I'm pretty close to getting a TC30. Before I buy one I have a few questions for previous owners. Will the FEL be strong enough to lift a bucket full of wet manure or gravel ? Also I'm looking to get a finishing mower for my 5 acres of grass. Would a 6' be too big. Any preferences of a RFM over a MMM. I have a small ride on to do the tight areas around the house. Also I would rather use a ballast and or rear wheel weights rather than filling the tires reason being I could detach the ballast and leave the tractor light for mowing purposes.
TC30 questions
- Thread starter JerseyRay
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Dreamin_Tractors
Silver Member
I have a TC30 with a Woods RD7200, which is a 6' rear finish mower. I have a 3 acre field that I mow. The TC30 handles it just fine, but in the spring I only get to mowing about once a month and the grass can be 2' high, in which case I do go slow and do not get the same quality cut as I would if I was able to mow on a more consistent basis. Have not used a mid mount mower, so I can't comment on that, but I do like the fact that it is quick to remove the mower from the 3-pt. I also have the Woods 1009 loader, which has a little more lift than the NH loader. It will carry a full load of wet dirt, but it does seem to have to work at it, and you definately need rear ballast. I always leave a box blade on the back, when I am doing loader work. I do not have my tires filled, and have not had any issues with weight or traction, as long as I have my boxblade on. I really like the tractor, good luck
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DaryleD
Silver Member
Jerseyray,
I also have a TC30 with a woods 72" rear discharge mower. I mow mine as well as my mothers lawn. It is awesome. It distributes the grass more evenly than a side discharge mower, and not only comes off more easily than a MMM, but I think it is quite a bit cheaper. The New Holland 7308 loader has enough power to lift what you're talking about. I have dug into a full bucket of clay/ledge mix and it was hard to lift. It did pick it up though, but I almost flipped the tractor with loaded tires due to driving down an uneven driveway. I wouldn't want it to lift any more just due to safety. I will ashure you that you will love it if you get it. I have been surprised at how much work that my little TC30 will do. It is the best bang for the buck in my opinion of any tractor that you can buy. I would suggest unless you have a small property,to buy the most horsepower you can afford, just because alot of people I have talked to ( including myself ) wish that they had a bigger, more powerfull tractor to run PTO attachments that take more Horsepower, and to give more loader lift to get things done faster etc. If it is not in your budget to go bigger than don't worry because you will still have a pretty kick-but tractor with the TC30. Let us know what you decide.
Daryle.
I also have a TC30 with a woods 72" rear discharge mower. I mow mine as well as my mothers lawn. It is awesome. It distributes the grass more evenly than a side discharge mower, and not only comes off more easily than a MMM, but I think it is quite a bit cheaper. The New Holland 7308 loader has enough power to lift what you're talking about. I have dug into a full bucket of clay/ledge mix and it was hard to lift. It did pick it up though, but I almost flipped the tractor with loaded tires due to driving down an uneven driveway. I wouldn't want it to lift any more just due to safety. I will ashure you that you will love it if you get it. I have been surprised at how much work that my little TC30 will do. It is the best bang for the buck in my opinion of any tractor that you can buy. I would suggest unless you have a small property,to buy the most horsepower you can afford, just because alot of people I have talked to ( including myself ) wish that they had a bigger, more powerfull tractor to run PTO attachments that take more Horsepower, and to give more loader lift to get things done faster etc. If it is not in your budget to go bigger than don't worry because you will still have a pretty kick-but tractor with the TC30. Let us know what you decide.
Daryle.
Ryno1
Silver Member
I have the TC30 with MMM. It is more work to take off or install then the RMF, however for my use the RMF would not work. In the fall I use it along with a Trac Vac for leaf removal. I will also occassionally mow a five acre orchard and use the grass clipping and leaves in a compost pile. The 7308 loader does fine. As for a backhoe to dig stumps, man you will be digging forever. I have a Brushhog backhoe and it takes awhile to dig up a stump. Most of mine are oak and hickory, so pine maybe easier. If I had as many stumps as your talking about, I'd try something besides the bh. A small bh is fine if your just digging a dozen stumps but if your talking hundreds or thousands, well it can be done if you have the time. You will like the TC30 Terry
hockeyhead
Gold Member
I also have a TC-30, 4wd ,7308 FEL, loaded R4's, I believe the loader is rated at 1195lb. It has done plenty of both gravel and manure work and moved big rocks. A bucket FULL of rock is a lot of weight. I have had so much weight in the bucket that even with the loaded tires and a BB on the back the rear of the tractor it was bouncing to much as I moved forward, but it did lift it. Switched to a 60" tiller on the rear improved this some.
