50HP Utility Battle: Deere, Massey, New Holland

[Southern]

50HP Utility Battle: John Deere, Massey, and New Holland

I have been looking for a 50HP tractor for my hobby farm. This is 50HP on the PTO rating. Or in the new rating, 60HP on the engine. I go by PTO since I can put those ranges in better compared to the older tractors. And easier to figure what I’m working with.

So I went to each dealer in my area to see what I can get for that HP range. Including what they come with plus price range. So this will give you an idea what to expect with these. And what your paying for.

Here is what I told each dealer. A 50HP PTO tractor with 2WD. I wanted a Canopy for the ROPS, but they range in the 450-500 range. On each dealer. But what they come with on other options really shows. What you will end up paying for and getting your moneys worth.

John Deere 5065E:
Engine - 179 cubic inches 3 cylinder turbo
HP - 56
PTO - Independent standard equipped
Hydraulic hookup - 1 standard equipped
3 point lift capacity - 3,192lbs
Telescoping lift arms - optional $1,000 est.
weight - 5,070lbs
Price - $19,600 est.

I really like this tractor after seeing it on the lot. Easy to climb on to get into the seat. Controls very easy to reach. Full clear deck area for your feet. So no chances of getting tangled up getting on/off. Nice view over the hood, and all around. The fuel tank is located behind the seat, kinda like the old Cases and later IHs. This made fueling easy. Since I still use 5 gallon cans to fill up my tractors. The lift arms comes with the optional telescoping arms. Which to me is a very nice feature. As you can get close and still hook up to a 3 point implement. Without having to constantly climb on/off to get closer or farther from the mounts. So after seeing this, I want this on my tractor. The standard equipped Independent PTO is very nice feature. As you can keep the baler/mower going during shifting gears with no problems. And at constant engine speeds. And it comes with that hydraulic hook up standard. Which is a great feature to have. To lift up implements.

Massey Ferguson 2625:
Engine - 220 cubic inches 4 cylinder
HP - 54
PTO - Live standard equipped
Hydraulic hookup - Non equipped. $1,000 option for 1
3 point lift capacity - 4,520lbs
Telescoping lift arms - Not available
Weight - 5,250lbs
Price - $18,500 est.

I saw this one on the lot. But this one had FWA and loader. Still close enough to give me an idea what I was looking at. Climbing on/off was very nice. The controls felt a little out of reach. Due to they was making room for the twin gear sticks. And have room to get on/off. The 2 gear shifters was sticking out of the transmission housing. Plus the foot boards was on both sides of the transmission housing. Similar to what I run now on my Fords. This is OK, but I really like seeing that area nice and flat with nothing there. Which really helps moving around the driver’s platform. And you sat lower as well in the seat. So you didn’t get that high view like on the Deere. The hood seemed longer as well. The fuel tank on these are mounted in the hood. And to fill them you lift a car style lid. And it was in the middle hood. That is kinda a pain to fill with 5 gallon cans. Plus with the loader mounted it really would be a pain. If I was to add one later on. The live PTO is ok I can do with. As my Ford 3000 has it. The lift arms not having even the option for telescoping. I didn’t like at all. As now I have to be right on the hook up mounts. With no room for error. This is another feature I really wanted. Not even coming equipped for a remote hook up for hydraulics was not good. As I wanted one of them for implements. Granted for now I just have a disk, but with a haybind I just bought. This feature is a must. Granted the price is lower than the Deere, but this tractor is not a good one for what Im looking for. Even though the price was lower. By the time I add the $1,000 optional hookup I still get a better deal with the Deere.

New Holland 65 Workmaster:
Engine - 195 cubic inches 4 cylinder turbo
HP - 57
PTO - Independent standard equipped
Hydraulic Hookup - 1 standard equipped
3 point lift capacity - 2,429lbs
Telescoping lift arms - Standard equipped
Weight - 5,059lbs
Price - $17,800 est.

This tractor is also impressive. They had a 2wd 55 on the lot. But this gives me an idea what the 65 is about. Easy to get on/off. Platform not cluttered with shifting sticks and transmission housing. Controls easy to reach. To fill the tank is a cap on the hood. Located off to the side and near the dash area. Similar to my Ford 3000. This allows very easy fueling. Which is a plus for me and my 5 gallon cans. It comes standard with the telescoping arms, and one set of hydraulics hookups. So these are another pluses for what I’m looking for. The only thing I don’t like is the not so great 3 point lifting power. But still over a ton of lift is still good for my operations. The best part is the price and what all it comes with standard. To me this is lot better than both of them.

Final Thoughts:
The John Deere is a good choice. It has that strong name brand and company. Little pricey since your buying that legendary name. Massey even though they are praised for their Utility Line all through out their history. Really lacks on what they offer. Which is a big let down as they offer the least and a high price. Which really kicked that brand off my list. And finally the New Holland. This one is more likely what I will end up buying. Due to price was the best, and I got more features for my buying power.

For the 50HP Utility Battle - New Holland wins, with Deere a strong 2nd, and Massey last.

I spent several days shopping at these dealers and getting up info and prices. To bring you this info.

[70ds]

There are a few small Nh's around here. I have never ran one. I have ran a 4300 Deere. I didn't really like it too much.

[Southern]

Feb 22, 2011 21:15:55 GMT -5 70ds said:

There are a few small Nh's around here. I have never ran one. I have ran a 4300 Deere. I didn't really like it too much.

I been around Fords most of my life. I love that brand. Since they went to New Holland, I don't know much on them. From what I sat on. They seem to be nice tractors. Some farmers here uses them. Others tried them only to trade them off quick. And say lots of choice words about them.

