Starting to turn blue - Thinking TC40D

lhfarm · Mar 24, 2005

I've been reading posts here and shopping Kubota, JD and NH dealers the past couple of weeks. I'll be moving from a 1964 Ford 4000 w/ FEL - about a 45hp tractor. We have 54 acres of woods and pasture. I already own a full range of implements, about one of everything except a BH.

The first dealer wanted to sell me a 12x12 w/ R1s. I think I want R4s and HST. While not mowing lawn, I do tend to spend time in the yard, moving things to/from the deer-fenced garden and hauling/splitting wood at the wood pile.

Q1. How much traction am I giving up with R4s? My work is mixed field (mostly mowing), some plow/seed bed and woods (hilly) work.

As stated above, my work is mixed and there are some building projects in the plans too. I THINK I want the HST. I still have my jeeps if I want to shift gears.

Q2. Is there some work where you don't like your HST or that gears just do better?

Beyond the FEL and BH I know I want at least one set of remotes

Q3. What else would add? Wheel weights or fluid? Other accessories?

Thanks,
Barry

hazmat · Mar 24, 2005

Answer 1:

You are giving up some traction with the R4s, but will have better Loader performance (the R4s tend to have higher weight capacity & thus "squish" less).

See if you can get your dealer to drop one off at your place as a demo. Maybe offer to pay a rental charge - refundable upon purchase of course...

Answer 2:

If you were plowing days on end, the gear drivetrain is probably better suited for that. Under prolonged, heavy, pulling strain, the HST may overheat. That said, I can't remember anyone here ever having a problem with an overheating HST. The HST is very convenient for loader work & for tight areas (woods). Farmers choose gear drive because they are more economical - cheaper to buy & more efficient (fuel use).

Answer 3:

If you aren't mowing a "lawn" with it, I'd load the rear tires. Do a search on "Rim Guard" or "Beet juice". It is non-corrosive & is denser than CaCl.

Other Accessories:
Block Heater
Quick Attach on the Loader Bucket
Toothbar

Edit Here:

A little "tractor ****" for you: Dad on his TC40DA click here

GATC35 · Mar 24, 2005

Well Hazmat covered everything well. My only two cents worth would be go ahead and get the second remote now, heck even go for the third. It will be allot cheaper to do it now. You never know when you may want to go with a top and tilt.

I have a TC-35D Hyrdo 4x4 with R-4 tires 16 LA FEL and 757-C BH. I love my set up. I drive across the yard all the time moving firewood with no problems.

Go for it !

lhfarm · Mar 24, 2005

Hazmat - Thanks. Your response is very helpful.

GATC35 - To be honest, I'd love to go for it, but I don't think I have ever spent this much on a car or truck and we paid about 1/2 the going price for our first house! I'm still a half dozen years from retirement, so figure I should do something while I still have positive cash flow.

I'm working with a couple of dealers. One 20 miles away and the other 60. Naturally, the one 60 miles is giving me the better price. There is one 36 miles away that I guess I should try too.

Thanks for listening,
Barry

djradz · Mar 24, 2005

If you're not doing significant plowing, disking, etc, I think you'll be OK with the R4s, but beware, in loose applications such as these, or if in plowing snow, you are giving up significant traction. If you have hopes of pulling anything more than a 2-bottom plow, beware. The R4s do tend to load up in mud and can slip much more easily in other conditions. They are excellent otherwise, such as for mowing a field and for overall non-field type work, that's why they're so popular. Working in a woods, if you're in loose ground, again, you'll give up some traction, but not nearly as much as with field work. You may want to get the tires loaded with RimGuard, if you're still concerned. For loader work, no comparision, the R4s can't be beat.

The hydro whould be just fine for everything you've described. Just make sure to get a model with cruise (like the TC-DA series) if you're going to be mowing for extended periods.

Roto · Mar 24, 2005

I would shoot for the TC45da if you can afford it. I would go with R4. I think they are the best all around. I plow snow with my R4 and have no problems and no chains. On lawns they dont mark it up as bad as the r1's and they are a stiffer tire then the others and I would think if you had a back hoe you would want the R4 for sure since there is a lot of weight on back end. Other option you could get would be a canopy like in my pic. around $450 and maybe a rear work light.

Mike

jinman · Mar 24, 2005

If I had it to do all over again, I'd go with R1s instead of my R4s. I don't mow with my tractor and try to stay off the lawn even with R4s. The R4s are okay, but in any muddy condition, they load up pretty bad. It's a hard choice when you've never had either. The R4s look big and bad, but in the mud, they are just largely bad. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Otherwise, they are okay, but as Duane pointed out, they aren't for plowing either. For a wide variety of jobs they are okay, but darn, I'd love to try some R1s out just so I could see what I'm missing. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PineRidge · Mar 24, 2005

Barry I'm thinking that you would be very pleased with a TC-40D. I use mine to do a lot of things around here and in the past 2 years that I've had it don't ever remember wishing that I had more HP to do the same jobs. Gotta warn you ahead of time though you'll always be wanting to add something new to it to make the work go quicker and easier. If you need some suggestions click on my signature link, there's lots of reading material there to make you start thinking.

lhfarm · Mar 25, 2005

Jim - I run R1s on my current 2WD heavy tractor. I need chains to make it up my drive in the winter. I'm hoping that 4WD will overcome any traction loss. I'm repairing some lawn this spring damaged this winter by simply driving across it. For years, I mowed with a Cub Lo-Boy. I switched from truf to R1s every winter, but ended up needing chains for snow plowing. I finally just put the chains on the truf tires and that that seemed to work just as well. The R1s are just sitting in a corner. Guess what I am trying to say is never having run R4s, I think I really want to try them.

Mike - What a wonderful and useful site. You already have me thinking.

Barry