New to forum, looking for recommendations

Hello, my name is Ryan. I live in Western Wisconsin, near the Twin Cities. My wife and I grow vegetables on a small scale for the wholesale market, we also make maple syrup in the spring and I run a hydraulic bandsaw mill (Timberking B20). I am looking for recommendations on a new (to me) utility tractor. Currently we do everything we need with two 8Ns, which mostly means plowing and tilling the area we plant, which is actually only about an acre, mowing about 5 acres with a bushhog, skidding a few logs for the mill, and moving snow with a backblade. I would like to be using a different tractor in the next couple of years, mostly because with the mill, something with a loader would be a great help. I am looking for some recommendations on some models to look at. I have a little experience fixing the 8Ns, so I am familiar with old gas tractors. I definitely want something larger, I am thinking in the 40-60hp range, so either gas or diesel is an option. Right now I am more comfortable with gas, I know the benefits of diesel, but the tractors cost more and the fuel costs more. Also, if I want to use it in winter I think gas would be a little easier to deal with. Also, I want something that can lift a decent capacity in the bucket, maybe 2k lbs if that's not too much to ask. More would be better. Three point hitch and pto are a must for me. Also, it would be cool if I could move the thing around on a trailer if need be, no long distances, but if I could pull it with my 3/4 ton ford, that would be great, not a deal breaker though. Regarding 2wd vs. 4wd I think 2wd is all that is in the budget right now. I know that 4wd is a great tool, but I am thinking of something in the $4-7k range for now. So, I have looked into the IH 504, 560, 574, 656, and a couple of others, what else should I look at? I am up in the air about gear vs. hydro right now and would appreciate input on that too. I won't be using the loader every day, so I'm thinking gears, maybe with a reverse shuttle if I can find something like that. Well I hope I've given enough info to get some responses, this looks like a great site with tons of info, and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Thanks a lot,
Ryan

I bought this Oliver 1365 diesel FWA this past February for $5850. 1973 model. I absolutely love that tractor. I'm using it right now for pushing corn silage in the bunker silo while I'm filling. Unstoppable! Starts great in cold weather,great lifting capacity.

$5850! I"ll give you $5900 right now. For real though, I haven"t seen anything with 4wd around here for under 10k, even under 25hp, which isn"t really an option for me. I would love to find something like that, my neighbor just sold her Oliver. Not what I was looking for, narrow front, no loader, but I always liked that tractor.

They sold that same tractor a few years later as a White 1370 too. Had the chrome grille and silver paint job,but the same tactor. This one is around 55 horse.

If the n's do the tillage maybe you should look into a used skid steer. They sure are handy for so many things.

If you want to stick with Ford, look at the 1965+ 3000, 4000, 5000.
Particularly if you can find an SU or industrial with PTO and 3PT.
They came in gas or diesel, several transmissions as options.
8 speed would be my choice for all around use.
Power steering available and really needed with a loader.
From what I understand they are pricey in your neck of the woods.
Selling the 8N's would recoup some of the cost though.

Well first, welcome to the forum, you will find a wealth of information here!! I am an IH guy so I'll have to recommend an IH but I am also partial to Ford so here we go. If your looking for a great all around utility tractor I personally don't think you can beat an IH 656. It has more enough power for you, category 2/1 3 point hitch, independent hydraulics, power steering, PTO, 60hp, wide front(some have narrow front end), and you can find them in both gas and diesel. If you go with something smaller (400,450,460,560) your looking at a fast hitch and less hp, don't get me wrong I LOVE these smaller machines but it just sounds like your looking for that bigger all around tractor. If your a Ford guy you could look at the Ford 861 power master (it's an 8n on steroids) or you could go to the 3 cylinder diesels in the Ford 3000 or 4000 from the mid 1960's to the early 1970's. Gear vs. hydro is your preference but there are more gear tractors than hydros available and I believe (not 100% sure) you lose a bit of hp with a hydro... as far as a loader, i'd go with something heavy like a 656 if your looking for loader power. Hope this helps a little, best of luck, keep the questions coming, and post some pictures when you finally get something! A good source for information on all of the individual particulars for these and all tractors is www.tractordata.com ~Anthony

I always recommend finding the closest two or three dealers, and try to find one of their tractors. Service and parts.

I agree with frankmn, You can get a descent sized skid loader for that money and let the N"s keep doing what they do best.

Looks hard to beat. The skid steer sounds good to me. Or a older Case backhoe. We have a newer 50hp. John Deere hydro. Pricey but worth it! My neighbor has a 656 hydro gas, with a loader. He has had it for 20 plus years. Still going.

I have a ford 6610, it will easily pick up a ton in the bucket. It is a very useful tractor.

welcome to the world of YT! as I read you post it seems to me you are asking a lot from a standard farm type tractor wanting to lift 2000lbs, not that some won't do it I just feel you would be better like another said at looking at a skid steer or what I call a "skip loader" that is basically a backhoe without a backhoe on it, you get the industrial heavy duty tractor made for loader work as well as a loader frame that can handle those loads Ford/IH/Case all make them and would serve you well they all can or do have fwd/rev shuttle and can also be equipped with 3pt and pto the pic above is what I have and I use it almost every day great machine, mine has pto/3pt and remote hyd, good luck on your hunting
cnt

The old standard recommendation of buying what you can get the best service on locally no longer holds true. The manufacturers are now forcing their dealers to get big or get out. Last winter JD shut their oldest dealer down due to inadequate sales. Any good dealer that you have now could be very easily either shut down or sold out to another one fifty miles away next week. The manufacturers encourage buyouts because it reduces competition so they and their dealers can reap higher profits. I used to support my local dealer even after he sold out to one from fifty miles away, but prices just escalated sky high, and the service department would take ten hours to do a job that you swear should have taken an hour. With any older tractor they can easily present you a bill for well over the value of your tractor. Any part that you need can now be bought on line. Many Ford owners now buy from Messicks in PA even though they may be a thousand miles away. As long as you stay away from electronics by going with older stuff you can fix it yourself or call in an independent who works out of his truck at your place.

