Question for Tractor folks...

[DHayden]

I'm looking for a medium size tractor that will be for small ranch work. I'm looking for something easy to handle and do some landscaping, post hole digging and some brush hog work but also big enough to handle a square baler.

I have seen nothing but good things about Kubota and have seen writeups of them compared to deer's and MF's. Almost all have opted for the Kubota in the medium range. I'm thinking something like L39/L48 model. Is this enough tractor for baling? I haven't been on the ranch since I was a kid so thanks for the help.

I like the Massey's also but you know the old saying "if its red, leave it in the shed" :-laf :-laf

 

[CIverson]

I bought an L5030 last year, first tractor I've ever owned. Haven't had one problem with it and it has just been an all around great tractor.



I can't help you w/ the HP for bailing hay, but I've seen it talked about many times here: www.tractorbynet.com

 

[Bill Stockard]

I'm looking for a medium size tractor that will be for small ranch work. I'm looking for something easy to handle and do some landscaping, post hole digging and some brush hog work but also big enough to handle a square baler.

I recently bought a Kubota L3830, Glide Shift transmission, loader with quick-attach bucket and pallet forks, box scraper, 6' Bush Hog rotary cutter to do the same jobs you mentioned except to operate a square baler. I've been very pleased with my Kubota and not had a single problem with it in over 70 hours of operation. I have a 35 acre hay meadow and hire someone else mow, rake and bale the hay since I don't (& don't want) to own the necessary equipment.



I've been around tractors all my life and think you need a minimum 50 HP to properly operate a square baler. I've operated a square baler with a 60 HP tractor which handled the baler very well in large heavy windrows of sorghum/sudan hybrid hay.



Bill

 

[Dieselnut59]

I have a M9000 Kubota cab 4x4 tractor with quick-attatch loader and pallet forks. I have a post auger, box blade and 8' Bush Hog rotory cutter (mower).

A good friend of mine has 57 horse, 64 horse and 95 horse Kubotas. His 57 horse is what sold me on Kubota cab/loader/4x4 configuration. The M5700 will run a square baler well. He has even round-rolled with his, but it is quite a load on that tractor. The "M" series are excellent tractors. Get the shuttle shift FOR SURE! It is GREAT! You can change direction smoothly at PTO speeds and without clutching. Kubotas are well built and EXCELLENT quality.

 

[wolfman00hd]

I'll chime in here even though it may not apply. For a year or so, I had a small sub compact BX2200 Kubota w/loader and 60" belly mower for my 10 acre place. Just a few weeks ago, I traded it in on a L3400DT 4x4 Kubota w/loader, 6' shredder, p/h digger, etc. The only thing I don't do is bale hay but it will do everything I need it to and I'm sold on Kubota quality. I got a great deal on it and am pretty much sold on the Orange from now on unless something goes terribly wrong. I opted for the standard transmission, just my opinion that if something is going to break, it will be the most complicated/expensive thing to repair (hydro/shuttle shift/etc. ) Plus, I just like to row gears <grin> whether it be on my tractor, or my Ram.

 

[jkalchik]

I grew up baling hay in MI with a JD 3020. For a few years, the wagons were pulled with an IH 544 Hydro. Dad bought a JD 2640 and that saw baler duty, with the 3020 pulling wagons. BTW, Dad's first baler had a Wisconsin engine just to run the ejector.



How much power you'll need for baling depends on a couple of things. If you've pulling a wagon, add a few HP. If you're running an ejector, add more HP. The 50 HP IH 544 Hydro had enough trouble moving wagons, I wouldn't want to load something like that down with a baler and all of it's power requirements.



Having said all that, JD is just about gone back home at the farm. The only survivor is the 3020. Dad's using a new MF orchard tractor for spray duties, and my brother bought a Kubota M9000 loader tractor. Both of them are worlds ahead of what they replaced.

 

[CSnyder]

I jockey farm equipment but have never dealt on any Kubotas yet but Ive heard plenty of good about them and have been asked numerous times to locate one for a customer. I personally own a 471 Massey Ferguson with front wheel assist and quick tach loader that I bought new in 2003. Ive accumulated 300 hours since and have had NUMEROUS problems with it. Just a few majors... hydraulic pump shot apart, injector pump seized (was told it happened because I was running road fuel in it with additives), and the shuttle shift linkage broke in the transmission. Im gonna trade it for a Kubota before too long or maybe a Ford New Holland. Im looking at a Ford TN60 on Ebay now that I can buy for 18,000 bucks with 300 hours.