Those of you with TWO tractors, which ones?
- Thread starter Piston
- Start date
- Views: 7600
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
- Messages
- 32,246
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
Yep, I'm with Larry. Those two won't fill every need perfectly. But they span enough territory that one will always work. I added a 3rd last Winter, 47HP. But if I had to get rid of one, it would be the middle one.
6string
Silver Member
My brother and I bought a 5105 John Deere to replace our old 560LP, 4 years later I bought a 3005 and finishing mower, I also use the 3005 for gardening. I have a neighbor that has Kubota L3400, and L3200 and they are really nice tractors, the seats are the most comfortable I have encountered. I was surprised the 3200 had a manual PTO instead of live.
colwelltn
New member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2014
- Messages
- 4
- Location
- Greenback, TN
- Tractor
- Mahindra 5035 4wd Shuttle with FEL and Massey Ferguson TO-35
I am new to the two tractor farm, but I am very happy to be here. First tractor is a Massey-Ferguson TO-35 that has been very well taken care of over the years. It is a gas version without power steering or a loader, but for so many jobs it is a fantastic tractor. I use it for grading the driveway, mowing the lawn with a 5' Carelli finish mower, cleaning out the fence lines with a 5' Howse bush hog, small grading projects, and perfect for running a hay tedder and rake which keeps down the equipment changes and hours on the bigger tractor. So the clutch is a bit heavy and it needed an electronic ignition installed since the distributor is loose which takes a toll on the points, but overall, this is a very capable tractor and could not live without it.
My second tractor is a Mahindra 5035 which has recently been replaced by the 3550 with a Tier 4 diesel engine. Man is this thing a dream with shuttle shift and a loader paired with 50HP and this thing just gets the job done. I run it with a Vicon CM217 7'-2" cut disco mower and a John Deere 327 small square hay baler and it does not miss a beat. I also have a 6' Tennessee Valley Implement bush hog for cutting the tall grass in the pastures. Controls are in the right place are easy to use and the MFWD is perfect. It is a heavy tractor which is good for maxing out the loader capacity without needing rear wheel weights or a balast box on the back. I have the Industrial tires so I do not make ruts if the pastures get mucky. All steel construction too so will never have to replace my hood if a bale accidentally falls on it. Overall, this is a fantastic compact tractor and especially when paired with a smaller one that will not tear up some of my equipment and is easier to get under trees along the edges of the pasture.
Not sure why some people trade in their old tractor when buying a new one. They offered me $1500 for my old tractor which would sell on open market for $3500 the way it runs. That cost difference on a new $28k tractor is minuscule so it made no sense to trade. Also nice to have a second if one needs work or scheduled maintenance. Having two tractors when making hay is the only way to live. I just hope my father-in-law sticks around long enough for my kids to grow enough to help with putting up hay because it is such a time saver. I know that keeping an old tractor running can be difficult, but once you find a good local mechanic, not a dealership, you are good to go.
My second tractor is a Mahindra 5035 which has recently been replaced by the 3550 with a Tier 4 diesel engine. Man is this thing a dream with shuttle shift and a loader paired with 50HP and this thing just gets the job done. I run it with a Vicon CM217 7'-2" cut disco mower and a John Deere 327 small square hay baler and it does not miss a beat. I also have a 6' Tennessee Valley Implement bush hog for cutting the tall grass in the pastures. Controls are in the right place are easy to use and the MFWD is perfect. It is a heavy tractor which is good for maxing out the loader capacity without needing rear wheel weights or a balast box on the back. I have the Industrial tires so I do not make ruts if the pastures get mucky. All steel construction too so will never have to replace my hood if a bale accidentally falls on it. Overall, this is a fantastic compact tractor and especially when paired with a smaller one that will not tear up some of my equipment and is easier to get under trees along the edges of the pasture.
Not sure why some people trade in their old tractor when buying a new one. They offered me $1500 for my old tractor which would sell on open market for $3500 the way it runs. That cost difference on a new $28k tractor is minuscule so it made no sense to trade. Also nice to have a second if one needs work or scheduled maintenance. Having two tractors when making hay is the only way to live. I just hope my father-in-law sticks around long enough for my kids to grow enough to help with putting up hay because it is such a time saver. I know that keeping an old tractor running can be difficult, but once you find a good local mechanic, not a dealership, you are good to go.
OP
Piston
Elite Member
So it sounds like the general consensus is to skip the BX sized machine and go with something like a B series.
I did look up the specs on the subcompact and it looks like it wouldn't have enough lift capacity to lift my 6' power rake, which is the one main implement that I currently have that I definitely want to be able to use with it. Not only that, but I think the hp would be lacking too.
