Why I Need More Than 1 Tractor

[whistlepig]

My neighbor, who is 70 years old and still farms full time, has 12 tractors, 2 five ton grain trucks, 1 skid loader, 1 backhoe, 1 combine, two riding mowers, a Kawasaki mule, 2 pickup trucks, and a car. Not counting all the attachments. This guy spends every waking minute taking care of his equipment. Maybe too much of a good thing? He seems to enjoy it.

 

[wolc123]

I like that 1 tractor per implement rule, especially during the spring planting season. At that time, I leave one tractor on a plow, one on a disc and one on a planter. This saves a lot of time changing implements. Also, I seem to have less breakdowns overall by splitting the workload between several tractors (I use (6) total, (4) in the fields and (2) for cutting the lawn.

 

[MossRoad]

Now, don't get me wrong... I like toys and all. However, I don't like maintaining so many engines on "work" machines. That's what attracted me to my Power Trac and its quick attach system. I can change non-powered implements in 15 seconds (watch here) without getting off the tractor. Powered implements take about 30 seconds longer because I have to get off and connect two hydraulic hoses. The quick attach system makes it insanely easy to switch implements. I actually look forward to changing implements just because it is so fun to do! :thumbsup:

The only way I could justify two tractors was if I needed one that was either larger, or I had to do pulling or plowing tasks, which the PT does not excel at. For my typical home owner tasks, one PT is just about perfect.

 

[whistlepig]

Now, don't get me wrong... I like toys and all. However, I don't like maintaining so many engines on "work" machines. That's what attracted me to my Power Trac and its quick attach system. I can change non-powered implements in 15 seconds (watch here) without getting off the tractor. Powered implements take about 30 seconds longer because I have to get off and connect two hydraulic hoses. The quick attach system makes it insanely easy to switch implements. I actually look forward to changing implements just because it is so fun to do! :thumbsup:

The only way I could justify two tractors was if I needed one that was either larger, or I had to do pulling or plowing tasks, which the PT does not excel at. For my typical home owner tasks, one PT is just about perfect.

This is the way I prefer also. Speaking for myself I will take care a certain amount of equipment extremely well. Too much equipment wouldn't be taken care of near so well.

 

[magicheater]

I have two tractors and the main reason is when I haul manure or wood or anything I take a tractor to load with, it is nice to have that extra tractor at home to push up the piles before the next load. In the winter I use "baby K" to haul in wood for the boiler and clean up the small snowfalls and save the big
stuff for the L4350.

 

[RPW]

I'm bassically at 2 tractors and 1 Bobcat. I'm in the process of a project to get the Bobcat running. I picked it up very cheap and I knew going into this was going to be a major project.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm going the other direction - looking for more ways to use horses. I'm considering getting a team of shires to do more grunt work - my bride prefers to see the percherons in front of a pretty wagon

Have you considered a PTO cart...

Draft horse, mule, and oxen power - Rural Heritage online
Liberty PTO Cart

 

[whistlepig]

Have you considered a PTO cart...

Draft horse, mule, and oxen power - Rural Heritage online
Liberty PTO Cart

Perhaps something Amish here. Trying to figure it out. We have a lot of Amish and Mennonite around where we live now. We are the odd ones here and not them.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have two tractors and a backhoe works well for me, lawn mowers are separate. There are times I could use two loaders but not often enough to worry about.

 

[3BPercherons]

Have you considered a PTO cart...

Draft horse, mule, and oxen power - Rural Heritage online
Liberty PTO Cart

Absolutely. I have a Pioneer forecart for pulling my ground drive manure spreader; I'll get one of their powered forecarts when the need arises.

 

[3BPercherons]

Perhaps something Amish here. Trying to figure it out. We have a lot of Amish and Mennonite around where we live now. We are the odd ones here and not them.

We're up in the Holmes County area a few times a year working with and learning from some of the Amish farmers in that area; they are a wealth of knowledge on doing things smart and simple.

 

[JD4320]

Have you considered a PTO cart...

Draft horse, mule, and oxen power - Rural Heritage online
Liberty PTO Cart

So, you get to change the engine oil AND muck out stalls? KISS in reverse...

 

[Iplayfarmer]

So, you get to change the engine oil AND muck out stalls? KISS in reverse...

You're not saving much money over buying a tractor either.

 

[ToadHill]

You always need a second tractor to pull the first one out of the mud.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

You always need a second tractor to pull the first one out of the mud.

So what do you do when the second one gets stuck going after the first??

 

[dcyrilc]

So what do you do when the second one gets stuck going after the first??

Bring out the dozer with the swamp tracks.:laughing:

 

[wolc123]

Back when all I had was 2wd tractors, If I had to go into an area where there was a risk of getting stuck, I would never use my largest tractor. That way I could always use the big one, held in reserve, to get the smaller one out. I have never got a 4wd stuck in 5 years since owning one. One time, when I lost traction on all 4 tires pulling a disc thru a mud-hole, I simply used the bucket to pull myself out. With 4wd, there is rarely a reason to remove the bucket, as the weight up front dont hurt you like it does on a 2wd, and you can always use it to pull or push your way out of the mud. I cant imagine a sitation that would cause me to get my 4wd with R1 tires stuck, but I have a healthy respect for the mud from many years of 2wd tractor operation.

 

[123rday]

Since I didn't have a second tractor to start with, when I got the 861 stuck twice, I just used the truck.