A little advice.

[Floopy]

I'm hoping some of you can help me make a decision.

I bought a TO35 a few years ago that wasn't functional. I went through it and fixed everything necessary to make it reliable. The problem is that I have a lot of trees, hills, and there is no power steering. When using it for my main purpose, the loader on it, it is a bit hard to use.

My property is wooded mostly. I used it to help clear some smaller trees and stuff but it really seems under powered for what I need it to do.

I bought a barn in a box(30x42) and I have a lot of other things I need to do. My property, in TN, has some hills and stuff. The MF is great as far as physical size goes but I feel like I need something stronger. I don't really use implements aside from the loader but if I had front hydraulics I think I'd appreciate many of the loader style implements. I'm split between getting a larger tractor, an older backhoe, or a skid steer.

I have never owned a tractor other than the 35. I see a lot of tractors like the Kubota B21, 2360 Long, Kubota 3710, Case 685, etc. I see a lot of skid steers that seem to be in functional condition. I also see things like the old Ford and Case backhoes that are more like mini excavators. I see all of these between $5-10k pretty regularly.

The probably is I'm not sure what I'm looking for to be honest. I see skid steers clearing land with apparent ease but I have no concept of the sizes and such. They all look the same to me essentially. I get HP differences and track/vs wheeled. Tractors have a similar issue for me. I get that 4wd is preferably for loader work probably and for land clearing.

Does a 50-60hp tractor do what the skid steer will? How does the Case 685 compare to a 90s-00s skid steer? How would it compare to my TO35? A foot wider and 2 foot longer?

I could rent a skidsteer but I have never even been in one. Being a complete novice, I'd probably have to take a week off and then pay for rental to get everything done. That is 1/3-1/2 the cost of a older gas skid steer. I'm not against buying one for more and then reselling it after I finish everything up. However, I feel like a skid steer could probably do all the work I do with the tractor anyway and more. I'm really not sure the size and reliability of the different machines to know which ones to look for. My F150 can pull about 9k lbs, so anything over 6 or 7k I'd have to get delivered.

Any thoughts you could give me as to the best path for my needs?

 

[Ultradog MN]

I'm hoping some of you can help me make a decision.

I bought a TO35 a few years ago that wasn't functional. I went through it and fixed everything necessary to make it reliable. The problem is that I have a lot of trees, hills, and there is no power steering. When using it for my main purpose, the loader on it, it is a bit hard to use.

My property is wooded mostly. I used it to help clear some smaller trees and stuff but it really seems under powered for what I need it to do.

I bought a barn in a box(30x42) and I have a lot of other things I need to do. My property, in TN, has some hills and stuff. The MF is great as far as physical size goes but I feel like I need something stronger. I don't really use implements aside from the loader but if I had front hydraulics I think I'd appreciate many of the loader style implements. I'm split between getting a larger tractor, an older backhoe, or a skid steer.

I have never owned a tractor other than the 35. I see a lot of tractors like the Kubota B21, 2360 Long, Kubota 3710, Case 685, etc. I see a lot of skid steers that seem to be in functional condition. I also see things like the old Ford and Case backhoes that are more like mini excavators. I see all of these between $5-10k pretty regularly.

The probably is I'm not sure what I'm looking for to be honest. I see skid steers clearing land with apparent ease but I have no concept of the sizes and such. They all look the same to me essentially. I get HP differences and track/vs wheeled. Tractors have a similar issue for me. I get that 4wd is preferably for loader work probably and for land clearing.

Does a 50-60hp tractor do what the skid steer will? How does the Case 685 compare to a 90s-00s skid steer? How would it compare to my TO35? A foot wider and 2 foot longer?

I could rent a skidsteer but I have never even been in one. Being a complete novice, I'd probably have to take a week off and then pay for rental to get everything done. That is 1/3-1/2 the cost of a older gas skid steer. I'm not against buying one for more and then reselling it after I finish everything up. However, I feel like a skid steer could probably do all the work I do with the tractor anyway and more. I'm really not sure the size and reliability of the different machines to know which ones to look for. My F150 can pull about 9k lbs, so anything over 6 or 7k I'd have to get delivered.

Any thoughts you could give me as to the best path for my needs?

Go ahead and rent a skidsteer for a day.
I have 6 or 8 times in my life.
Your first half hour or hour you'll have it skipping, hopping, jerking and dumping when you mean to lift but you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. They're fun and make you wish you owned one.

 

[Mrfred54]

If you go with a tractor and loader, front wheel assist is a must or you will be disappointed. The 685 IH is a very good universal tractor and should have rear hydraulic outlets for implements such as a disk

 

[Floopy]

If you go with a tractor and loader, front wheel assist is a must or you will be disappointed. The 685 IH is a very good universal tractor and should have rear hydraulic outlets for implements such as a disk

Front wheel assist is like 4wd basically, right?

