Buying Advice Advice for a novice

hambaloney · Jan 19, 2007

Hello all,

My name is Fred and I'm a newcomer to this forum. I'm also rather new to the world of tractors. My fiancee and I are looking to buy a 120 acre farm in SW Virginia. It's rather hilly but does have some wide open pastures, mature woods and a stream that cuts through the center of the property. Approximately half of it is currently used for cattle. There's a working horse barn, two outdoor riding rings, and a number of fenced paddocks.

What we're looking to do with the tractor:

Brush hog: mowing pastures and the tall grass/brush around the farm, 6' sounds about right

Drainage/driveway repair: the driveway needs some considerable work. In some places it needs to be dug up and we'll need to put some rock in, as well as grading it and laying down gravel

Barn drainage: the barn sits in a bit of a hollow and has poor drainage. I've done a bit of drainage work with my uncle digging ditches, putting in pipe and gravel.

Cleaning up the stream: removing downed trees and moving large rock to prevent it from flooding.

Manure spreading: we currently do not have a manure spreader but foresee picking a small one up down the road

Dragging: both the rings will need dragging and possibly some of the pastures, we have a homebrew chainlink harrow

Covered ring: We'd like to put in a third ring and cover it. Any excavation and grading work that we can do with our tractor can save us down the road

I'm a bit of a New Holland fan and I've had some experience with my uncle's NH tractors. He started out with a TC45A w/ 16LA loader and a backhoe (not sure what model). Last year he upgraded to the TC48A w/ 18LA loader a 758C backhoe. He has done a lot of the same type of jobs with his tractors as we're looking to do. I had some time to work with both and they are both in the size range we're looking for. I'm confortable with how they operate.

We're looking for something in the 40-55HP range w/ FEL and backhoe. I think we both prefer geared transmission. I recently had an opportunity to drive a TC45DA with the hydrostatic transmission. While nice, it felt awkward to drive and I really do prefer the manual shifting.

This past week, I went to closest of the 3 local NH dealers (all within 1 hour drive). They had both the TC40A and TC55DA on their lot. I drove both and loved them both. They were priced as follows:

TC40A $16,200
250TL FEL $5,100
758C BH $7,200
total: $28,500

TC55DA $21,500
18LA FEL $5,000
758C BH $5,900 (this unit was used as a demo unit to dig a few holes, still appears to brand new)
total: $32,400

I didn't include pricing on implements as I'm looking to pick up some of them used and I'm not exactly sure what I'll need.

Couple big questions:

1. For the work that we want to do, I'm under the impression the TC40A will be capable of everything. Is it? Is the TC55DA too much? (Yes, I know, you can never have too much tractor) Should we be looking at something in between (45/48)?

3. The TC55DA is turbo-charged. Is that a worry when it comes to maintainance? Are they considerably more expensive to fix if there is a problem?

4. Are these prices reasonable? The small discount on the TC55DA makes it somewhat more appealing as a whole (I'd have to buy it as the package deal). But it's $3,900 more than the TC40A. That's money towards implements. Also, what can I expect the NH dealer to 'throw' in to make the deal sweeter?

5. Should I consider alternatives from other brands? I really only have ever worked with the NHs and I know there are many tractors out there.

6. Is a used tractor a good option? Both my uncle and myself are a bit concerned that a used piece of equipment isn't well taken care of. I looked at a used TC45DA, it was beat up pretty bad for ~100 hours and didn't have any written records of maintainance. Also, the used market (at least NH's) around here are pretty quiet, so I would probably have to extend my search to further away.

I appreciate all advice and thoughts you can offer. I'm still learning tractors and reading these forums and have learned so much in the past few weeks.

Thanks,
Fred

Egon · Jan 19, 2007

Surely sounds like you know what you want to do, how to do it and what you want to do it with.

Only thing I can add is will there be any farming chore/use changes in the future that you may be contemplating.

Sounds like a nice place.

And oh - I forgot - Welcome and post pictures.

LoneCowboy · Jan 19, 2007

Nobody ever wants less power
go for the 55
****, with 120 acres, I might even go bigger.
(as long as my wife wasn't watching the checkbook.

)

hambaloney · Jan 19, 2007

Thanks for your replies. I certainly know what I want, but I'm told I need to restrain myself from buying the biggest and baddest. I'm hoping the advice from you all will help me with my decision (I didn't say make it, but that never hurts).

