Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Most Popular Model Of Tractor

What is the most popular model of tractor in your area? I'm not talking about brand, I'm talking about the particular model. I'm also talking about tractors that have been popular over a long period of time, not just modern stuff that's only been out a few years.

In my part of the country, I'd have to say that it's the 4020 John Deere, as they were the standard by which most everything else was judged. They're still popular too.

The 5000 Ford's were also very popular, and had a reputation for being a big bang for the buck.

Other tractors that I'd have to say were also popular were the 8N Fords, M Farmalls, 1066 IH's, 4440 JD's, WD-45 AC's, Farmall 140's (for cultivating tobacco), and 165 MF's.

Farmall M

Bobcat.

We're not in big farming country, mostly pine trees and pastures, so the big tractors never really caught on, cause there was no need for them. Up until about 40 years ago, this was Ford tractor country. Mostly older 8n's, a few 9n's still running, jubilee's, 2000's, and 3000's. Throw in a few old Massy's 135's, and that was about it. This was before the round balers and rotary cutters came out. The need for more horse power to run those machines brought on bigger tractors and there is a variety of them running today. If I had to choose the standard for our part of the country, it would be the Ford 3000. Still see a lot of them running.

Tough call. I can't say there is one favorite. The top 3 brands seem to be Deere, Kubota, and Kioti but not necessarily in that order.

Farmall H or M. Smaller dairy farms mostly, so hay and corn. I had a Farmall 130, and a Farmall Cub for yard work. I have a loader series Kubota now, and it offers more utility. 4020 is used a lot on bigger farms.

Every deer camp has a Ford 4000.

Around here for the last 40 years it has been John Deere.

From the 4020 to the newer models with 4 wheel drive today.

My father in law started with a small Ford about 70 + years ago.

They just has the dealers around and they worked in the field.

The most popular in this area was probably the Farmall C, H, M... Ford 8N moving up to Ford 3000 and 3600. From the late 70's early 80s you'll still see a lot of 484, 584, 684 Internationals and 5610 6610, 7610 ford. Moving into 90s the landscape completes changes with John Deere and Kubota filling in where IH left off. Still a lot of New Hollands sold, but all the changes in buyouts and bad quality moving from IH to David Brown, Case, to Case IH left a bad taste in peoples mouths.

It seems like the original big tractors to the area where Allis Chamblers. Used to be a lot of them around, and the old timers here will tell you they were reliable with the absolute best dollar for HP.
But kind of like White tractors. They died with the dealers. If you want a big tractor now you go to where they have real crop land and pick up an old 20,30,40 series deere 66,86 series IH or a Case magnum if you are feeling real frisky.

Those big Allis Tractors were really sleek looking. Kind of sad you never see one restored. They are just slowly returning to the earth.

Farmall C,H,M, 350 and 400
Allis, WD-45,
JD, A and B.
Ford 8/9N, 9000.

At one time I might have voted for the C every farm had one for cultivating.
Unless the were Deere fans.
They are so superior that they won't be caught near anything else.


Once you get to the 1960's, they made so many models that a series is like the old models.
Now, you have a series, but models with different features or HP.

More and more of those small horsepower tractors around.

As people move out into the country on their 10 acre "ranchette"... the small 25-40 hp tractors w/ shredder and loader are selling.

Kubota L3901's

John Deere 3 Series

Mahindra 1600 Series

The tractor dealers make a "Package Deal" out of them. They'll sell you the tractor, a 4' shredder and a 16' trailer "all for one low price"...

There's not enough of the old Ford 8N's to go around.

This is what's selling thousands of units per year now...

https://www.sfstractor.com/departments/sales/sales-specials/Tractor-Package-Specials-2


https://www.cliffjonesmahindratractor.com/tractor-packages-for-sale-texas

I've always been an AC fan. Back when I was farming full time, I wanted a big Allis, but could never find one that I could afford. I had a 185 for a while, and that was one of Allis's most popular models. Very good tractor, and put out more HP than it was rated for.

Up in Iowa where I ws born and raised I drove an H, super M and a 400 what seemed like a million miles. Good times actually looking back. Got a 35 Fergy to take care of my place now.

When I was a kid the cotton farmers used Farmall M,Super M, and H. There were quite a few Ford 8s and 9s for the truck patches. As time went on 4020 JD started showing up in the row crops. Fords of various sizes were preferred by the hay people. There were always a few Massey Ferguson and fewer David Brown. There are a lot of 40+ year old Fords still in use around here. I have a 40 year old 5600 as my only tractor. Now a Kubota is most likely to show up as a new tractor and every now and then a Mahindra. Branson made its debut and fizzled.

The 4020 was probably THE most popular tractor around here in its day, but its day is far past. There are still a lot of them around but they aren't primary tractors around here anymore. John Deere was certainly the top brand sold around these parts in the old days. New Holland is now the top brand world-wide. There are so many models that its difficult to say. They don't seem as recognizable as they once were either. Kubota has made big inroads here, though I doubt they are the most popular brand. Same with other foreign brands especially for oldsters who've retired from hardcore farming but still bale and run some cows. I wouldn't hazard a guess on the model but I'd make a WAG that Deere is still the most popular brand.

Ford 8N's were so popular that New Holland came out with their "Boomer" series.

I realize that the day is long gone for the 4020's, M's, 1066's, 5000's, and the like. Modern tractors are better and much more operator friendly, but the models I've mentioned are tractors that have passed the test of time, and were in use for many years after more modern ones were also in the field. That's what I'm getting at.......the tractor models that were so good and popular, that they were still in demand for many years after they came out.

You still see 4020's and 4440 JD's here in use, and this part of Kentucky has always been known as the new equipment capitol of the world. My in-laws farm several thousand acres and have the newest equipment John Deere has, but they still use some 3020 JD's for cultivating tobacco. Same way with a lot of other farmers as well, as they still use some of the older models for certain jobs, because that's what they were made for, and they are better suited for it than newer ones are.

8N’s and 3910’s

More than one person told me a 4020 is better than money in the bank.