100+hp tractor recommendations

Negligence · Feb 10, 2009

Hi everyone, I'm in the market to purchase a used, second tractor for the farm. I need something that will be responsible for ploughing, discing, seeding, and running a discbine on 135acres over the years, and possibly an extra 30 acres on top of that.

4wd and dualies have been recommended to me, and I'm pretty certain I want both these options especially for ploughing in the spring. I'm partial to Case and Ford, but don't want to exclude any other worthwhile heavy ag tractors.

Any recommendations on a good workhorse I can keep an eye out for?

EDIT: I'm only looking at used, not new. Budget is $20 to $40K, so that puts me between 1980s-2000 I think.

slowzuki · Feb 10, 2009

If you include the used market there are literally hundreds of excellent used models in that size range that would be excellent for you.

Just in Ford/IH modernish ag machines you'd have whatever the current numbering is, and the TS, TM, 60, 40, and 30 series all with powershift transmissions with 100+ hp models in them. I'd steer clear of the TW's despite being cheap hp.

What is your budget? What else are you doing on the farm? Do you already have a chore tractor? Are you just looking for cheap hp without all the day to day comfort?

Farmwithjunk · Feb 10, 2009

Give us a baseline price to work with. "Used" can mean anything from slightly used lease return of a year or two old to vintage 60's workhorse and all points in between.

Newish.... And right at the fine line of being smaller than you are searching for, but the finest tractor I've been around in some time, I have a 2007 Deere 6430 that I sure wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone. You're looking at $60,000 (+ or -) for low hours/good condition. They're rated @ 95hp.

Expand the search to include older models, and the sky is the limit.

Negligence · Feb 10, 2009

Sorry, I should have clarified... I'm only looking at used, not new. Budget is $20 to $40K, so that puts me between 1980s-2000 I think.

I do have a chore tractor already, a Kubota M7040 (2wd, rops -- a basic model). I know there are a lot of capable tractors in this bracket, I guess I was just looking for some good nominations.

I also harvest hay, but I've got some large areas that are overgrown from the previous tenant. We're signing a 25 year lease so I'd like to start getting the fields into a rotation. I need something more than capable to do this while giving me all the features I don't have with the Kubota: power, weight, cab, and 4wd. All the basics of most tractors this size

Soundguy · Feb 10, 2009

Also at the low edge of your hp are NH 7610S.. and can be had in 4wd.. also 95hp.. good solid machines.

Our local county uses them to mow with. I have a 2wd model and pull a 15' mower with it... can have the 540 pto stub swapped for the 1000 rpm pto.

Used.. you can find them in the 10K$ range.

soundguy

Dawgfan3 · Feb 10, 2009

Look at Used Tractors at TractorHouse.com: John Deere Tractors, used farm tractors and farm equipment, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Caterpillar. for an idea on used equipment prices.

Egon · Feb 10, 2009

For your type of Tractor search what's available, condition and price would seem to be the prevalent factors. Maybe think a littler larger as you already have a nice tractor.

DmansPadge · Feb 11, 2009

Not sure if you have seen it or not... but a while back there was a really good thread on 100+ hp tractors... Here is the link to it.

flusher · Feb 11, 2009

Negligence said:
Hi everyone, I'm in the market to purchase a used, second tractor for the farm. I need something that will be responsible for ploughing, discing, seeding, and running a discbine on 135acres over the years, and possibly an extra 30 acres on top of that.

4wd and dualies have been recommended to me, and I'm pretty certain I want both these options especially for ploughing in the spring. I'm partial to Case and Ford, but don't want to exclude any other worthwhile heavy ag tractors.

Any recommendations on a good workhorse I can keep an eye out for?

EDIT: I'm only looking at used, not new. Budget is $20 to $40K, so that puts me between 1980s-2000 I think.

If I had your acres and budget, I'd look for a used Versatile or Steiger articulated 4WD tractor.