It will easily run a 6' RFM, I have a 6' RFM, A 5" rotary cutter, a 5' tiller and a PHD, and the 6' RFM puts no strain at all on the tractor.
I wish I would have gone to 7'.
I know nothing about the MMM
I have over 300 hours on mine, bought the spring of '03 and I have had no problems or issues
It will easily run a 6' RFM, I have a 6' RFM, A 5" rotary cutter, a 5' tiller and a PHD, and the 6' RFM puts no strain at all on the tractor.
I wish I would have gone to 7'.
I know nothing about the MMM
I have over 300 hours on mine, bought the spring of '03 and I have had no problems or issues
Ray, the 6ft is the way to go. I've started looking myself, and for just a couple hundred more, the 6 seems like a deal. The TC30 will handle a 6ft with ease. True, I don't have one yet, but I do have a 5ft tiller. I let the tiller cut as deep as it could this spring, like 7 inches, and the tractor did not skip a beat. It gives plenty of power to the pto. If you are going to put R4 tires on her, go ahead and load the tires. You will have the added balance when using that loader, and those tires are not going to hurt the grass. I just started mowing a yard with mine which is equipped with ag tires. It doen't leave a mark. The tractor is light, yet my tires are not loaded. However, with the less aggressive bite of the R4, the little extra weight from the loaded tire will not hurt anything. My brother has the TC33 with loaded R4 tires. We also mow a good bit with it. His tires do not make a mark while cutting the grass.
mschuck
Member
I've got a TC30 with a 7803 loader and filled R4s.
I don't have any experience with a mmm but I did ask the dealer about it and he said don't bother, it's to much trouble to get it on and off. I suppose if you don't need the clearance and you don't mind having it on you could leave it on all the time. For me that's not an option, I expect to use my tractor out in the woods skiding logs and mowing brush.
I've had mine for about 3 months now (~40hrs) and I moved probably 30 yards of wet, clay/dirt with my TC30 with no problem. The loader didn't have a problem lifting a heaped load (0.41 yds according to spec sheet. ) once I got the hang of lifting as I entered the pile. With a heaped load I just had to keep the load low and move slow to keep the tractor stable. I've also had great success moving gravel and drain rock.
I don't have a finish mower, yet, so I can't comment on the power for a finish mower but I do have a 5' Landpride rotary cutter and the TC30 handles it fine going through some think stuff, so I'd imagine it could handle a 6' finish mower.
As long as the grass is reasonablely dry my filled R4's haven't hurt my grass. I do more dammage by making a tight turn in 4x4 mode, so I avoid doing that. I live in Oregon so the ground can get pretty wet so I'll probably stay off grass in the winter time but so far this spring I haven't had a problem. Ballast for loader work is a definate must, I wouldn't do anything but the simplest tasks without adiquate ballast. The thing I like about having it in the tires (wether it's filled tires or wheel wieghts) is you can always add more by putting an impliment on the 3pt.
If you expect wet conditions, at all, or if you have any slopes make sure and get 4 wheel drive, you'll need it. From my own experiences and what I've read here I don't see why anybody would go for 2 wheel drive unless money was a real issue and they had flat dry land.
I'm really happy with my TC30.
I don't have any experience with a mmm but I did ask the dealer about it and he said don't bother, it's to much trouble to get it on and off. I suppose if you don't need the clearance and you don't mind having it on you could leave it on all the time. For me that's not an option, I expect to use my tractor out in the woods skiding logs and mowing brush.
I've had mine for about 3 months now (~40hrs) and I moved probably 30 yards of wet, clay/dirt with my TC30 with no problem. The loader didn't have a problem lifting a heaped load (0.41 yds according to spec sheet. ) once I got the hang of lifting as I entered the pile. With a heaped load I just had to keep the load low and move slow to keep the tractor stable. I've also had great success moving gravel and drain rock.
I don't have a finish mower, yet, so I can't comment on the power for a finish mower but I do have a 5' Landpride rotary cutter and the TC30 handles it fine going through some think stuff, so I'd imagine it could handle a 6' finish mower.
