Tractor Size Recomendations

[1966Hemi]

Ok Guys I'm really confused. I have been waffling on the size tractor to buy now for a long time. I have a 30 Acre Farm in West PA (Also part owner of aprox 50 more like it). About 1/2 is flat hill top and the other half is hilly. Most has been under cultivation in the past. It is mostly overgrown with small/med trees - The fields have not been mowed in 40+ years. About 1/2 mile private road (near impassable in some places due to neglect). House needs torn down and new drainage around stone footers.

My Plan is to build a house and move there in a few years (retirement). Clear the land and "gentlman" farm. Grew up (when I was pretty young) on a dairy farm where we had a number of ford tractors so I know a little about them but not much about modern equipment.

I have Gun Dogs and Horses. SO I wouild like to be able to make hay (square bales) and maybe some corn. I have thought about sub compacts (20-30hp) with loaders and backhoes with HST. I've thought about compacts (30-55hp) and full size Ag tractors (65-85hp). The former would be good for the cleanup and clearing but not much for Hay etc. They also cost about as much as an Ag tractor. The Ag tractor seems to the best long term but is big and maybe clumsy in the woods. JD, NH and Kubota dealers are all close. Mahindra is also an option the 8560 seems like a good value priced ag machine. Looking for a Machine with a loader and Backhoe for now. Would be nice if I could trailer the unit behing my 1 ton truck so I did not have to leave it at the farm when I am not there. I live 500 miles away and it is very remote. Also I could use it for some work here on my 3 acres.

Open to all the advice I can get.

 

[MasseyWV]

I sure others with more experience will chime in eventually, but from your description it sounds like compacts in the 30-55hp range would be best suited to your needs, or at least thats the impression I get.

Compact tractors are small enough to make them more manuverable in tight places yet large enough to get a decent amount of work done, and are much easier to transport than the larger ag tractors. You get the best of both worlds. IMO

 

[flusher]

You need two tractors--

a) A used TLB (30-40 hp engine) and a new ag tractor (60-80 hp engine)
or
b) A new TLB (Kubota BX series for example) and a used ag tractor (60-80 hp engine).

You might also consider a used TLB like a Deere 310 if you're facing larger jobs (lotsa trenching, lotsa stump removal, etc).

 

[jenkinsph]

I suggest you look at a Kubota M59tlb it should be able to do everything you want to do and do it well. I have a Deere tlb and separate tractors and really like them but if buying straight up I think a good riding mower and the M59 fully equipped would be a very good choice.

 

[Hollow]

If you know old Ford tractors and want something like them but new, look at the New Holland TT series tractors or Workmaster's. The Workmaster's are a little heaver made than the TT's but basically the same. One look at them up close and you should notice some of the same key features as the trusty old Fords. I have a TT45A ( http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/232510-custom-hd-tractor-canopy-4.html ) and love it. I haven't given it any slack and it has held up well. I pull a Bushhog 286 and an old IH 8' wheel disc with it regularly. Some day soon I hope to get a Workmaster 75, 4x4 with FEL but that's just wishful thinking for now.

http://agriculture.newholland.com/us/en/Products/Agricultural-Tractors/Workmaster/Pages/Products_overview.aspx?nhpid=Workmaster%2045-75%20Engine%20HP

http://agriculture.newholland.com/us/en/Products/Agricultural-Tractors/TT-A/Pages/Products_overview.aspx?nhpid=TT-A%2040-75%20Engine%20HP

Whatever you buy I would't go any lower than 50 PTO hp if I were you and planning to work hay.

 

[HCJtractor]

I have a Kubota M 6800 that would do all you need. Make sure you get an FEL, Ag tires, and load the rear tires. I would recommend something in the 55 to 70 horsepower class, in a Ag tractor, whatever the brand. The size has never been an issue for me and I use it in really tight places often. I would also recommend a grapple on the front instead of a bucket. It is much handier for all round use.

 

[Jesse11]

hi ,welcome to this site. I suggest you have a look at Kubota M 6800 and Kubota M59tlb from your description.

 

[Hollow]

Gee.... I thought JD fanatics were bad, team orange is in full force!! :laughing:

 

[MasseyWV]

Gee.... I thought JD fanatics were bad, team orange is in full force!! :laughing:

It does seem that if someone owns a certain "color", regardless of what that "color" is, that they usually think everyone else should purchase the same. :confused2:

 

[MrWhippy]

We recently upgraded a Ford 1710 (28 hp compact) to a NH Workmaster 55, 4wd FEL and backhoe attachment . It is a LOT of tractor for the money. We're able to get it into all the places the 1710 went, mostly because the rollbar folds down.

