Front loader

For light duty you might find the expense and maintenance of power steering more trouble than its worth. For working many hours of many days, you'd want it. Also, you might want a different, bigger tractor, depending on what you're up to.

The neighbors up home used a 2N with a Ferguson manure loader on it and it worked fine for dealing with the piles outside the barn in the spring. It steered harder when being used, but it was still tolerable. However, they would take the loader off when it got to be summer because it was in the way and would make the tractor clumsier to use.

Ford N's will handle a loader fine IF it is sized properly, and the operator keeps the loads reasonable. Bigger tractors can handle bigger loads, obviously.

That having been said, a wide front is a much more stable platform for a loader. The more rugged the front end, the better, as it takes the brunt of the load.

A loader made for a Ford N shouldn't be too hard to install, but I've never done it, so can't say for sure.

I dunno about power steering. Don't recall hearing about it even being available. Check with the fellers over on the N board, they'll know.

If ya can't get power steering, wider tires will help some. Those skinny little single rib fronts that seem so popular on N's would be a beast to steer, I'd think.

But, I run a smaller farm & 40 head of cattle, & I manage with a Farmall H & trip bucket - narrow front, no power steering, dead hydraulics, and the cowyard is on a hill even.. Yes my arms get tired when I haul 20 loads of manure out in a couple of days, but I get by.

So, what do you want to do, and how comfortable do you want to be doing it?

--->Paul