Help me choose what I need, not what I want.

carpenter · Apr 11, 2019

I need/want a tractor loader to move stuff in pole barn and grade and manage snow on a farm building lot.
Located in Wisconsin near Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN. Most important is snow handling.

Thinking 50 to 70 HP cab tractor. I am 62 and will use it till I am too old or dead.
My budget is $5,000 to $25,000. In reality will only use about 50 hours a year.

I like nice stuff. Not afraid of old if in exceptional condition. I am most familiar with stuff like 4020 but
when a kid operated a 4030 with the first sound guard cab. Ability to run a snow blower a big plus.
I like stuff as modern as the 4030 but something smaller would probably be better. Something that with a little luck will need no repair in ten years.

Recommendations and do I need a bigger budget.

tomstractorsandtoys · Apr 11, 2019

A 4030 cab and quad range trans would be a good choice. Stay away from the Deere 2840-2940's and even the 2950's as they had hyd issues. They got better in each series but still not great after 40 years of wear. Do not buy a syncro tractor if you want a snow blower as the reverse gears are to fast and you will be riding the clutch. You could go newer like a 6300 or 6400 as they were good tractors with the 10 series being even better. Tom

DeltaRed · Apr 11, 2019

Check out an IH Hydro. Nothing better on a snowblower.Go as slow,or as fast as you want.Most people are scared of them.Absolutely nothing to worry about. The transmissions are very durable,cost no more(even cheaper) to OH than a JD powershift.I've owned 3 in my lifetime(Hydro100;1026;826) Still have the 826.

TJV · Apr 11, 2019

I'm with deltared on the IH hydro! nothing beats them for loader or snowblower, along with cutting and baling hay and many other jobs that don't require a heavy pull

Bruce from Can. · Apr 11, 2019

I had a Ford 5640 4 we dry clutch 16 speed sunroof trany with cab and loader, believe right around 66 hp. 22 bpm hydraulic pump, great tractor. These tractors were built in the early 1990?s and sell from $15-25,000.00 depending on condition.

2510Paul · Apr 11, 2019

Mr. Carpenter, have you thought about a Compact Tractor, JD, Kubota, etc. with hydrostatic transmission. I have a 3320 and it will do all you mentioned.

My brother and sister each have JD 4320's, the Compact Versions. They absolutely love them. I know those will do all you want.

If snow is the big driver at your age I suggest a cab. I'm 65 and putting a cab on my X585, my toes and fingers freeze real easy. I don't know why. The doctor believes I had frost bite when young. Very likely.

The bad news is not as many of the older Compacts had cabs. Today many do. The good news is the Compacts have been out long enough now that there are many nice used ones out there.

Just my thoughts. You should at least consider that route.

Paul

SVcummins · Apr 11, 2019

4030 or 4040 power shift . By the time you find someone smart enough to rebuild the red one if you can find someone it won?t be cheap . A remnan hydro is 9000$ with you doing the work . Both clutch planks reman for a 4040 is 6000$

caterpillar guy · Apr 11, 2019

Delta had merit though the cabs were junk on those old tractors of all brands till about 1975 or so. The Deere sound guard cab forced them all to make a cab of substance. Those old cozies and such were noisy.
With 5-25 will make for a lot of room. Though if you want to run blowers you need more horse. Like in the 70-100 or more. If you could get something with the front 3 pt it would open up a lot of options for the front mount blower. With easier on and off at end of season. Also would possibly have a front PTO to run it. Yup you can build all that. And at our age we are not getting any younger.

bumblebee · Apr 11, 2019

Have you given thought about a skid steer, I have one and love it, works well in tight places.

IowaJohn · Apr 11, 2019

Here's 1 to stay away from, jd 4430 quad in your price range but a-1 reverse is way too fast, I have 1.

Mike M · Apr 11, 2019

Sounds like your budget should get you something nice. I'd figure what sort of weight you need to lift and how high you need to lift and use that for a starting point.

tlock0331 · Apr 11, 2019

(quoted from post at 11:20:26 04/11/19) Have you given thought about a skid steer, I have one and love it, works well in tight places.

you got that right, other than farm work, my tractors dont do squat all year, however, the skid steer hardly sits still all year long. Wouldnt give it up for anything.

MSS3020 · Apr 11, 2019

with your budget you could do both if you take your time and look ... believe it or not i bought my skidloader case 1840 on ebay for 7000.. 12 years ago and my 3020 for 6500 over 20 years ago..

YOU HAVE 6500 left?!?!?!

I was asked one time which I could give up.. cant put up hay with skidloader and can/have moved snow with tractor so loader would go down the road first BUT I use skidloader ALL year...tractor sees summer hard work then sits..

