Don't even know where to start. New tractor for 85 acre property

[rademamj1]

Regarding your comment on fencing, using augers or drivers? Post hole augers are the type of 3pt implement that looks so useful before you buy them, then after using them you realize there has to be a better way. They are best suited for sandy soil. Any rocky soil or very high clay areas become very difficult, and results in you spending a lot of your time on auger recovery. They just get stuck, and even 3pt cannot pull them out.

You can purchase gas powered drivers, which drive the typical metal Tposts down two feet in depth at 12 to 15 posts per hour. Very reliable and much safer than a 3pt post hole auger. They also cost less than any 3pt auger. This would be my recommendation.

Titan Post Drivers PGD3875 4 Inch Barrel 1.3 Horsepower 4 Stroke Gas Powered Fence Post Hole Digger Post Driver Pole Pounder: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[rScotty]

rScotty, ton of great info in there! You are 110% correct on this Ford being a keeper. It was obvious the first time I turned the key and it started right up that this thing had been maintained. Within the first week I had the operator and repair manuals ordered and changed the oil and filter and air filters. Hydraulics all seem to be working great, but changing that fluid is on my todo list. Even though I can tell it's been maintained well the previous owner passed away and the daughter I purchased it and the property from had no idea about the maintenance schedule. Previous owner kept it parked in one of the out buildings on this property and I'm parking it in the same place so it's not out in the rain.

For the new "chore" tractor as you put it, I'm kind of leaning towards New Holland. No real reason other than already having the Ford so I have one service department to go to for parts for either tractor. NH dealer is about 45mins from me in one direction and all the other dealers are 60-90mins in the other 3 directions. As I said in my response to mred2 though, I'm not ruling anything out until I test drive it since this will be the tractor the most time is spent in.

All that is great news. I'd find the name of the guy who owned it just for sentiment. BTW, I looked it up on tractorData.com and found out that your Ford model was Nebraska Tested! That means there is a lot of info available for free. Back then, Ford made their own tractors. The difference in the quality from then to now is substantial.

Here is a test for determining what kind of chore tractor to get. Just ignore price entirely; assume they are all the same*. Now what is the most important thing to you? Color? Reliability? Resale? Comfort? Style? Dealership?

*They are all about same price because if you keep a tractor for ten or twenty years, maintain the records and don't beat it up too badly, it will bring used very close to what it cost new. The more expensive models actually tend to do better used than the cheaper ones. So it's like anything else toolwise, if you can afford to buy the best without financing - or just really prefer to take a longer financial view - then you can use it AND recover the investment.

If I were to go looking for a chore tractor for myself tomorrow it would probably be gently used, from a homeowner or dealer - but not from a farmer or rental. Have less than 250 hours or 15 years old, be pre-emissions or at least pre-2014, be 4wd & Pwr Steering in the 30 to 40 hp range. With any luck it would have an FEL, an independent PTO, remote hydraulics, a four-post canopy, and industrial tread tires without fill.
With even more luck it would most probably be a Kubota with shuttle shift.
If I got incredibly lucky it might even be a real Kubota TLB.

So you can see I put reliability, simplicity, and comfort at the head of my list. For such a machine I'd be looking to pay what the person was asking. Probably about 10 to 15% less than original price. I save half that by not paying new tractor sales tax.

If you see something you like - say at the NH dealer - your first next step is to go down to the TBN forum here for that brand and do a search on the model to see what people have said about it. Most tractors models are an ever-evolving series of similiar machines. A typical model run is 5 to 10 years - the more popular a tractor, the longer the model run. BTW, the "year" of a tractor is the year it was first sold, not the year it was made. The serial number will tell you when it was made. See TractorData.com again. After being manufactured, tractor s are warehoused until sold - like any industrial tool.

Moss Road is right on the free programs. Take advantage. Yes, Post hole drills sound great but are a hassle and dangerous - except in the perfect soil, where they are the answer. I used mine for a month and haven't put it back on for 20 years. I use the various FEL attachments to the SSQA at least every week.
enjoy,
rScotty

 

[Doug62]

Bought a Massey Ferguson 1835MH a few weeks back and am very satisfied thus far. It has everything I wanted for about the same size property. I went with a cab model to get the AC since it can hit the 90 degree mark about 5-6 months out of the year here in coastal SC. I went with HST and a FEL. Adding the 3rd function valve to the front at the 50 hour service so I can run a grapple from the control stick.

So far so good but I'm just beginning to use it. It sits on some property I have near the coastline about 45 minutes away. This next week I have some time off to move some dirt and have hundreds of yards to move so it will get a good workout soon enough.

