Another JD790/TC30 Post

SwampGuy · Dec 31, 2006

Hi all. I've been looking and shopping economy tractors for a couple of years now and I'm finally ready to buy. I like all the bells and whistles, but really I need just a basic tractor. I have 25 acres. About 10 is pure swamp that was clear cut this October, and 15 that is wooded, but was cut 10 years ago. My goal is to disc the logging paths for food plots and also cut some trails through the highground. The logging paths have a bunch of pulverized saplings and some clumps of 8 inch stumps that I'd like to pull out. I've narrowed my choice down to the JD790 and the TC30. I like the 790 better, but the specs show it to be weaker all around. I think the dealer support would be okay from both, and the price is just about dead even. So for you 790 owners, do you find the power lacking? I really like the idea of a heavy duty woods 60inch mower for doing sapling work. I'm wondering if it would be too much for the 790. I know the TC could handle it. Another thing would be the tires. I first thought the ags would be better, especially in soft stuff, but with so much work to be done in the woods, maybe the R4s would resist puncture better? Thanks in advance for the help. Terrific site!

RobS · Dec 31, 2006

The 790 has plenty of power, but is a bit low on tph lift and is overall pretty light. Either will probably work for most of your needs, but the "clumps of 8 inch stumps" will give them both a workout. You might be better off renting a mini-excavator for that task, then let the CUT handle the rest.

I have a light duty rotary cutter which works fine on saplings but it is already pretty beat up. I've used it now for about five years. I don't think I'd need a heavy duty one for my stuff, but should have gotten a medium duty model.

Good luck with your decision, you'll enjoy either machine.

thcri · Dec 31, 2006

SwampGuy said:
I've narrowed my choice down to the JD790 and the TC30. I like the 790 better, but the specs show it to be weaker all around. I think the dealer support would be okay from both, and the price is just about dead even. So for you 790 owners, do you find the power lacking? !

I think asking most JD owners they will tell you it is not lacking power. And if you reverse the question to the TC owners you would get the same results.

You kind of got yourself in a pickle here. You like the JD but think the New Holland will perform better. Both dealers are good dealers according to your post. Well you can flip a coin, or well maybe there isn't another option. I think you like the John Deere, I would go with that one, even though I am pro New Holland. Both tractors are fine tractors. Is one of the tractors heavier than the other, with your work load you may like a heavier rig? Just a suggestion.

murph

jbrumberg · Dec 31, 2006

SampGuy:

Welcome to TBN

! You will need a backhoe and/or have to get a bulldozer for those stumps. I do not know if initially "discing" your paths is the most effective way to create food plots in those wood paths due to the exisitng roots/rocks/debris and I do not think that the disc would be very manuverable in the woods (I do not own a disc, but I believe you have to lift the disc in order to turn.). I keep thinking using a box blade or scarifier first to remove roots etc. followed by a shallow tilling/harrowing/plowing would meet your needs (IMHO). I think the TBN readership will respond with their opinions based on their experiences. There have been a lot of posts comparing tires vs use so use TBN's search engine. If you have a lot of mud and do not mind chewing up the turf when it is wet I would recommend R-1's as based on the threads I have read. R-4's will load up with mud (You could get those self cleaning double-ring type tire chains for the
R-4's.). I will warn you that R-1's go forward a lot better into goo than in reverse. I know a few guys who have reversed their front R-1's in order to provide reverse traction when in the mud. One reason I bought my Class II CUT was its size- I can get around in the woods better than a Class III. The trade off was less power with a Class II, but I can honestly say that I do miss my old Ford 1100 (SCUT) for its lower center of gravity and smaller size when I am manuvering around in the woods. Please be aware that the TBN membership is more than willing to help you spend your hard earned money

and there are a lot of HP junkies in TBN land

. The good news is that we will provide you with valuable "reasons" to justify the purchase of additional tractor attachments

. Please provide more information about your location, property, as well as potential future uses, and keep the questions coming. Jay

jbrumberg · Dec 31, 2006

thcri said:
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I think asking most JD owners they will tell you it is not lacking power. And if you reverse the question to the TC owners you would get the same results.

You kind of got yourself in a pickle here. You like the JD but think the New Holland will perform better. Both dealers are good dealers according to your post. Well you can flip a coin, or well maybe there isn't another option. I think you like the John Deere, I would go with that one, even though I am pro New Holland. Both tractors are fine tractors. Is one of the tractors heavier than the other, with your work load you may like a heavier rig? Just a suggestion.

murph

I agree with murph- Jay

shvl73 · Dec 31, 2006

The JD 790 is only rated for a shy 900lbs 24" from the balls on the 3 pth. The TC30 is rated for over 1600lbs. The medium and heavy duty Woods 60" cutters are both over 1000lbs. Neither has the pto hp Woods specs for those cutters. Whether they would run them I don't know but, I think the standard duty Woods BB60 is a better match to those tractors. Maybe someone makes a heavier duty 48" cutter. The Woods BB60 is no slouch, I like mine, but its not made for cutting big stuff.

jbrumberg · Dec 31, 2006

I killed one Woods HD rotary cutter cutting trails and 7+ acres of ~2" poplar saplings years ago. It appears that my HD "sacrifice" has allowed me the ongoing use of a medium duty rotary cutter. I have no complaints with my Tebben 60" TC94-500 (PTO HP = 20 -40, 560#). Now that I am staying somewhat "ahead" of Mother Nature with the fields I can use a heavy duty brush trimmer and/or chainsaw in the woods for keeping the pathways open. Jay

SwampGuy · Dec 31, 2006

Thanks for the opinions guys! I guess I was thinking the Woods BB60 was the heavy duty. When I look at some of the economy brands of mowers, the BB60 looks like a tank. As for discing the paths, these modern loggers wipe out paths that are about 20' wide. Plenty of room to pick up the disc and swing around. I thought slicing the roots with a small disc would be better than trying to dig them out with a box scraper and scarifier. I'm not looking to try and harvest anything there, just attract wildlife.

My little swamp is in SE Va. Cost less than 1500/acre, around here that seemed like a great deal. I didn't take the timber rights in the swamp. Sort of glad I didn't really. Now that the large trees are gone down there, it's really more useful. Mostly the land is just for recreation for the family. My son's are 10 and 12, and we're all into shooting. The whole place is surrounded by non-populated tracts, so the hunting is pretty good. We're going to build a hunting shack out there to spend weekend nights. When the boys are grown, maybe the wife and I will build a retirement house out there, but that's a way down the road. Again thanks, I'll keep you posted on my decision. Hoping to do something by Feb 1.

DAP · Jan 5, 2007

The facts indicate that a TC30 is CONSIDERABLY more tractor than a 790. You've left out a number of particulars that drive pricing, like tires, transmission, etc.

For me, it would be an absoute no brainer.

I drove a TC30 quite a bit before I decided on the B7800 Kubota. I really liked that tractor except for the excessive engine vibrations (motor mounts were flimsy) ... For the money, the TC30 specs are hard to beat.

TIRES: R4s will NOT resist punctures better than R1s but they will load up and lose traction faster. R4s are meant to be a compromise providing a certain traction advantage over turf tires but less ground wear & tear than an R1 (ag).