New acreage owner

[TripleR]

Thanks for all of the above!
I'm told our bales are about 1500 pounds. Thinking about using bale forks / spears on front.

Our driveway is about 900 feet long, curved, sloping uphill and rutty gravel (so far).
Wondering about front blade versus rear blade? Or snowblower? We live in northern Alberta so the snow is as real here as anywhere I guess.

I drove tractors 30 years ago on a summer farm-hand job (when I was considering vet school). So yeah, pretty new to them!

Lots to consider then, HST, hydraulic shuttle shift, synchro shuttle shift, how many remotes, type of tires, third function for FEL, HP, size, CUT v UT and so on.

The JD5000 Series are nice tractors, but so are the JD4000 not to mention the Kioi, Kubota, NH, MF lines; decisions, decisions.

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks for all of the above!
I'm told our bales are about 1500 pounds. Thinking about using bale forks / spears on front.

Our driveway is about 900 feet long, curved, sloping uphill and rutty gravel (so far).
Wondering about front blade versus rear blade? Or snowblower? We live in northern Alberta so the snow is as real here as anywhere I guess.

I drove tractors 30 years ago on a summer farm-hand job (when I was considering vet school). So yeah, pretty new to them!

Settle on hardware for Round Bales first. If the Round Bales are 1,500 pounds, some years they will be 2,000 pounds, 2,100 pounds after a rain.

Front Bales Spears weigh 150 pounds, SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) mechanisim to attach Bale Spears to your FEL weigh another 150 pounds.

This totals to 2,400 pounds, then an extra 10% for real life lifting ability of the FEL at three years of age, so you need an FEL lift capacity of 2,640 pounds.

Generally speaking, 2,640 FEL lift capacity will come with tractors having about 70-horsepower (+/-).

Perhaps 2,000 pounds lift capacity/ 50-horsepower would do, but it is easier on the tractor components to have a little more power/capacity than a little less.

At times you will want to stack Round Bales two to three high in storage, two high on a trailer.

Now consider additional needs.

 

[murphy1244]

Settle on hardware for Round Bales first. If the Round Bales are 1,500 pounds, some years they will be 2,000 pounds, 2,100 pounds after a rain.

Front Bales Spears weight 150 pounds, SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) mechanisim to attach Bale Spears to your FEL weight another 150 pounds.

So this totals to 2,400 pounds, then an extra 10% for real life lifting ability of the FEL at three years of age, so you need an FEL lift capacity of 2,640 pounds.

Generally speaking, 2,640 FEL lift capacity will come at tractors with about 70-horsepower.

Now you can consider additional needs.

Kioti DK-40 will handle 2700lbs of lift.

 

[jeff9366]

Kioti DK-40 will handle 2700lbs of lift.

Right there, Murph--------as usual.

This is a compliment.

 

[murphy1244]

Right there, Murph--------as usual.

Nice edit job.
Look it up, Kl 401............

Loader type: Kioti KL401

Height (to pin): 107.8 inches [273 cm]

Dump clearance: 105.5 inches [267 cm]

Dump reach: 79.9 inches [202 cm]

Dump angle: 16.1

Reach at ground: 73 inches [185 cm]

Rollback angle: 3,727

Breakout force (at pin): 2,761 lbs [1252 kg]

Lift to full height (at pin): 2,761 lbs.

Bucket width: 72 inches [182 cm

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate & welcome to TBN from Downunder.

You've certainly sparked a quick discussion on lifting capacities of FEL bale spikes vs. the weight of a typical round bale.

All that I know is that I don't have a problem moving or stacking round bales with my 41hp tractor with FEL bale spikes. My bales are kept dry in my shed as Tassie does get a fair bit of rain.

If you settle on a green tractor, the 5000 Series should do you just fine. Take an experienced neighbour with you to the dealership (any of them) & discuss your options with the salesman is my further advice.

Enjoy the site!

 

[murphy1244]

1st off what dealers in a area do you have? willing to go 50,100 or more miles away? Figure what chores you need done. write down your specs, and go 1 size bigger cause Tractors seem to shrink when you get them Home.

 

[Redneck in training]

1st off what dealers in a area do you have? willing to go 50,100 or more miles away? Figure what chores you need done. write down your specs, and go 1 size bigger cause Tractors seem to shrink when you get them Home.

Exactly.