options for a 80HP tractor

maidhc · 26-08-2009 02:24PM

Suckler wrote: »

Cheers lads, Its a long term plan as I'm only starting out. I'll be part time farming so couldnt justify brand new machines. I have to get sheds sorted as well so it'll cost me the guts of 100 - 150K all in by the end I'd say.

First off is a new tractor though. At the moment we have a Massey 550 which is the greatest ball of manure I've ever seen! No power, PTO clutch dodgey, and rusting like the titanic.
I was thinking Massey 390T with loader. At the moment we get the silage wrapped and baled for us but would eventually like to be able to do it myself. Someday I might take a notion ( in dreams or ten years time!) and buy a front mounted mower and dual rear mowers, Hence requirment for front PTO etc. I think 390T for now, bit of mowing and lifting bales etc. Then in a few years pick up a 140HP for the heavier work.
Planning to build a house in the next few years and was thinking of buying a digger for Fdns & would be handy round the farm to dig drains and that, but having a machine to pull the digger the odd time would be handy.

As regards a digger you would be better off getting a wheeled digger like a 3cx or something. I have an old Ford 550 since about 1992, and it is probably the most useful and reliable machine I know to exist. It stacks 1200 bales a year, feeds those bales, has dug foundations, lifts bags of fertilizer and everything else that needs doing.

Forget the front linkage on a 100hp tractor. You would need close on 200hp if you are thinking of front and rear mowers.

maidhc · 26-08-2009 02:25PM

Casinoking wrote: »

You must be planning on doing a lot of mowing, a set-up like that will set you back about 40 grand for the mowers and you'll need 200HP plus to carry and drive them. At least you'll have the big sheds to park them in! Fair play to you, great to see a lad planning on spending a few quid! Who says there's no money in farming?!

Got there before me!

Did noone tell you about the money in suckers!

Suckler · 26-08-2009 02:52PM

Casinoking wrote: »

You must be planning on doing a lot of mowing, a set-up like that will set you back about 40 grand for the mowers and you'll need 200HP plus to carry and drive them. At least you'll have the big sheds to park them in! Fair play to you, great to see a lad planning on spending a few quid! Who says there's no money in farming?!

Didnt think it'd take up to 200HP!! Its a long way off lads and at the moment I'm workin in my monday to friday job to save for the first tractor!I saw a tractor + silage system for sale on farm & plant but cant find it now to link it up. fine rig out.

Money in farming? if I didnt have the full time job to pay for this I wouldnt even risk it!

bk1991 · 26-08-2009 03:31PM

Suckler wrote: »

Cheers lads, Its a long term plan as I'm only starting out. I'll be part time farming so couldnt justify brand new machines. I have to get sheds sorted as well so it'll cost me the guts of 100 - 150K all in by the end I'd say.

First off is a new tractor though. At the moment we have a Massey 550 which is the greatest ball of manure I've ever seen! No power, PTO clutch dodgey, and rusting like the titanic.
I was thinking Massey 390T with loader. At the moment we get the silage wrapped and baled for us but would eventually like to be able to do it myself. Someday I might take a notion ( in dreams or ten years time!) and buy a front mounted mower and dual rear mowers, Hence requirment for front PTO etc. I think 390T for now, bit of mowing and lifting bales etc. Then in a few years pick up a 140HP for the heavier work.
Planning to build a house in the next few years and was thinking of buying a digger for Fdns & would be handy round the farm to dig drains and that, but having a machine to pull the digger the odd time would be handy.

u have her well planed out

Suckler · 26-08-2009 04:59PM

bk1991 wrote: »

u have her well planed out

Thats the easy part- paying for it all and keeping it al going is the hard bit!

maidhc · 26-08-2009 05:07PM

Suckler wrote: »

Thats the easy part- paying for it all and keeping it al going is the hard bit!

I would be inclined to keep buying stuff and general investment to a minimum.

