Which tractor for small operator? 5'1" petite farm owner

[can do]

Thanks! I saw that it looked like the M-F dealer might be returning and I saw a tractor out there a couple of months ago! I don't get that way often, but definitely need to get looking.

I did not get a tractor yet. I sent mine off for service...they sat on it for almost a month, didn't do anything to it, I squawked, they returned it, generously not charging me for hauling it to the shop and not working on it for a month. The international supply chain issues and pandemic pricing makes me drag me feet a bit as well.

I've decided to get my basement finished and get the maintenance done on the Case for this year. I also want a UTV for winter farm chores...I realize I won't use it much in the summer, but boy I want it for the winter. And, the little ones I want, I think will fit into my horse trailer and then I can use it at horse shows in summer.

I'm, obviously, a very slow researcher. And, I'm also ridiculously busy at work. I've got loads of vacation time, but no time to take it!

I am taking a week off, I think I need to make a day of tractor driving/shopping one of the things I do. I should probably make some appointments, walk ins don't seem to be super useful at tractor dealerships so far.

It looks like I have the following, easily accessed dealerships:
Kubota, New Holland, JD, Massey-Ferguson and there might be a Kioti somewhere. The local Kubota dealer is SLOW for service, they used to be a Case dealer, but no longer sell those.

On the implements front, I ended up having to replace my mower deck, after 17 years, it had rusted through, I had a local welder come pick it up, but to refurbish it would have been more cost than I wanted, so instead, we'll donate it to the local welding school, a new DelMorino was in stock, and I got that replaced. This one, we'll do a better job of keeping it cleaned off. The other wouldn't have rusted through so quick if we'd been better at keeping it clean. I went with a replacement as they said it definitely could be operated on a 40-45HP tractor.

So, I've spent a pretty penny on a mowing deck, but nothing else so far!

Hey good to hear from You! Nothing wrong with taking your time on getting a new tractor , I took almost 18 months before I bought my 1st new tractor ( M-F 1526 ) & the very 1st tractor I bought used ( M-F 50 ) & I bought that after shopping 1 weekend & only took 2 weekends to buy my 1st used tractor & it worked out well & they both are keepers. There is a Kioti dealer on 29 south just past where route 15 south merges with 29 & is on the right hand side & they sell different brands of tractors in Nokesville Cub Cadet & used tractors in Warrenton & that's where I bought my 1st tractor the used M-F 50 there name is Mc Michaels. I hope things get turned around as far as supply the shortages are wide spread on so many things & just not tractors & I think allot dealers are not going to sit on inventories anymore & most sales are ordered in advance by customers. Let us know what You find when You are ready & good luck in search & decision & I hope the Case stays running strong for You & as far as mower decks I keep it cleaned of after each use it's a Husqvarna with a 48 inch deck I just use a leaf blower & the same with my RER Snappers.& thank You for your reply.

 

[mvoght]

You don't necessarily need a smaller tractor to be able to reach all the controls. My 5' 2" wife could easily reach the controls on my M6040. Slide the seat forward - tip the steering wheel up - away she goes.

But you seem to need a newer one than what I have! There isn't much adjusting on my old Case.

All the new ones I sat in last weekend did have adjustable seats! It was so nice.

I just ordered a new toy, a 2022 Polaris Ranger EV. I have to pay for that one (less the 2K deposit) when it arrives and then let my savings account recover. Since the tractor still works, I decided a side by side UTV was going to be more useful for me over the winter. My friend loaned me an older Kawasaki Mule last winter and so I learned how much I used it in the winter for hay and stall cleaning, and it really helped a lot, but I wanted electric for the noise and fumes.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I'd keep the old tractor. New ones have too much problems. I worked at Kubota new Holland. Familiar with John Deere too. I would keep the older one. It will still outlast these new ones. Besides too much plastic.

 

[rScotty]

I'll bet you won't have a bit of trouble finding a buyer for your Case 585 & might get quite a bit more than you expect for it. The problem we have locally is too many buyers. There's a guy who wants to take a tractor to Alaska who might be in the bidding.

I think you'll have more trouble replacing it with something nearly as good as selling the old Case.

 

[bearthebruce]

@mvoght, I hope you will start a thread about your UTV. We are interested in one. We use our UTV for lots of things but it is loud and stinky. We want something more stealthy for hunting season. Would love to hear your experiences.

