Time to decide

[JerryK]

Yeah but now you have to wait for the tractor to show up. For me that was even worse.

sigh.... [ I have a new Colorado truck ordered, too... double sigh ]

 

[Navasot]

Could see how the cab and snow blower options could benifit greatly up north for sure. Also the heavier 3550 as well

 

[jmh1783]

That's good input from everyone. I had considered HST and I understand its advantages but I found myself liking the gear better. It is strange even to me as I never learned how to drive a stick car. It just felt good cruising around the dealers lots. The 2540 is probably adequate for my needs but I think its too light. The 2555 has all the features I want but more horsepower than I need. The 5545 is bigger than I need. If I had the option to pick and choose I'd take the 2555 frame with a 40 hp engine in it. It seems odd that the 2500 series has more than one frame size in it. I'm also RPM sensitive. I don't like these high RPM diesel engines. To me there is something wrong with that. I believe the Yanmars are rated up at 2800 RPM. To me that signals the engine doesn't have any torque. Right or wrong, that's how I feel. The 2650 RPM PTO speed of the 2540 annoys me. The 2555 is at 2300 and the 5545 is down at about 2100. Part of my standard test drive is tilling. Get the RPM up to PTO speed and put it in first gear low to see how it sounds and feels.

The 5545 is the direction I'm leaning. From all my reading, heavier does seem to be better. Looking carefully at the unit you can see where the weight is: added support, bigger pieces, thicker pieces. It will mean 7' implements which have a nasty jump in price over the 6' versions. Mower, tiller and box blade and rake for now. A plow for next winter. Maybe next year I might look at cultivator, disc and a cultipacker.

 

[jmh1783]

A cab would be nice. I did test out a 2538 with one. I did like it. One could get very spoiled with a cab. I immediately started thinking about mowing on those mid-summer days where its 90 with close to 100% humidity. On the other hand I've had the lovely experience of having a gust of wind blow the snow blower output right back at me. Unfortunately it is out of my reach financially. Too many other things need to be done to this new house and property.

 

[JerryK]

Sounds like you are getting your mind wrapped around what you want... [ remember to get your camera ready so you can post pictures when she arrives.... ]

 

[Uncle Hulka]

That's good input from everyone. I had considered HST and I understand its advantages but I found myself liking the gear better. It is strange even to me as I never learned how to drive a stick car. It just felt good cruising around the dealers lots. The 2540 is probably adequate for my needs but I think its too light. The 2555 has all the features I want but more horsepower than I need. The 5545 is bigger than I need. If I had the option to pick and choose I'd take the 2555 frame with a 40 hp engine in it. It seems odd that the 2500 series has more than one frame size in it. I'm also RPM sensitive. I don't like these high RPM diesel engines. To me there is something wrong with that. I believe the Yanmars are rated up at 2800 RPM. To me that signals the engine doesn't have any torque. Right or wrong, that's how I feel. The 2650 RPM PTO speed of the 2540 annoys me. The 2555 is at 2300 and the 5545 is down at about 2100. Part of my standard test drive is tilling. Get the RPM up to PTO speed and put it in first gear low to see how it sounds and feels.

The 5545 is the direction I'm leaning. From all my reading, heavier does seem to be better. Looking carefully at the unit you can see where the weight is: added support, bigger pieces, thicker pieces. It will mean 7' implements which have a nasty jump in price over the 6' versions. Mower, tiller and box blade and rake for now. A plow for next winter. Maybe next year I might look at cultivator, disc and a cultipacker.

If you don't need HST, you're saving yourself a good amount of greenbacks! That's money that could go towards implements, loading your tires, or right into your pocket. HST has its place, but it's not for everybody.

Take pictures, LOTS of pictures!

 

[Navasot]

A cab would be nice. I did test out a 2538 with one. I did like it. One could get very spoiled with a cab. I immediately started thinking about mowing on those mid-summer days where its 90 with close to 100% humidity. On the other hand I've had the lovely experience of having a gust of wind blow the snow blower output right back at me. Unfortunately it is out of my reach financially. Too many other things need to be done to this new house and property.

The 2538 Cab Is right with the same prices as the 2555.... Really like that model and was surprised how well and still simple the cab turned out

 

[jmh1783]

Uncle Hulka: I've considered going with the HST on the 2555. Since I don't need 55hp I wouldn't have any concerns over HST power loss. There is some appeal to HST. I also like the quieter engine of the 2555.

Navasot: The price on the 2538 cab does make it appealing. I still have some thinking to do.

I've seen a bunch of comments about R4s in snow. We don't get the kind of snow here that the east coast gets but we do get heavier snows occasionally. I intend to use the tractor for plowing. The driveway from the house to the road is gravel and about 450 feet and mostly level. The rest is about 600 feet and hilly which goes to the barn. Would the weight of the 2555 and 5545 be enough to keep them grounded? I've often wondered if the trouble people have with R4s isn't due to over inflation. I guess I'll find out but any thoughts on plowing snow?

 

[Uncle Hulka]

If you're going to plow with R4 tires, loaded tires and chains are your best friend. I wouldn't consider plowing without them even on a flat road.