I am a partime farmer along with my father, and while we have a reasonably good set up now, it took 25 years to build up. We do all our own silage, but with a 20y.o. baler and 15y.o. mower. I also maintain all the machinery, and no mechanic has been needed in 20 or so years (but even still there can be fair maintenance bills...e.g. I spent the bones of €500 rebuilding the front axle on the digger during the winter and about €400 on rebuilding the pickup on the baler... I enjoyed the work so I assume no labour charge!).

The farm (dry stock) always makes a profit, and we have a substantial SFP, but none of that is ever reinvested. You have to make money at the end of the day.

bk1991 · 26-08-2009 05:14PM

maidhc wrote: »

I would be inclined to keep buying stuff and general investment to a minimum.

I am a partime farmer along with my father, and while we have a reasonably good set up now, it took 25 years to build up. We do all our own silage, but with a 20y.o. baler and 15y.o. mower. I also maintain all the machinery, and no mechanic has been needed in 20 or so years (but even still there can be fair maintenance bills...e.g. I spent the bones of €500 rebuilding the front axle on the digger during the winter and about €400 on rebuilding the pickup on the baler... I enjoyed the work so I assume no labour charge!).

The farm (dry stock) always makes a profit, and we have a substantial SFP, but none of that is ever reinvested. You have to make money at the end of the day.

i am only 18 and trying to get fininace to start out contracting ...its very easy dreaming and buying

:Dpaying it the hardest part :eek::eek:

Suckler · 26-08-2009 06:57PM

maidhc wrote: »

I would be inclined to keep buying stuff and general investment to a minimum.

I am a partime farmer along with my father, and while we have a reasonably good set up now, it took 25 years to build up. We do all our own silage, but with a 20y.o. baler and 15y.o. mower. I also maintain all the machinery, and no mechanic has been needed in 20 or so years (but even still there can be fair maintenance bills...e.g. I spent the bones of €500 rebuilding the front axle on the digger during the winter and about €400 on rebuilding the pickup on the baler... I enjoyed the work so I assume no labour charge!).
.

Thats exactly the plan. I dont want to go down the "loans" route do plan to just keep adding over the years

maidhc · 26-08-2009 07:29PM

bk1991 wrote: »

i am only 18 and trying to get fininace to start out contracting ...its very easy dreaming and buying :Dpaying it the hardest part :eek::eek:

Would you not think of doing something else? College, trade, any thing?

Can't see how doing contracting can ever make money. It is something I wanted to do when I was 18, but utterly glad I didn't.

Casinoking · 26-08-2009 07:45PM

bk1991 wrote: »

i am only 18 and trying to get fininace to start out contracting ...its very easy dreaming and buying :Dpaying it the hardest part :eek::eek:

If I were you, and I was in that situation myself once upon a time, I'd consider working elsewhere for a while and save a few quid first. If you go out and borrow all the money you need for your gear from the start it'll be a noose around your neck for years to come. Besides, now isn't a particularly good time to be trying to start out as a contractor, there's an awful lot of competition since the building work stopped. Anyone with a tractor and baler, or any kind of gear, is out trying to pick up hire work with it and cutting each other's throats in the process. Maybe try working for an established contractor first, get to know the ins and outs of the trade, suss out what services there's a demand for and try to line up a few potential customers before you take the plunge.

jamie2000 · 30-08-2009 05:41PM

i am looking for a four wheel drive tractor around 100 hp.make not important some thing around the mid eights price

bk1991 · 31-08-2009 12:40AM

Casinoking wrote: »

If I were you, and I was in that situation myself once upon a time, I'd consider working elsewhere for a while and save a few quid first. If you go out and borrow all the money you need for your gear from the start it'll be a noose around your neck for years to come. Besides, now isn't a particularly good time to be trying to start out as a contractor, there's an awful lot of competition since the building work stopped. Anyone with a tractor and baler, or any kind of gear, is out trying to pick up hire work with it and cutting each other's throats in the process. Maybe try working for an established contractor first, get to know the ins and outs of the trade, suss out what services there's a demand for and try to line up a few potential customers before you take the plunge.

cheers for the advice

options for a 80HP tractor

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