As long as the grass is reasonablely dry my filled R4's haven't hurt my grass. I do more dammage by making a tight turn in 4x4 mode, so I avoid doing that. I live in Oregon so the ground can get pretty wet so I'll probably stay off grass in the winter time but so far this spring I haven't had a problem. Ballast for loader work is a definate must, I wouldn't do anything but the simplest tasks without adiquate ballast. The thing I like about having it in the tires (wether it's filled tires or wheel wieghts) is you can always add more by putting an impliment on the 3pt.
If you expect wet conditions, at all, or if you have any slopes make sure and get 4 wheel drive, you'll need it. From my own experiences and what I've read here I don't see why anybody would go for 2 wheel drive unless money was a real issue and they had flat dry land.
I'm really happy with my TC30.
VAChesterfield
Bronze Member
I have a TC 30 9x3 with loaded R4 tires and a Rhino FEL with toothbar. I purchased the rig new in Jun 2004 and just broke 300 hours. We have three horses on 10 acres in central VA, and the TC 30 has done everything I have needed it to do from clearing away small trees and brush to moving around the manure to moving round bales to cutting grass and brush with the rough cut mower.
I routinely move full buckets of damp manure or gravel and the tractor handles it without a problem. With a FEL I suggest you stick with the loaded tires. Dropping rear ballast, but keeping that FEL hanging out front, even when it's empty, is asking for trouble. As others have pointed out, rear ballest is criticial when using the FEL to move heavy loads. I have used my rig to mow my lawn w/o damaging it, but it does leave temporary marks in the grass. Also, if you are going to do a lot of loader work I strongly suggest a toothbar. It makes a world of difference.
My rough cut mower is 5 foot, but I am sure the the tractor would handle a 6 footer. I went with 5 foot because I mow the brush between the trees around the house, and the 5 footer is easy for me to maneuver around.
The tractor is very reliable and routine maintenance is easy to handle yourself without taking it to the dealer.
I routinely move full buckets of damp manure or gravel and the tractor handles it without a problem. With a FEL I suggest you stick with the loaded tires. Dropping rear ballast, but keeping that FEL hanging out front, even when it's empty, is asking for trouble. As others have pointed out, rear ballest is criticial when using the FEL to move heavy loads. I have used my rig to mow my lawn w/o damaging it, but it does leave temporary marks in the grass. Also, if you are going to do a lot of loader work I strongly suggest a toothbar. It makes a world of difference.
My rough cut mower is 5 foot, but I am sure the the tractor would handle a 6 footer. I went with 5 foot because I mow the brush between the trees around the house, and the 5 footer is easy for me to maneuver around.
The tractor is very reliable and routine maintenance is easy to handle yourself without taking it to the dealer.
biker128pedal
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2006
- Messages
- 75
- Location
- Middle Peninsula Virginia
- Tractor
- Kubota B7610 and JD LT155
How do you like the 3x9 and the Rhino loader? If I can get something less costly then the NH loader then I can go with a 30 hp tractor instead of a 24 hp. Did you mount it your self?
On the transmission. I am looking at both manual and hydrostatic. Any wish for hydrostatic when using the FEL or mowing. I have tried both and if the shift is smooth the clutch is not so bad.
Mike
On the transmission. I am looking at both manual and hydrostatic. Any wish for hydrostatic when using the FEL or mowing. I have tried both and if the shift is smooth the clutch is not so bad.
Mike
VAChesterfield
Bronze Member
Mike, I love my rig. It does everything I need it to do. Would I like to have more horsepower, a hydro tranny, and the NH loader -- you bet. However, since I can't afford such a rig, I purchased the TC 30, 9x3, with Rhino FEL, and I have never regretted it.
I spent most of the day today mowing the brush around the house, with lots of back and forth to maneuver around the trees. The standard tranny did just fine. I have lots of hours moving dirt, gravel, and manure with the FEL, and again, the standard tranny works just fine.
I did not mount the FEL myself, the dealer did, and they also installed the toothbar (which is a very worthwhile investment). I purchased my TC 30 from Tar Heel Tractor in NC (you can find them on e-Bay), and I saved about $2000 - my local dealers did not care to dicker much.
I spent most of the day today mowing the brush around the house, with lots of back and forth to maneuver around the trees. The standard tranny did just fine. I have lots of hours moving dirt, gravel, and manure with the FEL, and again, the standard tranny works just fine.
I did not mount the FEL myself, the dealer did, and they also installed the toothbar (which is a very worthwhile investment). I purchased my TC 30 from Tar Heel Tractor in NC (you can find them on e-Bay), and I saved about $2000 - my local dealers did not care to dicker much.