As for farming chores, I doubt we'll be doing any haying. The large hay field is contracted out to a local guy and I'd imagine we would probably keep a similar relationship. I know all the equipment required for even doing a small bit of haying is expensive. I've read here that having 2 tractors is the way to go with haying. Compact for work around the farm and a large for working the fields. Am I correct?

I'm going to need to learn how to post pictures and post when I do.

Thanks again.

hambaloney · Jan 19, 2007

It's me again. Been reading some more and realized I ought to specify that both tractors come with R4s and are fluid-filled in the rear.

kozak · Jan 19, 2007

I'm with Lone Cowboy. For the size of your spread even though you may be renting some of it out, the extra HP is a plus. I have 2.3 acres & have a TC35D. A little excessive.....maybe, but when you take the two horses into account, the landscaping & snow clearing....I'm VERY happy with my purchase.

With a larger tractor comes more weight which in turn results in that much more traction. Also, tasks with FEL (which is much easier with Hydrostat in my opinion) will take much less time. (Assuming a bigger bucket). I guess from your experience you like to be doing something on the tractor all the time, hence you like gears. I have never driven gear but I really like the simplicity (from an operators perspective) of only thinking about two pedals & a joystick. That way I can focus that much more at the task at hand. I guess its just human nature to prefer what your used to.

There's always pro's & con's. A smaller tractor of course will fit into smaller places & implements will be cheaper but are you willing to gamble that the TC40A will be big enough & you won't regret it later.

Seems like you have had some experience in the past so I'm sure you will end up allright either way. Both machines are up to the task....just one of them will have an easier time of it on some of the heavier tasks.

Good Luck with whatever you decide !!

Vic

Bird · Jan 19, 2007

Welcome to Tractorbynet, Fred. It appears that you have a pretty good handle on what you need already. I'd disagree with you on the transmissions; I much prefer the hydrostatic. However, I've got more time on geared tractors than hydrostatic and that works, too, so it's just mostly a matter of personal preference. It's just nice to be able to quickly change directions, move very very slowly in some places, etc. without slipping a clutch. Sure, we say you can never have too much tractor, but for the vast majority of the work, you can do it with a smaller tractor; it just takes more time. Naturally, you're going to want a front end loader. Two wheel drive can do a lot, 4-wheel drive is even better (consider 4-wheel drive as adding about 25% more horsepower over the same size tractor with 2-wheel drive). For road and driveway repair/maintenance, I'd sure want a box blade that was a bit wider than the outside of my rear tires. It the road needs to be dug up a bit, that's easily done, too, with the scarifiers (or ripper teeth) on the box blade. Personally, I'd sure get a couple of pairs of remotes for the hydraulics, and hydraulic "top 'n tilt" for the 3-point hitch sure makes using the box blade quicker and easier.

As for brands of tractors, you're familiar with New Holland and like them, so it may be a good idea to stay with them. Personally, I've owned Kubotas and was a bit partial to them, but also, if I were going out to buy a tractor right now, I'd have to consider Kubota, New Holland, and John Deere at a minimum; might even also consider Mahindra and Kioti, depending on the dealers and whether I thought they'd still be around if I needed parts in the future.

Larry-On-The-Hilltop · Jan 19, 2007

With all that acreage, I'd really think about a full-size utility tractor, like a TN-A or TDD. Those tractors are 'built for the beating' and you'd be quite impressed with the differences when you compare either of these two side-by-side with the TC55DA. I paid about the same for my TN60A 2WD, FEL & BH as you're being quoted for the TC55DA, and there's almost an extra 3000# of steel that I got in the deal and a more efficient motor, too. The CUTs just don't have the same durability as the ag tractors. Check out the NH TDDs, too, as they would be my second choice behind the TN-A. I went with the TN-A, as I wanted all of the 'goodies' on my unit. Good luck with the new farm!

SOS · Jan 19, 2007

My NH 45a with a FEL and a Grapple (only 13 acres) was $24,600 including tax.
One item I really love, after only 4 hours on the tractor was the grapple for picking up brush and downed trees without getting off the tractor -- it was worth the $1,200 and I learned about it on this site.

Good luck

Darren E · Jan 19, 2007

I have a tc 33d and i over work it every year. I mow with it, brush hog(5ft),use the loader a lot. I need to rebuild thedeck this year.(wheels,casters,blades and pulleys. I wish it was bigger.....
DR