Not all diesels are hard starting in the winter. I have
a Massey Ferguson 40b industrial that I've never
plugged in in Michigan. Starts great. Live power,
loader, shuttle shift. Payed 5k for it. Been very
pleased.

Welcome!!!

I own a 1206 IH diesel. It's a 113 HP farm tractor. It has a loader on it, heated cab, 3 point and live PTO and hydraulics. I also own 2 8N's a Farmall M and a Tractor Loader Backhoe (TLB). The N's are parked for most of the west MN winters as well as the M. My winter work horse tractor are the 1206 and TLB (both diesel). I have a blower that mounts on the 1206. So most often the 1206 is the go to tractor in the winter with the TLB as a backup. If the TLB had a cab it would be used the most. Overall I use the TLB more hours a year than the 1206. I paid less than 5K for the TLB.

So you really need to look at what's out there. I have a buddy who was thinking he wanted a skid steer. After I talked to him he decided on a 45HP compact utility. For his needs much more versatility.

Without seeing your operation first hand I'd be inclined to say for what you want an industrial tractor with a loader like casenutty suggested would be a good candidate. Many were sold with a 3 point and PTO. I will say that having dealer support is most important! Don't ask! A home made "logging arch" on a 3 point that can lift the butt of the log off the ground makes pulling logs easy.

Rick

Wow, thanks for all the great
information! I have been looking
at the industrial loader tractors,
there seem to be a few around here
in the 5-7k range hydro or
geared.It"d be nice to find one
with the backhoe too. My fear with
those is that they have been worked
real hard for a long time before
they find their way into my budget,
but maybe I should go check them
out. The skid steer looks handy
too, and I thought about them, but
for a number of reasons I think
tractor is the way to go right now.
Skid steer implements are really
doesn"t and I already have enough
tractor implements that would be
better run on a bigger tractor
anyway that I think I"ll stick with
that system. Also I don"t like how
skid steers tear up the ground. As
far as selling the 8ns, I think
they are staying for now. I want
to keep at least one of them, in
which case I would keep the nice
one, and the other one really is
worth more to keep than I could
sell it for, the brakes and
hydraulics don"t work, so I"d
rather leave it set up to pull a
trailer forever than sell it for
$600. I keep looking back to the
656, that and the 574. Similar HP I
think, but I think the 656 weighs a
lot more. Any other models to think
about?

Hello Ryan! In that part of the country you probably want to look at Ford/ New Holland or John Deere as they have the most dealers around there now. John Deere, Allis-Chalmers and IH were big in the area back in the 1960's and 70's. Not so much Ford in those days, so you will have to look harder to find an older Ford.
Where are you? I grew up in that neck of the woods.

I have been seeing some of the older model Ford compact tractors 4X4 with loaders for sale in that price range. Not positive of the models 1700,1720 & 1900, 1920 ?

Here's a link you might want to check for the good and bad of some you might run across since a good number if tractors that size were imports.
Import tractor list

The 574 was made in England, I'm not sure how many are here in the US but I can almost bet you that more people on this site have had more experience with the 656 and could offer more help (in the IH forum) if you went that route. The hp is about the same but the 656 is about 1,000 lbs heavier. I have been eye balling a 656 here in NY, around here a nice running 656 runs between $4,000-$7,000 depending on shape. If you end up looking at a 656 or a IH in general you need to check the operation of the TA or "Torque Amplifier." While driving the tractor pull the handle to the left of the steering wheel, you will feel a noticeable difference. The TA puts it into a "low gear" used mainly for plowing or operations where loss of traction is possible, this gives you more power to get through the tough spots. You may never use it but it comes in handy sometimes when moving heavy loads, work in the snow, etc...

Ryan, a lot of the industrials came with a shuttle shift that allows you to go from F to R without clutching. When you spend a day on a tractor loading round bales and constantly on the clutch yer leg gets pretty wore out. The shuttle eliminates that.
If you are going to do a lot of lifting with a loader there are 2 things. 1. make sure the loader is heavy enough to handle the work. 2. the tractor is heavy enough to be safe.

Rick

Ryan,
My suggestion. Write down every single operation you have at your place, and what piece of equipment you use or need to perform the job.

Plowing an acre and brush hogging 5, hauling your syrup wagon, and most of the things you list, there is no reason to sell what you have, an 8N is fine for most of that.

Lifting logs and things like that, you may find a backhoe or skidsteer fits the bill. To me a skidsteer is more handy and you'll do things you never imagined, and do them a lot faster. Plus for oddball jobs you can rent the attachment you need.

I ended up putting a quick-attach on my 50hp tractor loader, I now can do just about any chore I need with the one tractor.

Rick

If you check the online auction site in Baldwin Wi they have a ford 801 that will probably go in your price range. Not 4wd but do you need that?