NEED HELP WITH PICKING A TRACTOR TO MOVE ROUND BALES

I have never owned a tractor before and I am getting mixed answers from people about the size and type I need. I have a small hobby farm 3+ horses that I will need to move round bales for in the winter, some plowing, and maybe some light haulin.

My budget is 3,000 or less.

I have been looking at the ford 8ns and 9ns but have been told they can't pick up round bales over 700#s

Just need some models that are in that price range that can do the work.

I am located in Paw Paw, MI

THANKS!!!!!

Please avoid 8N/2N/9N....

First question is what size of round bale? i.e. 4x4 4x5 4x6 are you getting? This will factor how big of a tractor.....

Are you planning on handling with 3pt or a loader? Loader will up your $$$$

I would go with a normal size (not a Compact POS) tractor, 30-45 PTO HP 2wd tractor with 3 pt.


Gas or diesel shouldn't matter for you...gas tractor will be cheaper to purchase

Suggestions (some are diesel, some can be had gas/diesel) all are 2wd and have 3pt hitch and live PTO:

MF 35 135
IH B-414, 434 354 364/444 384 454 464 484 etc etc

The N series is way to light for moving bales safely and at around 800lbs on the 3 point the front end goes up and then your sitting on your butt with the bale on the ground and that is if your lucky that is and not end up under it. You need one that comes in around 3500lbs and has live hyds and live PTO is a big plus. There are many that fit that but you will have to keep your eyes open. Some of the D series Allis tractors would fit that and be under your $3000 as would be some of the IH tractors. My self I use a Ford 801/841 to move bales but it also has a loader on it and my bales are around 2000lbs and it is all it wants to handle them and it is twice what the 8N is
Hobby farm

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but I doubt you are going to find any machine for under $3k that will lift a round bail with a front end loader. Save for one that is not in need of major repairs.

I have seen a tow behind trailer that will move those bails around. Towed by an ATV even. Might be something to think about???

I am located about 25 Miles from Paw Paw, Mi. I have a 464 International with a hydraulic bucket loader on the front and also 3 Point hitch. The tractor also has Power Steering. It is a wide front tractor. $3250. or offer. Ph 269 673-7048 Call me if interested.

A D17 Allis will pick up a round bale and a decent one can be had in the 3K range.

My little tractor's no bigger than an 8N and zooms right around with a round bale hanging off the balk. Little hard steering without weight up frt, and harder with a roll hanging off the loader, but it does it. Qith 3 horses, you'd probably find more use for a quad and trailer though.

Dave

I can move them with a Fergy TEA20 but only when dry,[have to go up hills backwards/light steer] no go after rain so avoid a small tractor in that HP which I assume would include the 8N.To do it easy somewhere near 50 horses, no trouble with the Fordson.

We have had good service from our Massey 165 gas tractor. It has a Massey industrial loader on it which is nice and stout and has never let us down moving 1200# round bales for the last 20 years or so. Also use it to run our square baler and we put a front blade on it to move snow in winter. I should mention the rear tires are loaded. Have a good one.

We have had good service from our Massey 165 gas tractor. It has a Massey industrial loader on it which is nice and stout and has never let us down moving 1200# round bales for the last 20 years or so. Also use it to run our square baler and we put a front blade on it to move snow in winter. I should mention the rear tires are loaded. Have a good one.

If you are going to use a loader on a tractor you'll want more than just a tractor that will lift a bale. You'll want a heavy enough tractor to be able to carry the bale without tipping over on the slightest side slope. If you are carrying the bale high,like you would to get it over the top of a bale feeder, and a rear wheel goes up over a frozen cowpie, you don't want to be worried about the tractor tipping. I used to feed a ton of round bales with a JD 630 with 300 pounds of weight added to each rear wheel plus a 1300 pound weight hanging on the three point. The tractor was very stable with all this weight on the rear. I had the 1300 pound weight off once hauling a bale and as I was approaching the feeder with the bale raised up fairly high a rear wheel came off the ground and kept coming up until the wide front end hit the stop. I was standing on the high side axle housing ready to bail off.Jim

You've been getting mixed answers from people and then you come here. Good luck.

What size and weight bales? How many and how often do you plan to move them? Have you thought about a bale trailer or a pickup bed attachment?

There is more to it than horsepower. The load and weight rating for tractor front end. Hydraulic gpm and psi output. There is loader size and load lift rating. The highest rated loader won't do you a bit of good if the bales pulls your back tires off the ground. No tricycle front wheels. Are you going to use a 3 point rear fork?

I had a 460 with a manure bucket. Wouldn't hardly pick up the 1500# bales they make around here. Best I could do sometimes is get the bucket under it, wrap a chain around it, and then back around. I've pulled them into the corral with my pickup too.

The best loader tractor is a skid steer provided it has the lift capacity for your size bales. Can't plow with it. Look for a 560 or bigger tractor with the right loader.

Then you have to consider that what may work when it is warm and dry may just get buried to its axles in the corral come winter and muddy ground. For winter hay moving, you better get a gasser unless you live in Florida cause you will spend all your spare time trying to start it and warm it up.

Where do you get your hay? The guy that bales our field can do any size we want, 700# to 1500#. Now that I have a 2606 industrial with an IH 3000 loader than can toy around with those big bales, I just want the big ones now. I've had occasion to bury it in a muddy corral moving those bigguns. Then it sits until a hard freeze.

As an emergency standby, I line up a few bales at the other gate. It's not easy but 2 of us can wedge between them and start one rolling into the corral. When I set them by the gate, I try to rotate them if they started to flat spot on one side. If the weather may turn bad for a while, I'll line up 3 or 4 bales spaced along the barn and put some horse panels around them. Then move the panels as one is needed.

