What is just enough?

[tower59]

Hi, all. I'm getting really close to buying my first tractor, and wanted some advice from the experts. I have about 30 acres (20 acres fields, 10 woods) and intend for the majority of it to be in hay and baled for me to sell- but I may need to be able to move the round bales around the fields, and maybe load onto a buyer's trailer. I don't have to throw them over a fence or in a feed ring, since I don't have animals- I'll just need to move them a bit. (I'd prefer to have someone else deal with the hay entirely, but haven't found someone to do that yet. ) My real needs are to create and maintain a dirt and eventually gravel driveway, move some dirt, clean out some woods, haul a wagon, and just general use. I'm fond of Mahindra, but not 100% committed to it. I was planning on a 2615 with front end loader in 4WD, but I think I'll need more if I want to move round bales- even on a 3 point hitch. So, what is the bare minimum I need to do the job? And exactly how (and what implement) do I move the round bales? I just don't want too big a tractor or too little. Thanks for your advice!

 

[flusher]

Hi, all. I'm getting really close to buying my first tractor, and wanted some advice from the experts. I have about 30 acres (20 acres fields, 10 woods) and intend for the majority of it to be in hay and baled for me to sell- but I may need to be able to move the round bales around the fields, and maybe load onto a buyer's trailer. I don't have to throw them over a fence or in a feed ring, since I don't have animals- I'll just need to move them a bit. (I'd prefer to have someone else deal with the hay entirely, but haven't found someone to do that yet. ) My real needs are to create and maintain a dirt and eventually gravel driveway, move some dirt, clean out some woods, haul a wagon, and just general use. I'm fond of Mahindra, but not 100% committed to it. I was planning on a 2615 with front end loader in 4WD, but I think I'll need more if I want to move round bales- even on a 3 point hitch. So, what is the bare minimum I need to do the job? And exactly how (and what implement) do I move the round bales? I just don't want too big a tractor or too little. Thanks for your advice!

My new Mahindra 5525 with the ML 250 FEL (55 hp engine, 45 hp pto) and a hay spear would handle your round bales without difficulty. Cost about $17.5K plus tax with 0%/48 month financing.

It's a gear tranny tractor. Add a few thousand more for HST.

With your 30 acre spread I'd be looking at a larger tractor than the 2615. I plan to use the 5525 for haying on my 10 acres. Who knows, maybe you'll be doing your own haying in the future and then the extra hp will come in handy for tilling and baling chores.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Hi, all. I'm getting really close to buying my first tractor, and wanted some advice from the experts. I have about 30 acres (20 acres fields, 10 woods) and intend for the majority of it to be in hay and baled for me to sell- but I may need to be able to move the round bales around the fields, and maybe load onto a buyer's trailer. I don't have to throw them over a fence or in a feed ring, since I don't have animals- I'll just need to move them a bit. (I'd prefer to have someone else deal with the hay entirely, but haven't found someone to do that yet. ) My real needs are to create and maintain a dirt and eventually gravel driveway, move some dirt, clean out some woods, haul a wagon, and just general use. I'm fond of Mahindra, but not 100% committed to it. I was planning on a 2615 with front end loader in 4WD, but I think I'll need more if I want to move round bales- even on a 3 point hitch. So, what is the bare minimum I need to do the job? And exactly how (and what implement) do I move the round bales? I just don't want too big a tractor or too little. Thanks for your advice!

i'll keep my answer pretty simple and basic since I dont know much about Mahindra's lineup. i cant exactly remember the model number, but i think its a 5500 or 5520, something close to that. that gets you a 50-55hp ag utility, and that's probably what you're going to need for the simple fact you said you were going to be moving round bales and doing your own haying. already have a baler? round bales is what youll be producing im assuming, correct? get your tractor with a Bale spear for the fel, and maybe one for the rear to keep you ballested and steady.

 

[RollingsFarms]

My new Mahindra 5525 with the ML 250 FEL (55 hp engine, 45 hp pto) and a hay spear would handle your round bales without difficulty. Cost about $17.5K plus tax with 0%/48 month financing.

It's a gear tranny tractor. Add a few thousand more for HST.

