Comparison What do you look for when buying a tractor

steve24rdg · Mar 3, 2010

Hello to all
I am new to this site and farming in general.
I was just wondering out of interest what you look for when buying a tractor for your area of farming.
are there certain things you require if say you are a vegetable farmer that a dairy or ceral farmer does not need so much
im sure there are a million and one different things that are important for different tasks but if you dont mind taking the time id really like to know.
perhaps if there is enough interest in this topic we could make a poll of certain things.
Many thanks
Steve

ModMech · Mar 3, 2010

Steve,

<< Not an expert on this but.....

If you are performing "ground engaging" work, tilling, plow, disc like a traditional farm would do (field work) then 75HP with R1 tires and a gear transmission is what I would look for, and a HP rating of at least 100 HP if you are farming acerage.

If you are simply moving bales and towing wagons, then a smaller tractor would work ok as long at it's heavy enough to control the loads (5000# or more).

If you must operate in inclimate conditions, then a cab tractor would be on my want list as well.

steve24rdg · Mar 3, 2010

Interesting Thank you. Im in Europe. is 5000# in pounds, kilogrames or tonnes
does anyone have any other opinions?
any other areas that you might consider essential?
shuttle, power shift, auto diff lock, certain cab features that you could not do without?
I find it all interesting stuff
steve

dex3361 · Mar 3, 2010

Steve welcome to TBN. I would think that if you are operating in hilly terrain that 4WD (also referred to as Front Wheel Assist FWA in some circumstances) would be a need. Diff lock is a must (I have not seen auto diff lock though it may exist). Diesel engine is a better choice for longevity and fuel consumption. Power steering. Front End Loader (FEL) is another very useful attachment. Make sure to size the machine for the majority of the work you plan to perform and maybe go a size larger. This could be a very long list. If you post what you may be using your future machine for it may narrow it down a bit.

Coolnorth · Mar 3, 2010

Good day,

I am just starting to learn about farming (crops) and 2 years ago I purchased - as part of the project - a 1947 Massey Harris Model 20. As Modmech mentioned, a good, heavy tractor with R1 tires, power and gear transmission is essential for tilling, plowing and the like. My Massey weighs about 2750 pounds (1250Kg) and you cannot do the work you'd think you could. I plowed last year with a 2 furrow plow and it was all I could make that tractor do to get the 12" plows in the ground more than 6 inches (15cm) and turn the loamy sandy soil. I also have a 6 foot wide front plow blade (2 meter) and use it for snow removal. A fresh snowfall up to about 10 inches (25cm) is easy to push off the road, but it cannot move an old snowbank once the snowbank has settled for a bit, I have to work it away by taking small bites out of the snowbank. Again, weight and traction are key. Once you have those 2 factors, power is needed to complete the formula.

An enclosed cab would be an important thing for myself, with winter work at hand, but I will have to create a cab on my own for this tractor. At very least, I need to add a rollover protection system (ROPS) to mine with a solid canopy. I need this as I use my tractor to harvest firewood. I'm in uneven territory which makes driving more difficult, plus if I am skidding a log and run past a dead tree, I could feasibly knock that kind of thing down on myself if I'm not careful. Therefore the solid topped ROPS would be the most logical - easy to get out of the operator position, but adequate protection.

So many considerations and needs - Others will have much more info to share.

Graham

steve24rdg · Mar 3, 2010

Keep it coming please.
I dont really have a planned use for any machinery. I have a CASE 1694 that I am currently restoring. Sorting out the hydrashift was a task!
I ask the question solely out of interest. What makes one tractor more suitable than another? the answer must be its suitability to the task it is intended for. But what are the things that make one tractor suitable to say and crop farmer and not a dairy/cattle farmer. and what things might make you say I gotta have that one over another one.

steve24rdg · Mar 3, 2010

Graham
sounds like you have a mighty hard time with those old bits of kit. I bet its fun though. I used to have an old grey fergie just for messing about on and although it was great it really couldnt perform with todays standards.

jenkinsph · Mar 3, 2010

A dairy farmer will have multiple tractors for the various tasks at hand. Often farmers get into dairy operations to defray the costs of buying the equipment, at the end of 10 years they hope to have enough equipment to farm with.

This is a very broad subject you are broaching, I would read the threads to get some insight.

steve24rdg · Mar 3, 2010

It is indeed.
I am reading the posts.:thumbsup:

Coolnorth · Mar 3, 2010

Hi Steve,

Yes, the stuff is old, but I rebuilt all of it myself, except the MH disc, my Dad rebuilt that for me as a gift, which was pretty cool! The tractor was not running by any stretch, but as I have it working, it has been most useful, even for hayrides on the back roads.

If I could justify the purchase, I see that DEX3361 has hit some pretty good feature considerations even for me. FEL, 4wheel drive, enclosed cab. Generally, a larger machine would be the ticket for me.

Graham