She called my bluff!

SacandagaBrad · Sep 3, 2003

So there I was having coffee with my wife on Saturday, talking about this and that and how much easier some tasks would be if I only had the tractor I wanted. Her response - "rather than keep complaining about not having one, why don't you just get the one you want? The car payments are almost over for a while, now would be a good time. I could mow with that tractor, right?" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I decided on a TC24D quite a while ago thanks to input here at TBN, plan to equip it with a 12LA FEL, 60" MMM, 6' back blade, and a 52" snow blower for the rear. Block heater and chains a must as well. Getting the clearance from the control tower, I sort of made the purchase in my mind (nothing on paper yet!). And without spending a dime, I am already having second thoughts (buyers's remorse?/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif) and re-thinking the TC-18 if they are still available. Here is the main concern - will the 18 have enough HP to run the snowblower through 18" of snow. All other features are about the same on the 18 and 24 if I read it correctly, same lift height and weight capacity on the FEL and 3PH, almost the same footprint, the 24 is only 300 pounds heavier, and they run comparable implements. I have also noticed the TC18 does not have a control on the rate of drop for the 3PH. The cost difference is about $2200 (15%) in my area, with only $300 separating the TC21D and the TC24D. I know the "D" in TC24D gets me some other goodies as well, but other than the wrap around headlights, they are not readily apparent while kicking the tires at the dealer.

I have even re-thought that maybe I don't need one at all considering the cost. Then I think back to last winter trying to keep my 150 yard private road plus the driveway clear with my two old gravelys without hydraulic lift. Sore shoulder. I think about moving the docks in and out of the lake by hand. Sore back. I think about trying to launch the boats with the gravely. Stuck. Landscaping projects. Road maintenance. Etc, etc, etc.

My only real question is whether or not the TC18 will blow snow with a 52" on the back, at a decent pace to clear a road. I look forward to hearing back from anyone with experience on either the 18 or the 24.

Thanks for being my sounding board. It is good therapy for a rather nerve racking process.

Brad

Inspector507 · Sep 3, 2003

I have a TC18 and would have prefered the TC24 if I had the funds...... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

spencer200 · Sep 3, 2003

If you have the fund buy the TC24 you will be much happier with the extra horse power in 18" of snow, and with the 60" deck performance.

hazmat · Sep 3, 2003

I have a TC18 and would have prefered the TC24 if I had the funds...... 

I have a TC18 & would have bought the TC24 if it was available when I purchased (May '02). I couldn't justify the $2K for a TC21D vs the 18, but $2,200 more for 6 extra HP is worth it. Lets see 15% more $$$ for 33% more HP.

I have the 60"MMM and when I let the grass grow for 3 weeks while on vacation, I had to mow real slow to bring it back under control. sure would have liked the extra HP then. I've only used it to plow snow, not blow & I ran out of traction before HP then. Chains are a must for hills.

Let us know what you decide & how you like your new tractor.

thcri · Sep 3, 2003

Brad,

I had a TC21D with a 60"MMM. On the hills it definately bogged the tractor down some. So the 18 if you have hills would bogg even more. On the flats it handled it just fine.

Did the 18 have the Hydro that the 24D does have?? If not that is where the major difference would be in the price.

My philosophy that I didn't follow is, "Decide what class tractor you want then buy the largest HP in that class."

Check with some of the dealers for snow blowers and see what PTO Horsepower they recommend. New Holland does show a 51" for the 18 to 24 and a 63" for the 21 and 24.

If your looking to keep the price down, check out the TC30. I was told by my dealer that it would be cheaper than the 24D???? (Yes losing the Hydro)I put lots of question marks behind that one because I only going by heresay and never really checked it out.

murph

jwstewar · Sep 4, 2003

I have the 24D w/ the 60" MMM rear-discharge mower and the 12LA loader. I absolutely love the tractor and loader. As done everything I've asked of it. I love the mower deck when everything is absolutely dry and not wet, but I hate it when the grass is a little too tall (like now where I've been trying to concentrate on the pole barn) or wet. It leaves some pretty nasty chunks of grass. See this thread: Had it 2 months considering trading . I have 7.68 acres that is pretty flat, but probably an acre or 2 of it is pretty rough and gets a lot of run off and I have used the little 4' KK rotary cutter over cutting down stuff probably 2" w/o every bogging the tractor or even breaking a shear pin. The hydro sure is nice to ease into some unknown territory when 'hoggin'. I've never actually heard anybody talk about that aspect of the hydro.

I'm not saying the 18 won't do what you want, but I wouldn't have wanted any less HP either.

Take a look at the attached pic to see what it can pull /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Golfgar4 · Sep 4, 2003

( If your looking to keep the price down, check out the TC30. I was told by my dealer that it would be cheaper than the 24D???? (Yes losing the Hydro) )

You don't have to lose the hydro with the TC30. You can get it with HST. I'm not sure who else has one, but I know that MrWurm does.

jwstewar · Sep 4, 2003

When I was looking to buy the TC30 w/ hydro was only about $500 more than the 24D. I just liked the 24D/12LA combo better for my needs.

Golfgar4 · Sep 4, 2003

Hi Jim /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The TC30 is a nice machine, but as you found out, it may not be for everyone. I don't know off the top of my head what the specs for the TC30 are in comparison to the 24, or any other tractor for that matter. I think that the TC30 does not have the lift capability on the 3 pt that some of the others have. And I think that the loader isn't as strong as the Boomer's loaders are. I could be wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I just wanted Brad to know that the TC30 is available with a hydro in case he wanted to check it out. I've always liked the TC30. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

thcri · Sep 4, 2003

Yes you can get the Hydro on the TC30. I guess what I was looking at was the dollars. Maybve somewhat of a trade off, no hydro but 6 more HP and less dollars.

The TC30 still has the 7308 loader also which does not have the lift capacity it should have. The 7308 is the only loader for the TC29D and the 33D yet. The new LA series is not available for them yet.

murph