compact utility or utility tractor

[Anonymous Poster]

I can't decide between between a large compact utility tractor (Kubota L46, L4610 or JD 4710) and a small to medium utility tractor (JD5320 or 5420). I've got 200 acres, mostly in trees that I want to convert to pasture or food plots, and eventually cut for hay. I also want to maintain existing logging roads and fire breaks and add some more. It will also be used once or twice a year to till the garden, and bring in mulch

So if I go with the compact utility, I get a hydro tranny, and something narrow and lower with a tighter turning for working on roads, gardens, or other tight areas. Latter if I start bailing hay, I will need a second, bigger tractor to be used mostly just to run a bailer or MoCo

If I go with the utility tractor, I get enough HP to work faster, and if I start bailing hay, I won't have to maintain a second, older, tractor. Downside is I will have to accept a power-reveser or sync shift. If I were to move to the property, I wouldn't be able to use a finish mower attached to the tractor to mow arround the house

Price isn't a significant issue, but does prevent me from getting both a L46 and a 5520. Also my existing implements are sized for a compact utility sized tractor.

Jeb

 

[Rover]

AH, the fun of farming. Most farms your size will have more than one tractor. I would suggest you get the tractor that suits 70% of your needs (sounds like the compact) and look for a used second tractor (the big boy) to do the rest of you chores.
You can pick up some real deals on used tractors.

You prob wouldn't be satisfied with one tractor fits all for your application.

Rover

 

[RobS]

If you've got a lot of trees to take out you should consider a dozer. You can get a decent used one, take care of your work for a year or two then sell it when you're done. Neither a compact nor a utility will be your best weapon against stumps /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Go with the smaller utility tractor for that work Jeb. You can do everything with the utility tractor and only part of what you want with the compact tractor. The utility tractor will be much better for maint. roads as well. If you set the wheels in you can get a finish mower for it as well. I have a 4020 and I can set my wheels in and cover it with a 7' finish mower that I have. I just mowed my lawn over at the new house this last weekend with it as I didn't want to truck my compact over there and it worked fine. Used my 279 to do around the trees.

 

[TBone]

Jeb,

I agree with cowboydoc. Go with the utility tractor. I don't have quite as much as acreage as you but I have about the same situation. Lots of trees and stumps where timber was cut. I could have used a dozer but couldn't afford one.

I also had a lot of light finish work that a compact would be ideal for. I finally decided that the utility was my best bet and I haven't regretted it.

I bought a Kubota M4900, the smallest of the utilities and it does everything well. The only complaint is working around and in between trees would be easier with a compact. However, some of the heavy work would be hard to do with the compact.

It is a compromise. Ideally you need two tractors but this is just not practical for most of us so you have to go with the one that can do the biggest percentage of the jobs well. I am convinced that is the utility.

TBone

 

[Egon]

With that amount of land and haying in mind go for the biggest tractor you can use cause otherwise you will end up buying it anyway to do the jobs required.

Egon

 

[rf33]

Gotta echo the get the utility sentiment. With 200 acres, some portion of it in hay, I would actually be looking at the JD 6000 series or its equivalent in NH. I think that the larger 5000 series (5420 or 5520) would be a good choice also, as well as possibly the TL series from NH. Depending on the type / size of bales you would intend to make, your HP requirements might just go up around 70-90 HP too. Do your homework as to what you might need to run with the tractor implement wise, and then start looking with those parameters in mind. I think that for your size property, a utility tractor and then a riding mower for your yard would be a better solution than a compact and another larger tractor.

 

[looch]

Wishy-washy response here: I agree that getting the utility tractor would cover your requirements pretty well. But how far into the future would the extra oompf of that tractor be put to use? Around here, used 80-100 hp 2WD tractors are going for about 15K CDN. Tough decision - I can see why you posted here.

 

[JeremyL]

Consider the new, little known Kubota MX5000. I just got one last month. We, too, wanted to be able to hay in a few years and the 50 HP makes that feasable.

