Buying Advice Advice for a novice

[HighLoader]

I recently moved up from a TC24DA to a TC40DA and am very happy with this new tractor. I think the TC40DA will do every thing you need to do. I would insist you get the hydrostatic trans! It is great on any kind of slope and it is so easy to change directions. I can't imagine the tractor life without it. I have the 16LA front end loader and a box scraper. I thought about getting a backhoe but instead use a mini kubota excavator. Yesterday I just finished a 450 foot trench for the phone line. I will attatch a picture. I like having the box scraper on the tractor all the time ready to go. I plan on getting other rear attatchments and would hate to have to drop that back hoe on and off. I think an excavator is more manuverable , and you don't have to jump back and forth from seat to seat to move a few feet. I will also attatch one of my new tractor with a bucket full of roots I dug up.

 

[hambaloney]

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

Thanks for the picture! I like that grapple quite a bit.

From the picture, it appears that the grapple is bolted on to the bucket. How easily is it removed/attached?

Thanks.

 

[hambaloney]

Hi all, thanks for all your replies.

Sounds like a bunch of you really like the hydrostatic transmission. My first and only experience with it was less than satisfactory but I was probably a bit timid with it. I'm thinking I should give it another go. Unfortunately, the dealer that's closest to me doesn't carry them, so I'll have to head out to another.

Thanks.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Just buy what you feel comfortable with. I have all geared tractors and they work great for me. I use my tractors for a lot of different task though and a geared tranny suits my jobs much better then a hydro. Well, now that I think of it I do have one hydro tractor and that is my little Cub Cadet lawn mower. I do get tired of pushing the pedal all the time though and I know there is a cruise control but it is a hassle to deal with. It is nice if you are doing a lot of speeding up and slowing down or changing direction but if you do a lot of straight forward work then I just prefer to put a tractor in the gear I want and sit back and not think about it. So don't let someone talk you into a tractor you are not comfortable with. See if your dealer has any hydro tractors on their lot (regardless of size) and ask if you can try it out for a few hours to have a chance to play with it and get use to the hydro tranny. Afterwards you will have a better feel of which tranny will suit your needs.

As for what you are trying to do, go with the largest tractor you can afford and still fit in your work areas. The TC55 is a good tractor and is similar to my 1920 which I use a lot in our pens. But it doesn't compare at all to the TN. I would price out a TN just for fun and see how it compares to the TC55. It is a bit bigger and doesn't turn as sharp but will work circles around any TC in areas you don't need to turn on a dime.

Better yet, convince the misses you need a couple tractors and buy a TC55 for her and the TN for you

 

[Doc_Bob]

Get a TN series. Very big and powerful, but small enough for your spread.

Bob

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I would be very hesitant about going any smaller than the TC55. I almost agree with Robert in NY though. If you could swing 2 tractors, get a TC40 for the wife and a TN75 or bigger for yourself.

I have a few tractors myself and I STILL NEED MORE.

Good luck

 

[Soundguy]

120ac and a 6' mower.. either there ain't much grass or you got LOTS of time.

i usually reccomend tractor size based on many factors.. land size being one of them.

If it were me.. with 100+ ac.. I'd have the same tractor i do today.. a 95hp one.. that way i can pull a big mower..

soundguy

 

[hambaloney]

120ac and a 6' mower.. either there ain't much grass or you got LOTS of time.

i usually reccomend tractor size based on many factors.. land size being one of them.

If it were me.. with 100+ ac.. I'd have the same tractor i do today.. a 95hp one.. that way i can pull a big mower..

soundguy

Hello All again, thank you so much for your replies.

I should clarify some things. Yes, the property is 120 acres. However, about 50-60% of it is currently used for cattle and we will not be doing anything with it. The rest is broken up into small paddocks and 1 larger pasture. Currently I only anticipate mowing the small paddocks which are 1-2 acres.

Does that change things? I think i'll be doing a lot less mowing then what I made it out to be. Most tasks will be around the barn, working on the driveway and the rings.

I love the idea of a bigger tractor and i think at this point we're going to be limited to one. Is the TN that much bigger than the TC's? Are they built that much better?

Can't wait til I can head to the dealer again to play.

Thanks for all your input.

 

[LoneCowboy]

The TN's are necessarily built better, but they are much stronger/bigger tractors.
compare the back end (the guts of the tractor) of a TC next to a TN.
Physically the TN is a wee bit wider and about 3' longer
But it's a much stronger heavier duty tractor.

Look at Bob's post on his TN60. Much heftier tractor than a TC55, even though the hp is the same.

I think on 120 acres more often you are going to want a bigger tractor rather than a smaller tractor, just my thinking.

 

[Larry-On-The-Hilltop]

I agree with Brian on this one from an engineering and a common sense perspective, but it's your money at the end of the day, not mine.