We also have an old Ford 5600, which we use basically as a field mower but also to pound fence posts. The Workmaster could do all the same jobs, but it is nice to have the second tractor from late spring to early fall when the fields need mowing regularly.

(We have horses and small organic garden)

If you're doing horses, AND you plan on wooden fenceposts, owning your own post driver is a VERY nice addition.

 

[budlite]

My 2 cents (maybe not be worth that!) - medium size tractor ~50 HP assuming you don't have the $$$ for two tractors. More likely to be able to transport it with your existing truck than a full size ag tractor and still get work done, if you are not going to be doing a lot of ground engagement work. Not sure how much you would use BH. Might be better off hiring a bulldozer to clear trees. Be patient you will get some good feedback here.

 

[IndyIan]

How big and how many trees do you want to remove?
Might be best to size the tractor for your Ag work and hire a big dozer to clear 10' swaths at a time. You might have 200 6" trees per acre on the edges of the fields which will be beyond almost any reasonable Ag tractor FEL depending on the soil and root structure to pop out quickly.
Some of the 50hp machines weigh in around 5500lbs with loaded rears and a FEL. DK50, MX5100,etc. So they are towable with a newer 1/2 ton.
Sounds like a fun project though, keep us posted on your progess!

 

[bigbull338]

the MX5100 HST ROPS 4x4 with LA844 quicktatch loader should do everything you want.plus you could haul it back an forth.

 

[1966Hemi]

Thanks for the input. Some clarification. I thought the backhoe would be good for working on the road, cleaning out ditches, digging out stumps and help work tearing down and replacing the old house. I considering the input from here it looks like a 50 hp pto tractor would keep me in the game later for a small square baler. I also think a root grapple would be good. So a 3rd function for the loader would be good.

All that said. Looked at a number of compacts at 50+hp. NH did not have much implement hydo flow. But the john deer 4720 or the Kabota L5740 look attractive. Like the idea of a hydro machine.

What am i missing?

 

[Hollow]

Thanks for the input. Some clarification. I thought the backhoe would be good for working on the road, cleaning out ditches, digging out stumps and help work tearing down and replacing the old house. I considering the input from here it looks like a 50 hp pto tractor would keep me in the game later for a small square baler. I also think a root grapple would be good. So a 3rd function for the loader would be good.

All that said. Looked at a number of compacts at 50+hp. NH did not have much implement hydo flow. But the john deer 4720 or the Kabota L5740 look attractive. Like the idea of a hydro machine.

What am i missing?

Did you look at Massey Ferguson? I believe their 2000 series has three different hydro pumps so nothing interferes with the operation of other equipment. They have one for steering, one for the 3pt and a high flow for external equipment.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Kubota M5140(hyd.shuttle)4x4,LDR or L5740(HST)4x4 LDR.
I would higher someone to clear it or rent the equipment and do it yourself(cat/case-backhoe/dozer),keep the new tractor to do the little clean-up afterwards.
Or could get you a 3-point backhoe attachment,and be careful.....

 

[Grandad4]

You've got the acreage to justify a machine in the 50+ hp size or larger. But, if you have fields that have grown into woodlands with an extensive tree population, here's another vote for having equipment with tracks do your land clearing, either rented or hired. It's one thing to clear an acre or two and remove a reasonable number of trees, but when you have 10 or more acres with trees by the hundreds, you need something more than even a big ag tractor to get it done in a reasonable time period.

Look at all the reputable brands. There are many good ones to choose from.

 

[1966Hemi]

I was thinking about getting a small dozer (or renting one) for most of the field clearing. I want to make sure I get enough machine for the jobs later. The dozzer will still leave a mess that will have to be cleaned up after.

I want to make sure I get enough machine to do utility work and light farming later. Some tilling and Hay work. Another thought is that these compact tractors cost alot per HP.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I was thinking about getting a small dozer (or renting one) for most of the field clearing. I want to make sure I get enough machine for the jobs later. The dozzer will still leave a mess that will have to be cleaned up after.

I want to make sure I get enough machine to do utility work and light farming later. Some tilling and Hay work. Another thought is that these compact tractors cost alot per HP.

We found a Kumatsu D31p that a guy was really needing the cash picked it up for $6500,had to fix the tensioners and the thing runs like a champ. As for tractor I can do alot with my Kubota M5040(now is 5140)

 

[1966Hemi]

Was looking at some of the used JD 4720s online. Noticed that they quote 2 HP ratings 58 and 66? Sometimes in the same year. I thought it was PTO vs Engine but PTO is listed as 56 at JD. Did they change something?