 

[JerryK]

The main problem I have ever had with R4's is that they tend to like to slide sideways if you are on the right kind of side slope. My 5035 works just fine with the weight and R4's without chains. If you plan to park your tractor on a cement surface, some chains will tend to tear up the concrete. Some folks lay plywood down to park them inside with the chains. Some tractors do not have a lot of clearance between the fender and the rear tires, that has to be considered. Most chains don't work very good with R1 or R4 tires, with all the voids between the lugs. Chains, the big 3/8" link chains, are HEAVY.. hard to put on/take off. The best chains are the small diameter European type [ $$$ ] that usually have two chains that run radially around the tires with cross chains holding the spacing. Some have nasty carbide/hardened lugs, are are real hard on paved surfaces. Some folks ' sipe ' their R4 tires, grind lines in the solid lugs to give more traction [ do a search, lots of post on this ]. You can also stud some tires, but again, they are hard on pavement. If I was you, I'd get whatever tractor you want, then try it a winter or two before you worry about chains. Being a big tractor with four wheel drive, [ and hopefully big diameter tires ] you may be good to go without them. I take mine just about everywhere up here without chains and we get a lot of snow.

 

[oldpilgrim]

If you're going to plow with R4 tires, loaded tires and chains are your best friend. I wouldn't consider plowing without them even on a flat road.

I've been through two of the worst winters we've ever had and never once thought that the R4's were inadequate.

 

[Uncle Hulka]

I just went through an unusually mild winter (thank God). The R4s on my 2555 are loaded. The 3-pt mounted hydraulic pump/reservoir holds 30 gallons of hydraulic oil. Because of the horrible traction I had with my Deere 4300 R4s, and the night-and-day difference after I mounted tire chains on her, I bought tire chains for the 2555, but I did not have a chance to mount them.

As mentioned, going across slopes can be problematic as R4s will slide. Traction was not a problem, but I was blowing snow, not plowing it. Nowhere's near as much resistance. I experienced a bit of slippage that had I been plowing, might've become a problem.

All the points made about chains in general should absolutely be taken into consideration. As for me, I am of the opinion that chains are cheap insurance. But that's me. You could try it for a couple seasons without them as suggested, but if you get a large storm, that's a heck of a time to discover you need them. I would suggest paying a visit to tirechains.com (or similar site) and if you can afford chains, buy them. Don't install them and see how you do. If you have no problems with your typical winter snow, leave the chains on the shelf. I say leave them on the shelf because one winter, you will get the storm (or storms) that no one expected and you'll be glad you have them.

 

[jmh1783]

We dont get the kind of snow you get in Michigan or Connecticut. I've lived on the east coast and up near Minneapolis; nothing like that here. I've read about tire siping. Seems like a novel solution if it works and some do claim it does. I'll probably wait a winter and see how it goes. Maybe I should get turf tires for the winter.

Also a status update. After a long drawn out process I now have a firm move in date for my new property. By mid-July, I will be the proud owner of 16.5 acres. About a week later I'll get my tractor. Looking forward to it.

 

[JerryK]

If I ever have a need for chains again, I am going to look at some type of mesh cable strap on chains for as much as I would ever use them. Something easy to put on/take off. If your tractor is big enough, weighs enough, and has big enough diameter tires in the front/back... your need for chains goes down real quick. There are a million plow trucks up here in Northern Michigan, and I have never seen one need chains yet. My 5035 is so big/nasty that I just start it and the snow runs away as fast as it can......

 

[jmh1783]

Now that's the kind of tractor I want!

 

[dickfoster]

We dont get the kind of snow you get in Michigan or Connecticut. I've lived on the east coast and up near Minneapolis; nothing like that here. I've read about tire siping. Seems like a novel solution if it works and some do claim it does. I'll probably wait a winter and see how it goes. Maybe I should get turf tires for the winter.

Also a status update. After a long drawn out process I now have a firm move in date for my new property. By mid-July, I will be the proud owner of 16.5 acres. About a week later I'll get my tractor. Looking forward to it.

Man are you going to be busy. Trying to move in and unpack and deal with a new tractor all at the same time. We didn't even have pictures hung until about a month had passed, I couldn't get my truck into the garage until about six months after we moved in.

 

[jmh1783]

Oh don't I know it. I've moved a lot. My current home is the longest I've lived anywhere; 14 years. Hopefully they will be carrying me out of my new place.

 

[dickfoster]

I've been through two of the worst winters we've ever had and never once thought that the R4's were inadequate.

That's good to hear. I've been worried a bit about that.

 

[dickfoster]

Oh don't I know it. I've moved a lot. My current home is the longest I've lived anywhere; 14 years. Hopefully they will be carrying me out of my new place.

Oh joy, now you'll have lots of stuff to get rid of before you even get packed to move. The longer you've been in one spot the more junk you tend to collect. I was in my last one about 20 years and there was a lot of stuff to get rid of. Of course now I wish I had some of it but it just wasn't worth moving like my scrap metal pile that I was always reaching into to build something new. While some stuff that you swore you'd packed never showed up.

 

[JerryK]

I KNOW .... !!!! I have been selling stuff, giving it away, and junking stuff in my barn. Trying to make room for another new tractor and new truck .. IS HARD WORK...!!!! [ sorry, had to vent, hard to suffer in silence, waiting for the phone call... ]