Thinking of financing a mx54

[big bubba]

never had a HST but there are enough operators here that probably confirm if properly operated & maintained, the HST will last as long as the tractor. imho having your wife involved in operating the tractor is alone enough reason to go with it over gear. I'd go with the latest grade of SUDT rather than just USD. good luck

 

[LD1]

Another vote for the HST.

Can't comment beyond what others have said really, other than it is a good tractor.

That trailer on the other hand, I would not be okay with..

For starters you said "double 10k axle". While they DO make heavy duty axles that are single tire and 10k rated.....not for $5500. So I can only assume you meant double 5k axles....IE: a 10k trailer total.

A much more common 14k trailer dont add much money, and gives you plenty of spare capacity. With ballast, loader, and an attachment on the tractor I can have my MX weighing over 8000# pretty easy. Which would make me uncomfortable on a 10k trailer.

Also the length.....you wont have any room to move to adjust the tongue weight with such a short trailer......and if you have the loader on, and a 6' bushhog on the back, thats about 24' in length. Can it be done ....sure. But do you either want 4' of bushhog hanging off the back of the trailer and not be able to stand up ramps? Or leave the loader elevated above the ramps and sticking several feet behind the trailer?

Even though trailer prices are high right now....you can find 24' 14k trailers for ~$6000

 

[Jrasband]

I looked into the Branson 5520 against the MX54. Won't save any money because of the extra cost of insurance and higher interest. So it seems that Branson is out of the equation.

I started thinking about the mx60, which seems like it would be worth the extra $2,000. which than led me to the m56. How does the m series differ from the MX series. It seems to be 500 lbs heavier, slightly bigger, 6" longer, with slightly bigger wheels. Also the HST transmission is not available in the m56.

I am a little torn as I am farming 32 acres(20 acres pasture), prob not going to be haying more than 20 acres pasture. I am wanting to get a machine I can hire myself out with doing grading or clearing work(will be working with mini-x) - which seems the mx will be better for and I like the compact of the mx but realize I am sacrificing weight and stability.

Is the MX capable of pulling a older round baler up and down slopes? I am not planning on doing any cropping but I would like to be able to rent and use a grain drill once or twice a year.

 

[5030]

Sure you don't want hydrostatic trans? Gear becomes a real pain when doing loader work...

So long as it has a hydraulic shuttle, directional changes are a non issue and actually better as there is no dry clutch to eventually replace. I'd opt for the HD bucket if you plan on doing any dirt work. The material bucket has a single bottom sheet and is prone to 'smiling. I have both of them. Just my experience and I'd get the bobcat style 2 lever quick attach as well.

 

[Jrasband]

This helped me a lot. Still on the fence on which one would be better overall. Hard to fit it all in one tractor. Mostly I think the MX is going to be best but I will be making sacrifices not having the Case IH 585 anymore. Hopefully it is nothing that will hurt me.

 

[scootr]

My MX52 HST for comparison can pull a 72" gannon full of wet dirt in medium range @ 1500 rpm. And at 2k rpm with the gannon full and the rippers buried in clay in low range. The tires are filled. Traction is not a problem.

 

[5030]

Always keep in mind that with any HST, there will always be parasitic power loss but with a hydraulic shuttle there is none. Far as pulling a round bailer on hills, I'd be hesitant about that depending on what size the bailer is, ie..4x5 or 4x6. Keep in mind that a full bailer can weight a lot. Myself, I don't run loaded tires ever. I run cast centers on both my M9's. Problem with loaded tires running hay is compaction and crushing the hay plants.

 

[jyoutz]

Another vote for the HST.

Can't comment beyond what others have said really, other than it is a good tractor.

That trailer on the other hand, I would not be okay with..

For starters you said "double 10k axle". While they DO make heavy duty axles that are single tire and 10k rated.....not for $5500. So I can only assume you meant double 5k axles....IE: a 10k trailer total.

A much more common 14k trailer dont add much money, and gives you plenty of spare capacity. With ballast, loader, and an attachment on the tractor I can have my MX weighing over 8000# pretty easy. Which would make me uncomfortable on a 10k trailer.

Also the length.....you wont have any room to move to adjust the tongue weight with such a short trailer......and if you have the loader on, and a 6' bushhog on the back, thats about 24' in length. Can it be done ....sure. But do you either want 4' of bushhog hanging off the back of the trailer and not be able to stand up ramps? Or leave the loader elevated above the ramps and sticking several feet behind the trailer?

Even though trailer prices are high right now....you can find 24' 14k trailers for ~$6000

Just bought a 10.4K, 20’ trailer for my MX for $5900. No where did I see a 14K trailer for that price. Also, I don’t see how you get 8K pounds for a MX. My MX6000 weighs in at less than 6.5k with loader and ballasted tires. With my heaviest implement, it’s less than 7.5k in weight.

 

[LD1]

Just bought a 10.4K, 20’ trailer for my MX for $5900. No where did I see a 14K trailer for that price. Also, I don’t see how you get 8K pounds for a MX. My MX6000 weighs in at less than 6.5k with loader and ballasted tires. With my heaviest implement, it’s less than 7.5k in weight.

1600# rotary cutter, loaded tires, 600# cast wheel weights, plus loader and tractor.

Trailer prices can be a very regional thing.
But see these all the time:

 

[jyoutz]

1600# rotary cutter, loaded tires, 600# cast wheel weights, plus loader and tractor.

Trailer prices can be a very regional thing.
But see these all the time:
View attachment 776795View attachment 776795

That trailer in my area is about $11K. I have loaded tires but no cast weights and my 6’ cutter is more like 1000#.