New guys take on pros & cons of 45 HP range of CUT's

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just my opinion, but I think the 3030 is too light for serious backhoe/loader work.

With a Kubota BH75.. probably, but with a Woods 80X... I think you would be surprised.

 

[Ken45101]

When it comes to digging and ground engagement chores, weight is king. Doing such tasks a heavier tractor will out perform a lighter one (all other things the same). A backhoe will toss around a light tractor.

That's why it is important to match implements to the tractor. Yes, putting a big BH on a little tractor is a waste. OTOH, my little B21 TLB rarely gets drug around but then it is a matched machine.

Ken

 

[IslandTractor]

Why should he buy a less capable digger if he can afford better? .

If the tractor will be used 90% of the time for snow blowing and mowing is one reason. Again, no argument that a heavier TLB is more efficient at digging but if digging tasks are not the main focus why outsize the tractor for that one purpose.

If someone has money to burn on an outsized tractor then consider the alternative to hire a construction company to do the one time main digging tasks (foundation, huge rocks and stumps etc) and use something like a B3030 Cab (with BH eg Woods x70 or ?x80) as a very efficient mower (6ft MMM or flail) and snow removal device (6ft rear or ?front blower) with a perfectly capable BH for projects around the house and landscaping. Why have a 50hp tractor with 9ft BH for the next 20years just because you needed the extra umph on one or two projects in the first year? And, if money is relevant to the equation, you could get the B3030 with flail, snowblower and BH for quite a bit less money than a 50hp cab with mower, snow blade and BH. I'd sure prefer a front mounted blower that I would use every year than the extra horsepower and digging depth I'd use only in the beginning.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Speaking as someone with extensive use using a b3030 with a bh80x, its a great combo. I actually don't think a 45hp CUT with a foot longer backhoe would be noticeably better. Which is why I jumped to the m59, though I'd been thinking about the 4740.

Biggest downside of the b3030 is stability - I'm one of those who doesn't think its great for hilly country. Kind of overpowered and high COG, which the cab would make worse. Weighting the tires helps.

But getting a small L with a cab and a woods, and hiring out the other stuff would make a lot of sense. For me, once again, the perfect combo would be a bx and the m59.

Size the equipment to the tasks, not the land, as someone said above. I'm turning forest into landscape, so the m59 is perfect. If I were maintaing established landscape, I'd probably get a bx25 or some such.

 

[Gittyup]

If the tractor will be used 90% of the time for snow blowing and mowing is one reason. Again, no argument that a heavier TLB is more efficient at digging but if digging tasks are not the main focus why outsize the tractor for that one purpose.

If someone has money to burn on an outsized tractor then consider the alternative to hire a construction company to do the one time main digging tasks (foundation, huge rocks and stumps etc) and use something like a B3030 Cab (with BH eg Woods x70 or ?x80) as a very efficient mower (6ft MMM or flail) and snow removal device (6ft rear or ?front blower) with a perfectly capable BH for projects around the house and landscaping. Why have a 50hp tractor with 9ft BH for the next 20years just because you needed the extra umph on one or two projects in the first year? And, if money is relevant to the equation, you could get the B3030 with flail, snowblower and BH for quite a bit less money than a 50hp cab with mower, snow blade and BH. I'd sure prefer a front mounted blower that I would use every year than the extra horsepower and digging depth I'd use only in the beginning.

Don't disagree. Just depends on how much and what type of digging has to be done. It was my understanding that the OP had a lot of digging to do.

The 3030 is high and narrow, and that always bothered me about it too. While I've only played with one at the dealer, it would take some convincing that it would perform like a tractor weighing 50% more (some 45 HP brands/models closer to twice its weight). I could even tell a noticable difference between the 3030 and my CK25 with respect to staying put while digging. Of course, my CK25 has loaded tires, weighing about 5500 lbs, compared to something like 4000 lbs for the 3030 (unloaded tires, no cab). The backhoe really pushed the 3030 around, easily lifting it off the ground and dragging it about. I would perfer to see more of that power put into the soil, which happens with a heavier tractor - simple physics.

 

[Gittyup]

That's why it is important to match implements to the tractor. Yes, putting a big BH on a little tractor is a waste. OTOH, my little B21 TLB rarely gets drug around but then it is a matched machine.

Ken

The B21 and other dedicated TLB's are not the same thing. Not a fair comparison to a CUT. These type machines will yield better performance per hp/weight due to design. Among the differences, the Backhoe is about 2 feet closer to the rear wheels, which gives it better footing and reduces the moment arm on the frame. Even so, in like fashion, the B21 won't perform like the L39.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I don't think the tractor is too big. I think the land is too small.

Seriously 45Hp for 6.5 acres is ridiculous. I drive a semi but I would not use it to get a load of groceries even if the whole extended family were coming to dinner.

Weight is good for ground engagement and digging, sure. But how many trenches are you going to dig, maybe 2 or 3 or even 4. how many foundations are you going to dig, one or none? How much ground are you going to plow for crops. For that matter, how many hours are you going to be in the seat?

Get what you want but I agree with 2 points. Analysis paralysis and too much tractor for the need. But this is America, get what you want and what your pocketbook can stand.

 

[WilliamBos]

To the OP,

Is more land in yout future? And having a cab, and blowing snow is the only way. If we were to trade the 1523 in, it would be bigger, and with a cab. Those 1600 series look oh so sweet!!

 

[Gittyup]

Weight is good for ground engagement and digging, sure. But how many trenches are you going to dig, maybe 2 or 3 or even 4. how many foundations are you going to dig, one or none? How much ground are you going to plow for crops. For that matter, how many hours are you going to be in the seat?

And so goes the argument for/against investing in a backhoe at all. Me, I only have 2.5 acres. In 3 years, I've dug 6 trenches of between 50' and 100' each, installed a buried propane tank, dug a garden pond, installed a septic, dug foundation for retaining wall, removed many stumps, buried a deer carcass and the neighbors dog, used it as crane.... And I still have more projects planned, like another retaining wall and a bigger garden pond. Even though I'm probably approaching break-even on my backhoe investment, it's still not so easy to justify. But it allows you do what you want to do when you want to do it. I love that attachment!

Many would say that my tractor is too big for my property. Me, I think it's just right for the chores I have had to do and will be doing. I've pushed my machine to the limits, sometimes wanting for bigger, all the while knowing that smaller would not have ever been sufficient. When I'm "done", I've thought about trading down a size. But it's hard to give up that capability once you have it, especially when there is no compelling reason to downsize.

So, buy a big enough machine properly equipped to safely do the jobs in a reasonable amount of time. Buy too small or the wrong type, and you'll be sorry.

 

[IslandTractor]

Many would say that my tractor is too big for my property.

Yep, you would have been happy with a CK20 TLB. But that is from someone who traded his CK20 for a DK40se. I know the benefits of more HP but the bottom line is that the smaller tractors really can do it all just not as fast. I know we are just having a vigorous discussion here so no one is entirely correct or incorrect in their positions. Still, I continue to believe that for up to 5 acres a 20 something hp is fine, for 5-10 a 30 is plenty and 10-20 acres can be easily handled by a 40. Yes, tasks are just as important as acreage in determining size but there are only a few tasks that really require the extra HP and it doesn't make a lot of sense to be hauling around all that metal and loan payments to take care of the 5% of tasks that would take you a lot longer with a smaller machine. Biggest stump I ever dug out was with the 20hp TLB, it just took a while.