Used Tractors...opinions?

I'd like to use it for a variety of things. A few of them are:

Secondary tractor for cutting hay with a sicklebar mower (or in spots where a larger tractor might tear it up more). I'm not sure that it would have the oomph to pull a loaded hay wagon or run a baler behind it.

We are also thinking we could use the sicklebar for cutting broom corn (we are planting test plots this year and are considering planting maybe a half acre or so).

Maybe a belly mower for cutting grass in the orchard area. I'm still debating whether to plant so that I can do grazing (sheep?) in between the fruit trees (standard and semi dwarf sizes).

Definately would want to use it with a brush hog. 4 foot would be fine.

I'd like to use a 3 point auger/post hole digger on it for replacing fence posts. (I know I would need something beefier to do the perimeter of our property).

A lot of use would simply be hauling a trailer with beehives/honey supers/woodenware/supplies to support the beeyard. There's also hauling wagons of walnuts in the fall. I'd also be using the trailer to haul cut wood, etc.

A front loader attachment would be nice.

Some light box scraper work grooming the drive.

I'm sure I'll think of other things. Basically, a relatively inexpensive utility tractor for someone that has around 50 acres. I'm not doing large scale row crops. We are doing some small plots of specialty corn, sunflowers, etc.

This tractor is to get us by until we can afford something better (unless we find it suits us, who knows) probably 2 maybe 3 years. We are trying to do this cash and not take on any debt (which is why we are taking this route at all).

Thanks again for the replies.

Mike

Mike ,

I just talked to my DH ,
he says the jubilee over the 8N
and it would easily do what you want , even use a 7 foot haybine over a cutterbar...He did caution that if you want to attatch a front end loader , please then make sure you choose a tractor with a wide front end as opposed to tricycle, down side to that, around here those are running around 6500.he says if you found one in fair condition with a wide front at 2500 jump on it!you can afford to rebuild it if need be
a local dealer who corners the market on 8N,9N and jubilees ,by out bidding at all the local farm auctions , takes them back to the yard , cheap coat of paint , and resells them around 4500. trust me he loses no money ...teh yuppies crawl out of the walls to by them from him ....to mow their two acre yards .. and then pays him next season to rebuild them when they need new motors ....

now on another matter .. pesonally i wont auger another fence post hole ,ever Its worth every penny to hire someone to come and pound the posts for you .. sans that if you are going to put in hundreds of posts I would look into purchasaing a pounder( another source of income...we typically charge 2.50 a post if layed out , and 3 a post if we have to lay them out , our pounder payed for itself the first year ) .. DH says for that make sure that tractor you purchace has hydraulics .. not all of them do...

Paula
NE Ohio

Thanks for the detailed reply Paula. I'm not planning on using the tractor to put in lots of fence posts. That would be mainly for when I just need to do 1 or 2 at a time. For example, I want to put in 2 8 inch gate posts to hang a couple of farm gates. Not enough work for someone to come out but not going to be fun to do it by hand. I may rent one of those small 1 man jobbies (but boy do you keep on vibrating after you are done) for this. Use a smaller auger and then open it up a bit.

For larger numbers of posts I'd probably contract out (I'll keep you guys in mind). I have a feeling I'm going to have to do it one pasture at a time based on budget constraints.

I'd only get it with a wide front end tractor. Our property isn't flat row crop type land. Rolling hills would be more like it. I haven't seen any Jubilees as cheap as $2500. I figure that kind of price would be without any attachements. I think I'm going to have to haunt some of the auctions <G> and focus on the tractor sales.

It seems like a lot of farmers in Stark County, Medina County and surrounding areas are selling out.

Mike

Gary,

Good point. Perhaps I wasn't as clear as I might have been as to the priorities. Before listing them I just want to point out that I do have some flexibility as to needs as several neighbors have offered the use of their tractors for specific projects. So while a front loader would be nice to have I can always borrow a tractor with one for a specific project (just not as convenient). I'm looking for a machine that will get me by without taking on more debt but enables me to improve cash flow by getting certain things done.

1) Making Hay! After last summers experience with rain and no one having a chance to cut their own hay I want to be able to help get a jump on this. Included in this need would be cutting, pulling a haybine and/or fluffer. I'm not expecting to be able to pull a baler and wagon (although it's nice to think about it).

2) Cutting broom corn for making wreaths, etc. This would be sickle bar mowing again. These aren't large stands (I can't see us doing more than an acre if that).

3) Pulling wagons with beehives (full or empty) honey supers, etc. Also wagonloads of black walnuts or hickory nuts in the hull. Miscellaneous hauling (wood, etc).

4) maintaining the drive and access paths on the property. These are pretty much your standard 10 foot wide gravel. So back blade type work. Nothing particularly heavy.

5) mowing grass or brush hogging (belly mower or brush hog on the 3 pt).

6) digging miscellaneous post holes (1 or 2 at a time kind of thing)

7) Front loader is a nice to have but not needed at this point.

Bottom line is that I am looking for something that will get me through the next few years until cash flow from the farm improves as we increase production on various fronts. I'm probably not in a position to spend more than $4,000 at this point. It will also allow me to have "time in the seat" before going out and purchasing something more expensive.

I'm sure there are things I'm leaving out.

Mike

Mike,

I have a 1956 Ford 850

I bought a 5' bushog for it and it's a bit much. After it runs a while it tends to get a little hot and the hydraulics start sagging a little (might be the 48 year old seals? ) I don't think it would handle a loader too well but I would defer to someone who's tried it.

I've not used a sickle bar mower with it but I assume it would be capable

I think if I was shopping I'd look for a little more HP for the things you're doing.

I mostly do brushog work, Driveway scraping and some light stump pulling with mine. I wouldn't go out of my way to get another one if something were to go wrong with this one but it's not bad for me. As someone mentioned all parts are available.

For your use I think I'd want something a little bigger