loader capabilities

Can anyone give an idea of the size of tractor w/loader that can lift a pallet (1 ton) of weight. I unload wood pellets by hand and am looking for a tractor that could handle this????

Find another source for the pellets as a tractor with loader with that kind of capacity should weigh around 5000 for the tractor alone then the wt of a loader is probably around 2000. It sounds like you are not very familiar with tractors and loaders or you wouldnt be asking. Maybe you should find another way to get your pellets.

Good point Gene, but never talk anyone out of an excuse to get a tractor

Even with the tractor you specified a counter weight on the rear might be needed.

you would have more stability and put the weight on the rear axle instead of the front axle if you used a 3pt hitch forklift. it takes a lot of tractor (and loader) to carry a ton on a front loader.

we use an old forklift to load and unload skids of salt on asphalt and a skidsteer on dirt

used fork lift would be your best choice, a lot cheaper than buying a loader tractor. heres one on e bay for 3200 buy it now.
used fork lift

I have two loaders and unload 20 ton of wood pellets, and 14 ton of 1 ton hay pallets each year. I bought a Reconditioned Forklift from Northern tool & Equipment. In my mine it is still a tractor, not red BUT...

Unless you're dealing with nasty terrain too, I third vote on the fork lift. Actually, that one glennster just linked would probably go over about anything you'd want to navigate at that. Forklifts are made to get into tighter areas than a tractor too: though it blocks your view, that mast instead of the loader arms makes it narrower, and shorter, also the counter weight is built in, keeping it short, finally they turn by pivoting the rear end around the front.

On the other hand, if you need some veratility as well or just need the excuse to by a tractor [and this being the Farmall forum] : An H [or anything larger or newer - I've even seen a F-20 rigged up, but that's a bit spooky] with a Farmhand will do fine, but if you're not used to those things you won't like how that front end handles; wide front and power steering you'd like, but would sacrifice turn radius - not to mention $$$.

If $$$ aren't the issue and you like new, there's the new "Farmall" line. On paper something like their 40 would get you there, but to lift a ton, your really out of the compact line anyway; a 55 would do. I rather wish the Farmall name would have been reserved for something truely innovative rather than than a utility line mirroring NH, but it is kind of neat to see new tractors on the lots sporting the name.