At least I know now how the 3 main brands stack up against each other. On what can they can do for my farm. Money being the biggest factor. New Holland is the way to go for me. Cheapest price, and have all the features I wanted. JD was a good second, but they was expensive. It would been over $20k by the time I got all those stuff on it I wanted. Massey, well they didn't have nothing to work with.

[sean]

I personally like the 2625, got to drive on once, nice little tractor IMO. Before I would make a purchas ethoguh I would ask people that won the tractors to see what the think, quality and performance wise. I dont liek the John Deeres (I sat on one and couldnt get off the dang thing.... either its too small or Im too big, haha!)

I would also suggest looking at maybe a Kubota if you have a dealership around. Ive ran 1 and really liked it! I would also suggest looking at osme newer used equipment. And also did you try looking at any Masseys in the 1500 series, their compacts but go up to 60HP and sounds like their more of what youre looking for.

Sean

[Southern]

Feb 22, 2011 22:22:07 GMT -5 sean said:

I personally like the 2625, got to drive on once, nice little tractor IMO. Before I would make a purchas ethoguh I would ask people that won the tractors to see what the think, quality and performance wise. I dont liek the John Deeres (I sat on one and couldnt get off the dang thing.... either its too small or Im too big, haha!)

I would also suggest looking at maybe a Kubota if you have a dealership around. Ive ran 1 and really liked it! I would also suggest looking at osme newer used equipment. And also did you try looking at any Masseys in the 1500 series, their compacts but go up to 60HP and sounds like their more of what youre looking for.

Sean

I could look at the Kubota since our New Holland Dealer sells them. But when I was at the Farm Show in Raleigh. They was priced higher than a Deere. At least when I was asking about them having fwa and loader option. Since that was another set up I was looking at. So far the deal with New Holland is very hard to beat.

I don't want a compact, which is why I'm after a Utility size. What I will do with a tractor in the 50HP range, will kill a compact. I want to work, not play. So compacts are not an option. Even the Reps at the Farm Show and dealers both said I need Utility for what I tend to do with it.

I know Masseys are good tractors and a good product. But they don't offer nothing for me to work with. And comes to features on what you can put on it. They had the worse offerings. So Massey is no longer a brand I would look at for a new/slight new tractor. To me they was sub-par to the rest I was looking at. With an expensive price tag. I did kinda had hopes up to owning an Agco product. But after this, I highly doubt I will anytime soon. I will stick to my Fords/New Hollands and Deeres.

[treymo]

I really don't have a clue on what's on the market for small utility tractors but I had a friend who had a little NH with a loader. Nice little tractor. He said the only reason he bought it was because he couldn't afford to buy green. haha
Trey

[steiger9330]

Sounds to me like the New holland would be a good choice. That does sound like a let down on the Massey. We're thinking about looking at a Case farmall 90 in the next year or so to replace our c80.

[Southern]

Feb 23, 2011 17:58:41 GMT -5 treymo said:

I really don't have a clue on what's on the market for small utility tractors but I had a friend who had a little NH with a loader. Nice little tractor. He said the only reason he bought it was because he couldn't afford to buy green. haha
Trey

I hope this helps you out some on what is out there. I thought I did a good job on the breakdown on the 3 major brands. Deere, Agco, and CNH.

I'm in the market for 2 reasons. One I could use a good 50HP tractor. Two I will be 30 years old this summer. So I figure a new to almost new will last me the rest of my life. The way I use them. I'm just getting tired of keep patching up tractors from the 40s-50s to hobby farm with. I have 2 down now with major repairs. My Super H spun a bearing in the engine. And Farmall M got some kind of popping sound in the transmission.

At some point you have to say enough is enough and do something about it.

[Southern]

Feb 23, 2011 18:31:24 GMT -5 steiger9330 said:

Sounds to me like the New holland would be a good choice. That does sound like a let down on the Massey. We're thinking about looking at a Case farmall 90 in the next year or so to replace our c80.

I really had my hopes up on a Massey. All I heard was they offered the best at the price. Compared to other brands. When I got there it was a complete lie. They didn't offer hardly anything for choices. And price was not good to match. You wont see me owning a Massey tractor anytime soon after what I saw.

I would look at CIH, but that dealer is a good 2 hours from my house. But nothing wrong with the Blue version. Same tractor, just paint, decals, and hood styling.

[steiger9330]

Max Armstrong always advertises Mckormicks on This Week in Agribusiness. I wonder how one of those would be.

[Southern]

Feb 23, 2011 19:20:54 GMT -5 steiger9330 said:

Max Armstrong always advertises Mckormicks on This Week in Agribusiness. I wonder how one of those would be.

Not sure, only time I saw them. Was in a Farm Show display booth. They are really unheard of in my area. When you mention McCormicks in my area. First thing pops in mind is the old IHs from the 20-40s.

[Chris Taylor]

I agree with ya about having something nice. I mean its gonna cost ya but if your doing it for fun might as well be comfortable and not be working on it all day.

[Southern]

Feb 23, 2011 20:05:31 GMT -5 Chris Taylor said:

I agree with ya about having something nice. I mean its gonna cost ya but if your doing it for fun might as well be comfortable and not be working on it all day.

So true, it will cost. But in the long run it will provide me many years of good service. So it will pay for itself in the long run. I be doing good to put a few hundred hours on it in a year. So it should last me a very long time. This past summer I put up about 500-600 bales. And that is about all I can handle. Plus working a full time job in the city.