Deer Camp Tractor?

   / Deer Camp Tractor? #11  
See if your Massey dealer has a 1533. For your needs the 8x8 synchroshuttle will be all you would need. This is a poplular MF model. Nice tractor and has excellent power at 33 HP. Shuttle is nice if you do add a loader. It would be worth your time to at least look.
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #12  
Because you are going to use ground-engaging equipment for planting, I would look at a MFWD and a gear tractor. The MFWD will really help with traction when you are pulling things like a disc or a plow. A gear tractor will help you get a bit more of the available engine hp to the wheels.

Because you are looking at doing some discing, etc., you are going to need to some counterweights up front. You can spend some money on a front weight rack, or a FEL. At least with the FEL you can figure out a thousand other uses for it. With the counterweights... well, they're just weight. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you do go with a 2-wheel drive tractor, look at the bigger end of the spectrum. You might need a bit more size to be able to pull a disc or plow comfortably. If at all possible, a MFWD is your best bet.

You might also try for something with a few years on it. Even a 1-year-old tractor can help you get a good discount. Spend some time reading through the Mahindra forums to get an idea of that tractor's personal vagaries. Folks have been very pleased with their Mahindras.

Best of luck and good tractor hunting!
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #13  
LeadPoison,

How much time will you be able to spend on the tractor doing the things you've listed? If you live close enough, or have local help, a large CUT may be enough. But if you can only get to your camp a couple of weekends a month I can say you're going need a machine bigger then a 45 HP CUT. I live a good way away from my cabin and understand the time issue; there is no way such a small machine is going to do what you described if the available time is very limited.

In the spring you want to plant 42 acres of corn. That means you have to do something like mow last years rye crop, plow, cover the fields with fertilizer, disc and then plant the corn. Then the fall planting will require at least four more passes over the fields.

How many miles of trails will you be bush hogging three of four times a year? Will you also be dragging a box blade to keep them in good shape?

I'll share my opinion on your other questions, but keep in mind my planting experience is limited to 1 acre plots. The tillage implements you'll need depend on the technique you use, though with 42 acres I doubt you'll want to use a rototiller. Using the traditional plowing method for the corn you would need a moldboard plow, disc harrow, spreader, corn planter and a sub soiler. For best germination on the rye you would need to add a grain drill, but you could probably get by adding a chain harrow.

You'll need at least one rotary cutter, but maybe two would be better. The field mowing will need a wide light duty cutter but the trail maintenance might be better done with a medium width standard duty model. A box blade or rear blade would be needed for road maintenance.

While a FEL is a great tool to have, nothing you mentioned requires one. In your case it might be better to put the money toward a larger tractor. Without a FEL 4wd isn't as useful and a 2wd model may have equal traction as a smaller 4wd model costing roughly the same. The tasks you listed don't require a lot of speed or direction changes so a hydrostatic transmission will not be an advantage.

With the budget you mentioned I think deerefan is pointing you in the right direction, toward a no thrills 2wd utility tractor. I have no opinion about model or manufacturer for those type machines, but I would suggest you don't rule any of them out before thoroughly researching the options.

Good luck in your hunting, for both buck and tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #14  
I'm going to do something different for me and say you need more tractor than what you are looking at.

If you put 1/2 of those fields in corn or some other crop you are still looking at 20+ac to plow. Thatt is a lot of ground to cover part time even with a big machine. Can you do it on a 35-40 hp CUT?? You bet you can. People plowed a lot more than that with 8N's. You just have to make more passes at it.

IMHO, the no frills 2wd AG tractor will be the way to go to get as much as you can for the money. If you dont have real hills or adverse weather conditions (2+ months of snow) a 2wd wide front end will be fine. A gear tranny will put more ooomph on the ground than a hst.

If you get a loader you will wonder why you were never equipped with one from the womb. Your uses for one would be for clearing trails, unloading seed, lime and fertilizer. Carrying extra bags of those with you so that when you run out, you dont have to come back to the truck. Rebuilding the entrance from the road, clearing ditches...............

