Advice: should I trade my TC40DA for a Workmaster?

[Laminarman]

Long, long story short: I LOVE MY TC40DA. What started as a tractor to pull my 6' finish mower and do general duties around the land (with industrial tires) has been partially supplanted by a Deere 750 diesel riding mower. That thing does the 5+ acre mowing plus other chores. So consequently the TC40 is now doing more food plots/brush hogging/plowing and I'm finding I could use more HP. I had the tires filled last year, big difference, to aid traction and stability. With all that weight (wheel weights too) she is more stable but struggles plowing a bit, is a bit slow in other chores. She works fine, but I used my neighbors 55hp Deere last fall to pull a rented no till drill, and to plow a new patch, and it was a big improvement. I won't have access to a demo anytime real soon, but I was thinking of trading the old girl in (850 hours) for a larger 65 or 75hp Workmaster with ag tires. This would be more of a dedicated "small farm tractor." What started as an easy to use "hydrostatic" compact tractor hobby has grown and I'm not sure I need that anymore. Any advice? Any cautions? I know it would be easier to decide if I demo'd one, but they don't have one in stock they're willing to let me use for a weekend to try (only have a smaller one and a 75 that is spoken for waiting for delivery.) I looked and have been looking for a used TN near me, but few and far between. Any advice at all is appreciated. My TC is a 2003 and in great shape with a bucket/carbide tooth bar/hydraulic cylinders on the right lift arm and top link. I hate to trade in a paid for tractor...but....

 

[RickB]

You go from a TC to workmaster, I'll bet you end up unhappy. TC's are a deluxe CUT,Workmasters are a no frills machine with 1970's design features.

 

[Laminarman]

You go from a TC to workmaster, I'll bet you end up unhappy. TC's are a deluxe CUT,Workmasters are a no frills machine with 1970's design features.

Oh... : (

 

[farmall 55a case]

But you get a lot of machine for a cheaper price that is able to do more than you have now. The major down fall would be doing loader work no shuttle shift. It would be best tho demo one before hand.

 

[Laminarman]

But you get a lot of machine for a cheaper price that is able to do more than you have now. The major down fall would be doing loader work no shuttle shift. It would be best tho demo one before hand.

Yes, I'll try to demo one. The other thing, since I don't really need another tractor with a loader, is to spend $10,000 or less on a second tractor which is more of an "ag" tractor and use that for pulling plows, heavy brush hogging, hauling, liming, discing, maybe baling some day. I have a tough time finding out what an "ag" row crop tractor is however, there are so many different models from so many manufacturers. Or trade in for something with better ergonomics and just bite the bullet but I don't know where to go. I am partial to NH because my dealer has always been great and they're local and fair to me and that is important. He offered to let me take a T4 4.75 for a weekend, but that's just too much money even with a good trade in allowance. I could stay with what I have and hire out the plowing and land prep (5-20 acres of tough, tough soil) but what fun is that???!

 

[motownbrowne]

If you have a nice loader tractor that you like, keep it.

If you need a larger ag tractor for ag projects, get one. Farming was, and still is mostly done with 2wd tractors. Tractors that size 60hp+ are plenty heavy to get the power down with only two drive wheels. If it's wet enough to need 4wd, wait a couple days. 4wd is awesome for a loader tractor, especially a lighter compact, but there is so much good old iron out there for cheap. Two tractors in this case would be better I think. Maybe look at something like an international 560, or something in that size range. Should be able to get a great ag tractor for well under 10k with good tires.

 

[RickB]

If you have a nice loader tractor that you like, keep it.

If you need a larger ag tractor for ag projects, get one. Farming was, and still is mostly done with 2wd tractors. Tractors that size 60hp+ are plenty heavy to get the power down with only two drive wheels. If it's wet enough to need 4wd, wait a couple days. 4wd is awesome for a loader tractor, especially a lighter compact, but there is so much good old iron out there for cheap. Two tractors in this case would be better I think. Maybe look at something like an international 560, or something in that size range. Should be able to get a great ag tractor for well under 10k with good tires.

Great post!

 

[Laminarman]

Great post!

Yes it is, thank you!

 

[square1]

Great post!
Yes it is, thank you!

+1

Remember, the equation to determine the correct number of tractors to own is (N+1)

 

[RickB]

There's another thread here where a guy asks if the price ($7500, IIRC) on a 4000 hour Ford 5000 was too high. Plays well to the point here, as the 5000 and 4000 were probably 2 of the best tractors of their class ever built.