Buying Advice Looking for Smaller Tractor with Strong Loader

[verdanthills]

Hi All,

I have a Case Farmall 95 tractor that I use for my field work, baling and wrapping. It's a great tractor for the open field.

I will be needing a smaller open station tractor that is able to:

(1) Pick up my 4 ft round haylage bales (weighing max of 1,400 pounds) with a spear and transporting them about 30 ft on level land into a round feeder. The round bales are stacked 2 high and the feeder will need a lift height of the loader to be 6 feet. I have created a 25 foot alley between the haylage storage and the feeders. At tractor with decent manueverability is preferred; and

(2) Muck out the loafing shed that is a simple pole barn 24x36 that has open access on 3 sides with posts every 12 feet on the perimeter. I will be pushing manure into a pile outside. Manueverability is needed.

I could accomplish these tasks with my Farmall 95 but it would take a lot of concentration. It would be nice to have a small tractor around. With the loader needs, I have thought about a skid steer but they are expensive, complicated, and couldn't help around the farm with lighter duty tasks such as attaching a small sprayer or fertilizer spreader.

Any suggestions? I was thinking of a Kubota L3200. I'm open to any brand....but local dealer support and availability is key. I wanted to look into Mahindra due to their strong loader specs but am not inclined because the closest dealer is 3 hours away.

Thanks!

 

[bcp]

Maybe break the needs into two parts.

Something like this on your large tractor:

Ag Krane - Ag Kranes - MSL-072 KRANE

And a small tractor without the large lift capacity for the barn cleaning.

Bruce

 

[verdanthills]

Maybe break the needs into two parts.

Something like this on your large tractor:

Ag Krane - Ag Kranes - MSL-072*KRANE

And a small tractor without the large lift capacity for the barn cleaning.

Bruce

This is my backup option. I have a squeeze to lift the wrapped bales on my FEL on the Case. I could use the Case to move the bales in to the feeder. If I can't find a smaller tractor with a FEL that can lift 1,400 pounds, I will stick to my Case and buy a smaller B series Kubota to scrape the barn.

 

[George2615]

LS model R3039 or R3039H loader will lift 2250 lb. Current prices in my area are $18,999 or $19,999 w/HST.

 

[RoyJackson]

Sounds like a good job for a skid steer...

 

[Dillier23]

Why not another Case Farmall B or C series? Smaller with good lift capacity and if you have a Case already there must be a dealer nearby?

 

[Trey318]

I'd look at the john deere 3000 series

 

[verdanthills]

I'd look at the john deere 3000 series

Unfortunately, these models have a max loader capacity of about 1,200 pounds at pivot pins at max height.

 

[verdanthills]

LS model R3039 or R3039H loader will lift 2250 lb. Current prices in my area are $18,999 or $19,999 w/HST.

Thanks! I will look into the LS. I hope I have a dealer nearby. The pricing and specs look good!

 

[verdanthills]

Unfortunately, these models have a max loader capacity of about 1,200 pounds at pivot pins at max height.

I was wrong on this...models 3320 and up can lift 1,600 pounds at pins at max height.

 

[cartod]

Any of the major colors will work in the mid 30 hp range. My 3320 is very stout for its size, Im sure the Kubota is just as good. Buy the dealer.

 

[RickB]

Lifting 1600 lbs at the pins won't cut it when lifting baleage centered 24" to 30" ahead of the pins and stacking or lifting into a feeder. Don't fool yourself, or worse, hurt yourself in a rollover. Also, unless you routinely weight your 4x4 silage bales, I'll bet they run closer to 1600lbs. Not hard at all to get a 4x5 to weigh a full ton.

 

[Green Power]

Lifting 1600 lbs at the pins won't cut it when lifting baleage centered 24" to 30" ahead of the pins and stacking or lifting into a feeder. Don't fool yourself, or worse, hurt yourself in a rollover. Also, unless you routinely weight your 4x4 silage bales, I'll bet they run closer to 1600lbs. Not hard at all to get a 4x5 to weigh a full ton.

I agree buy more tractor than necessary, it seems its always best to buy a size or 2 bigger.

 

[Gittyup]

It struck me that a skidsteer might work best in the stalls. As for tractors, any of the with 2000+ lbs of lift. The Kioti DK40 is a good value.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The bad thing about the skidsteers I've run is that the rear visibility is terrible. I'd hate to use a skidsteer in tight quarters just for that reason.

 

[RickB]

The bad thing about the skidsteers I've run is that the rear visibility is terrible. I'd hate to use a skidsteer in tight quarters just for that reason.

You can usually feel or hear when it's time to stop.

 

[sd455dan]

The bad thing about the skidsteers I've run is that the rear visibility is terrible. I'd hate to use a skidsteer in tight quarters just for that reason.

But the good thing is you can spin them on their own axis (skid-steer) unlike a tractor.

I still prefer my tractors for most everything..

 

[verdanthills]

Thanks, everyone. After moving a few wrapped bales around with my case farmall 95, I've decided that the bales are too heavy to move with a smaller tractor that can also clean out the barn. I will continue with the Case for bale moving and get a smaller B series Kubota for barn cleaning.

 

[Gary Fowler]

An even smaller BX series might be even better for just barn cleaning and light FEL work. I have never driven anything smaller than a B series, but many folks here swear by the BX. I do know that it is much more maneuverable than a B series and would lift all the manure that the bucket would hold with ease. I have a B26, my daughter has a B 2620 and while both are pretty maneuverable, I think a BX would be even better if you are in tight quarters like horse stalls.
The down side would be that it is a bit small for anything other than stall cleaning and yard maintenance. They also seem to make good lawnmowers with the belly mower but then so do the Bxxxx series.

 

[texasjohn]

congrats....you well defined your task, researched, tried it out in real life, determined what is going to work best for YOUR situation BEFORE making a purchase.
I think you are right...I was becoming concerned about lifting that weight high and maneuvering on possibly uncertain footing with a smaller tractor. Lots of weight up that high can get real tippy without sufficient width and weight underneath.