which will be more usefull

[BudinTenn]

I am considering two used tractors, both with FELS. One is MF 1533 4x4 with 8x8 trans. The other is JD 5203 2wd. I have 70 acres of land of which I try to keep about 15 to 20 bush hogged at least once per year and about 1 1/2-3 acres cut pretty often. Presently using 6ft bush hog and IH 504 diesel. Have never had FEL and not sure what benefit it will be. Am leaning towrd the higher horsepower but keep hearing how the 4wd will be nice. The 1533 is a nice size. Kinda like a sports car especially compared to what I have been using the last 25 years. Would welcome suggestions on which tractor to choose. Thanks

 

[chh]

The 4wd is nice with a FEL especially if the ground is wet. Either tractor would do what you are wanting. I am not as familiar with the JD as the MF, how much HP is it? The shuttle shift is nice if you end updoing much with the FEL also.

 

[BudinTenn]

The John Deere is 56HP.

 

[tractorjackleg]

I am considering two used tractors, both with FELS. One is MF 1533 4x4 with 8x8 trans. The other is JD 5203 2wd. I have 70 acres of land of which I try to keep about 15 to 20 bush hogged at least once per year and about 1 1/2-3 acres cut pretty often. Presently using 6ft bush hog and IH 504 diesel. Have never had FEL and not sure what benefit it will be. Am leaning towrd the higher horsepower but keep hearing how the 4wd will be nice. The 1533 is a nice size. Kinda like a sports car especially compared to what I have been using the last 25 years. Would welcome suggestions on which tractor to choose. Thanks

Well a few things are for sure. 4wd is nice, a loader is great, and somebody will tell you to look at Kioti's. I think the JD would be better for you. The 4wd is nice but if you haven't had it and didn't need it I don't think you'll miss it. The HP would be good when hogging that 20 acres. You'll love the loader no matter which one you get. You will find uses for it quicker than you think. Although I'm a MF guy I think the 1533 might not pull that 6' hog the way you would want it to.

 

[rcrcomputing]

Ultimately the decision is yours, but I just have to have my FEL. And since I have soggy spots, and not a flat spot on the propery, I have to have 4wd as well.
However, it sounds like the 52 HP is right for the property as well...

Just a quick "Whats a FEL good for"..
Tonight, I needed to put up a bit of fence where there was old fence before with huge vines growning in it etc. I could have hacked on it etc. But the fel made VERY quick work out of it. I then went and put my pole in the receiver hitch that's mounted on the bucket of the FEL and picked up the roll of wire and carried to the worksite. The FEL held the wire out so I could easily roll it off. I then had to pull a coupla of t-posts. I pulled them using my FEL and the home made t-post puller that goes into my chain hooks on the FEL.

As for 4wd. Priceless when I go into soggyville..

As for HP, I have 5 acres and wish I had a 45hp. (You can guess what brand) hehe

 

[JoeinTX]

With just the info you've given, I lean way towards the JD 5203.

Much bigger, heavier tractor. Has FEL. For primarily shredding work it will handle a bigger mower and bigger material. 4wd is nice, but it's not at all essential in a tractor, obviously.


IF the prices are reasonably close, I go with the bigger rig since you can never have enough hp or weight or heft for what you might need to do. Besides, if conditions get so wet that a 56-hp 2wd tractor can't get out and work in them...........then you probably really shouldn't be out messing around in them.


Not a JD fan but it's the better bet for you.........

 

[greggh]

I have a 5203 and I couldn't be happier. However mine is MFWD, but a more dependable tractor I don't think you will find. There are many as dependable but not more.

I thought I would clarify before the brand war starts.

I don't know the other tractor, so I can't really comment about it. But I am sure that it probably is a good tractor being a MF.

 

[RWolf]

As you can see from my by-line I'm also a JD person. FEL usage.....Many. I use it to put up large round bales, dig up cedars, leveling ground, hauling stone, moving large telephone poles and the list goes on. You didn't say if your ground is hilly, soggy or what but generally a 2wd will do you fine and there's less maintenance to worry about. You'll be able to do everything related to producing hay or maintaining you acreage with 2WD. With 50+ PTO HP you can pull a 10' shedder easily, most likely a 10' - 14' disc. A decent 5x5 or maybe a 5x6 baler. BUT if you need the 4WD then it's invaluable.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[studor]

As one of my neighbours says "four wheel drive is like a shirt pocket - not essential but really good when you have it". Having said that if you have been using a two wheel drive without a loader and have not been getting stuck you probably don't need four wheel. One really good use of a loader is to get unstuck.

 

[toddol1971]

I had a 1433 & I would with the exception of power steering rather have my massey 65 for bush hogging. Maybe if you went with the 1547 or 1552 would be better for you. The 4x4 with fel was awesome but I think I'm gonna get a backhoe. Then I want an 80 or so horsepower ag tractor for haying & mowing & whatever else I'll use a big tractor for.