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QUESTION:We are thinking of buying another tractor. As it is now, we have one
tractor that we move hay with. It's the only one with a loader. Our farms
are 5 miles apart, so we spend a fair amount of time in the winter
travelling back and forth. I don't know what the costs are in fuel and wear
and tear on the tractor, but I'm sure it's enough to be significant.
When hubby thinks tractor, he thinks row-crop, and thus many $$$$. I'm
thinking that maybe we can buy a smaller tractor just for the jobs I
typically do, thus saving lots of money. Hubby is the type who will just
ask the salesman if a certain tractor can do a certain job. I like to know
what I'm looking for before I start looking.
How do I figure out how much tractor to buy? I would need to move two round
bales at a time (bales weigh 1500 pounds each). I'd have to have a loader
for manure loading. It would be nice if I could mow with it also, but our
bush hog is 15 feet. If that alone would push up the amount of power
needed, I can live without it. The bush hog also has a different PTO speed
than anything else we have. I know I have to change the spline thingys when
I hook it up. I don't know if utility tractors typically come with the type
of PTO you can change. I bet I will have to leave the mowing to the
4430....oh well.
ANSWER: The big issue is hauling two bales. You need a pretty heavy tractor
to handle that much off center weight. A better solution would be
to get a bale trailer you can pull behind the pickup. Some are self-
loading and unloading, so you don't need a tractor available to handle
bales (though you could pull the trailer with a small utility tractor if
you prefer).
Handling a 15 foot bush hog requires a pretty stout tractor too.
Not only do you have a lot of weight hanging from the 3 pt hitch
when you lift it (which will tend to raise the front end of the tractor),
but you also need a good amount of power to spin it. Most of the
small (40 to 60 hp) utility tractors are pretty well matched to a 6
to 8 foot bush hog. A 15 footer is simply too large for a small
tractor.
A smaller tractor can work well with a loader, though. It'll take
smaller bites, but it will be lots more maneuverable. Even better,
though, would be a skid steer (aka Bobcat).
With your situation, I'd be tempted to get a bale trailer to pull
behind the pickup for handling the hay, leave the heavy bush
hogging to the big tractor you already have, and look for a used
skid steer to handle the manure shoveling jobs. That'll probably
be cheapest, and Bobcats are *fun*.
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