

[disk_drive_eng]

Here's my 2 cents:

I had same decision about a year ago but with only 4 acres. Ended up buying a new Kubota B2910 HST with FEL and backhoe. (Around here the only used tractors that aren't older than dirt, if you can even find them, have either been beat to death or are almost the same price as new.

What really convinced me to get a new one vs. an OLD one was one horrifying night sitting down and reading many case histories of tractor accidents on the web. After that it scared the hell out of me to think about using a tractor without a ROPS, belt, PTO guard, safety interlocks, etc, etc. Even with these features things can get out of control real fast and you or someone else is maimed or dead.

If you can at all swing it financially, don't fool around. Get a new (or used late model) name brand tractor from a reputable dealer. Make sure both of you are comfortable with the controls and getting on and off the machine. Give them a work out with typical tasks to see how you like them, for example demo the FEL/backhoe on a pile of dirt (a lot of dealers have one for this purpose).

Bigger is often better, but not always. For us, the B2910 is about the perfect size. Any bigger would be tough to get in the round pen and around some of the stable areas. Also, it was easier for my wife to get on and off than the next larger frame model up. Yet it has more than enough power for digging holes for planting big trees, trenching, moving hay, rocks, etc, at least for us.

Don't forget to consider the attachments you will need for your situation, often they dictate the tractor needed. The dealer probably has a lot of experience fitting the tractor and attachments to the job, so consider his/her advice (ours did).

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Re: New(er) vs Old(er) tractor for me and petite w

<font color="purple"> I understand some of the Deere Hydros' foot pedals can be tiresome to hold down for long... even for guys... not the new current 4x10 series... i thinks the series before these... </font>

You are right! The 4000 series pedals actually operated valves and were very stiff. The 4010 series fixed that. The pedals are electronic controls. They are comp;etely effortless to use. The 10 series also added a number of other electronic controls, all proven in the commercial equipment Deere builds. They really make for easy, safe, ergonomic operation.

I am 5'11" and my wife is 5'2", it takes half a second for either of us to get it to fit...

 

[art]

Try a B-series like a 2910. The seat adjustment makes a big difference. IT is a little bigger but not much.

 

[keeney]

Re: New(er) vs Old(er) tractor for me and petite w

<font color="green"> You are right! The 4000 series pedals actually operated valves and were very stiff. </font>

The pedals on my 4100 seem OK to me. My wife has also put some dozens of hours on the machine without complaining about the pedal force.

Because the new 4x10 series is being sold, the older 4x00 series machines are available at pretty good prices if you can find one. Most if not all of the brand-name attachments you might want can be purchased new but still fit the older machines. Something to consider when looking for a good price on a used machine is the ability to add the attachments you want.

One thing I did to get the deal I wanted on my used machine was that I was willing to take a drive to another part of the country and pick it up. We enjoy taking long weekend road trips now and then, so we made an outing of it. Just brought the trailer along that trip.

On JD's machine-finder website, I found a dealer in another state who had a used machine in the right price range. After a couple of hours geetting the scoop on the machine over the phone from the dealer, I was fairly convinced the machine was in good condition, but I was prepared to not buy it if it didn't pass muster when I saw it in person. Ended up negotiating a few hundred more off the price when I saw some minor problems that had not been disclosed on the phone, but we made the deal work.

After a nice steak dinner at the restaraunt next to the dealership and a relaxing night in a hotel, we drove back with a couble thousand extra pounds of green iron that weekend.

- Rick

 

[riptides]

Think newer tractor only. Go see the safety section for my personal experience, not a pleasant read.

4WD - must have
ROPS - 'nuf said
Seat Belt - what only one? Where is the shoulder harness? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Emergency Seat "driver in place" shutdown?

Lights all over the place? Including dummy operator lights?

In the long run, it will serve you well, better and it might save a body part or even your life.

Think NEW, think good dealer and find the one with a great reputation on service and customers.

Good luck, and remember, an accident can happen in a second.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[markie61]

Me: 6'3" 209lbs
Wife: 4'10" 100lbs

Realize that my wife has the tenacity of a pitbull and grew up driving an old Ford 2000. However, for a new driver:

ROPS/Seatbelt will keep you alive
4WD will keep you unstuck
HST will keep you productive and shorten the learning curve

All of these factors point you to a "newer" tractor of any make and model. Plus they will all keep you safer.

I would argue that the best seat adjustment design is the New Holland/Case: not only does it slide forward towards the steeing wheel and dash, the angled "slide tracks" move it closer to the floor and pedals. Combining the seat movement with the tilt/telescoping steering wheel on the "deluxe/D" package, my wife and I can comfortably and SAFELY control the tractor with everthing at our fingertips and feet.

Mark

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Think newer tractor only. Go see the safety section for my personal experience, not a pleasant read.
</font>

I remember reading that post back when you originally posted it, Riptides...should be required reading for all new tractor owners...glad you're still with us...Don't know what else to say...

Here is the link...[I hope it works]

Riptides safety forum post

 

[mundamanu]

Re: New(er) vs Old(er) tractor for me and petite w

Again, thank you all for your comments. I am happy to hear that my wife is not the only one that has trouble driving geared, no powersteering (manual steering?) tractors.

Riptides, thank you for posting your accident experience (Henro, thank you for posting the link). It's important to realize that it CAN happen to you (me). While I cannot possibly understand what that must have been like, I can sympathize with the loss of your eye. About a decade ago, I had a (drunken) accident (non-driving) that nearly cost me my left one. After a number of surgeries I can see a little bit out of it. I got lucky as I didn't lose it and there's no visible scarring. Anyway, sorry.

Thanks to all again. After more than 25 responses, HST and powersteering (either new or just a few years old) seem to have won the day.

 

[riptides]

Re: New(er) vs Old(er) tractor for me and petite w

mundamanu,
I have been doing a lot of clearing work over the last few weeks. The B7800 with HST, or in your case whatever you settle on... do make it HST. It makes moving about SO very easy. I had forgotten about Power Steering. That old farmall was a chore to swing around when moving slowly.



The tinkering to get actual work done with that Farmall really cost me some time. I really cannot put a figure on hours lost for - tuneups, overheating, replacing cables, rebuilding magnetos, more overheating, replacing tires, dead batteries, etc. etc. etc.

The new tractor is turn the key and go find work.

Thank you henro, for the link. It will be anniversary time soon. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Be Safe!

-Mike Z.