Utility tractor advice.

[NuMosa Farms]

Hey guys... My wife and i have a small goat farm, with about 4 acres cleared, with another 95 acres of woods. I do plan in the near future of putting another acre or two into pasture. With that said, i need a tractor BAD.. My biggest requirement is a loader. Im always moving square bale hay, bedding compost, dirt, debris, etc.. I also have a 800 ft dirt drive that i have to maintain. I dont necessarily move a lot of heavy stuff, but im always moving something. Because of having to maintain pasture, i definitely need a tractor and not skid steere. I know i want nothing less than 40 hp, preferably 50 or more. In my area on the eastern shore, it seems like IH or Farmall is my best tractor for the money. I will definitely be look at older tractors, due to new being way over my budget. With all the info ive given, what are some good models for me to look for. Has to be able to handle a loader.

Thank you,
Robert

 

[rustred]

this is not red, but the 2130 john deere I think would be a good choice. its about the 70 h.p. range and in the 1970's there is one not far from me for sale with a price of $ 12,000.00 which I think is very reasonable with a john deere loader on it. nice looking unit.they ar a nice steering and have good hyd. . not struggling with something from the 1950's.

 

[NuMosa Farms]

Im sorry... I should have also mentioned that im not stuck on one brand or color of tractor. I love all the old tractors. I just want one at a good price, with enough hp, and one that has a strong enough front end for a loader.

 

[ih560]

Do you have a budget in mind or a max price?

 

[495man]

IH 484 with 2200 loader. Should be cheapish, decent tractor with 3pt, live PTO, diff lock, diesel, power steering and brakes, dcenet hydraulics and 8 speed trans.

 

[NuMosa Farms]

Im trying to stay under $12,000.
Ive seen some loaders on
Tractorhouse in the $7 to $8
thousand range. My wife wanted
me to stay around six grand, but
i told her that wasnt gonna
happen...lol

 

[warren woodrow]

(quoted from post at 11:36:37 02/07/20) Hey guys... My wife and i have a small goat farm, with about 4 acres cleared, with another 95 acres of woods. I do plan in the near future of putting another acre or two into pasture. With that said, i need a tractor BAD.. My biggest requirement is a loader. Im always moving square bale hay, bedding compost, dirt, debris, etc.. I also have a 800 ft dirt drive that i have to maintain. I dont necessarily move a lot of heavy stuff, but im always moving something. Because of having to maintain pasture, i definitely need a tractor and not skid steere. I know i want nothing less than 40 hp, preferably 50 or more. In my area on the eastern shore, it seems like IH or Farmall is my best tractor for the money. I will definitely be look at older tractors, due to new being way over my budget. With all the info ive given, what are some good models for me to look for. Has to be able to handle a loader.

Thank you,
Robert

My 584 IH is a a good tractor for what you describe. Handles loader well. You could pick one up fpr 5-8 thousand with a good loader I think . That said, there are alot of good tractors to be found for 12,000 or less. Get a diesel of course [ unless you like to work on tractors ]

 

[SkipperII]

Ford 4000 and 5000 series are good reliable utility tractors, pretty easy to work on.

 

[Janicholson]

Massey Ferguson 165 Will do it, and will also allow purchase other attachments you will need, like a Bush Hog. Check them out, Handy as a pocket, but not a toy. ( I am an IH guy and would go for the Massey in a Heartbeat). Jim

 

[504]

656 IH utility. Here 6 grand will by a nice one with 3 point and a loader.(make sure you by a tractor with a 3 point hitch) everything else was obsolete 30 years a go.

 

[resden]

I am just finishing work on an Allis Chalmers D19 gas with a very recent overhaul, 4 new tires,a rebuilt transmission,new alternator, steering wheel, seat, all new wiring and batteries, new tachometer new paint and decals. It has the snap coupler but also comes with the adaptor that makes it a 3 point. I am asking $6500 for it. A 3 bottom plow for this tractor is available for an extra $400.

 

[NuMosa Farms]

That truly sounds like awesome tractor, would probably be perfect with a loader. However, after pricing just used loaders, i feel ill be better off finding a tractor that already has a working loader. Love to see pics of your AC..

 

[David G]

I have a Ford 6610 with loader, solid tractor.

 

[jhncp]

From your headline I assume you want a utility tractor. With that being said I would go with a 460 gas or similar (656 utility etc. 606) with a IH 2000 loader. IMO a 460 for example has much better hyd than a 300. It's good to hear you want a tractor instead of skid steer. IMO skidsteers are annoying AF to drive. Also you posted on correct site, I'm not sure what's up with all the guys suggesting inferior brands.

 

[ih560]

I agree with a Ford being a great option. In my area, you can get your best deals on Ford 6600-6610 tractors with a loader. There are 3 right now with loaders and all of them are under $12k. They are a great tractor and hard to beat for the value and power for the money. Unless you can find an 84 series IH for the same money with a loader, then I would look hard at what Ford tractors are for sale in your area. Given your requirements, you can look at 5600, 5610, 6600, 6610, and if you find a great deal a 7600 or 7610. I am a die-hard IH fan and have 12 International tractors, but for a utility tractor, those fords are hard to beat. I spent lots of hours on a 6610 and it was always a workhorse and very easy to work on.

 

[resden]

I am not savvy enough to know how to post photos on this site. I do have some hard copies of photos available. I have some possibilities for picking up a loader for the tractor from the estate of the collector who gave me the tractor. We got 12 inches of snow today so it will be a while before I can check on those loaders. You can call me at 920-286-1510 if you want to discuss further!

 

[resden]

[I may have access to a loader for this tractor from the estate where the tractor came from. Unfortunately, we had 11" of snow yesterday and so it may be a while before I can get to the collection of stuff that is scattered out in a field to see if the loader would fit. The loader I am thinking of is on a D17 allis.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

First things first, do NOT buy a tractor without a loader already installed. The market is mostly bare tractors, or tractors with loaders.

Loaders are not universal. Unless you are able to cut, weld, and manipulate steel you're stuck finding an exact fit for the tractor, which can be difficult unless you are willing to take any piece of junk, drive any distance, and/or pay any price. Some people live a charmed life; they buy a random tractor and the loader that fits it just falls in their lap the next day. Most people aren't so lucky.

Just get the tractor with the loader already on it.

I would also recommend you consider a new/newer tractor. You don't want to buy an antique that you don't know how to work on, and nobody else does either. It's no fun to have to run back and forth between this forum and the tractor, asking "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" questions when it's pouring rain outside, or 30 below and a blizzard, trying to get the tractor running so your goats won't starve. At least with a new/newer tractor you can call the dealer and they can at least talk you through some things. Under warranty they come out and fix it for you.

 

[NuMosa Farms]

Dont get me wrong my friend. Id
LOVE a new or newer tractor. But
with my budget, $12,000 will
only buy me a oversized lawn
mower, or so called "garden
tractor", which is not big
enough for my needs. Although i
dont want to be doing constant
repairs, back in the early 70's,
i worked as a auto mechanic back
when it was "points, plugs, and
condenser". So
Working on non-computerized
engines im not completely
lost..lol. Honestly, id love
new. I just cant afford one.

 

[NuMosa Farms]

The thing that brings me to IH and Farmall, is that's what im most familiar with. Growing up on our family farm, most of our tractors were IH, with a few Olivers and Massey Fergusons mixed in there. Also, before i lost my first wife to breast cancer, i had a Louisville Super M that i drove in parades and pulled wagons. I came home on leave once in the late 70's while i was in the Army, and got to drive my grandgathers 3588 2 plus 2. My God with dual tires front and back, that was a beast of a tractor..lol