School me on adding a loader to a Ford/NH 3930

Guys, I need a tractor in the roughly 50 HP range AND I need a loader. The problem is as I'm sure many of you know, it's very hard to find a good machine with the loader already on it. Lots more machine choices out there without the loader.

Soooo, here's the issue. I've never added a loader to anything and have no idea how it's done or costs.

- Ballpark price? Can somebody throw out an educated price range for a new low to mid-range QA loader for this tractor? Not looking for just guesses.

- Generally, do new loaders include the controls? Looking at Westendorf loaders, they all include something called a " Hydraulic Manifold" Is that the controls or are the controls and extra cost and if so how much ballpark?

- Anybody know of a multi-model website where I can put in a tractor model and get a good list of loader models that fit this tractor?

Many thanks, guys.

Grouse




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All I can tell you is when you buy a new tractor, a
cab or a loader seem to have a similar value, and
cost to the new tractor. Rule of thumb 10 grand
each . Many tractors now can’t be purchased
without a cab. There are always used loaders
available. Often a tractor will be damaged and sent
to a wrecking yard, but the loader can still be
perfect. I would start by searching salvage yards.

I got a quote recently for a Westendorf TA 25 (about the size you would need) for around $5700 with mounts. This did not include a valve or
installation. Did include the skid steer quick attach and a 6' bucket. Still debating on going that way or finding a good used loader.
Good used not always easy to find, and often not cheap when you find them.

On a QA loader the manifold is a set of couplers that
stay with the mounted frame of the loader that does
not detach. When you dismount the bucket and lift
arm the hydraulic hoses to the functions just unplug at
that location but stay plumbed to the valve. See link.
Westendorf Hyd. manifold

My problem was just the opposite a couple of years ago when I was looking for a 50-70 hp tractor without a loader. Everything seem
to have a loader on it. The new one I did finally buy had a loader on it and I had them take it off and brought it without the
loader. Maybe things have changed.

(quoted from post at 18:29:43 12/09/20) My problem was just the opposite a couple of years ago when I was looking for a 50-70 hp tractor without a loader. Everything seem
to have a loader on it. The new one I did finally buy had a loader on it and I had them take it off and brought it without the
loader. Maybe things have changed.

Click to expand...

I'm sure it varies a lot by area. I'm in row crop country, so everything now comes in one size--XXXXL.

Small loader tractors are very uncommon here except for the little sub coms for homeowners, which are both ridiculously expensive and not enough for what I need.

A 40-60 HP loader tractor here in MN is like finding a gold nugget on the street. They almost NEVER come up for sale except stuff from the 60s and 70s when small dairy and smaller farms were a thing.

I'm looking for a 1990s or 2000s utility tractor and I keep finding them again and again without loaders. The few loader models I have found were industrial beaters with 7-9k hours. I find a few on auctions, but when you add the crazy buyers premium plus trucking, the risk of buying sigh-unseen is just not worth it. Those auction clowns are bigger liars than politicians.

Just this week I waited 2 hours for an auciton to come up on a nice looking lower hour unit with loader. And then the auctioneer drops this in right before he sells the tractor:

"Well, now, just so you know the hours on this machine are not going to be right. But that's no big deal, you can just tell this tractor doesn't have a ton of hours on it just by looking so let's go...."

Well thanks a lot for putting that in the online description! NOT. Idiots listed the tractor with 700 hours which could be right and then go with the verbal disclaimer that they don't really know 10 seconds before selling it. That's what we're up against.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Grouse

(quoted from post at 08:43:16 12/09/20) Guys, I need a tractor in the roughly 50 HP range AND I need a loader. The problem is as I'm sure many of you know, it's very hard to find a good machine with the loader already on it. Lots more machine choices out there without the loader.

Soooo, here's the issue. I've never added a loader to anything and have no idea how it's done or costs.

- Ballpark price? Can somebody throw out an educated price range for a new low to mid-range QA loader for this tractor? Not looking for just guesses.

- Generally, do new loaders include the controls? Looking at Westendorf loaders, they all include something called a " Hydraulic Manifold" Is that the controls or are the controls and extra cost and if so how much ballpark?

- Anybody know of a multi-model website where I can put in a tractor model and get a good list of loader models that fit this tractor?

Many thanks, guys.

Grouse




-

Click to expand...

I priced adding a loader to a Kubota M5640SU, so similar size to a 3930.

You are buying the following:
1x Loader Arms (cylinders, boom and hose) & Carrier (i.e. Euro, Pin on etc)
1x Loader Mounts (specific to your tractor)
1 x Bucket (to fit carrier)
1 x Hydraulic controls (hoses to dual remotes/factory loader joystick, joystick/valve package and hoses to tractor power beyond.

Bet you are looking $6000-$7000 USD easy, I was 9K CDN

Very rare to find any 4x4 utility without a loader here. Were tons that size sold well into the 90s here.

Still several small tractors around here.
Westendorf and Quickie seam to be the ones that still make loader for the older Fords.
The old Farmhand loader still pop up around here at times, found one the other day for $2000 but will have to fab some of the brackets.
Same loader that works on a 3930 fits a 4630, 4610,4600,4000 so if you see one listed for those tractors it'll work.