 

[John Skull]

Over the long term, and given the length of your driveway, I think you'd be happier with a "large frame" Compact tractor. The Deere 3039R would be a mid frame, and the 4044M would be a large frame. There is a big difference weight, clearance and TRACTION. I would be looking at a 40hp to 50hp Kubota, Kioti, Yanmar or John Deere.

• Kubota - Gold Standard
• Yanmar - Gold Standard II (has the gold wheels to prove it)
• John Deere - Green Standard
• New Holland - Bronze Medal
• Massey Ferguson - Your Fathers Oldsmobile
• Kioti - Up and Comer 1
• LS - Up and Comer 2
• Mahindra - Committed to Success/Needs to improve quality
• TYM - In the game but sloppy
• Branson - Will be swallowed up by TYM
• McCormick - Dead man walking
• Any Chinese Brands - Non starters

THis is a great list and commentary :thumbsup:
Seems no one has disagreed with it here yet...

 

[ericm979]

TYM bought Branson's parent company Kukje about 5 years ago but they are keeping Branson as a separate line. The new models have some significant improvements over my three year old 3725. So far the only commonality between the Branson and TYM lines is one 19hp SCUT that's sold as both a TYM and a Branson (with a Yanmar engine) and some TYM models that have Kujke engines. That's likely the reason TYM bought Kukje, to get an engine of their own. Kukje obtained the rights to the Cummins A series many years ago. Their current engines are based on those, with a number of improvements.

Of course if OP doesn't have a Branson dealer in his area it's moot for him, but I wanted to correct the "TYM will swallow Branson" thing.

I have been happy with my 3725. A Kubota would have been nice but the equivalent is a Grand L60 or MX series and those would have cost a lot more... an L4060 would have been around $8k more not counting the backhoe.

 

[MossRoad]

...
Now that the background is out of the way here's what I have in mind and looking to do:
1. Field maintenance - disc, rake, bail, etc. Some fields will be clover or mix of some kind for deer food plots and some may eventually be hay for a couple cows.
2. Land clearing - brush hogging, tree removal, leveling, etc
3. Fence posts - auger or driver not sure yet
4. Driveway maintenance - house is at the end of a half mile private road. Hauling and spreading stone, digging new drainage, and then upkeep.
5. Snow removal - see above
6. Timber work - House is heated by an outdoor wood burner. Figuring ~12 cords a year I'll need. Will be skidding trees to flat land next to wood shed for cutting, splitting, and stacking.

#1 will be done with the 6600. It has 70hp and is what's been used for all this in the past. If it's not broke why fix it?...

A larger PowerTrac articulated machine like the 1430 or 1445 would take care of 2 through 6 very well.

Power Trac Products

So might a Bobcat Toolcat.

Toolcat Utility Work Machines - Bobcat Company

 

[airbiscuit]

TYM recently bought out Branson (who bailed on Century and Montana [who bailed on Farmtrac] tractor brands).

I'm not saying they both go away. I'm just wondering if the mother ship (TYM) will keep 2 brands, 2 manufacturing facilities, 2 sets of overhead, etc. I don't think it will happen tomorrow, but I could see the following take place ...

Year
5......,,,,,,,,,,TYM and Branson
6 single brand TYM/Branson
7.................... TYM/Branson
8..................... TYM/Branson
9......................... TYM

Granted, this is pure speculation on my part, but this scenario is not so different from other companies being bought out. One would think that if this did happen, they would combine the best of both brands and continue parts support. I have seen company logos /brands follow that same path. If Branson (or TYM for that matter) are serious about their futures, they will amp up their parts availability, online parts look ups, etc. and get more dealers like Dave's Tractor.

Branson owners seem to like their tractors and that's cool. That said, there will be some irony if Branson becomes an orphan tractor after they made other brands orphans. I'm just saying that corporations do what corporations do.

 

[mred2]

airbiscuit, I think you are mostly right on your time line. There has been more than one large company that purchase another for their product line. I believe Hitachi purchased Euclid for their large Trucks. First few years the Euclid name stayed on the side of the trucks. First the paint on the trucks changed. And now Hitachi is on the side of the trucks. Parts for the trucks are not purchased thru the same channels as Hitachi heavy equipment. But just a matter of time, why would you keep both channels.

I see shortly that TYM dealers will also start to sell Branson and their parts. Same with Branson selling TYM. Why have two sets of dealers? They want and need all the dealer support they can get in a lot of the country.

 

[ericm979]

It's interesting that the people who claim that TYM will kill Branson just keep pushing back the time line. When TYM bought Kukje it was supposed to happen right away. It's been five years and it's still supposed to happen soon. How many years will it take before it's clear that it's not happening?