You are going to have a hard time finding a new tractor, AG or CUT big enough for your buck when you add implements. If there is one around you, you might want to look at the Long brand. Their AG stuff is basicly the 1960 Ford tractor. Price wise it may be something to think about. I really dont know much about the Mahindra AG stuff, although I have read that they are the 1960's IH with less letters in the name.
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #15  
In my original reply, I tried to go the general direction I thought the question was leading....

Now, my OWN opinion.

I'm very much inclined to agree with the bigger AG tractor direction myself. (I still lean towards "utility type" AG tractors though) You get a lot more bang for your buck that way.

I've bought and re-sold several 50 to 80 HP tractors in recent years. I use them until they sell. When I find just what I'm looking for, I'll KEEP a good one. (I'm looking at 80+ HP with cab and low hours)

You'll find some nice 25 to 30 year old tractors for a reasonable dollar, that are still good every day workers. A good 60 HP 2WD Diesel will do darn near anything a NEW smaller tractor will do, and at a LOT LESS MONEY. (For the needs you specify) They can be had for prices under $7500 (some brands.... Don't go looking for a Deere at that price. They'll still command $10,000 to $12,000 for that size. More as they get "newer")

Dozens of good models to choose from too.

(In MOST cases, you can buy the same tractor WITH A LOADER, but expect to pay $3000 to $5000 more for it.)
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor?
  • Thread Starter
#16  
Some new interesting data:

Our two tracts of land are over 100 miles from one another. I found out recently that my cousin will have access to a Ford 3600 and a 55 HP JD. My cousin owns half of this property. I however own the 80 acres by myself and still want a tractor that will handle it.

Now I will only be planting a max of 3 acres of corn per year in the spring. I let it stand until late Feb or March.

In the the fall I plant wheat, oats and rye. The total here would be more like 4-5 acres.

As a result I have MUCH less to worry about. Now this property does have a real good hill on it and areas of the dry creek crossings and hill need to be filled due to some washout.

I still think I need something in the 35-40 HP range with an FEL and 4WD because of hill and creek FEL work.

I am going to the camp this weekend and I am going to see what the dealers have to say.
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #17  
I know I'm sounding like a broken record here, but my situation is similar to yours. I've got 250 acres, mostly woods with a few small fields that I'll eventually make into food plots. A good many woods roads to maintain.

For me the Kubota L4400 4wd has been perfect but I have not done any ground engaging work yet. I'm sure a larger tractor is better for that sort of thing but the 4400 has 45 hp with 40 at the PTO. However, for my woods and roads a larger tractor would be a little cumbersome. It is more than your budget, mine was about $18,500 with the FEL. The 4400 is basic gear drive. Simple, easy to operate.

As for the FEL. Just get one. You will do things with it that you never thought of before and you won't be able to live without it once you've had it for more than a few days.

Sorry to be constantly beating the drum for the 4400, but it has just met my needs so well. I'll certainly have to see how it plows, etc., but I have an idea it will be fine for my minor ground engaging needs.
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #18  
the 520 acres is 20 miles east of Brookhaven.

Is this parcel at the Lawrence/Lincoln county line, south of Hwy 84? Sounds like this place to me but maybe not...
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor?
  • Thread Starter
#19  
Yeah it's near there. I am actually a few miles outside Monticello off of 84.

You got a place near there?
 
   / Deer Camp Tractor? #20  
Lived in Monticello most of my younger years. I have a house in NewHebron and land near there out in the county. Been living in Monroe for about six years trying to take care of property here as well as there.
I'm not for sure, but I believe the owner of the place I have in mind was Basil Burns about 20-30 years ago. Had a nice lake right off Hwy 84, and a pretty place. I remember the place was sold but didn't know who had it and I've been gone from there a long time. May not be your spot, but if so I like the area.
 

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