What would be a good tractor

firechief · Jan 29, 2012

I need to buy a tractor for general work around a smalll farmstead. Some things it needs to do or are: light loader work around the yard, push snow in drive way, back blade for drive way, possibly pull a 10" disc and rake and the ability to mount a 6" snowblower on the rear would be nice.

It is in ND so cold wather starting is an issue. A wide front would be preferable too.

Just wondering what used tractor(s), make, HP etc would fit the bill?

Thanks fot the help!!!
Brad

Animal · Jan 29, 2012

I have a little 2600 ford diesel that is checkers for everything you mentioned, it has a block heater on it and starts great in cold weather!

Anonymous-0 · Jan 29, 2012

A 2600 Ford sounds good until the 6ft. snowblower, that will light up three 2600s.

Straw Boss · Jan 29, 2012

A late model Case 430 or 470 Utility.
Can handle a loader just fine.
Hydrostatic power steering.
Independent PTO and 3 point hitch.
Diff lock.
Easy starting motors gas or diesel.
I'd go diesel as more cubes at 188.
Best of all, easy getting on and off.

Roy Ward · Jan 29, 2012

A 3000 or 4000 series Ford, Something around 40 HP. With a front loader you need one with a heavy front axle assy.

Ultradog MN · Jan 29, 2012

6' snowblower and 10' disc is pretty much going to rule out anything under 50 hp.
That is, if you like to get things done.
How deep are your pockets?
A Ford 4600 would be a very good choice. Probably in the $5500-$8500 range depending on the usual factors.

hoosierhog · Jan 29, 2012

Ford 4000, 4600, 4610, 5000

buickanddeere · Jan 29, 2012

Not a "N" series Ford.

toadady · Jan 29, 2012

(quoted from post at 00:28:49 01/30/12) Not a "N" series Ford.

blasphemy! how you dare to take the ferd N series in vain!! what with no power steering, no live power and having to turn the pto on to lift the rear links they are the perfect tractor if you don't really want to do anything

as fer my opionon, i like my 584 IH (50hp), my cousin has a 444 (40 hp) we both have loaders on them.

Ultradog MN · Jan 29, 2012

He probably wouldn't want anything without
Factory 3 point either.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 29, 2012

agreed ,, Ya' mite add 530-630-and the earlier 1957-300,58-400-500 , nice ,versatile ,simple, effecient

Brian G. NY · Jan 29, 2012

"they are the perfect tractor if you don't really want to do anything"

I ain't no fan of them little Fords but you can bet your a$$ some poor hardworkin' dirt farmers got a lot done back in the day!
I certainly agree that there are better choices today if you can afford them but don't be disrespectin' tractors that helped build this country; I assume long before you were a twinkle in your Daddy's eye!

VicS · Jan 29, 2012

I know this is a OLD tractor forum. That said. The price of older smaller tractors has slid around here Southern Il. The reason is my neighbors seem to be buying NEW little tractors. They can buy them on payments. 250 a month is easier to take than 5000 in one wad. Also a 6 ft tiller is better to work a garden or a deer plot. Two of my neighbors have bought Kubota's. My neighbor sells them and he says the 30 to 50 hp tractors are his hottest sellers. If you are not very mechanical might think about them. We have a compact 4320. JD . Vic

Bob Huntress · Jan 29, 2012

Probably your best bet would be something like an 8N,2N or 9N Ford. Those are probably the best things for a small farmstead. The small Ford N Series is a small utility tractor that is great for a small place. Because of their extremely popular history, parts for them are available anywhere, including TSC. I had one which was perfect for my place, and overall, they just can"t be beat.

2x4 · Jan 29, 2012

second this post. Always found 4600 would start good in cold weather and after sitting a long time.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 29, 2012

For implements a little smaller than you mentioned, A MF 135, 150, 230 or 245. Fords later than the 8N wouldn't be a bad choice either. The 8n isn't a bad tractor but you need a live PTO for a snowblower. If you want to run the implements you listed, an MF 165. 175, 255 or 265 would fit the bill. A lot depends on your budget. I'd say to get something that doesn't require a lot work, you need to look in the $5000+ range, especially if you want a decent loader on the tractor. Power steering is best with a loader but for occasional use manual steering is just fine. Most diesel's will start just fine if they're in good repair and plugged in.