My neighbor plants his 150+ acres of hayfield using a 150-200 hp Steiger with dualies on all four corners. I've seen 150-200 hp Steiger and Versatiles go for $10-15K at auctions around here. Going this route you'd have plenty of budget left over for the 15-25 ft wide implements you're going to need to handle that much planting.

wkpoor · Feb 11, 2009

Isn't amazing how things have changed. A Farmall H when it was new was considered a 160acre farm tractor. Now we need (or think we need) 150-200hp to do the same thing. I'm sure there are countless studies out there about whats the right HP per acre into today's world. I wouldn't hesitate to farm 75-100 acres with my JD5400. Sure it would be slower with smaller implements but maybe profits would be bigger with less tractor?

Turbys_1700 · Feb 11, 2009

My dad purchased 5 years ago an 8050 Allis Chalmers with cab for 12K. It had 4K hours on it but he knew the owners. He sold it to them new in 83.

It is not 4WD but overkill for your needs. 150 HP at the PTO.

Don't overlook any of the 7000 or 8000 Allis series tractors. Parts are readily available and you can get some cheap HP.

Soundguy · Feb 11, 2009

I'm guessing lots of it may do with time and or other variables other than need.

I only have 13 ac, and stepped out of a 30ish hp tractor and 5/6' mowers to get into a 95 hp tractor with a 15' mower -JUST- based on time issues.

soundguy

flusher · Feb 12, 2009

wkpoor said:
Isn't amazing how things have changed. A Farmall H when it was new was considered a 160acre farm tractor. Now we need (or think we need) 150-200hp to do the same thing. I'm sure there are countless studies out there about whats the right HP per acre into today's world. I wouldn't hesitate to farm 75-100 acres with my JD5400. Sure it would be slower with smaller implements but maybe profits would be bigger with less tractor?

Depends on how you do your farming. My neighbor with the Steiger does his haying as his second job. Works the first shift in town at one of the processing plants. So he's looking for speed and minimized seat time when he farms.

jda1961 · Feb 12, 2009

go to tractorhouse website and go nuts, thousands of tractors of all makes and models there. but i think for that small farm over a hundred horsepower is over kill. ya might want to think smaller, let say in the 45 to 65 horsepower range.

sixdogs · Feb 12, 2009

For tillage and pulling power you would have to go with Deere, Case-IH, Agco or Ford . For pure PTO power Kubota would do but not heavy enough for heavy tillage unless you get into the biggest.
From a resale standpoint, it has to be Deere or perhaps Case-IH in that there is no question they will be around to stay in business and sell spare parts. Paint it green and it brings more money.
In a similar situation I chose Deere. Just my personal opinion but I fear this economic thing is just getting going and who knows who will be standing when finished? I sure don't.

Negligence · Feb 12, 2009

I've been doing a lot of looking in the past few days and I've noticed that almost all large ag tractors have higher hours (4500+), regardless of the year they were made. Should this be a point of concern?

At what point does it make sense to go for mostly new (as in 1-3 years old, to save on the first year depreciation) with these kind of tractors? Or will the average lifespan give me another 2-3000 hours of it?

Ideally I want to buy a machine that will last me another 25 years -- I don't want to upgrade again in a few years. I've done that enough already in the past two years to know it's just a money pit to keep changing equipment.

Soundguy · Feb 12, 2009

sixdogs said:
Case-IH in that there is no question they will be around to stay in business and sell spare parts.

That would be CaseNewHolland.. IE.. the owners of legacy Ford equipment..

soundguy

sixdogs · Feb 12, 2009

Soundguy said:
That would be CaseNewHolland.. IE.. the owners of legacy Ford equipment..

soundguy

Good catch--thanks--i realized it just after I sent it in. Sorry.

slowzuki · Feb 12, 2009

The problem is the smaller the machine, the more fuel per acre no matter what you do. Once you get up in size there isn't such a steep change in price. I can buy 200 hp articulates all day at 10,000. If your tractor is still in the depreciating stage of life, it needs to be busy earning its keep, that means the biggest baddest tractor isn't always right as it will be parked a lot of the time while a smaller machine is used.

wkpoor said:
Sure it would be slower with smaller implements but maybe profits would be bigger with less tractor?

wkpoor · Feb 12, 2009

Once you get up in size there isn't such a steep change in price. I can buy 200 hp articulates all day at 10,000.

I agree to a point. You can buy real cheap 100+ HP tractors. Just pray to God they don't break. Then you can throw all that cheap out the door. Thats the gocha!