ModMech
Platinum Member
My wife and I have been searching for a "new" tractor, one larger than our B2410, which is primarily a LARGE lawn tractor, but a CUT none-the-less.
We thought about adding a loader, but we still do not have the weight (traction), stability or PTO HP that we really need for a single tractor. A little too big for a lawn, a little too small for hay or serious field work.
Over the past 18 months we (well I mostly) have been reading reviews on TBN, checking at dealers, reading on-line brochures and generally educating myself on the subtleties of Utility Tractors.
I have come to a few conclusions, mostly driven by the marketing of tractors and how/why they are built and sold as they are. My criteria are that the tractor be a capable Ag tractor, not a lawn ornament or man-toy (although that would be ok as well).
Basic things that allow us to compare apples to apples, as the saying goes:
1) Base Operating weight > PTO HP x 100
- A 41 PTO HP tractor *should* have a Base Operating Weight of (41 x 100) = 4100# OR MORE.
2) Rear Lift Capacity (this is dicy, because not everyone rates them at pin + 24") > Base Operating Weight x 0.75 {at LEAST 75%}
- A tractor with a Base Operating Weight of 4000# should have a rear lift capacity of (4000 x 0.75) = 3,000# OR MORE.
3) FEL Capacity > Base Operating Weight (breakout @ pins)
- A tractor with a Base Operating Weight of 4000# should have a FEL capacity of (4000 x 1.0) = 4,000# @ pins OR MORE.
4) An "Ag" tractor *should have* a wet clutch and brakes.
5) Ag tires (R1s) should be standard and have enough load capacity for the Base Tractor + 100% of rear lift capacity + FEL breakout in weight.
6) Tractor should have a minimum of 8 Fwd and 2 Rear speeds.
We thought about adding a loader, but we still do not have the weight (traction), stability or PTO HP that we really need for a single tractor. A little too big for a lawn, a little too small for hay or serious field work.
Over the past 18 months we (well I mostly) have been reading reviews on TBN, checking at dealers, reading on-line brochures and generally educating myself on the subtleties of Utility Tractors.
I have come to a few conclusions, mostly driven by the marketing of tractors and how/why they are built and sold as they are. My criteria are that the tractor be a capable Ag tractor, not a lawn ornament or man-toy (although that would be ok as well).
Basic things that allow us to compare apples to apples, as the saying goes:
1) Base Operating weight > PTO HP x 100
- A 41 PTO HP tractor *should* have a Base Operating Weight of (41 x 100) = 4100# OR MORE.
2) Rear Lift Capacity (this is dicy, because not everyone rates them at pin + 24") > Base Operating Weight x 0.75 {at LEAST 75%}
- A tractor with a Base Operating Weight of 4000# should have a rear lift capacity of (4000 x 0.75) = 3,000# OR MORE.
3) FEL Capacity > Base Operating Weight (breakout @ pins)
- A tractor with a Base Operating Weight of 4000# should have a FEL capacity of (4000 x 1.0) = 4,000# @ pins OR MORE.
4) An "Ag" tractor *should have* a wet clutch and brakes.
5) Ag tires (R1s) should be standard and have enough load capacity for the Base Tractor + 100% of rear lift capacity + FEL breakout in weight.
6) Tractor should have a minimum of 8 Fwd and 2 Rear speeds.
