best chore tractor

[Hodgie76]

What is your favorite tractor between 50 to 100 hp. for doing cattle chores? Chores like moving big round bales, moving small loads of feed etc. Mine is an IH 706 gas. Cost a lot less than a JD . We had an Oliver and a White years ago. The Oliver was always broke down. The White didn't last long. The 706 starts easy in the winter. The only thing I don't like about it is it shifts hard.

 

[diamonddls]

JD 4020 a crude machine by modern standards yet we still have one that has more than 20000hours on it and still runs every day. Or JD 4230 runs everyday with 15000 hours and counting. Recently repainted 4230 just a little cosmetic fix. Neither tractor cost much to operate and are incredibly reliable.

 

[renegadelivestock]

the most used tractor on our farm is a Kubota m7040. starts easy in extreme cold. easy to operate, and does about everything we need it to do

 

[justintime]

I have had a Kubota M120 for the past 8 years. Before that I had a Kubota M105. Both excellent tractors but the M120 is a little better to ride because of the longer wheel base. They are the best starting tractors I have ever owned. One morning last winter I realized that the cord to the block heater had come unplugged and it was about -35. I let the glow plugs warm twice and then turned the key. It started but ran a little rough for awhile. It was probably not the best thing for the tractor but that morning I was glad to see it start.
I see you mentioned a White tractor. Years ago, we had a White tractor and my dad used to say that if a kid were to walk by it, on a hot summer day, carrying an ice cream cone, it probably would not start. If you got it started, it was a good tractor, but I think I probably should own a share in an ether company because of how much ether we used. We usually had to use ether year round to get that pig started.

 

[shortyjock89]

My dad uses a IH JX85 with a loader and it's pretty good.  3 gear boxes with 4 gears each, great hydraulic strength for moving bales and scraping lots.  We use a JD 6430 with a loader at our farm and it's awesome.  I know that's probably a little bigger and a little more money than you want to spend, but I think it's the best general purpose farm tractor I've used.

 

[Gargan]

If you can find a 55 series JD (2355,2555,2755), they are great tractors.
Best JD made IMO. Hard to find a good used one though cause everyone that owns one keeps them til they fall apart, which is a long time. We have a new M 9960 Kubota that is a good running tractor other than the new emissions bs the gov made mandatory. But ur gonna have to deal with that on any new one I guess. 

 

[librarian]

Only rated 38 hp, but this old Ford 860 is my right arm. We only feed 25 pairs plus yearlings, but the light weight is a real advantage in mud. 800 lb bales no problem, 1000 lb bales and you will be steering with the brakes. Maneuverability is the tradeoff of no loader, we use an old JD 30B backhoe for that. The old Ford is great in the woods for skidding because of the low profile. These tractors are around for $3000 it so.
BUT, if I had $30,000 I would get a Kubota M7040, which is like the ultimate upgrade of the Ford. I spend about 5 minutes everyday trying to justify borrowing money to buy the Kubota, but the Ford keeps doing the job day in and day out and I just have to accept that.

 

[shortyjock89]

My dad learned to chore on a Ford a lot like that one.  We had it until I was 6 or 8 and then we sold it to somebody who wanted to shine it up.  Bought a White Iseki to replace as kind of an auger mover, putt around tractor......and woof.  What a bad choice. 

 

[Hodgie76]

I agree with Justintime the older White we had didn't like to start in the cold. We took  the in block heater out and it was way too small for that size of tractor. My uncle had a MF 85 he didn't like it,he traded for a Ford 5000. He has owned a lot of tractors. The 5000 was his favorite chore tractor. Now he has a White built about 1990, he likes it.

 

[cowboy_nyk]

If you can find a 55 series JD (2355,2555,2755), they are great tractors.
Best JD made IMO. Hard to find a good used one though cause everyone that owns one keeps them til they fall apart, which is a long time. We have a new M 9960 Kubota that is a good running tractor other than the new emissions bs the gov made mandatory. But ur gonna have to deal with that on any new one I guess.

Yup.  Dad bought a JD 4255 new in 1991 and it's started everyday to do chores since then.  Great tractor.  Also have a JD 4250 on the bale shredder/mixer wagon and it might even be a better tractor.

Me personally, if you only have a few cows, get a skid steer.  That's what I did and I haven't regretted it.  So easy to maneuver and awesome for cleaning barns and scraping up your own pens.

 

[Cham2135]

We don't use a tractor. We use a Caterpillar skid loader. Works awesome for moving bales, feeders, rocks, and this year lots of snow.

We have an older 4020 that we use from time to time for odd jobs.


Sorry I wasn't a lot of help. If I had a choice Id get one of the Kubotas as said before. Seem to be handy tractors.

 

[b_kackley]

Case IH 5220 is a really nice all around tractor. They will do more than chores and are a really well balanced and easy to use tractor. I love the magnum series and the Case IH made in that time frame. All tractor companies made some really good ones in that HP range. I am just really like those and the 5120 the best.

 

[Bulldaddy]

BUT, if I had $30,000 I would get a Kubota M7040, which is like the ultimate upgrade of the Ford. I spend about 5 minutes everyday trying to justify borrowing money to buy the Kubota, but the Ford keeps doing the job day in and day out and I just have to accept that.

I traded my M Farmall that I had for 15 years in on 4050 SU Kubota about twelve years ago and used it for 10 years but needed more horsepower or, at least 4-wheel drive.  I bit the bullet and traded for one of those M7040, 4-wheel drive, loader, shuttle shift.  Best decision I have ever made!  Just made the last payment this month!

 

[obie105]

If you can find a 55 series JD (2355,2555,2755), they are great tractors.
Best JD made IMO. Hard to find a good used one though cause everyone that owns one keeps them til they fall apart, which is a long time. We have a new M 9960 Kubota that is a good running tractor other than the new emissions bs the gov made mandatory. But ur gonna have to deal with that on any new one I guess.

I just took a 2355 in on trade with a loader and bale spear. It is in pretty good shape.

 

[dwcc]

I use my bobcat everyday. I would b lost without it. Only time it doesn't work is in mud. We feed on concrete so its never a problem. Fed with 4020's till we got the bobcat. Good old tractors!!

 

[jwfarms]

Started with an old Ford, but upgraded to a kubota m series, what a difference.