 

[mvoght]

I haven't posted in a while, but the time is coming to think about a new tractor. I have a 2WD Case 585 (mid 80s vintage) that I bought in 2004. It has served me well, but I'm starting to want a new tractor, with a narrower footprint, and one that I can actually reach the controls on. And even if I don't decide on a new tractor, I need

The property: 15 acre horse farm with 3-4% grade (so no steep hills), riding arena maintenance, mowing, manure management, and moving snow in winter are the required uses. I'll be honest, a snow blower is desired, despite that being a silly thing in Northern Virginia...moving 3-4' drifts with a bucket gets old...fast, even if it is only once every 3-4 years.

Currently have a 93" finish mower, blade, & bucket and a 10' 3 pt hitch drag/harrow.

I took a spin (in the parking lot) of our local JD dealership, and was really thinking I'd like to go green, as I could leverage my USEF membership discount, but I hated driving the one they put me on. And, I don't think it had enough HP.

I'm likely going to have a Kubota rental/loaner next week, while my current one is in the shop, because the grass is tall! So that will give me an opportunity to drive a Kubota and see how I like the feel of that.

But, do any of you have a smaller operator in your usual drivers of your tractors?

Seven years later…

I have a couple of Massey Ferguson dealers in the area now. One up in Frederick, MD (closest) and one in Warrenton, VA (same state) so I’ve been getting a handful of emails, as I visited the Warrenton’s booth at a horse show. I got a sale email with a couple of MF 2850 series listed.

The old Case is now hard to get parts for, the dealer in town is no longer selling Case tractors, but only Kubota.

I’m going to be financing, so a 0% interest sale does interest me.

Footprint/wheelbase. The current Case is just too big for my farm. We’ve planted a LOT of trees and in the past 20 years, they’ve done what trees do, get big…and die and need maintenance (oh wait…).

I’d love one that fits under the “porch” or awning of my barn, exterior dimensions on the porch is 8’, which means usable 7’. I still haven’t built additional shop/covered parking and the current tractor just doesn’t fit nicely in the middle bay of my garage, a smaller one, with an easily removed FEL would.

Shocking, but I have not grown, I”m still 5’1”. I do share my toys with my husband…if he’s nice, he’s 6’. My husband is not buying the tractor though, and odds are good, he’s not even going to LOOK at tractors with me.

PTO, my hands are small, I cannot currently get the PTO shaft on/off, which means that is my husband’s job (I have to be nice) to help me swap implements.

The wheelbase of the MF 1840 series is appealing but I’m worried about the power being sufficient. I’ve gotten quite used to a decent amount of weight lifting capacity.

Since I mow and do the arena I’m not sure the HST (or whatever they call that in the brand I end up with) is for me, I still drive a manual transmission car. I love the manual transmission, but it does suck doing the loader work. I want to try the shuttle shift, if it’s available in the Utility size…

I still want an open station.

I think a grapple is a good idea, so do I need extra remotes?

A snow blower is overkill for us, but I do need to be able to push snow.

A box blade to do some spot fixing in my fields, smooth things out, fix drainage patterns, but that might be something that makes more sense to rent…

I originally was going to look for a 20ish year old tractor, but I’m not into equipment maintenance, I prefer to just use it and schedule maintenance.

So, basically, I’m bumping my thread.

Any new thoughts? My close dealers are Kubota, MF, New Holland (a bit further), and won’t do JD for reasons that would derail this thread.

Thanks!

 

[rScotty]

So, basically, I’m bumping my thread.

Any new thoughts? My close dealers are Kubota, MF, New Holland (a bit further), and won’t do JD for reasons that would derail this thread.

Thanks!

Tractors have changed a little bit since 2016 - that's when everything over 25 hp began to have the new emissions controls. Much of the tractor world from 25 to 90 hp went to a type of emissions control called Diesel Particle Filters or DPF. Mostly they work OK - you'll notice a few changes due to that. The exhaust no longer stings your eyes...mostly you can't even smell it. And the engines are supposed to be run faster - no more plodding diesels just chugging along.

HST? For everything except mowing a HST will cut your working time in half and you will spend half the energy doing it. A remarkable tranny. But a shuttle/power/glide shift or whatever you want to call it is a nice compromise transmission. Sort of a manual but with the shift levers and clutch still being there but now optional. And it mows beautifully.

