We're gonna need a bigger tractor....

docsfarm · Sep 7, 2024

For the last several years, I have been managing my farm (about 140 acres of woods and 60 acres of fields) with a 50HP Mahindra 5035HST. I bought it as a kind of just-right sized option. Its heavy and fairly wide which helps on my hills. There is very little of the property that is flat. It works, but it is very slow on any grade when I'm mowing high grasses (I have several fields of CREP grass that grow to 5' high). I'm generally mowing with a 7' flail mower. At this point in my life, time is worth spending money. So...
Its time to get a bigger tractor. My real question is how big do I go? I don't think going to 75HP is really going to make that much difference, but I don't know. 85? 95? 110? I have room for any size really, but don't want to be ridiculous either. I will either keep the Mahindra for use in the woods (it is workable, but about as big as I'd want in my woods), or I will see it and get a 35HP for woods use.
So there ya go. What's the sweet spot for my use without being ridiculously over-sized or over-priced? If you have specific model suggestions, too, that would be great. I also maintain a 1/3 mile driveway, a 1/4 mile driveway, and 3, 10-15 car parking lots on the property. I would like to continue to have a loader on this tractor, though I have a skid steer if I didn't have a loader on the tractor.
Thanks,
Quinn

ericm979 · Sep 7, 2024

75hp is 50% more than you have now. On the other hand, 50 or 60 hp is as big as HST machines get. Above that they're usually manuals with shuttle reverse of some type- unsynchronized, synchronized, or power. Really big ag tractors have something else entirely but you're likely not getting into that.

How much mowing are you doing? Does the Mahindra handle the 7' flail acceptably now? Are you baling hay?

Above 75hp the emisssions limits get lower on a per HP basis. That usually means EGR and DPF. Some units have those and are fine, others can have issues.

deserteagle71 · Sep 7, 2024

Find yourself an old John Deere 2020 diesel, fix what on it needs fixing, and you'll have a tractor that will be trouble free the rest of your life with all the horsepower you'll ever need. Much cheaper and lower maintenance than a new tractor.

duffer · Sep 7, 2024

HST's are notorious for slowing down on grades.
One option (outside the box) is checking into getting it "tuned" to give you some more horses. When I had mine flashed with an update to the EPIM, I'm pretty sure the guy added a few more horses as well, as it ran better/stronger than the day I bought it.
(I'm assuming you're running it at the proper RPM for the mower)