Tractor Advice

[MikeAustralia]

Hi guys! Just joined up and my first post here.... and I'm sure it gets asked all the time.
I'm about to buy my first tractor and I'm pretty settled on a Kubota, but want to confirm I'm making the right model and specification decision. I've listed my uses below.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Land
Land Size 30 Acres - pretty flat, some gentle undulations.
Mostly cleared. Approx 5 acres rough native bush (trees/grasses/rocks)
Divided into paddocks running between 6 and 12 head of cattle
3 acre house block
25 to 40 inches of rain annually but bone dry in summer 100F degree+ for a few months

Uses
Feed out 5x4 rounds bales
Collect bales from our paddocks (we have a contractor do the baling) we produce 60 to 100 round bales a year
Grade 1/2 mile gravel driveway annually
create cattle crossing over a seasonal creek
Remediate and reseed paddocks (7 acres)
Spread fertilizer annually
Maintain and develop 3x 1/4 acre food plots
Create new gravel laneways
General mulching and maintenance

I'm looking at MX5200HST or L4800 with Box blade, bales forks and read spike, 4in1 bucket, counter weight and R4 or R1 tyres.
On my mind - Could I go smaller and just get a contractor to bring in our bales and use a smaller tractor/trailer to feed out?
Thanks!!

 

[Workerbee]

Mike, welcome to OTT. Lots of great tractor talk here.
My opinion is to always get the biggest tractor you can afford. Although a smaller tractor might be fine for 99% of the time, There will certainly come the time you will need and use that capability of a bigger unit.

 

[Nicfin36]

Don't go smaller IMO.....especially if it is your only machine. If anything, go bigger. My 2 cents.

Like Workerbee said, there will be times you will wish you had a bigger machine. I am happy with my L2501, but I already had a 1975 68hp Deere that seldom gets used. But, when I need a big job for pulling or PTO power, I am glad I have it.....such as when I was subsoilng last week.

 

[BigG]

How much does one of your bales weight? Do you stack the hay in a barn or do you keep it in a single layer? Are you dropping the hay or do you place it into feeders? I understand that it is dry over the summer and the R4 tires will work well but what about the rest of the year? If it gets muddy then you need to go to the R1 ag tires. If the water crossings are more rock then mud you might get away with the R4 tires.

You could go smaller for the tractor but the bigger tractor will more then likely last longer. Are you looking for a front end loader or just the rear spike for the hay?



You need to have 5 posts then you could send us some pictures of the country side.

 

[MikeAustralia]

How much does one of your bales weight? Do you stack the hay in a barn or do you keep it in a single layer? Are you dropping the hay or do you place it into feeders? I understand that it is dry over the summer and the R4 tires will work well but what about the rest of the year? If it gets muddy then you need to go to the R1 ag tires. If the water crossings are more rock then mud you might get away with the R4 tires.

You could go smaller for the tractor but the bigger tractor will more then likely last longer. Are you looking for a front end loader or just the rear spike for the hay?

There are

You need to have 5 posts then you could send us some pictures of the country side.

Thanks, I'll have to find something to post so I can add some pictures.
our bales are typically 450 to 550kg
Yes we stack them, but only two high
around the water is all rock and gravel
Definitely looking at a front end loader

Thanks

 

[PaulL]

Depending on where in Australia, that can be pretty dry terrain. I think you mean you're running 6-12 head of cattle on 30 acres total and you're planning to feed out, so I'm guessing it looks like parts of Australia I spent time in - mostly stones and dirt with bits of grass here and there?

If so R4 could be a good choice. And although people would usually say an MX is about right for 30 acres, maybe an L, in Australian conditions a bit smaller machine might be fine - there's lots of land but not necessarily lots of things on that land.

Either an MX or an L is a great machine. You worried about heat or flies - want a cab?

Based on what you've said, the big job is lifting the bales. Work out the weight, get a machine that can lift them. A bigger machine doesn't cost that much more, not being able to stack your bales will annoy you all the time. I wouldn't go smaller than the one clear task you have.

 

[BigG]

I have looked for an L4800 and did not see one listed in tractordata.com. If you are looking at a MX4800 vs MX 5800 the difference in price would make the difference as the 5 hp is not enough to worry about.

Anyway I would look at the tractor at the lifting capacity. The MX5800 has a capacity 767kg at 500mm in front of the pivot pins of the fel so that would be a good choice.

The difference in the tire choice would be important. The L2501 that I bought has the R4 tires on it. The R4 tire's rim is not adjustable for the width. Nor can you add wheel weights to it. The R1 tires have adjustable width rims and they are wheel weight compatible. So the stability of the tractor would be increased with the widest stance and wheel weights plus loaded tires. My mind goes to rocks sticking up out of the ground that would rock the tractor with the fel carrying a bale of hay. Since I do not know the area. That is what I would look at, how stable can you make your tractor.

 

[RCW]

Anyway I would look at the tractor at the lifting capacity. The MX5800 has a capacity 767kg at 500mm in front of the pivot pins of the fel so that would be a good choice.

BigG hit it - an L isn't in the cards for a 550kg bale in my book.

Yes, it might pick it up, but for feeding you need to drive the darn things around some distance.... that can get a little dicey...

Depending on terrain/bumpy laneways, , etc., an MX might be challenged to drive one around......put another bale on the 3 PH with another spear.

 

[D2Cat]

BigG hit it - an L isn't in the cards for a 550kg bale in my book.

