What size tractor would pull this disc with ease?

[scott_vt]

acctually i only disc about 150 acres i also mow a couple fields that are about 30-50 acres a peice, and i also bush hog cut corn feilds for dove season and when you are cutting 2 rows at a time along with it being 90 degrees that can take its toll on the tractor if its not suited to do that hard of work.

Mornin RollingsFarms,
I think youve probablly gotten some good advice on tractor selection and size, but you might also want to think about a factory cab with airconditioning if your doing that much tractor work out in the hot sun and heat in SC ! I mowed off one 5 acre field last summer in the Vt heat and I was toasted for the day ! I always thought cabs were for sissies, but I changed my mind that day ! Just another thought for you to mull over !

 

[DuaneW]

Seems with the limited amount of work you would be doing you could get away with an older HEAVIER tractor. That would allow you to keep your JD for other things that it does fine now. You could look at a 1550 or 1650 Oliver, as these are VERY manuverable (sp?) tractors and very solid tractors. We have pulled a 12' areorator with a 1650 that had stopped 5500 MFWD JD with a cab. It tended to overheat the tractor if you tried to pull it two fast (4th direct) but was fine in 3rd overdrive (1/2 gear lower). Heck, I would even consider a weighted Ford 5000, MF 165, or some of the older Deere's ( not sure of how their model #'s work ). Take the money you save and buy some more implements that allow you to get your work done quicker. This is just my opinion as I like the older stuff better (no electrics to get buggered up, just good ol tractors that will work )

DuaneW.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I'd say a Kubota 6040 or 7040 in 4wd would be perfect. They have manual trannys.

That is the most 'built' disk I've ever seen (for its size.)

With the acreage you have to disk and mow, it might be worthwhile to use you current disk for firebreaks but something in the 8' size for the food plots and something in the 10' size for a rotary cutter.

I bush hogged less than 10 acres a week or so ago with a 6 foot mower and it was tedious!

Where in SC are you?

those sound like good options, I'll have to check then out for sure. If i could find a good used Kubota 6800 4WD I'd be in business. That disk is made by Hardee, it's about 30 years old and i recently re-painted it two years ago. I haven't seen another one that size that was built as solid and as heavy either, and when I tell people it's only a 5' disk they laugh....until they see it...then their eyes get really big when they realize how heavy it is. It'll tear up some of the hardest ground South Carolina has to offer with ease, my only problem is when it's digging, my tractor sinks itself. 3rd gear low range is what I usually pull it in, and I use the word "pull" loosley.haha I like your Kubota 4400, size, looks, everything and would settle on something like that but I'm just not sure with that disk of mine. Maybe oneday I'll have my big tractor AND a 4400 with a loader and MFWD

I live just outside of Sumter, SC in a town called Pinewood.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Here ya go

Just what the Dr ordered

2004 JOHN DEERE 5420 For Sale at TractorHouse.com

Thanks, I sent him a message. Shipping it would be my only problem as I dont have a trailer, but maybe he and I could work out something if we could come to an agreement on price.

 

[RollingsFarms]

You may want to start a tractor buying thread!

I have a 5105 and am very happy with it. I was shopping largely against the Kubota M5040; I finally got to see a ROPS platform M7040 yesterday, and while they are a perfectly good tractor I am very happy with my 5105. Only thing I miss is the hydroshuttle (optional on Mxx40, also optional on JD5x25 series, not optional on 5105). Every utility tractor over 50hp made today has a manual transmission; the options are basically pure manual, hydroshuttle, and at the higher price/power end, powershift.

I really like the 5105's. my friend has a 2WD and he loves it. does yours have a creeper gear? are the gears in yours low enough for disc-ing? If I decided on one, or a 5205 I would opt for MFWD and maybe a loader.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Mornin RollingsFarms,
I think youve probablly gotten some good advice on tractor selection and size, but you might also want to think about a factory cab with airconditioning if your doing that much tractor work out in the hot sun and heat in SC ! I mowed off one 5 acre field last summer in the Vt heat and I was toasted for the day ! I always thought cabs were for sissies, but I changed my mind that day ! Just another thought for you to mull over !

