Tractor Sizing The right size?

Anonymous Poster · Oct 22, 2001

I'm trying to figure out what size of tractor I need to buy. I've got 45 acres, 20% wooded, the rest open grassland. I plan on using a brush hog, auger, box blade initially with the possibility of baler later on. I've looked at smaller "utility" sized tractors (30-45hp) but I'm a little concerned it might be too small on the lower end, not to mention the cost of a bigger tractor (45-60hp) is cheaper. I'm not set on any particular brand, but I'm looking hard at IH and JD and am somewhat limited on $$. Any thoughts or advice?

ejb · Oct 22, 2001

I'd think you should be looking at the 5000 ten series (now called the 5000 twnety series I think?), i.e. 5210, 5310, 5410, 5510.

45 acres is a lot of grass to cut, you are probably going to want a wide rotary cutter. My recommendation would be something like the 5410 (or the 5420 if thats what it is called now). Plenty of horsepower, but still a manageable size. 5510 has a couple more options and 10 more HP if you think you'll need it. Not cheap, but if you take care of it you can amortize it across your lifetime (unlike a car which cost about the same and maybe lasts ten years)

Gatorboy · Oct 22, 2001

You will want at LEAST a 50 HP PTO tractor. With that much acreage to mow, you will want a 15' flexwing mower, and you will need the horses to run it.

If you are interested in a Kubota or not, this thread could be of use to you: <pre> ~ Purchase Grand L Ten or M Series? Need help... </pre>

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

Anonymous Poster · Oct 22, 2001

Thanks for the input....I failed to mention I was looking at buying used vs. new, don't know if that really changes your view much, but just thought I should throw it out there. My only cocerns were buying too big for what I needed and at the same time, too small for what I want to do.

Bird · Oct 22, 2001

When you mention a hay baler, that makes a difference. You'll find long discussions already on baling hay on the forum. Of course, I don't know whether you're talking about a square baler or round baler, but be careful of getting too small a tractor if you want it to pull a round baler

And whether you buy new or used makes no difference as to the size I'd recommend.

Bird

ejb · Oct 22, 2001

Dave..what did you pay for you 15' batwing mower? I have a 7 foot rotary cutter and it takes me darn close to 40 hours to cut my place...couldn't use the 15 foot everywhere, but it sure would cut down on the time in the wide-open areas...

Gatorboy · Oct 22, 2001

I think they are about $12K new. If you can find a used one, you may find one for $3-5K.

I am very surprised how easy I can manuver that puppy. Give me 15' 4" and I can get it through -- forward or backward.

I got mine, well, uh, for free. I just had to pay the shipping up here to Maryland from Florida. My father has a large mowing business and this was one of his many backup mowers that he let me have.

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

Chris_VA · Oct 23, 2001

If you are interested in used and of the size you are talking, you might be interested in some of the older second generation Deeres. Most are not FWA but do offer pretty cheap HP. Something like a 4020 powershift would be very nice. Do you need FWA? Will you be wanting a loader? I just recently purchased a 3010 at a pretty good deal.

Go to greenmagazineonline.com and search their classified if you are interested.

Chris

4400HST, Canopy, 72" Deck, 516 Cutter, 420 Loader, 6' Blade, Homemade Sprayer, Boom Blade

1958 JD 620 Restored

rf33 · Oct 23, 2001

I have a 5520 MFWD Deere and I just love it... Plenty of power. I just use an 8' Deere MX8 cutter, but I can move along pretty quick with it. If you plan to use a round baler, you would probably need to go with the smallest size baler you can find, and no smaller than a 65 PTO HP tractor. If you plan on doing any box blade work, I would definitely get MFWD. I use a 7' box blade, and an 8' disk, and I think that without having four wheel drive, I would really limit what I could do.

rf33

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Robert_in_NY · Oct 23, 2001

Any reason you went with an 8 foot disc? Your tractor can easily handle a 12 footer and have a few extra horses to pull a crumbler behind it. I pull a 10 footer with a TN 65 thru moderate clay and have no problems unless it is too wet then I just wait a few days.

Robert Turk Jr.
Whitetail Splendor Deer Farms
Silver Creek, NY