Newbie

honeyb · Jun 29, 2004

I am looking at purchasing a tractor and wanting some help on what to buy. My dad has a Ford 3600 and my father-in-law has a Ford 3000 with FEL these are the only tractors that I have used so I was wanting something comparable to these. As far as knowing the in and outs of tractors I know very little.
I have been reading this forum for a while and have got a lot of good info here.

I had thought that I wanted to get an used Ford for around $6000-$7000 but I got to looking at these Mahindras and it got me to thinking. I could buy an older Ford that may or may not be good or spend a little more and get a brand new Mahindra. What would you guys do?

I have just bought some new land and I will be using the tractor for bush hogging, planting food plots, some garden work, and a little clearing. I do not plan on any type of hay work. I am not planning on buying a FEL now but later on in the future may purchase one. As for now I don't need the FEL.

I am looking at the 4500 and 5500 series tractors and wanting to keep my budget under $15,000.

These are the prices that a dealer close to my house quoted to me today, see if these sound resonable:

4500 2wd $11,900
4500 4wd $15,500

5500 2wd $12,900
5500 4wd $16,900

I have just talked to dealer, I will probable go this weekend and test drive all of these models just to try them all. I was wanting to know if the 2wd will be ok for a FEL if I was to get it later on. I know most everyone suggests the 4wd for a FEL but I am trying to keep the price down, so obviously the 4wd models are out of my budget.

For the price it looks like I would be better off to pay an extra $1000 and go with the 5500. I need lots of help here.

MicroPilot · Jun 29, 2004

The reason you want 4wd with a FEL is when the bucket is full that rear end can be kinda light. The front wheels turning with a full load help to get you moving.

MicroPilot · Jun 29, 2004

HoneyB, What part of the Country do you live in?

Bob_Skurka · Jun 29, 2004

( The reason you want 4wd with a FEL is when the bucket is full that rear end can be kinda light. The front wheels turning with a full load help to get you moving. )

From the SAFETY standpoint, you should NEVER, and take that as NEVER EVER do any FEL work with a tractor that is not adequately counter balanced with either rear wheel weights, loaded rear tires, or a rear ballast box/heavy implement. It is much easier to flip a tractor than most people think, especially when working with a FEL, even of hard flat surfaces. If you ever have any signs that the rear end is "light" then you should lower the bucket, dump the load, and ballast the rear end with more weight. Unfortunately we read in the safety forum on too regular of a basis, about someone who is killed or injured on a tractor because they ignored a basic safety principle.

As to why you want 4wd when doing loader work, simply put they are much easier to use and be productive with when doing FEL work. You can typically dig deeper, and steering is easier too. But please don't make the mistake of thinking it is safer with 4wd because of a light rear end when you have a loaded bucket. A light rear end is a HUGE HONKING RED WARNING SIGN THAT SOMETHING REALLY BAD COULD HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT

MicroPilot · Jun 29, 2004

I knew this - put a BIG NEWBIE sign on my forehead!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

honeyb · Jun 29, 2004

Hey Mp I am from Jasper, Alabama (NW of Birmingham).

The reason I asked about the FEL on a 2wd is that my Father-in-Law has a Ford 3000 with a FEL and it works OK. It is only 2wd and he leaves his FEL on all the time and never takes it off the tractor. He has the back tires loaded and keeps at least a bush hog or disc on the back when using the FEL.

I have only used the FEL on his tractor maybe a couple of hours in ten years, so if I do need to use a FEL I would just borrow his in the time being. That is why I am not buying a FEL at this time. Also in a few years if I was to buy a FEL, I probable would not use it that much anyway.

My dad has a friend that has a NH 4wd with a FEL and it works great. The steering and moving of the bucket is much better, but it is not enough to sway me to pay the extra for 4wd. The Ford 3000 2wd FEL counter balanced is plenty for what I would use it for.

RanchMan · Jun 29, 2004

The "to 4wd or not to 4wd" question comes up every so often. Lots of past threads on it - it's benefits (capability) and it's drawbacks (initial cost).

The one thing that is that if you do get a 2wd now, you can't simply pay to "upgrade" to a 4wd later on, so be dern sure you don't want 4wd because you might be making a very costly mistake. If you simply do not have the $$, then that's certainly an issue. If you simply don't want to spend the money, that's something entirely different - we all want to save $$ after all. Just make sure you aren't being "penny wise and pound foolish."

Although saving $$ by not buying an FEL at this time is certainly an option, once you have an FEL you'll find you use it for a lot of different things - things that you never initially envisioned. Personally I'd go ahead with it, but unlike the 4wd, as you point out, you could get it later. One thing to consider here is if you can you get it for the same price separate as a later purchase as you can get it if you purchase the tractor/FEL as a package. Something to talk to the dealer about to confirm.

What your question really boils down to is what YOU believe is "worth it." It's certainly possible that going 2wd/no FEL would be the best thing for you based on your price sensitivity and willingness to do with less capability. For me, I couldn't do without either due to my uses. It really boils down to a personal decision that nobody can give you the "right" answer to.

honeyb · Jun 29, 2004

OK, I am not sold on 4wd yet, let me ask this question. If I was to get a 4wd the only one I could afford would be the 4500 4wd. Now being that would I be better off with the 4500 4wd than the 5500 2wd.

RanchMan · Jun 30, 2004

I'd choose the 4500 in 4wd over the 2wd 5500. Here's why:

1) the 4500 weighs more (i.e. more traction)
2) the 4500 has the same capacity in 3 pt. hitch lift
3) the 4500 has 8fw/8rev gears where the 5500 is 8fw/2rev.
4) the 4500 has wet disk brakes.

What you loose in HP at the tires you more than gain in 4wd traction (e.g. pulling power) You loose some HP at the PTO, but for me, that's not an issue.

Beyond the other things I see as positives in the 4500 in general, the 4wd alone is the primary selling factor for me.

Now, if all I did was mowing on flat dry ground? No, 4wd is not needed there. Planting a field/plot is a different game. Weight helps you here, but less weight AND 2wd (i.e. 5500 2wd) could make life a pain - especially if you are using a disk harrow, for example. Going 4wd AND heavy will allow you to cut deeper and/or wider, all else being equal. Clearing? same thing - traction is the name of the game. Box blade work? If you have a good bite, 4wd not only will help you pull it but help you go where you want to (simply steering or operating the independent rear brakes doesn't always cut it.)

Could I do most things on my ranch with a larger 2wd tractor? Sure. But it would take me longer and quite frankly, there are certain things I wouldn't have been able to accomplish. When I'm on my tractor I'm there to work and simply stated, 4wd makes completing my tasks faster/easier.

honeyb · Jun 30, 2004

RM thanks for all the great info so far, let me ask this question, how much Horsepower (PTO and Engine) do I actually need. I will using a 6 ft. bush hog, a 6 ft. disc, and a 5 ft. tiller.