I have a mf35 with a loader. Is the assist just to get more umph in pushing like on a truck?

My experience is limited to the point where I'm not even sure what to look for in equipment. I find myself seeing equipment and then just researching the models. I have no idea what 8 should be looking for.

Will a mid size skid steer out perform a 685 in clearing tasks significantly?

 

[Ultradog MN]

Front wheel assist is like 4wd basically, right?

I have a mf35 with a loader. Is the assist just to get more umph in pushing like on a truck?

My experience is limited to the point where I'm not even sure what to look for in equipment. I find myself seeing equipment and then just researching the models. I have no idea what 8 should be looking for.

Will a mid size skid steer out perform a 685 in clearing tasks significantly?

A wheel tractor is good for lifting and moving heavy objects.
A skid steer will do that And dig.

 

[miangus]

I agree rent a skid steer. However, I think you deserve an upgrade. Maybe a nice MF 135 diesel with power steering or maybe a 202 Workbull with a loader. Maybe go all the way and get a nice MF 40 backhoe. You will feel right at home on any of those and keep the 35 because a man never has too many tractors.

 

[olddavid]

You might consider a Massey Harris 50. It's a bit heavier and longer than the TO-35 and has power steering. The gearing and operation are much the same for the 50 and the 35.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

A skid steer is limited to whatever a loader can do, and they are way better, usually, at loader work than a tractor. You can get grapple buckets, post hole diggers for accessories. But they do tear up more ground when making turns. A newer, bigger tractor can do all the above, maybe not quite as well, and you can use rear accessories as well, such as a bushhog, rear blade, rototiller, and a drawbar to pull a wagon. You sound relatively inexperienced with equipment in general, so take your time, decide what jobs you want to accomplish. Mark.

 

[Floopy]

I agree rent a skid steer. However, I think you deserve an upgrade. Maybe a nice MF 135 diesel with power steering or maybe a 202 Workbull with a loader. Maybe go all the way and get a nice MF 40 backhoe. You will feel right at home on any of those and keep the 35 because a man never has too many tractors.

The issue is renting one for the week requires me to take the week off and costs me 1/3-1/2 of what a cheap tractor or skidsteer costs to buy. I can buy a nice medium bobcat for $10k it looks like and take my time and resell it when I finish. It looks like renting one is $2k a week. I could hire someone for $3-500 a day. I don't know how long it takes to level with them. I need an area leveled for a 1300 sq ft barn to keep my future tractors in.

I'd love to have a half dozen tractors and it'll probably be the case as I collect $500 MF35s and 2-9n. I definitely enjoy working on them.

 

[Texasmark]

Over the years I had a gas MF35 and simultaneously had a diesel. Both were in like new condition. The gas was with PS and the diesel wasn't. I liked diesels for what they are and what they require so I preferred that over the gas. I preferred the gas over the diesel due to its PS. I sold the gasser. Got tired of steering the diesel later on and sold it.......in retrospect, what I should have done was to take the PS system off the gasser, put it on the diesel and sell the gasser......had I done that I would probably still have the diesel.....that was one stout,reliable little machine but as I got older no PS was the deal clincher. All 7 of my current tractors are PS equipped.

 

[davidpick]

PS is so nice, have both, don't relize that until I jump on one w/o ps.
David

 

[jddrawbar]

The issue is renting one for the week requires me to take the week off and costs me 1/3-1/2 of what a cheap tractor or skidsteer costs to buy. I can buy a nice medium bobcat for $10k it looks like and take my time and resell it when I finish. It looks like renting one is $2k a week. I could hire someone for $3-500 a day. I don't know how long it takes to level with them. I need an area leveled for a 1300 sq ft barn to keep my future tractors in.

I'd love to have a half dozen tractors and it'll probably be the case as I collect $500 MF35s and 2-9n. I definitely enjoy working on them.

If your looking at leveling a 1300 sq ft area, definitely just hire someone to do it. An experienced operator on a skid steer can do a lot of work in a days time. I have several loader tractors and a Cat skid steer......tractors have their place, but for dirt work, brush clearing, a skid steer is on another level.

 

[scootergmc]

Buy a Kubota L series tractor with a loader and be done with it. It will start, run, move, drive nice, load, etc. when you need it, and will probably reliably accomplish 95% of your tasks.

Rent a skid steer or hire out when you actually need it.

 

[Floopy]

PS is so nice, have both, don't relize that until I jump on one w/o ps.
David

I've never been on one with PS. I can't miss what I've never had. I know how terrible the steering is with car tires and a loaded bucket on the front though.

I've considered getting a 135 and putting the loader on it as I understand they would interchange more or less.

 

[Texasmark]

I've never been on one with PS. I can't miss what I've never had. I know how terrible the steering is with car tires and a loaded bucket on the front though.

