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Tractor advice for tree nursery
QUESTION:I'm seriously considering a New Holland 2120.
Specs: About 40 HP, About 4000 lbs, 9 gpm hydraulics, separate hydralics
for power steering. FWA. Short enough for good manoeverability,
heavy enough for good traction.
- What experience do others have with this model in particular and
NH in general?
- Does this tractor fit my needs? Overkill?
- This comes iwth several transmission options. The loader
use means I want the hydraulic shuttle, I think.
- What other brands/models should I be looking at?
ANSWER: I considered that, but came across several comments about using a
skidsteer for ag work:
- Stability issues on anything but flat ground.
- No 3 pt hitch, so all implement connections have to be a kluge.
- Easy to get stuck.
Why not have both a tractor and skid loader.
The loader frame, bucket, hydraulic upgrade, and
shuttle transmission to support it cost, say, $8,000
on a new tractor.
You can get a good used skid steer for, say, $5,000.
You won't be running it that much so you don't need
a new one. Skid steers are designed to be run 40+
hours a week and there are a lot of places that trade
them in every few years, so there are plenty of good
used ones.
A regular sized skid steer with the wheels set wide
does OK in the reasonably even ground you would
have in a nursery. They have their own attachment
mechanism where stuff can be hooked on instead of
the bucket, and I've seen post hole augers, small tree
spades, and much other stuff sold this way.
On the other hand, they're harder to repair than
German cameras and for the same reasons. You
have to take them all the way apart to get at anything
and even then you need three hands (all small).
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