That's what I use, it does the job credibly. Plus it is heavy enough that you don't have to worry about stability when you're moving large bales around. In addition, it's got plenty of power for additional work if it should arise in the future.

If you go with this tractor, make sure it has a three-point hitch, since they came with a different hitch system from Allis Chalmers.

Christopher

"My budget is 3,000 or less."

All I can say is "good luck with THAT"!

jenhandlin
Borrow $250 and go look at this tractor of John-MI[/quote]
I am located about 25 Miles from Paw Paw, Mi. I have a 464 International with a hydraulic bucket loader on the front and also 3 Point hitch. The tractor also has Power Steering. It is a wide front tractor. $3250. or offer. Ph 269 673-7048 Call me if interested

IH464 are decent tractors and it's close to you.

Sorry.It's 2009, not 1979. Coke now costs more than 25cents a bottle too.
You are expecting too much for too little. Or biting off more than what you can chew.
An old wreck for $2500 that can lift a round bale. Is going to stick you with repair bills of at least $5000+ over the next few years.
There are no decent 10yr old 4X4 diesel pickups out there for $5000 either.
Stay away from the Ford N's. People are trying to pawn them off for a reason. For similar $$$ you can find newer tractors with live hydraulics, power steering and working brakes.

Jen, you can also use a flat bed trailer if you have one. Just run a pipe or bar through the middle of the bale, hook a chain around each end, and then use a come along to pull it up on the trailer.

You haven't answered any questions about how big of spread you have at your ranch and other needs. Do you have some ground to mow, want to pull a old springtooth around the corral for the weeds, how many bottom plow do you have for the plowing you want to do, etc.

I never try to set a bale in those round bale feeders I use. Not sure it would work if I tried. I could get by with a rear 3 point bale spear. Then I flip the bale feeded over the top and it barely fits those big bales. If you could do that, then you don't need a huge tractor.

Unless you have someone around who is a mechanic, you don't want to mess with and probably can't afford one of the these old fix or repair daily tractors. But I wouldn't rule the right one out.

You only have 3 grand so you can't just drive down to the tractor store and pick one off the show room floor. So watch the sales and then go check them out. You might get lucky. Maybe that one already mentioned here would work.

Wow thanks everything for setting me straight! I'm new at this hobby farm life and really excited.

I won't be looking at another Ford N.

But Curious on hours now. I found a IN 464 for 3,000 with 6,000 hours... ( is that too high? for hours) I haven't looked at it yet but he said its not the best looking but everything works... So how do you grade hours with tractors. ( i guess it was used for municipal purpose) Has a loader with it also.

I came across a MF135 for a little under 4000 and it has a loader on it. If I had the money i'd but it. I love our current 135, would like to have another. It looked like it rolled off the show room floor.

Sorry for not giving you all the info you need to help me. THis is what my set up is going to look like. 16 acres about 10 pasture including drylot. I have three horses now and might take on one more or a boarder so four.

I plan on feeding round bales in the winter and pasture in the summer. So i need to beable to move the bales for one location to the pasture with out trouble. I would also like to use the tractor for arena spreading, some snow removal, and small projects around the farm. Etc. Moving rocks, dirt, sand.

Bales we see around here are anywhere from 500 to 1200 pounds. I have been told I can buy pretty much what size I need.

So there you have it. Maybe 3K isn't enough but thats why I am learning about tractors here. Thanks again to everyone who has given great advise.

ONE more question: The tractor that was listed on here was a IN 464 1974 with 6,000 hours and a loader. He said everything seems to be working and it came from a municipality. how many hours is two many??

Well knowing me I will find what I am looking for. And pay less than 3000. Im not looking for looks just function.

Jen, sounds like you need a tractor with a working pto for bushhogging, post hole digging, roto tilling, etc. and definitely a 3 point hitch for some attachment you may want from TSC such a a blade or something. If the 3 point hitch will lift a 1200# bale, go for it. For winter starting and easiness of repairs, you definitely want gas and not diesel. Even a loader that won't handle big bales may move some dirt, manure, snow, and general work. I don't know anything about the ford N models but if the 3 point will move your bales then that is the biggest job. They say parts are easy to find at napa and places.

Hours, I'm not an expert on that and will let others anser but some diesels go up to 10,000 hours before overhaul. Not sure of gas engines. If you drove a car down the interstate at 70mph for 6000 hours, you would have 420,000 miles on it. But miles on the engine is different than miles on a car. Tractor engines, transmissions, and rear ends are made much sturdier but they go out. Ask about oil usuage. But look for blue oil smoke coming out the blowby tube and any coming out the dip stick opening when you pull the stick as well as the out the exhaust.

You still have to do all the due diligence such as check for oil burning, pull the plugs to inspect their condition and what the engine is doing to them, compression and leak down tests on the cylinders to see what shape they are in, hook to a disk or something at the sellers to see how it pulls. Listen for noises from engine, tranny, rear end, etc. while trying all gears from low to road gear, listen for engine misses and possible valve problems, if TA equipped make sure it works, check the tires for cuts and treadware as you don't want to get it home and spend up to a grand for tires, make sure the hydraulics work with no leaks cause them pumps get expensive to replace, see how it steers and especially with a bale on the rear and weight in the loader, etc.

If you ever find one you buy, post back with the details. Probably have to start a new thread by then. Find one that makes a weird noise or something or has a repair problem, post back and ask as you found the right forum for that.

6000 hours isn't a big concern if the tractor is in good shape and has been serviced, now a municipal tractor may run from:

"bought new, stored inside, only couple operators, full service on schedule"

to

"run by 100 people, put away wet and only serviced when broken.