TN75D Replacement Candidate Test Drive (TS&TN-F)

hard_yakka · Nov 12, 2004

So we headed up to our 'local' NH dealer to look at a lease returned TS115 a new TNF95, TC45 and TB100. The TS115 is one heck of an impressive unit, cab almost reminds me of my C340 cockpit. Creep/Run, 4 remotes, buddy seat, etc, etc, etc.. It's a BIG UNIT quite, smooth and probably will do more that I can ask of it. Since it's COG is higher than the TN but also weighs more my unanswered question to the dealer was 'is it going to have more tip tendencies than the TN75?
TNF95 was pretty nice to, had shuttle, super steer, quite and although the cab is small, not to bad. It would have all the power we would need in the vineyard and clearance. We have decided to get a mechanical in-row cultivator which can either be mounted in front (hydraulic) or PTO off the rear. The visibility is not a nice as the TC45 but the TC45 can't lift the post pounder we have. I can see why everyone likes those Boomers. The TB is a pretty basic tractor built like a tank. SOoooo.. We both decided it was playing craps with the current TN and it needs to go but I'm going to take one more shot at NH Corporate to get them to do make me a deal on this yellowish unit I have now.

Robert_in_NY · Nov 12, 2004

What are they asking for the TS115? It is a nice machine but won't work too good in the vineyards /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

How much field work do you do each year that you want two different tractors? Of course, if you can afford them then get them as you can never have too many tractors and if that was the case I would get the TS and the TNF.

hard_yakka · Nov 13, 2004

The TS would not be used in the vineyard once the rows are established even though it could 'fit' through since the spacing is 10'. There are several reasons for the TS, 1) to get rid of the problematic TN75 before the warranty expires 2) to do the work in the other 180 acres faster since I"m a weekend warrior farmer. We have lot's of scotch broom and hawthorne that needs mowing and the 10' LP offset rotary mower and others implements would work better/faster with the higher HP tractor. They are asking $43K for the TS it’s fully loaded with 300 hours on it just a little dirt on the seats. I would have to buy a FEL with bucket.

We put in a 15 acre vineyard this year and prep’d and replanted about 25 acres of hay/pasture this year, 50 next year with alfalfa. Vineyard expands to 25 acres.

TNF95 would be the vineyard main tractor and field backup. I have a post pounder that can’t be lifted by a TC45 (my first cheaper choice) nor does the TC have a cab if we get into spraying Boron or Sulfur in a few years. My wife jumped up and down yelling “I want one of those” which was a mechanical weeder for in-vine-row that would almost be permanent on the TNF.

Given that all the attachments we have now and a have yet to buy would fit both tractors and it’s only money, trading in the TN for the TNF and TS feels like the best thing to do. My problem is pulling out the wallet for THAT much money which is about $95K for TS with FEL, 10’ LP mower, Domries 12’ cultipacker, TND supersteer/cab with Rinari EL cultivator. Of course the TN75D I have now would be used for trade-in and bring down the balance.

Thanks for the input!

Robert_in_NY · Nov 13, 2004

What variety are you growing? Around here the rows are spaced 8' but when they grow the actual row is usually only 5' in between vines (which is why the TNF and TNV is so narrow). You keep talking about the TS, have you looked at the TL? You will be saving quite a bit over the TS by jumping to a TL and still have a bigger tractor then the TN. With your rows you should be able to get the TL narrow enough to work in your vineyard without damaging your vines as they grow. The TL-A has a great cab but it is not as tall as the new TS-A cab.

The mechanical weeder you are talking about, is it a root hoe? If it is what I think it is it pushes dirt onto the roots and helps control weeds some but not much. More or less it helps the vines by keeping the roots protected. Weeds are controlled by spraying. Most farmers have an old sprayer they use to just spray under the vines for weeds. My neighbor has a NH front deck lawnmower (actually I think they changed to a JD Gator now) and they go thru the rows and spot spray the weeds in the rows with a small spray tank and hand wand.

Robert_in_NY · Nov 13, 2004

The TL-A is made in Italy if I recall correctly. It does have a nice power edge compared to the TN's and the extra weight helps control the power while baling. That was the reason I even looked at the TL was to see how my baler responded to the extra hp. I was able to use the TL and my TN 65 head to head on the same baler and the TL100-A ran my NH 575 baler easily. I didn't get to use it on any of the hills but I don't see it being a problem as it felt steady driving it on the bank at my house. Like you I am looking for a tractor to do most of my work and that limits me to at least a TS115-A but I am looking for a TM or I might go all out and get an old Ford/NH Genesis 8670. I need a tractor that can pull a 5-6 bottom plow and still handle my baler. The older Ford/NH genesis tractors have a lot of hp but are priced in the $50k range.

hard_yakka · Nov 13, 2004

Grape varieties; Sangiovese, Largrein, Sagratino, Barbara, Nebbiolo, Shiraz and Syrah. 10'x6' layout 725 plants to the acre. Here is a link to our website, not much but knocked it out one evening using FrontPage. www.amaranthridge.com
I'll work on updating it some rainy weekend.

The cultivator is Rineri (sp?) EL there are two types, 3pt and front mount. It has 2 - 3 round rotating vertically disks that contain 3-4 tines that look to be 10-12 inches in length. These disks are on a horizontal (tool) bar that moves in and out of the row when it comes in contact with a vine/post as there is a sensor just in front of the tool bar. There is a nice video on their website. I can post it next week as we are traveling this weekend and it's on my home office computer.

Having a background in chemistry and growing up on a farm I absolutely hate the labeling 'organic' but we are trying to be 'natural' and not use sprays/herbicides/chemical fert. Oregon has the LIVE and Tilth programs and we comply with both it's just I'm not going to sanction the 'organic' labeling that Tilth represents. So with that said and not going to the other extreme of hiring illegals or tying goats in the rows to keep the grass/weeds down we will go the weeder route. These newer mechanical cultivators are getting better and certainly more popular and my wife (a big city person) likes the TNF with the cultivator. (Meaning she would run it vs the TN/TL/TS out in the fields which I would do)

I'll call Corvallis NH Monday and talk with him about the TL series, the sales guy knows the TS is a little big for my use and has been straight. It's just the price is $20K under new and hey let someone else take the depreciation hit. I just can't see a TS weaving in and out of the processing area with a FEL loaded up with racks and barrels to easily in our layout. If we had a huge processing area sure but our is not. I agree with many that the TN is a great sized tractor, just a little light on the HP out in the field when you need to get something done pretty quickly.

Again, tx.

tractorracer17 · Nov 15, 2004

I sold NH for 5 years. I would go with the TSA over the TL if it will work in your application. It is a much heavier, more reliable tractor. Corvallis is a great dealership and you can trust what they say. $43000 is a fantastic price also.

RickB · Nov 16, 2004

Pretty bold to predict the TSA with its brand new, clean sheet engine and all the other new stuff to be more reliable than a TL. Hopefully it is true, but I am not ready to say that. Guess that is the difference between a guy with 15 years in sales compared to one with 10 years in service. The TL is not as rugged as a TSA, but it is a well proven design meant to fit needs lesser than those met by the TSA series.

tractorracer17 · Nov 18, 2004

We had lots of reliability problems with the TL deluxe, not so much with the standards. We also had very few problems with the TS. I sold two Tsa's before I left, both customers are quite happy with them. That is my experience.