Is a TN75 Enough?

mundamanu · Feb 20, 2009

Hello all,

My farm is expanding and I am pretty quickly outgrowing my TC-40A. I am starting to look at bigger tractors that will better suit my current and future needs. There is a FWD TN75 with a loader coming into the dealership that sounds like it might be a good fit, but I thought I might run it by you all to get your advice.

Basically, the farm operation might increase in scale to where I am making round bales of dry hay and baleage (if possible -- can you run a wrapper with a TN75?) on fifty to seventy-five acres, doing thirty acres of corn and thirty acres of pig pasture (primarily red clover or alfalfa). I would also need to transport a wagon carrying at least a 500 gallon tank up and down moderate hills. Can a FWD TN75 do all of that without being overtaxed, or do I need to look for something bigger?

Thanks,
Bob

Robert_in_NY · Feb 20, 2009

The TN75 whould be fine for what you are wanting to do. I use a TN65 and do the buld of my farm work with that tractor. I did 40 acres of corn last year and the TN did all the plowing, discing and planting. I also bale hay and use my TN to run a 9' discbine and NH 575 square baler with kicker wagons. I have baled on hills before and if the wagon is getting full I just slow down to a more suitable gear while going down hill.

500 gallons of water isn't too much and as long as you use your head and keep the TN in the proper gear on the hills you will be fine. I pull 400 gallons with a Ford 1920 and have never felt like the weight was too much for that size tractor to handle and I know the TN will handle it easily on my farm.

As for the wrapper I do not know their hp requirements and have never used one but I can't think they use that much hp so you should be fine. Check the manufacturers sites and see what they call for.

jimg · Feb 20, 2009

It would depend some on what size implements you were planning to use. The pulling part it should do easily.

AndyMA · Feb 20, 2009

I have a 2120, significient step up from a TC40 and a TN75D. The TN is much more tractor than the 2120 and will do the tasks you want easily.

Andy

RickB · Feb 20, 2009

A TN75 will not like a steady diet of moving 4x5 silage bales with the loader. 4x4 silage bales will be OK with proper rear ballast. I would not buy SuperSteer for this intended use. A TN75 won't run a 10' disc mower conditioner comfortably, if you intend to mow hay with one. A TN75 will operate a trailing bale wrapper well, a mounted bale wrapper less ably depending on bale size.

mundamanu · Feb 23, 2009

I come here so infrequently these days that I forgot I asked you all this question, so sorry for the late response. Thank you.

RickB, I am surprised about the baleage. I would have thought the TN75 would be fine for that.

RickB · Feb 23, 2009

It is all about the bale weight. You start lifting and carrying a bale weighing close to a ton which is centered better than 36" in front of the loader boom QA pivot pins, it will be a handful. Especially stacking them, or loading them 2 high on a trailer. A 4X4 bale will likely be fine, as it will be substantially lighter, and centered closer to the loader.

mojoinco · Feb 27, 2009

Get enough gears (I don't know the current spec on the TN). I don't have experience with baling, but understand that you want a fair amount of steady speed. I can see with my TN55 having only the 8 speed box that would be a lot harder than the 12, 16, etc.

An advantage of what Rick said about not having the Supersteer is that the loader arms are shorter, giving a shorter distance for the bucket and load (presumably higher cap).

But: do you need a simpler tractor for the larger work such that an older and larger 2 wd unit would work for the field work, leaving you the TC40 for a yard tractor? Just a thought.