What size do I need??

[thesmackdown]

Hi all,

Just purchased a place over the summer. 40 acres. Pretty flat except the front hill and driveway, of course. Half is cropland and half is woods. We are switching to pastures for the cropland.

Things I plan on doing:

Firewood (dragging logs and hauling cut pieces)
Animals (cows, chickens and pigs)
Grading the driveway
Bushhogging

Trying to figure out what else I might need it for.

I don't want to underbuy but I also don't want to overbuy.

Suggestions?

 

[Yoitslo2]

Hi all,

Just purchased a place over the summer. 40 acres. Pretty flat except the front hill and driveway, of course. Half is cropland and half is woods. We are switching to pastures for the cropland.

Things I plan on doing:

Firewood (dragging logs and hauling cut pieces)
Animals (cows, chickens and pigs)
Grading the driveway
Bushhogging

Trying to figure out what else I might need it for.

I don't want to underbuy but I also don't want to overbuy.

Suggestions?

One probably in the 50 HP I'd think. But someone on here will defiantly know.

 

[bigbull338]

yes you need a 50 to 60hp tractor what what your wanting todo.an its best to get a 4x4 an a FEL.

 

[RPW]

50PTO (~55 Engine) would probably be a good match horsepower range. Front end Loader a must. Rotary cutter, box blade to start with. If you're buying new you can usually get a better deal on the total package buy including as many implements as you can afford. Best thing is to think of as many tasks that you will be doing in the next year and 5 years from now. Then which of those tasks will you do on a regular basis. That will give you an idea of what implements you'll need.

Good luck.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

40-60hp, look at every machine that you can in a comfortable driving distance. Set on them all, some may be comfortable for YOU and some may not be, try to get a feel for where all the controls are located. If you are going to depend on a dealer for service and whatnot, then check out the dealers also. If they answer questions promptly or if they even know the answers to your questions. Pretty much all the machines these days are pretty good, but the bigger names generally seem to have better dealers, of course there are always exceptions both ways. If you are going to buy new implements, it seems that it is generally a better deal to purchase them along with the tractor.

Check them out and get back to us with more questions. Remember more horse power usually gets the job done quicker, good luck.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I would go with a 60hp. John Deere 4520's are nice. :thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

Figure out how much time you have and the maximum Hp. required to run the size equipment you want to use.

 

[TripleR]

Can't really improve on the advice given so far; look at all the top brands in your area and you will find the one that fits you best.

What size/type hay bales will you be handling?

 

[Reg]

Hi all,

Just purchased a place over the summer. 40 acres. Pretty flat except the front hill and driveway, of course. Half is cropland and half is woods. We are switching to pastures for the cropland.

Things I plan on doing:

Firewood (dragging logs and hauling cut pieces)
Animals (cows, chickens and pigs)
Grading the driveway
Bushhogging

Trying to figure out what else I might need it for.

I don't want to underbuy but I also don't want to overbuy.

Suggestions?

"Need" ?
Probably Cat 1; possibly as small as 25 or 30 HP, even an oldie 8N

"Want" ?
Depends on your wallet.
Cat 2 would be NICER !!!
65 ~ 85 HP, though it would cut down on the amount of seat time you get (-:

There seems to be a high spot in pricing at the homeowner market, Cat 0 border Cat 1,
i.e. you start to get more tractor for same or sometimes slightly less money as you get above about 35 HP - at least it seems that way around New England.
It is even more obvious on attachments/implements

 

[thesmackdown]

Can't really improve on the advice given so far; look at all the top brands in your area and you will find the one that fits you best.

What size/type hay bales will you be handling?

I am guessing round bales.

 

[TripleR]

I am guessing round bales.

Then you are going to have to concentrate on loader and 3-point specs to make sure your tractor will handle them which will rule out your smaller tractors.

 

[flusher]

Hi all,

Just purchased a place over the summer. 40 acres. Pretty flat except the front hill and driveway, of course. Half is cropland and half is woods. We are switching to pastures for the cropland.

Things I plan on doing:

Firewood (dragging logs and hauling cut pieces)
Animals (cows, chickens and pigs)
Grading the driveway
Bushhogging

Trying to figure out what else I might need it for.

I don't want to underbuy but I also don't want to overbuy.

Suggestions?

Here's what I have for haying on my 10 acres of flat (formerly) pasture:

2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny, power steering) with the ML250 FEL (6-ft wide bucket, 2950 lb lift to 10.5 ft height).
For field mowing, I have a 6-ft Hawkline brush hog (aka bush hog, shredder, slasher). Something like this new would run about $18K. All of the tractor manufacturers have something equivalent.

Be sure to get chain hooks welded to the FEL bucket (you supply the hooks and your dealer welds them on free of charge)



and hydraulic remotes installed on the rear (and possibly front) of the tractor.



You might also think about getting a skid-steer-type quick attach unit for your FEL (cost is about $1000)



Since you'll be doing a lot of brush hogging, think about installing a protective screen on your ROPs to protect your backside.

[/ATTACH]

Mine is piece of expanded metal from Home Depot held onto the ROPS with hose clamps (don't weld or drill holes in the ROPS--it's a piece of safety equipment that could be weakened by welding and drilling).

Good luck

 

[jlsmith]

If you are going to be moving round bales i would go no less than a 40hp tractor. The MF 1540 would be a good tractor to look at. It bigg enough to move the bales and use 6' equipment. Good luck with your looking and like everyone said sit on the tractor and and choose the right one that fits you. Also it never hurts to get larger than you need, you never know when you might need the extra hp and what you may want to do in the following years.

 

[thesmackdown]

Also it never hurts to get larger than you need, you never know when you might need the extra hp and what you may want to do in the following years.

True. But, the point of this experiment is only to get what we need, not what we might need. That's why I am trying to think of all possible future uses.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

True. But, the point of this experiment is only to get what we need, not what we might need. That's why I am trying to think of all possible future uses.

If this is the case, then get two, everyone NEEDS multiple tractors, most people just don't know it.