 

[rf33]

I think that a 50HP is a little small if that haying is to be round bales. If it is only going to be squares, then I think that you are just fine, but for round balers, most models require somewhere between 60-90 HP depending on the size of the bales (generally measures as width X diameter. Common bale sizes are 4X6, 5X6, and 5X7 around here, and for any of the 5X sizes, I would recommend a 6000 series Deere or its equivalent in NH or Case, or whoever in order to give it sufficient HP and weight.

 

[Woodbeef]

Hey jeb2,

I do not think that you will find the one mystical tractor that does all that you want!

Since your haying is down the road aways,I'd not worry about it right now. Just be on the look out for the cleanest,best twd 70 or so hp tractor that you come across. If all you are going to do is hay with it,get a good one to begin with,and do not worry about the 100 or so hours you'll put on it a year. a good low hour tractor will last you a life time with your intended use.

Get what ever the biggest cut is that fits your current needs.

If you must have a new ag-tractor take a look at the the above mentioned ones,plus Valtra,Zetor,Deutz,Agco,Massey Ferguson,and the NH TN series.

 

[frank_f15]

i agree, i think u will most make use of the bigger tractor, and get a riding lawnmower to cut grass around house.

 

[hayden]

I have an almost identical situation and am puzzling over the same question.

I still can't get past the HST issue, and right now would buy the largest HST model I could find which means an L4610 or a JD 4710. I think they will do everything except HEAVY haying, and do it better with the HST transmission. When I say HEAVY haying, I mean using a round baler, or a Moco. If you can do square bales, and do the separate cut/tedder steps, I think the smaller tractor is fine. If you want to use a Moco, round bailer, or giant tedder or disk mower, you'll need the bigger tractor.

If the Kubota M series had HST, I'd be considering an M9000, but I'm having a real hard time giving up HST, which for me makes every thing you do easier, in order to get something that can do big-time haying.

 

[rf33]

Good points Hayden, but something to keep in mind. If you have roll to the land you intend to hay, the weight of the tractor also becomes a HUGE consideration. Although it is true that a square baler only takes 35 HP to run, I would not want to pull one on hills with a light tractor. It sure would be nice if one of these days someone makes a utility sized tractor with a HST, just for me to try one out and see what I think...

 

[rf33]

Good point Doc, nothing like serious injury to put things into perspective. I think that many people underestimate the size of equipment required to run balers. I consider my 5520 about the bare minumum size to run a square baler, and is probably too small to run any of the 5 foot round balers. I wish it were possible for some of our members to bale hay with their small tractors safely, but I am just not sure the demand is there for Deere, NH, Agco, etc. to make small lightweight balers in enough numbers to make it cost effective. I agree that there is a reason most farmers have numerous tractors, and most of them even rake with bigger than 27HP tractors.

 

[skid mark]

Hi rf33-

I recently bought a CASE 385 utility and bought an owners and service manual after the fact. Both manuals have info on the two configs - manual tranny and HST. So I *think* that what you're looking for is out there.

FWIW, I'd also vote to go with the bigger tractor. Unless you're needing to do lots of work in closed quarters, IMO, it's always best to have more weight, width, length, power.

 

[hayden]

What do you consider to be heavy? An L4610 with loaded tires and FEL weighs in around 5000lbs, and a cab brings it close to 6000. Is that enough?

 

[hayden]

So what's a 5520 weigh?

I agree with all your points and don't see any way out other than: 1) Have someone else do the haying, 2) do it slowly with a small baler, small rake, small cutter, no Moco, or 3) get another tractor just for haying. Given the volume I'm talking about (25 acres), I just can't see the second tractor making sense. If I can't hay with a smaller HST tractor, I'll just have to get someone else to do it.

For me, giving up the HST is a non-starter. At the same time, I've never driven any shuttle shift fancy dancy new manual tractor and would like to. Maybe I'll have a religious conversion and can get that M9000.

 

[cowboydoc]

With a small baler and not much slope I think you could get by with that tractor Hayden. You have to use a sickle mower or something to cut it but it could be done. Like I've said I've pulled my baler with my 4600 but it sure beat the heck out of it!!! I sure wouldn't want to do it all the time or for 25 acres. Mostly I just wanted to see if it would do it. I wouldn't want to try it with anything less though.