I'll admit that with what I know from the outside (which is not much!), if I was running TYM I'd have probably folded the two brands. I'd sell TYMs with Kukje engines as Bransons in the US and Europe since Branson has more brand awareness in those markets. Of course being Korean companies, we in the US know even less than we would about US companies. For all we know there's some domestic reason to keep the brands and manufacturing separate. Until they tell us, none of us know why TYM is keeping Branson separate and working to grow the brand. I can only go on the evidence. With new models and major new features in existing models it seems unlikely that Branson's going away soon.

 

[mred2]

Interesting note about Branson. I drove by two different LS dealers yesterday. Both are now also selling Bransons. Not sure why, they had a lot of both on their yards.

 

[Dadnatron]

I moved onto an 85ac project farm 4 years ago and have built it from the ground up. My place has more open space/fields, so there is a difference.

I purchased an off lease horse Racetrack 480hr JD5100e.

Things I have learned.

Buy bigger than you think you will need, because you are wrong.
Don’t get caught up in HP. The frame size and weight mean as much or more.
4WD is a must
FEL with dedicated 3rd function valve for front end Implements is a must. I use this more than towing.
Cab is worth the cost on a (larger frame) tractor. Preference not necessity.

Go to your ‘local’ racetrack and ask when their tractors will be returned off lease. They are probably the most gently used tractor you will find. Find out where they are going and do some research on price.

Take a look at the 5 series JDs. They might be too heavy, but If I could go back, I would have purchased a 120hp+ 6 series. I was naively focused on HP, which was wrong, wrong, wrong!

 

[Gee Ray]

I find it interesting that you keep talking about 40-50 hp tractors for this farm. He has the big Ford for the heavy work. It has a FEL so if he ever gets to making hay he will be OK but not ideal. I would go for a smaller tractor to do the easy stuff with. I own a Kubota L2501. Big enough to go pick up firewood. Small enough to go into the woods. A grapple and a finish mower would pretty much cover everything. Even A JD 1025 would let the work in the woods get done pretty easily. I still have a New Holland TL80A cab 4x4 that does not get used much anymore because the L2501 does all but the heaviest of the work.

I think with a new farm and the related start up cost the L2501 with ag,R1, tires loaded, FEL, with a grapple and 1 remote for a hydraulic top link second remote for a hydraulic tilt would be nice. If he is able to finance it through Kubota and buy their insurance he would have a solid safe working tractor at a lower price with good resale if it is ever needed.

If the front snow blower is required then drop the size down to the big B series for the mid mount PTO shaft to run the blower.

I think that the forward facing rear blower would be the way to go due to budget concerns.

I know most say bigger is better but the farm came with a good big tractor.

 

[oosik]

I bought my Kubota M6040 brand new in 2009. I tried real hard to think of any projects where I might use & justify the expense of a backhoe attachment. The only thing I could think of - digging holes for new trees. I saved $9000 not buying that particular attachment. I've since spent that and more on attachments that are used frequently.

Just saying........

 

[Luke82]

The search continues. I've still been spending a lot of time on internet research of different models, but I haven't made it out to a dealership yet to look in person at anything. First stop should be Friday though at the New Holland dealer. Have to pick up a tie rod end for the Ford so I'll take a walk around the lot while I'm there. Not too sure how the tie rod broke as I wasn't doing anything extreme with it. Was just driving with an empty bucket after I got done leveling an area for a she-shed. Oh well, cheap part and easy fix. I know it won't be the last with a 40 year old tractor. It's been a great machine so far.

I think I've narrowed down my search a little by only looking at cab tractor's. It won't be the best in the woods, but for all the snowblowing and plowing I'll be doing in the winter with this half mile long driveway I decided that I definitely want a cab.

 

[rScotty]

Well, you sound like you are beginning to get a picture of the tractor you want to get. Sure, if this was your first tractor I'd say go open station. But it isn't, so if you want to try a cab - why not? We have both open and cabbed here, and it's impossible to explain the difference. But it's not just about weather comfort. There's ventilation, and noise, and dust to consider, and you don't just jump on and off a cabbed tractor like you do an open station. Cabs are all glass and rather small. You may want AC even though you never considered it on a tractor before. Speaking of small cabs, there is a wide range of cab size. some seem much larger than others. You know you do need to scoot up or move around to get an eyeball on some tricky loader jobs so the cab ought to accomodate some amount of that even if it does mean bending a bit.