I've considered getting a 135 and putting the loader on it as I understand they would interchange more or less.

If you are adding a loader to a tractor without PS you are in for a rude awakening. I had an old 4 cyl. Ford 4000 w/o PS but had a loader...my first well worn out loader tractor.....couldn't wait to get rid of it.

 

[Floopy]

If you are adding a loader to a tractor without PS you are in for a rude awakening. I had an old 4 cyl. Ford 4000 w/o PS but had a loader...my first well worn out loader tractor.....couldn't wait to get rid of it.

I've been running my non-ps mf35 with a loader for a couple years. I'm a big strong guy, I'll admit my hands feel a little raw and tired after a whole day.

 

[Dopp Creek]

I have a 35hp Kubota w/ 4wd and a loader. It has been a super versatile tool and handles the bulk of the chores around the farm. However, if I was clearing land it would not be my choice because the loader is not designed for sustained digging/pushing and I would be afraid of breaking something expensive.
When I cleared up my folks place after it was idle for 10 years, I rented a 4 wd backhoe with a 4 in 1 bucket for a week. You could push out trees and brush, then stack it high with the loader. Anything too big to push got dug out with the hoe. Worked really well for my purposes.
My neighbor has a skid steer (about 75 hp w/ tracks) and it is very versatile as he has forks, a bucket, brush grinder and a root digger. I can see if you had to rent one with all those attachments it would be an expensive week.
If you are pricing options, take a look a backhoe as described above.

 

[docmirror]

My first tractor was a Ford 8N, which I promptly put a Wagner loader on it. Made a decent small tractor only slightly more useful, and made my arms like Popeye. The TOxx tractors are similar to the 8N, and they do not do well with a loader. Mainly because they are row-crop designed tractors and the loader will have the rear wheels off the ground picking up more than maybe 4-500Lbs. It's a compromise, and without PS, it's a weak compromise.

My solution was to go to the 800-901 series of Ford with power steering and a small bucket loader. I put the brush hog on the back, and put a 20gal water bucket back there for counter-weight. Still - this is a compromise, but it's better utility without going to the cost of a tracked skid steer, or a wheeled skid steer. And, with the three point and PTO there are some jobs that I can do with the cheap tractor that I can't do with the skid steer. Ex; I just spread 300Lbs of seed and fert with the 3 point/PTO and it would be a mess of a job with a skid steer.

The other option is to go with a dedicated loader tractor industrial type. Or, all the way to a track or wheel skid steer. Here is where I will offer a serious word of caution. By the time an industrial small tractor or a skid steer reaches the market, they are clapped out, near wreck/salvage condition and will require at least the cost of the machine to repair/rebuild/refurbish before doing any serious work. I know this because I've shopped for a wheel skid steer for years, and every one of them had 2 major and 30 small issues that needed attention before it could go do work. Often, the hydrostatic system is on it's last legs, and will only power the machine at half speed. If you find one that's in great shape, and has modest hours on it, with written log of scheduled maint, and is ready to go to work, it's going to cost a spit-ton of money, and they sell as soon as they hit the public market. Be cautioned, if you buy a crusty one, prepare for a lot of labor, or a big shop bill. 'nuff said.

My 860 is ideal for me, and only complaint I have is the disastrous gear shifting setup on the 800-900 series. Going from fwd to back and to fwd again requires plenty of clutch and stick work. The 860 has 3rd and rev in one throw, so it's not horrible but doing loader work is a lot of fore and back and all that requires multiple clutch and gear throws.

 

[Tgrasher]

Bought a skidsteer a year ago and it's become invaluable to me on getting things done around the farm and moving/loading lumber. Cleaning up fallen limbs out of woods lined pastures is so much easier because you can see where your forks are. The maneuverability saves time, no shifting gears, just a joy stick to move. Tracks mean go anywhere, no flats.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I've been running my non-ps mf35 with a loader for a couple years. I'm a big strong guy, I'll admit my hands feel a little raw and tired after a whole day.

I was pretty strong when I was young too. But as I aged, my shoulders, as well as my whole body, has weakened a lot. Never thought it would happen to me.
I have an IH 300 utility that had a loader with no power steering I dug a basement for my barn with it, by plowing and removing a layer of dirt, plow again, and remove another layer. I grew up with this tractor and never had power steering. Did a LOT of digging of dirt, and, loading manure. I later bought a CIH 485 with a loader and, of course, power steering. Very nimble tractor. The 300u's loader was sold, and I now mostly ted and rake hay with it. That was starting to wear on my shoulders, so I added power steering to it.
What I'm saying is: if you have the time, and the stamina, you can do your building with the mf35. But someday you may want an easier to run machine, and, may wish you bought it sooner. Mark.