What else besides an N?

Don't get me wrong, I like my 52 8N. It is a very good farmette tractor. A carry all, and boxblade have been swell tools for me to do the avg stuff round the 7-1/2 acres I toil on.

However, I need more hydraulic possibilities. I don't really like the add on idea and all the hassle of switching implements etc. It never fails I have 10 min of this task, 2 hours of this task and then 20 min of the other task. Switching and the dead PTO are just too bothersome. I do know the $2000 invested has given me the options I paid for.

What else (other tractor) is out there in the vicinity of $4000 and less that has live PTO and better hydraulic options. (loaders, backhoes). Is the 600 Ford a good alternative?

Don't really want to sell my 8N, but may have too.

Thanks in advance Steve

Your 8n will handle the rake and for your small area a sicle bar mower will do just fine. You can also look for a bailer that has its own moter instead of pto driven model. Just my $.02...Mike

Around here (northern Virginia) they go for $4-5K, but you may be able to find one cheaper at an auction. I had a tractor parts yard guy tell me that he does not see hardly any come in because they are so popular, people fix them rather than junk them. At 10 hp more and 1000 lb heavier, they can do a lot of work so are worth the difference.

A three cylinder 2000 may be OK for you also. The only difference is derated HP by dropping rating RPM from 2000 to 1900 AND draft control only for compression on the top link - just like 8N. The 3000 has draft control for BOTH compression (pulling a plow) and tension - like pushing a rear blade. If you keep you eye out you may also find the later versions of the 2-3000 such as a 3300 or 3600, but then price may be too high.

Good luck, AND figure some way to keep the 8N too!!

Personally, I'd stay with a tractor with a three point hitch. You can add a swinging drawbar for pull type implements and still be able to use all the equipment you purchased for your 8N.

Depending on your area and your personality, you may want to expand yourself out completely and consider stepping away from Ford, and going with something else that isn't popular, particularly in your area. MM's go dirt cheap here, and will work just about anything else into the ground.

Now about that hitching issue, er, just about everything uses a standard category I hitch, and they are all equally difficult to use. Some folks love this pipe hitching assist tool I've seen. It's about a yard long pipe that you snake through the hitch arm ball and then onto the appropriate impliment pin. You then yank, cuss and kick things to slip the hitch arm on. It probably does help by the increased leverage.

There are quick hitches that you can install onto the arms of any lift, whereby you simply back up to the impliment and it "snaps" itself into place. You may wish to consider that.

And you may want to consider how you put your impliments away. I too often have to switch things around. And before I spent some time out in the yard making a nice neat level and orderly arrangment of impliments, I'd spend a lot more time cursing trying to line things up to hitch them on.