Yes, it might pick it up, but for feeding you need to drive the darn things around some distance.... that can get a little dicey...

Depending on terrain/bumpy laneways, , etc., an MX might be challenged to drive one around......put another bale on the 3 PH with another spear.

There are several "L" models that will handle a 1200# bale. I've got an L4240 and move a bale on the front and the back, roading them a mile from the field to the barn a few times.

There are bigger L tractors also, L4740, L5040, L5240, L5740. These tractor are a few years old, but the '60 series are updated with the environmentally approved engines.

 

[old and tired]

...The L2501 that I bought has the R4 tires on it. The R4 tire's rim is not adjustable for the width.

"Standard" L's are not adjustable but Grand L's and MX's R-4 are adjustable and can be set wider...

The older I get... I would be looking for the smallest tractor that can handle the weight of the bales on the FEL and also have a cab with A/C. I love open station tractors until I got to use those fancy cabbed tractors!!!

What's your budget?

 

[RCW]

There are several "L" models that will handle a 1200# bale. I've got an L4240 and move a bale on the front and the back, roading them a mile from the field to the barn a few times.

There are bigger L tractors also, L4740, L5040, L5240, L5740. These tractor are a few years old, but the '60 series are updated with the environmentally approved engines.

To the OP, I stand corrected, and shouldn't be guessing. I was picturing the small-end standards of the L series.

If D2Cat says certain L's will handle 550kg bales well, then they will.

He's been there, done that...and that's the testimonial you can count on.

 

[MikeAustralia]

"Standard" L's are not adjustable but Grand L's and MX's R-4 are adjustable and can be set wider...

The older I get... I would be looking for the smallest tractor that can handle the weight of the bales on the FEL and also have a cab with A/C. I love open station tractors until I got to use those fancy cabbed tractors!!!

What's your budget?

Thanks, I'm trying to stay as close to $40k (AUD) as possible - The MX5200 with FEL, front and rear forks, counter weight and R4s is coming in and just over 40k. (AUD) Theres not MX4800 or MX5800 available in Australia, and I don't think you can get an L or MX with a cab... we just get what the USA doesn't want

 

[MikeAustralia]

To the OP, I stand corrected, and shouldn't be guessing. I was picturing the small-end standards of the L series.

If D2Cat says certain L's will handle 550kg bales well, then they will.

He's been there, done that...and that's the testimonial you can count on.

Great thanks RCW. In spring I have 80 to 100 bales to move, in the course of a week but then after that is just feeding out once a week or so in winter and summer

 

[MikeAustralia]

I have looked for an L4800 and did not see one listed in tractordata.com. If you are looking at a MX4800 vs MX 5800 the difference in price would make the difference as the 5 hp is not enough to worry about.

Anyway I would look at the tractor at the lifting capacity. The MX5800 has a capacity 767kg at 500mm in front of the pivot pins of the fel so that would be a good choice.

The difference in the tire choice would be important. The L2501 that I bought has the R4 tires on it. The R4 tire's rim is not adjustable for the width. Nor can you add wheel weights to it. The R1 tires have adjustable width rims and they are wheel weight compatible. So the stability of the tractor would be increased with the widest stance and wheel weights plus loaded tires. My mind goes to rocks sticking up out of the ground that would rock the tractor with the fel carrying a bale of hay. Since I do not know the area. That is what I would look at, how stable can you make your tractor.

Thanks Big G - here in Australia we only get the MX5200 (no other MX available here) and the L4800 so it does reduce the options, perhaps that's not such a bad thing with such a massive range.

 

[MikeAustralia]

Depending on where in Australia, that can be pretty dry terrain. I think you mean you're running 6-12 head of cattle on 30 acres total and you're planning to feed out, so I'm guessing it looks like parts of Australia I spent time in - mostly stones and dirt with bits of grass here and there?

If so R4 could be a good choice. And although people would usually say an MX is about right for 30 acres, maybe an L, in Australian conditions a bit smaller machine might be fine - there's lots of land but not necessarily lots of things on that land.

Either an MX or an L is a great machine. You worried about heat or flies - want a cab?

Based on what you've said, the big job is lifting the bales. Work out the weight, get a machine that can lift them. A bigger machine doesn't cost that much more, not being able to stack your bales will annoy you all the time. I wouldn't go smaller than the one clear task you have.

HI Paul, thanks for the response, were actually pretty luck to been a a relatively green part of Australia. It gets so wet in winter (now August September) that I can barely walk in the paddocks because they are so wet. I would not really be looking to drive the tractor in the paddocks no matter what tyres at this time of year as I would completely destroy the soil structure.
The reason I'm thinking MX is for the extra weight over an L and bigger rear end for ripping paddocks etc.

 

[UpNorthMI]

HI Paul, thanks for the response, were actually pretty luck to been a a relatively green part of Australia. It gets so wet in winter (now August September) that I can barely walk in the paddocks because they are so wet. I would not really be looking to drive the tractor in the paddocks no matter what tyres at this time of year as I would completely destroy the soil structure.
The reason I'm thinking MX is for the extra weight over an L and bigger rear end for ripping paddocks etc.

Have L3901 and MX 5800, in my opinion the only option is the MX, I don’t know much about older larger L but you are looking at new. The MX is very capable for all of the things you described. I would also recommend R1 tires, loaded tires. Quick attach on loader, maybe rear remotes.