Step up from 850?

[Dan C in Maine]

I have an 850 with front loader, loaded tires and chains. It has
been extremely reliable and is a real work horse. Everything
works as it should, and aside from normal maintenance, the
tractor has needed no work. I use it on my wood lot for
maintaining my roads, keeping up several 1 acre food plots,
and logging.

Since I am using the 850 with a logging winch in the deep
woods for the majority of its running hours, I really should have
a rops (and fops too for that matter) and would certainly
appreciate power steering.

Adding a rops/fops would run about a grand, and that price tag
got me thinking. Should I put money into the 850 or would it
make more sense to sell it, and with the proceeds and the
money I would have spent on adding extras to the 850 , step
up to a model that already has the extras.

I really like the stability and functionality of my 850, but
theoretically, if I were going to step up, what would be a good
model to look for, given the use I described?
 

[Vito]

A tractor friend once told me the more modern the tractor the more can go wrong and costs a lot more to repair.


Vito
 

[Royse]

You might look for one of the industrial x000 series with a ROPS.
A low center of gravity version might server you well for your use too.
Similar to this one that George recently "stole". 4110
Some of the industrial versions were made without 3 pt though, so watch for that.
On the other hand, sometimes the devil you know beats the devil you don't.
I have tractors here that I have more into than they'll ever be worth.
Except when I turn the key in sub-zero temperatures to plow snow.
When they start, like I know they will, they're worth every penny.
 

[Ultradog MN]

4110 is really just a 3000 with a little bit larger gas engine - 192 vs 158 ci.
 

[Dan C in Maine]

That's a good point. The 850 has been incredibly reliable. It's
never not started, no matter how cold, and, within the limits of
how I use it, it's never not moved what I hook it to.

And, I know the machine very well, so my comfort level is
high.

Perhaps adding a rops is a beter choice in the long run.
 

[Ultradog MN]

Hi Dan,
If the 850 runs good and is doing the job it may be wise to keep it and add the rops.
But if you really wanted an upgrade then I would recommend something line a 1965 - 75 4400 or it's newer sister the 515.
The 4400/515 will be heavier by about 1000 lbs, have most of 10 more hp, and likely have other features like integral power steering, independent pto, differential lock, wet disc brakes and an 8 speed instead of 5 speed tranny.
But all of that on a platform not much larger sizewise than your 850.
Ford took a huge leap forward with the introduction of the 3 cylinder tractors in 1965.




 

[souNdguy]

by the time you figure rops AND ps upgrade.. I bet you that you are in for 1500-2000$

might be cheaper to find a machine with all that stuff already.


if you don't want to loose any HP.. you will have to step up to a 4xxx+ model in the 3 cyl series.. or a 8xx/4000 4 cyl witht hat stuf already attached.

look thru the adds and see what the prices of loader tractors with rops and ps are then compair.
 

[dan in maine]

Thanks for the feedback. Think I"ll price things out and see what makes the most sense in the pocketbook.
 

[Texasmark1]

I had a 4600 which was a farm tractor on a larger frame than your current one. Had PS and a solid canopy over the dr. station which served as a ROPS. 200 cu in 3 cyl diesel, independent PTO. Bought it for $6000 and served me well.

Mark