Other than that, not much has changed. All the major brands are reliable. I'd stick with one of them.
HP? I'd go around 40 to 50 hp. Much more handy size. We keep an old big tractor like your Case for the few times we need really heavy lifting. Yours may be worth keeping around for that & it would allow a more handy size "chore" tractor . The smaller tractors sure are a lot easier to be jumping on and off all the time. We like a canopy rather than a cab for exactly that reason - easier on/off.

Telescoping 3pt lower arms and box cranks for leveling side to side make hooking up implements and PTOs much easier on our older bodies.

We no longer have horses, but we did for 30 years. So have a good idea what you are doing with the tractor.

If I were you I'd lease a new one for a few months. Keep the Case, go a bit smaller - and see how you like it.
Luck,
rScotty

 

[aesanders]

Massey’s are very nice and I know on there M model, you can get a power shuttle transmission. Function is similar to a regular shuttle but you don’t have to press in the clutch to shift gears.

 

[mvoght]

Tractors have changed a little bit since 2016 - that's when everything over 25 hp began to have the new emissions controls. Much of the tractor world from 25 to 90 hp went to a type of emissions control called Diesel Particle Filters or DPF. Mostly they work OK - you'll notice a few changes due to that. The exhaust no longer stings your eyes...mostly you can't even smell it. And the engines are supposed to be run faster - no more plodding diesels just chugging along.

HST? For everything except mowing a HST will cut your working time in half and you will spend half the energy doing it. A remarkable tranny. But a shuttle/power/glide shift or whatever you want to call it is a nice compromise transmission. Sort of a manual but with the shift levers and clutch still being there but now optional. And it mows beautifully.

Other than that, not much has changed. All the major brands are reliable. I'd stick with one of them.
HP? I'd go around 40 to 50 hp. Much more handy size. We keep an old big tractor like your Case for the few times we need really heavy lifting. Yours may be worth keeping around for that & it would allow a more handy size "chore" tractor . The smaller tractors sure are a lot easier to be jumping on and off all the time. We like a canopy rather than a cab for exactly that reason - easier on/off.

Telescoping 3pt lower arms and box cranks for leveling side to side make hooking up implements and PTOs much easier on our older bodies.

We no longer have horses, but we did for 30 years. So have a good idea what you are doing with the tractor.

If I were you I'd lease a new one for a few months. Keep the Case, go a bit smaller - and see how you like it.
Luck,
rScotty

I had never even realized a lease is a possibility in a tractor!

Thanks for all the inputs!

Mel

 

[mvoght]

HP? I'd go around 40 to 50 hp. Much more handy size. We keep an old big tractor like your Case for the few times we need really heavy lifting. Yours may be worth keeping around for that & it would allow a more handy size "chore" tractor . The smaller tractors sure are a lot easier to be jumping on and off all the time. We like a canopy rather than a cab for exactly that reason - easier on/off.

Telescoping 3pt lower arms and box cranks for leveling side to side make hooking up implements and PTOs much easier on our older bodies.

We no longer have horses, but we did for 30 years. So have a good idea what you are doing with the tractor.

The Case needs new brakes and a rebuilt transmission. And it leaks Hydraulic/Tranny fluid, which is the same reservoir on my model. It's time to let it go! Plus, we just don't have the storage space for little-used equipment.

You are very correct on the on/off being a bit of work on the taller tractor! The one time I tried a cab, I disliked it. But I still miss a convertible that I drove for a decade! I like the outdoors! I do admit that snow is the one time I might like a cab, but that's maybe 2 days of use every 3 years!

I talked to a salesman at the MF dealership (the Frederick one) and I'm going to make a trip up there this week. They have a 2860 with the shuttle shift I can try, several 1840s with the HST, and I think the manual is sitting up at the Frederick Co Fair, it's a 2850, IIRC. They also have a skid-steer bucket that is beat up that I can swap onto the tractor I'm trying and a stone pile that I can use to see how I like the FEL.

Their HST is a forward/back pedal (as you probably know!), not two pedals and there is cruise control for when I'm mowing, because I don't want to keep a foot on the pedal while mowing/dragging.

My current Case has both the telescoping 3pt lower arms and a box crank, and since I bought that as a 20 year old tractor, I was assuming all tractors have that, so I'm glad you mentioned that, because we absolutely use the telescoping arms every time we swap implements. The leveling lever, I don't use as often, but I do still use it.