Esp if you get skidloader with aux hyd you can add posthole digger, pounder, mowers etc etc..

rrlund · Apr 11, 2019

That's what I was gonna say,but didn't want to get too involved. A friend worked maintenance at a big potato outfit here and he said they had to use their Case tractors on the snow blower because the Deeres were too fast in reverse.

JayinNY · Apr 11, 2019

I think a Ford 5610 series II would fit your needs, 4wd or mfwa, cab and loader, there are still a few nice ones out there.

Donald in MN · Apr 11, 2019

i was thinking maybe an IH 186 hydro about 100 hp plus a fairly modern cab. you can get aftermarket steps and handrails to get in and out easier. they are hind of a rare tractor though and should be about the middle of your budget

grizz02 · Apr 11, 2019

new Holland tn 75, 75hp air heat 4x4 I've had this tractor 20 years very little trouble its a class 2

fusion · Apr 11, 2019

Why do you need a 50-75 hp
there are a lot of 30-40 hp tractor that would work great for what it looks like you are going to do with it.
do you have a Royal King near Rural King near you , they are selling tractor now.

JayinNY · Apr 11, 2019

Sad what NH has turned into, that tractor is one butt ugly looking tractor from how the fords looked,

Philip d · Apr 11, 2019

His tractor looks like it does because it has super steer and smaller wheels. He paid for it and loves so that?s all that matters.

JayinNY · Apr 11, 2019

Yes, if he's happy that's all that matters.

Traditional Farmer · Apr 11, 2019

I like their looks and the driver can actually see what is going on from the cab

DoubleR · Apr 11, 2019

With your budget you should be able to get something with a good cab with heat and air which would be my pryority. Allot of good choices out there. Get one that you can get parts and service on where you are located. For me it would be a Kubota, Deere, New Holland, or CIH. Allot of nice older tractors out there too as long as you can get the parts and service.

Traditional Farmer · Apr 12, 2019

I'd guess about 90% of the time when doing a job with a tractor when the owner wishes they had a different size tractor they wish they had a bigger machine not a smaller one.Get something big enough,small tractors are great if you have a big one to step in if needed.

Married2Allis · Apr 12, 2019

Wow $25k is a nice budget limit to have, lots of possibilities. Otherwise my all around good choice would be an IH 656 Hydro Utility with low hours and a 2250 quick attach loader for under $10k.

Leroy · Apr 12, 2019

A 70-75 horse tractor is not big enough to handle a snow blower around me. Need to double that figure for the blower. But then it would be too big for the other jobs. With that budjet 2 tractors is what he should be looking for. In my drive the neighbor with a 150+ horsepower tractor with front wheel asist I have seen it spinning all 4 wheels trying to push into a drift first time breaking thru and blower raised up.

ss55 · Apr 12, 2019

If you're not doing tillage, a hydrostatic transmission might be ideal for your needs. Or maybe go with two tractors: a small open station utility tractor with a quick-tach loader for yard jobs and a larger cab tractor for snow clearing?

In Deere row crop tractors, the PowerShift transmissions tend to have more reverse speeds and slower reverse speeds that are better suited for snow blowers than the manual transmissions do.

showcrop · Apr 12, 2019

Keep in mind that in your price range you can get a lot more bang for your buck in the larger tractors like you are thinking of. For every guy looking for something like them, there are a hundred looking for a FWD compact diesel or a 35-50 HP older one.

ajl · Apr 12, 2019

You do have a good size budget. Don't put a loader on a 2wd tractor. Make sure you get a 4 x 4 for loader work especially since you are in snow country. I use a NH 7635 4 x4 tractor with cab that I put an ezee on 2090 loader on and it has been a great tractor. Has about 5000 hours on now. A tractor like that would be within your budget. It is powerful and maneuverable at the same time.

jimmyjoe · Apr 13, 2019

57 HP kubota L5740 handles my 6 foot blower just fine.

Leroy · Apr 13, 2019

How hard does your snow crust over? Or does it stay powder? Here it will crust over hard enough to walk on top of the drifts that I have had 12' tall in my barn yard. Same height as top of corn crib setting next to drift. This was in Jan of 78. When that 150+ HP tractor was spinning out the drifts were about 3' deep andcrust hard enough to walk on. Powder snow big difference to handle than crusted snow that I get. In my drive you with your Kubota would have been out there busting up the crusted smow so the blower would just have cleared it after getting it loosened up enough to blow. Now a powder I can see your Kubota handling it.

Help me choose what I need, not what I want.

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