TC24D vs. TC30

[mustelid]

hello,

just sorta scoping out some info here. i wanted some thoughts on the above comparison...especially price. i'll have too much tractor for my land either way, but thought it could serve as the tractor for our little street...maybe 10 houses. i figure between all of us on 1.5-2.5 acres there will be enough work to warrent me buying a tractor, right?.....RIGHT???? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif i'd be looking at a package with a loader, R4s. not too bothered about transmission

 

[yellowdog99502]

On the surface, it looks as though you are a 'bit' oversized for your property. However, I don't know what your needs are and I tend to agree with Tim Allen that more power is better.

We have a TC-30 that we use to take care of 40 acres; about 20 in a reforestation program (thank you fellow tax payers), 15 heavily wooded and 5 in yard. The only failing of the tractor is the operator.

As for pricing, the tractor and loader were about $13,000 this past spring. Kind of hard to break it out as I got a package deal with some other items included in the total cost. I don't know where you are in SE Michigan but the dealers in Hillsdale and Coldwater were both great to work with. I ended up with Coldwater only because they were closer to me. Prices were within $ of each other.

Good Luck,

Don

 

[jinman]

My vote would be for the TC30. It's more of a traditional tractor and has a split platform. All that means is that it's easier to get to everything around the operator's area. It has a few more horsepower than the smaller TC24 too. If you are going to loan it to your neighbors, you want to keep it simple.

I'd also opt for the hydrostatic transmission since you'll have other operators. You don't want someone grinding the gears on your tractor everytime they use it because they've never owned a gearshift vehicle. If you are going to loan it to your neighbors, good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Everything they can't do with the tractor will be its fault or yours. They'll probably abuse it too and will whine like a baby if you ask them to bring it back full of fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Sure, probably most will treat your tractor right, but you'll have a couple who will bring out the killer instinct in you. ...oh by the way... Happy Thanksgiving. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[hazmat]

Don't buy the tractor for your neighbors, get it for you!

That said, on ~2 acres the TC30 is too big! Especially if you have a lawn. It weighs 1,000 # more than the TC24D. I use my TC18 on 4 acres at home and to mow 8 acres of field at my paren'ts farm in Maine.

What kinds of jobs do you have in mind? You may want to consider a sub-compact like the New TZ

More info here lansdowne-moody

 

[songhunter]

After several years of trying to help my neighbors, I make it a practice never to loan out my tractor, truck or any other power tool. If someone needs help, I'd rather volunteer my time as operator before letting them borrow it. The idea of loaning a neighbor a new tractor makes me shiver all over! That said, both are excellent tractors. The TC30 is probably one of the best value tractors on the market. I don't believe I'd go with a sub-compact, though, because of the limited ground clearance, generally 6-8 inches, which is more suited to finished lawn areas. Hope all goes well!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Somewhere on the board are a couple of threads that have HORROR stories about lending tractors to neighbors. It is one thing to co-own equipment with a TRUSTED neighbor & the understanding that ONLY you and he get to use it; it is quite something different to hand someone the keys to your $15,000 toy and have it returned with leaking cylinders (that you don't realize are leaking for about a week and a half) because they tried to lift up that 8000# granite boulder out back! Or when the tractor is buried to the top of the axles in mud and the neighbor hands you the key, and a map with the directions of where you can find your stuck tractor. Or some other totally lame-brained thing.

IF I was you, I'd buy the smaller tractor, it will be easier for mowing. I have a TC24D and love it. But for 2 acres you might want to go to a TC18. Or even size down to the new sub-compact TZ series tractors. Those will be even better for mowing, which is probaby how you will spend 85% of your time with the tractor.

But I would not buy a neighborhood tractor under any circumstances because one day you will wake up with a tattoo of a hula dancer on your belly and wonder how it got there and then you will look in the yard and see your tractor parked on top of the neighbors tree, and you will remember how it got there, and the sad fact is, the hula dancer on your belly will be funny, but the tractor repair will be expensive, and trust us on this one point . . . both will be your problem when you try to explain them to your wife while standing in front of the divorce court judge.

 

[Mrwurm]

Mustelid,
My opinions on tractor sizing are different than most others I have ran across. I have never understood why or how folks can equate their tractor needs to the size of their property. The only exception to this would be for mowing. The size of tractor goes (generally) hand-in-hand with the size of the mowing deck and as such may indicate a certain size machine. Also, too large of a machine may be more difficult to manuver on your lot for mowing purposes. (depending on the numbers of trees and obstacles) My tractor is used for grunt work only. I have a dedicated machine for mowing. Not everyone can afford both, but that's what I do. But, if I did'nt have a dedicated mower, I would get a mid mount mower and use my TC30.

That being said, I recommend that you choose your tractor based on how you will use it, not where you will use it. In my case I have a TC30. I use my tractor to do landscaping projects around my home, provide family hay rides down the road, and snow removal on my 400 ft drive. When I bought my tractor I was looking for the strongest 3pt hitch and the best loader capacity that I could afford.

When I am dragging a 2,000lb rock or lifting a 1,000lb tree for planting, my tractor does not care what size my lot is and neither do I. A smaller tractor may look better on my lot, but would not be strong enough to do the work that I want it to do. As long as I have enough room to turn it around, then it is not too big. Actually, I have been even thinking of trading mine in next year to get a TC35 so I have more loader capacity and 3pt capacity.

Oh, one last comment. My tractor has loaded turf tires and I have never made a rut in my lawn at any time of the year. Maybe, the ground is firmer around here.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Mrwurm does make an EXCELLENT point about tractor size and sizing the machine to do the job. I've got different machines for differnt jobs. And while I love the little machines, sometimes I wish I had a real bulldozer or a real front end loader to make some of the biggest jobs go faster.

Based on the original post, I presumed (and maybe I should not have done that) that the tractor will be a mowing machine with some light duty landscape work around the house. . . and I assumed, that messages posted on this thread and others, would disuade Mustelid from being the providor of a "community" tractor.

 

[RoyJackson]

Pick which one you want...

Is it too much tractor? probably...but it sounds like you want a tractor. If you've the funds to do it, then do it.

As far as your neighbors...buy it for yourself. If you want to help your neighbors, fine. I would not lend the machine to them. you probably wouldn't be compensated for any damage to the tractor. Also, injuries resulting from a neighber's incompetency would involve you as well. If they need work done, just figure out how you'd want to be compensated.

I do a little work for my neighbors. The only thing I ever ask for or accept is a tank of fuel.

As far as which tractor..I go for the TC-30.

 

[mustelid]

thanks for all the input. i should have clarified that i would be the one in the drivers seat when helping neighbors with projects. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

one question i still have is: what sort of price would i be looking at for tc24 w/loader. i had pretty much figured a TC30 w/loader would be in the 13,5K range. is the tc24 going to be more b/c it's deluxe and not basic like the TC30 even though it's smaller?