Buying Advice advice needed mx5100 vs m7040 to replace my '68 Ford 2000

[wsc9tt]

As a bonus at work I was told to go buy myself a new tractor. I said OK...
But as an engineer I am spending way too much time analyzing the options.

Here is roughly what I do with a tractor:

• Running bushhog on a very rough 10ac a couple times a year (most the rest is woods or planted by a local farmer)
• Removing snow from a 1600' gravel drive, usually just a blade, but sometimes I get very deep drifts. This has become a big issue this winter.
• dig/maintain ditches along driveway and reslope some land for drainage. Also pothole maintaince.
• Barn cleaning and manure moving for 4 cows. Kinda tight.
• Skidding logs from the woods
• Clearing trails in woods
• Random other projects sometimes a backhoe would be nice

I currently do this with a '68 Ford 2000.


This was originally a snow removal tractor, but the heated cab is no more and the front blade no longer has many of the original features. This is an old picture from when I bought it, the blade is now unbent and painted and looks much nicer. I really love this old tractor. I bought it for $1500 and after replacing the fuel pump, water pump, modern carb, elec ignition and new coil it runs great. ;-) Starts well and has plenty of power. That is 36hp, but with good gearing I have skidded some huge trees out of the woods. I really wish I had pictures of some of them. The most noticeable missing feature is a loader. This year the blade isn't working for snow removal, I have piles on both sides of the drive that are taller than the blade and these piles cause the blowing snow to collect directly on the drive.

I have two options:

• new 2013 MX5100HST-F (I really like the close Kubota dealer)
• dual remotes
• top+tilt with 2 cylinders
• rim guard in tires
• LA844 loader with q tach
• extra front remote with new joystick and thumb controls for grapple
• Ag tires since I have a gravel drive and very small lawn area

Then I would buy the following the 7' version of the following blade:
Everything Attachments XTreme Duty 6 way Tractor Scrape Blade
I already have a 6' bushhog and a 5' box scrapper
Eventually I want a grapple.

This is about the same size and weight as my 2000 and that size seemed pretty nice for me.

The other option is a local auction has a very clean used 4wd M7040 with hyd shuttle coming up soon. This is a bigger tractor. I don't think I care about the extra horsepower, but the extra 1000# of weight will probably make a big difference as will the bigger tires. I would still put the on top-n-tilt and front remote. I believe the net price on the m7040 will be about the same as the mx5100.

But which is more useful? The 7040 seems like more tractor, but you give up the HST. Do I care? Both will be a luxury after the 2000. The 5100 is going to be better at getting into the barn. I believe the 7040 was maintained so I am guessing 400 hours isn't a big deal.

On snow we get a big snow only every 4-5 years and normally a blade is plenty. So I wasn't planning on spending money on a snow blower. I figured I could just use the loader on those years where the piles get too big for the blade.

On the driveway I was thinking my 5' box scraper and the 7' blade could do the pushing around of the gravel. Those land planes looked nice, but I wasn't sure they were really needed.

I could buy a smaller tractor and more toys to go with it, but I am worried that I can always add implements later, but I won't upgrade the tractor.

Thoughts?

 

[TripleR]

We have and need both a 5740HSTC, not much different in size than the MX5100 and an M8540, not much different than the M7040 and based on your description, I would in all likelihood get the MX5100. There are simply some places our M8540 will not fit. The M Series tractors are amazingly nimble and using the steering brakes can turn as sharp if not sharper than the GL or MX, but it is simply too big or tall to make it in some places.

You have it well configured, but I got three rear remotes as the Top and Tilt takes up two. I am now able to operate a box scraper with hydraulic scarifiers.

 

[wsc9tt]

Thanks TripleR.

That does remind me of another idea I had for a new tractor that favors the 5100. We store small hay bales in the barn:


And piling that hay be hand is a real chore. I have considered the idea of stacking the hay in 4' cubes on pallets and then using pallet forks to carry these into the barn and stack them.
I was thinking I could do 3 high without them being too unstable if I am careful and it would certainly mean moving the bales less.
If that works then the smaller 5100 with the more nimble HST would win.

BTW since people like pictures here are some other tractor pictures:

 

[TripleR]

Loved the pictures, thanks for posting.

 

[Gary Fowler]

+

Thanks TripleR.

That does remind me of another idea I had for a new tractor that favors the 5100. We store small hay bales in the barn:
View attachment 356446

And piling that hay be hand is a real chore. I have considered the idea of stacking the hay in 4' cubes on pallets and then using pallet forks to carry these into the barn and stack them.
I was thinking I could do 3 high without them being too unstable if I am careful and it would certainly mean moving the bales less.
If that works then the smaller 5100 with the more nimble HST would win.

BTW since people like pictures here are some other tractor pictures:
View attachment 356448View attachment 356449View attachment 356450

I have a 70 HP tractor that I bought when looking for a 50 HP mostly because I got it for the same price as the 1652 MF that I had looked long at. While it is great for heavy lifting etc. and I still need it occasionally for heavy chores, I find my go to tractor is my Kubota B26 TLB. It gets into places the LS just cant go, has a fair capacity for moving things and the backhoe is my most used piece of equipment. I bought it used 18 months ago with 68 hours on it, it now has 350 or so while my LS is just approaching 100 in over 3 years. It is hard to put many hours on it as it does stuff so quickly.
I suppose I am saying that you can get too large of a tractor. If you only have one, get the one that can do 90% of your tasks easily and the other 10% not so easily but still can do. To me a 45-50 HP tractor can do most anything on a farm that needs done, it may take a bit longer or take more trips.

 

[art]

Gary is right on with being able to use the tractor for more chores! We have seen people on the power and size mode and they often come back in looking for something more useable. The best thing about having a tractor is using it! You should double check as to how your dealer would hook up the front remote or power beyond.

 

[big bubba]

had a mx5000 for a while upgraded to a m7040 the overall difference was huge, not so much in particular models but in the M series. a hyd shuttle would be a big plus. list of advantages of the M series is too long to list here....having said that, the MX series is a tough if somewhat primitive tractor that fits a particular niche best

 

[corl]

I recently downsized to a MX5100HST and love it. It pulls a 7 foot finishing mower, 6 foot rotary bush hog and has an oversize bucket on the FEL (.76 cubic yards stacked) and carries firewood from the woods, moves large quantities of mushroom compost, tills a market garden with a 74 inch tiller etc. I had a IH574 RC tractor before. This one with HST and 4WD is much more versatile and certainly goes where the old tractor couldn't. It is a lighter tractor which is noticeable. Filled rear tires and carry the rototiller (750 lbs) when using the FEL seriously. I am glad I made the switch and the tractor gets used more than the old one since it can do more.

 

[TexasBoy]

Coming off that Ford, you will be thrilled with the MX5100. I was using my Ferguson 35 for small jobs around the property and still cant believe how easy the L4600 is to use by comparison. Night and day difference.

 

[Bluegill2]

The Mx5100 is a HUGE upgrade over the the old Ford!!!

Sounds like you don't need a tractor as large as a M7040.

Either way I'd want gear drive or shuttle over HST...