I would LOVE a cab but the only two problems would be $$$ and worrying about being in the woods and destroying the cab over time due to tree limbs and such. for those hot days bush hogging though, I would always prefer a cab!

 

[RollingsFarms]

Seems with the limited amount of work you would be doing you could get away with an older HEAVIER tractor. That would allow you to keep your JD for other things that it does fine now. You could look at a 1550 or 1650 Oliver, as these are VERY manuverable (sp?) tractors and very solid tractors. We have pulled a 12' areorator with a 1650 that had stopped 5500 MFWD JD with a cab. It tended to overheat the tractor if you tried to pull it two fast (4th direct) but was fine in 3rd overdrive (1/2 gear lower). Heck, I would even consider a weighted Ford 5000, MF 165, or some of the older Deere's ( not sure of how their model #'s work ). Take the money you save and buy some more implements that allow you to get your work done quicker. This is just my opinion as I like the older stuff better (no electrics to get buggered up, just good ol tractors that will work )

DuaneW.

I am with you on those older tractors being easier to work on. My '78 I would work on with my eyes closed in the dark! Heck it doesn't even have a fuel guage on it!haha I am looking around for a good used tractor if I can come accross one. I plan on selling my current tractor along with a JD 205 bush hog to knock some of the new cost down.

 

[bucmeister]

I have a '95 model JD5300 with MFWD and a 540 loader and I promised you it would pull that disc with no strain, likely faster than you might want to stay in the seat on rough ground. I have a ACME drag offset disc that is just under 8' and weighs about 2000lbs (it is so heavy that I have to be very careful with my tractor position when lifting it onto the gooseneck deck or the rear end starts up in the air and this is with the rear tires as full of water as I can get them). This is a primary tillage disk that will go to the axles on the first pass over grown fields when the moisture is right and my tractor will pull it 2nd range 2nd or 3rd gear depending on moisture and area.

Frankly, with that many acres I would be looking at something in the size of a 5400 or 5500 series with loader and MFWD. My place is only 215 acres and no way would I want anything smaller than what I have.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I have a '95 model JD5300 with MFWD and a 540 loader and I promised you it would pull that disc with no strain, likely faster than you might want to stay in the seat on rough ground. I have a ACME drag offset disc that is just under 8' and weighs about 2000lbs (it is so heavy that I have to be very careful with my tractor position when lifting it onto the gooseneck deck or the rear end starts up in the air and this is with the rear tires as full of water as I can get them). This is a primary tillage disk that will go to the axles on the first pass over grown fields when the moisture is right and my tractor will pull it 2nd range 2nd or 3rd gear depending on moisture and area.

Frankly, with that many acres I would be looking at something in the size of a 5400 or 5500 series with loader and MFWD. My place is only 215 acres and no way would I want anything smaller than what I have.

I acctually came accross a 1994 5300 2Wd with a loader and canopy with 1,230 hours for $17,500. Tractor seemed to be in great shape. Is that a good deal?

here's the link if you'd like to see for yourself
John Deere 5300 Tractors - Utility (40-100hp) s - John Deere MachineFinder.com

 

[bucmeister]

Well, not sure about the price, have to ask myself what I would take for mine. If memory serves the MFWD option was only about $1500 addtional to the price and I paid about $27K for the package deal which included up-sized tires 3rd SCV and the 540 FEL. Not sure I would take $19K for mine, but equally not sure if I would pay $17.5K for a 2WD model even though that is likely the going rate. Just don't know for sure.

I am right with you on the cab issue. As much as I would like to have one during all those dog days of mowing and discing I don't know how well it would survive the roads and trails in my woods. I would have to do a lot of limbing work that I can get by without as it stands now.