donjr · Jan 29, 2012

I'm kind of predjudiced- 2020 or 2030 JD. But a 454, 404, 574 IH, or a 3-4000 series Ford sounds like what you're hunting for. They're all easy to get parts for, have live pto and hydralics for a snowthrower and all of them are pretty much bulletproof tractors. The IH's may give you a challange for parts, though.

davpal · Jan 30, 2012

Why not an N series ford? I just got done plowing out an entire farm yard with with no problem you arrogant moron. Yes you the opinionated idiot from canada. Go hand turn your flywheel on your deere and try to get it started and plow some snow with that you stupid @ss.

tomNE · Jan 30, 2012

I've got a 4600 ford. It will do everything you mentioned.

wilson ind · Jan 30, 2012

You need to watch some films of dead dismembered hobby farmers (using the term farmer loosely)if you think the N series is still a good choice. Why not just restore an old ford F SERIES WHICH WOULD TURN OVER BACKWARD Killimg many in the early years of tractor power.

Tech 7 · Jan 30, 2012

John Deere 1020 Gas with 48 John deere loader

oldtanker · Jan 30, 2012

If you are in east ND you may have to travel to find something in the size class that will do what you need. Most of the farms in that area are running 70 HP tractors and larger for "yard" tractors.

For ease of starting in the sub zero temps that ND normally sees I would go with gas and it may be a little easier to find something like a 706 IH or 730 Case or a 3020 JD if you are looking for something older. Don't see very much in MF, Ford or AC driving through ND.

Rick

MisterT · Jan 30, 2012

(quoted from post at 04:10:50 01/30/12) I know this is a OLD tractor forum. That said. The price of older smaller tractors has slid around here Southern Il. The reason is my neighbors seem to be buying NEW little tractors. They can buy them on payments. 250 a month is easier to take than 5000 in one wad. Also a 6 ft tiller is better to work a garden or a deer plot. Two of my neighbors have bought Kubota's. My neighbor sells them and he says the 30 to 50 hp tractors are his hottest sellers. If you are not very mechanical might think about them. We have a compact 4320. JD . Vic

I agree. If you want a tractor with 3 point, live hydraulics, independent PTO, and want it to be dependable without a lot of fussing, take a good, hard look at the Kubota's.

hoosierhog · Jan 30, 2012

The 2600 does not have the power or weight to run a 10ft disc or 6ft tiller also the 430/470 case and the 530 case is also to small. 630 and up be a better choice, 3000 ford has the hp but not the weight for a 10ft disc.
4000 series and up for the disc. Unless he got a smaller disc. The 2600 is a good tractor for about every thing else. I have s neighbor who uses a NAA for a 6ft snow blower

rrlund · Jan 30, 2012

What do you have a dealer for? That would be my first consideration.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 30, 2012

Hills or flat? Clay or sand? Longitude and latitude? Cation exchange? Temperature and barometric reading? Right or left?

Anonymous-0 · Jan 30, 2012

Just be sure you don't spend a dollar to save a dime. In your area there are likely lots of old gasoline mid-sized tractors.

A little tractor with a loader can be a useless toy, and dangerous as well. Some of the bigger midsized tractors are actually cheaper than the toys.

For example a 50 HP MF#65 probably costs less than a 30 HP MF#30.

By the time you travel a long distance, then haul back a tractor that is too small for the job...you would need to save a lot of gasoline to make it worthwhile.

I use a 70 HP for a lot of little jobs and it is agile enough to do the job and big enough to do it well.

firechief · Jan 30, 2012

Holy Smokes - I was shocked by the huge response - Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!

Well I certainly have my work cut out for me looking at all of these but all of this info is great and gives me a good direction.

Thanks again so much!

Brad

Rick Kr · Jan 31, 2012

Copied this from my other post a few days ago...

"I know some will dis-agree, even some believe if you drive an N series within 50 feet of a tree it will roll over on its operator. Some even claim to have seen it happen."

Clearly by some of the posts below, all tractors are safe minus a Ford N series. Just ask all the dismembered farmers.

What?? All tractors are dangerous in the hands of an non-educated operator.

To your original question, you never mentioned how much ground you have, a 50hp or so tractor would work, front wheel assist would be a bonus.

Ford 4630, 4830, IH other have mentioned, and the JD 2555, 2755, M60 or 70 series Kubota would be my choice.

Rick

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