Here are some things I'd add if buying new today: Transmission wise I'd probably go for either the Kubota HST+ or similar dual speed rear axle HST tranny. HST+ with 6 speeds - half of them fingertip - is hard to beat. But I don't mean for that to limit you to Kubota. Just saying that if that was available I'd look at it. And if it wasn't available in a model that had everything else I wanted then I'd go for a powershift/shuttle shift. They are nice, too.

HP... I like the comfort of a larger framed tractor. To me they ride better. The older I get, the less bouncing I enjoy. 50/60 hp seems to be the dividing line between large compacts and the smallest of the large frame machines. I think that with 85 acres you ought to have a loader able to lift at least a ton to full height and be stable doing it. Not that you will be doing much moving, not with that much weight up there. And with 85 acres you have some longish roads to travel with a load in the bucket. Get the "comfort ride" loader bucket option. It's a damping system that keeps the bucket from bouncing as you travel. Worth it, and usually adds about a grand to the loader price. While I was at it, I'd have it plumbed for front hydraulic just in case I ever wanted to mount a grapple. And the SSQA skid steer style quick attach has been handy for me when I swap out the manure, rock, and dirt buckets.

You already said you'll want 4WD. There was a time when 4WD meant more maintenance, but if used reasonably they now seem pretty bulletproof. 4WD will get you out of more situations than it will get you into.

On tires, you probably already know what works in you own soil. My preference is for wide tires rather than aggressive tread, and to set the tires out farther for stability rather than load them with fluid, but opinions on that differ and for good reason.

Oh... almost forgot.... from now on every tractor I own is going to have a Grammer air-suspended seat if I can affort it. Not a copy; the real thing. Yes, I've been spoiled.

Just discovered the other day that our cabbed tractor has enough space on the left side to fit a padded plank between the seat and window support so that my wife can ride along.... That's enough fun that we wonder why they all aren't that way. Maybe they are and I never noticed. I'm going to make her a real buddy seat one of these days.

Have fun with the search. And when you do buy it, you may want to note right on the purchase agreement who is responsible for hauling if any warranty work is needed. Might even discuss what about a loaner if warranty work starts to drag. We noted those things on the purchase agreement and it saved a friendship with a good dealer.

best of luck,
rScotty

 

[Luke82]

@rScotty,

The third function for the loader is a definite. I've used a grapple for years on a NH skid steer helping around my father's farm and it's one of those implements that will be top on the list for my tractor. I can't even begin to describe how much use we've got out of it. 100x better than a bucket when doing any woods work IMO.

Interesting that you mentioned the "instructor seat". I've seen that listed as an option of several of the models I've been looking at, but hadn't thought of mounting my own if the one I get doesn't have one. I've got a 4 year old that will probably spend all day outside with me if I have a safe spot for him to sit with me.

 

[oosik]

Both my tractors have been open station. I do very little that raises dust. In the winter when I plow my mile long gravel driveway - Eddie Bauer down is far less expensive than a cab. I've driven my neighbors cabbed tractors - helping with spring/fall wheat farming. I can truthfully say - I don't like a cabbed tractor. It's a really rough ride in a glass enclosed hot house with a freezing breeze blowing on me. It's OK during harvest in that it does keep the dust out.

Just a personal preference........

Kubota M6040 - Land Pride SGC 1560 grapple, RimGuard loaded rear tires & Rhino 950 eight foot rear blade - - 10,100#.


View attachment 673746View attachment 673747View attachment 673748

 

[fruitcakesa]

As a counterpoint to oosik, both of my tractors have been cabbed and would only consider an OS if I was not doing any cold weather work;
snowplowing and logging being the primary uses that I need a tractor for.

 

[Luke82]

Both my tractors have been open station.

As a counterpoint to oosik, both of my tractors have been cabbed and would only consider an OS if I was not doing any cold weather work;
snowplowing and logging being the primary uses that I need a tractor for.

oosik, that's a nice tractor! And you're right, it's a personal preference thing. I've used both and have enjoyed both. Helping my father during hay season he'd drive around in the cabbed M5 running the round baler while I drove the open station JD 5 series grabbing the bales and loading the trailer. When we'd stop for lunch he would still be dry and cool, but I'd be drenched in sweat from sitting in the sun. I enjoyed it though. Winter time though when we were skidding logs to the firewood processor or taking hay to the cows it was almost always that cabbed Kubota that got used.

 

[airbiscuit]

I haven't owned a tractor with a cab. I do think I would like it if it was reallly hot outside or dusty. I really don't recall being uncomfortable on my tractor. I like the feel of the open air. When it's cold, I dress for it, and remain comfortable - even in sub-zero temperatures.

I'm not out in 90+ temperature or dust. If I was, I'd want a cab.