It seems to me that the B series would be pretty close to what I already have, so I'm not sure if it would make a great second tractor, until I have a larger one than the L series. Okay, so basically I'll just buy a bigger tractor so I can justify buying a smaller tractor, let me go check my bank account... :laughing:
Do those of you who either have a B and L series (or similar) tractors (or have had both in the past) find that there is a big difference in uses/capabilities, or are they too close to each other to have one of each? Seems the "gap" is closed quite a bit between those two frame sizes.
I do have a 410B backhoe that I use anytime I need something bigger, which comes in real handy every now and then. I moved 30 yards of compost last week with it and spread a little dirt in less than an hour, it would have taken me 5 times as long if I used my L series.
I've also considered an M59 to replace my current tractor, as it seems like about the same size, but just a whole lot more capable, just as capable (if not more?) as the next frame size up from the L are regarding lift capacity.
Perhaps that and a B series with a cab/snowblower would be a nice option to have. The only reason I am not perfectly happy with keeping the 410 is because I can't transport it from my land in NH to home in MA on my own. So for purposes of my "two tractors are better than one" dilemma, I'm not really counting the big 410.
I did look up the specs on the subcompact and it looks like it wouldn't have enough lift capacity to lift my 6' power rake, which is the one main implement that I currently have that I definitely want to be able to use with it. Not only that, but I think the hp would be lacking too.
It seems to me that the B series would be pretty close to what I already have, so I'm not sure if it would make a great second tractor, until I have a larger one than the L series. Okay, so basically I'll just buy a bigger tractor so I can justify buying a smaller tractor, let me go check my bank account... :laughing:
Do those of you who either have a B and L series (or similar) tractors (or have had both in the past) find that there is a big difference in uses/capabilities, or are they too close to each other to have one of each? Seems the "gap" is closed quite a bit between those two frame sizes.
I do have a 410B backhoe that I use anytime I need something bigger, which comes in real handy every now and then. I moved 30 yards of compost last week with it and spread a little dirt in less than an hour, it would have taken me 5 times as long if I used my L series.
I've also considered an M59 to replace my current tractor, as it seems like about the same size, but just a whole lot more capable, just as capable (if not more?) as the next frame size up from the L are regarding lift capacity.
Perhaps that and a B series with a cab/snowblower would be a nice option to have. The only reason I am not perfectly happy with keeping the 410 is because I can't transport it from my land in NH to home in MA on my own. So for purposes of my "two tractors are better than one" dilemma, I'm not really counting the big 410.
Attachments
Last edited:
wmonroe
Elite Member
Think the difference between a B and L is not great enough to justify two machines. If my parents B was at my place I would either use it or my L all the time as either machine would do the vast majority of my tasks. I think a 7040/60 and a 30ish hp B would be a handy duo to have around.
kneedeep
Veteran Member
Utility 3510 with Backhoe for dirt work and 5500 for farming
5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,998
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
2 for me, both Kubota's.
The smaller one is an M9000 with a loader and creeper gears on R1's with 3 sets of remotes, hydraulic shuttle and a 540/1000 pto, thats my around the farm tractor for loader work, moving stuff, snow removal and everything else. I always had hydro's until the hydraulic shuttle which actually has no dry clutch, but rather twin wet clutch packs, one for reverse and one for forward ranges, no worry about clutch wear and great for loader work, it's all lever controlled on the sateering colum.
The bigger one is an M105, again on R1's, no loader, 3 sets of remotes single 540 pto. Thats my hay implement tractor. Both nice, both heavyweight units and both pre tier 4 so both smoke and thats a good thing in my book. Don't want no stinking DEF. Both are cab tractors. I went for years sans cabs. Cab comfort can't be beat on a hot day in ther field.
The smaller one is an M9000 with a loader and creeper gears on R1's with 3 sets of remotes, hydraulic shuttle and a 540/1000 pto, thats my around the farm tractor for loader work, moving stuff, snow removal and everything else. I always had hydro's until the hydraulic shuttle which actually has no dry clutch, but rather twin wet clutch packs, one for reverse and one for forward ranges, no worry about clutch wear and great for loader work, it's all lever controlled on the sateering colum.
The bigger one is an M105, again on R1's, no loader, 3 sets of remotes single 540 pto. Thats my hay implement tractor. Both nice, both heavyweight units and both pre tier 4 so both smoke and thats a good thing in my book. Don't want no stinking DEF. Both are cab tractors. I went for years sans cabs. Cab comfort can't be beat on a hot day in ther field.
