Tractor Sizing modern replacement for 60 year old D4 & D2 Cat

[hhydro]

I am operating about 160 acres of dryland wheat in SE Idaho. This was my great-grandfather's land adjacent to his 1900 homestead. In 1955 he bought a Cat 5U series D2, and his neighbor (who we eventually bought out) had a 1952 7U series D4. In the early 70s we bought a Cat D4D SA. Much of the land we farmed then was very steep, but that is now in the CRP. After 25 years in the CRP the flatter 160 ac piece came out and I started farming it. We lost the D4D to a cracked oil pan that went un-noticed while doing some dozer work, so now we only have the 60 year old machines. These have no PTO, no hydraulics, no cab, no three point hitch, only a drawbar. They are good solid machines that still run great, but we need to modernize and maybe speed up the operation a bit. I'm looking at some 1970s vintage D4D machines with hydraulics, one even has a PTO for $15k - $16k. I'm wondering if there are better values in a 4WD tractor of comparable power.

The D4 is about 12,500lb, with 10,000 lb drawbar pull in 1st and about half that in the more common tillage 3rd & 4th gears. Any suggestions for some newer models to consider that would work with the same implements and be in that $15k price range. I know nothing about wheel tractors. We have a Ford 4600 for some utility work, but as far as crop production we only use it to pull the urea spreader cart. I figure I'd need a 4WD machine with dual rear tires for stability. I probably will put about 100 hrs per year on the machine.

The old D4 was rated about 52 hp drawbar and 62 hp PTO at sea level, but we're over 5000' and a bit underpowered so something a bit bigger would be good.

Anyway, suggestions on some good models to look at for this acreage and of a power range compatible with existing implements would be appreciated.



Thanks

 

[Wolfy]

Rubber tires would be the greatest way to speed things up. Nothing will outpull crawler tracks, but they are slow and expensive to work on. But either tractor or crawler, at your elevation esp, you really need a turbocharged diesel engine.

 

[Green Power]

Seeing the size of your disc i would like for a 75+ engine hp tractor.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Being use to a track machine it would be hard to replace with a rubber tire machine if you don't have to transport look at D5 with 6 way blade with powershift.

 

[hhydro]

Being use to a track machine it would be hard to replace with a rubber tire machine if you don't have to transport look at D5 with 6 way blade with powershift.

You are right, it would take some getting used to. I'm still leaning to a turbo'd D4D or D4E, but I want to take a critical look at my bias. A D5 is too big for my implements, and you'll see in the photo in the original post I have a D6 with a hydraulic tilt.

Thanks, Joe

 

[hhydro]

Rubber tires would be the greatest way to speed things up. Nothing will outpull crawler tracks, but they are slow and expensive to work on. But either tractor or crawler, at your elevation esp, you really need a turbocharged diesel engine.

Agreed on all points, thought I think any tractor is expensive to work on. Tires aren't cheap. Neither are tracks, but we've got 60 years on these sets of tracks. The reliability of the old cats is hard to beat. The starting engine system takes some getting used to and you need a ritual to reliably start the pony motor. It is old school, definitely not instant gratification. The tracks are noisy. They give a surprisingly smooth ride over furrows, but they are very slow for sure.

Thanks

 

[hhydro]

So what are some classic 4wd makes and models in the 75-95 hp range with legendary solid reliablility, fuel economy, and with good slope stability?
I'm targeting the ~$15k range, so I expect it will be a decades old machine, but I'm hoping to move from the '50s to at least the '80s or '90s.

Thanks, Joe

 

[Green Power]

So what are some classic 4wd makes and models in the 75-95 hp range with legendary solid reliablility, fuel economy, and with good slope stability?
I'm targeting the ~$15k range, so I expect it will be a decades old machine, but I'm hoping to move from the '50s to at least the '80s or '90s.

Thanks, Joe

Based on that look for a JD 4X(3,4,5, or 6)0 tractor with front wheel drive. For example a JD 4230 with FWD.

 

[Rock knocker]

Is that you in the middle of the photograph?
View attachment 396477

 

[hhydro]

Is that you in the middle of the photograph?
View attachment 396477

:laughing:
On the left are two of my nephews. The one in the middle puts in the most hours by far, a very hard worker once he gets going. On the far right is my father who passed away a couple of months ago. I'm nearly as old as the D2. My great grandfather made the last payment on it about the time I was born.