With your 30 acre spread I'd be looking at a larger tractor than the 2615. I plan to use the 5525 for haying on my 10 acres. Who knows, maybe you'll be doing your own haying in the future and then the extra hp will come in handy for tilling and baling chores.

that's the exact model I was thinking of. seems like it would fit your needs well, for now and for the future.

 

[pax]

I guess my further question would be: Do you know how big these round bales are? I ask this because I know from bailing many years with a NH round bailer, that I could dictate the size, and therefore, the weight if the bales, and I would change this according to who these bales were going to and the equipment they had to handle them. I would make bales that would range in weight from aprox 1100 lbs on up to over 2000 lbs. The large bales would be between 5 and 6 ft in diameter and get smaller accordingly.

I found that my fel on my 85 hp Deutz Allis could handle them all but my loader on my 68 hp IH could not handle the big ones. I would have to use a bale fork in the 3 pt to be able to lift that amount. That was ok, but you could not stack them up at all that way.

IMO, none of these little CUT's would handle the round bales with the FEL. Even if you could lift it, I would worry about axles breaking. The 3 pt, on the other hand might work just great, if these are not the monster bales that I sometimes made. The Mahindras seem to have one of the greater lift capacities and and little bigger frame to seem to be able to handle them. The Mahindra specs that I have don't say whether the lift is measured at the pins of 24" back (like most tractors are listed)

I think the Mahindra, Kioti, Montana tractors in that 26/30 hp range would be able to handle these bales well as long as they are not monster bales. I would ask whoever buys them what the average weight of a bale is and then you would be better able to make an informed decision.

Just my thoughts
Pax

 

[coobie]

Hi, all. I'm getting really close to buying my first tractor, and wanted some advice from the experts. I have about 30 acres (20 acres fields, 10 woods) and intend for the majority of it to be in hay and baled for me to sell- but I may need to be able to move the round bales around the fields, and maybe load onto a buyer's trailer. I don't have to throw them over a fence or in a feed ring, since I don't have animals- I'll just need to move them a bit. (I'd prefer to have someone else deal with the hay entirely, but haven't found someone to do that yet. ) My real needs are to create and maintain a dirt and eventually gravel driveway, move some dirt, clean out some woods, haul a wagon, and just general use. I'm fond of Mahindra, but not 100% committed to it. I was planning on a 2615 with front end loader in 4WD, but I think I'll need more if I want to move round bales- even on a 3 point hitch. So, what is the bare minimum I need to do the job? And exactly how (and what implement) do I move the round bales? I just don't want too big a tractor or too little. Thanks for your advice!

I was also sold on Mahindra 4110 until I spoke to there customer service and tech dept located in Tomball texas with some questions on much the front end loader would lift,not a good experience for me.I ended up buying a Kioti De 40se.Alot more tractor for less price.coobie

 

[PAB_OH]

How about a Kioti? DK45S? With the KL451 it's good to 2800lbs at the pins and 2654 lbs on the three point.


EDIT:
Coobie beat me to the punch....

 

[Soundguy]

I'd go minimum mid30's to mid 40's.. especially if you want to move round bales.. moving one on a 25-33hp machine is dicey at best. I have an 32 hp old antique that does it.. but they built em to last back then.. no fiberglass and plastic, and the castings were thicker..e tc..

soundguy

 

[RWolf]

My JD 5103 with the smaller 512 loader can handle 2000lb bales easily. Tractor was under 14K. It's a shuttle shift and is very easy to use it for loading. I also liked the height I can lift to ~8-1/2 feet. It's very easy on fuel also. I've been able to rough cut 25ac in under 10 hours. I initially was looking at other brands but they just didn't feel right or didn't meet my needs. All good machines but I guess I am just biased toward JD.

 

[greggh]

I think that I would be more concerned with the weight and wheel base of the tractor if I was going to lift a huge load. You wouldn't want the rear coming off the ground even if the loader could lift it. Same for the 3 pt. I would think that you should have at the least a utility and not a CUT. I have never driven a Mahindra but I understand that they are pretty good heavy tractors and dependable. Still go with the utility size.