Tractor Sizing How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift?

   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #351  
Personally, I don't care and don't get hurt feelings about whatever anyone calls my tractor. I know it's capabilities and limits very well. I have operated a few different CUT tractors on several occasions prior to buying my own first tractor, a Kubota L3800. I also operated many different tow motors and other equipment in the past. I used my L3800 pretty hard and was amazed at what it could accomplish, but found that when I was done with most of the big work that I had to do, that it sat in the garage a lot more than I thought it would. I have 11 acres split between my home with a little over 3 acres, and a property 4.5 miles away.

At the time my lawn tractor (mower 42") was getting to the point that I was putting regular money into it, I started rethinking things and figured that if my tractor could also mow my lawn, it would get used more and generate more value to me. I chewed on that for a while. My brother had bought a BX25D, so I had played with it some and was impressed with what it could do. I ended up selling my L3800 and buying a BX2370 with the same implements I had for my L3800 previously, but added a grapple this time and the MMM.

If I could afford to have 2 tractors, I would have liked to keep the L3800, but it didn't make sense in my case. I was worried that I'd miss the capabilities of that machine, and sometimes do to a small degree, but I'm really amazed at the capability of my BX as well. You can read other posts of mine where I did my initial review of the new machine. It is frankly more capable than I would have imagined and pretty versatile, so stepping down in size didn't have as much of a negative impact on me as I worried it might. And at the end, I was right. I use it a lot more, all year.

I say all this to point out simply after having experience with both sizes, I don't consider the SCUT to be an overgrown lawn mower. Frankly, it does cut grass way better than my old lawn tractor though and much faster. But it is also built like a tank in comparison and capable of doing real tractor work, albeit on a smaller scale than a large size tractor. I can only pop 2-3" trees, maybe a 4" with a lot of work with the BX Loader with tooth bar. The L3800 would pop 5-6" trees and do so faster. The L3800 would dig and move more dirt faster than the BX, but frankly I'm amazed at how well I can dig with it's loader. (both had tooth bars). I had mostly 5' implements with the L except a 6' box blade. I have mostly 4' with the BX except a 5' lighter weight box blade. I thought it would be a much larger step down that it was.

That anyway is for all my uses, but the SCUT is still much more "real" tractor than lawn mower. I think when people use the term overgrown lawn mower that they know what they are thinking and understand its uses and place. What I don't think they think about is the way that term is perceived by people that are very new to the tractor market and reading up on here to learn more.

Once again, I don't care what you call mine. I know the differences in them well. I do think though that if I didn't have any experience and saw a lot of comments about them being oversized lawn mowers (even with no ill intentions meant by that), it could lead me to believe that I wouldn't be happy with one and would look at a larger machine initially, whether I really needed it or not. Then maybe down the road end up with something for my small estate that is really not as helpful or useful for my situation.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #352  
I think when people use the term overgrown lawn mower that they know what they are thinking and understand its uses and place. What I don't think they think about is the way that term is perceived by people that are very new to the tractor market and reading up on here to learn more.

Fair point.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #353  
Tractorshopper you are one of the very few people who downsized tractors. Almost everyone buys a machine too small for their needs.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #354  
It's fun to act like your tractor is more capable than it is? That's a lot different than climbing a mountain. One is fooling yourself, the other is an accomplishment.




Why do you want to turn this thread into some sort of competition, or game/joke? This was unnecessary stirring of the pot. It's also the kind of stuff that gets threads shut down.

Oh really? Anyone here know the history of tractors? Wasnt that long ago when a 17HP single attachment tractor was considered a full blown tractor. I made the comment because of other comments that argue about claims the tractor can do more than what most believe. If you dont like my comment-dont read it :)

Anyone disputing the capabilities of these SCUTs or disputing that they are not tractors-get over yourselves. facts are the facts.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #355  
Tractorshopper you are one of the very few people who downsized tractors. Almost everyone buys a machine too small for their needs.

Yes, there are few of us. Want to point out, though, as I said, if I could have 2 of them, I would have kept the CUT too. If I had more acreage, I would have probably not downsized. My brother, who bought 47 acres asked me (while I still had the L3800) what would I buy for his property one day while I had mine over there helping him. I told him I'd go with an M or MX series or like Kioti DK45 or something larger than mine. I thought the L3800 was on the small side of what I'd want if I had his property (he has more thick and mature woods than I do proportionally). That said, he bought a BX-25D and I haven't heard any complaints from him. He's put a lot of hours on that thing already and I think the fact he has a backhoe really helps keep him happy.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #356  
For the record, I just want to comment that my dedicated lawn mower weighs 1,100 pounds with a 23 hp commercial gas engine. It has a vey heavy steel deck that is up to 3/4" thick in places. The hydrostatic transmission is stout enough that I've used it to pull out saplings that were in places I couldn't get to easily with my larger tractor. I would consider my lawn mower to be a medium size lawnmower. There are certainly much larger and heavier dedicated lawnmowers available.

Lawnmower does not mean wimpy. Lawnmower describes the primary function of a machine.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #357  
You know, now that I think about it, I researched on here for about 3 years or more before actually buying. I originally was looking at the Yanmar/Cub Cadet SC2400, the BX line, the JD 1023 size, and the MF SCUT. At the beginning I even remember looking at the Kioti CK25 and thinking it was too big. I eventually bought the L3800. So thinking about it now, I bet I can blame it on tbn that I bought too big the first time ;-)
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #358  
Anyone disputing the capabilities of these SCUTs or disputing that they are not tractors-get over yourselves.

Can you please point out to me where someone said a SCUT is not a tractor? I've read every post in this thread, some multiple times and can't find that anywhere.
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #359  
I'm happy that your happy :thumbsup: I don't think there is anything wrong with Axle's initial post. It was a factual representation of some testing that he did with his tractor. I think there is value in that and appreciate that he took the time to do it.

However, it became misleading when he started arguing that the limitation mentioned by others were not limitations.

Sometimes when pushing around stumps and brush with my tractor I feel like a kid playing with a bull dozer in a sand box. I have my little cage around me and the tractor can push a good amount. But it is no bull dozer! I know it, and would never try to say otherwise.

Not even close!

View attachment 446881View attachment 446882


To be real-no one is claiming the SCUT could ever come close to a D9 dozer-that would be wrong i so many ways. I have driven D9s, CAT excavators, VOLVO excavators, CASE Loaders and although my tractor can fit in the wheel hub of most of these I know its a strong little tractor. I could have bought a CUT but my tractor has more options and is more capable than a CUT. I can use just as many attachments and on top of that, a front snowblower or brush. I can also get really close to my house and NOT tear up my yard. I get 12 hours on a tank and it fits nicely in my garage. I can also haul it anywhere without needing a friggin flatbed trailer or different class license.

I moved 340 yards of gravel, sand, silt, loam and she still looks new. I used it to grade, dig stumps and bulldoze rocks and stumps. I used it to move snow, cultivate gardens haul and lift anything in my yard. For the bigger jobs it may take a little longer but it does it with style, great fuel mileage and begs for more.

Its a full on tractor alright, anyone disputing such knows nothing about tractors and certainly nothing about tractor history. I grew up around tractors so my opinion is based on experience.

My dad has 60 years experience with tractors and owns them all, dozers dump trucks, escalators, farm tractors, loaders. When he saw what I could do with mine-he sold the dozer and got a kioti :)
 
   / How Much Can A Sub Compact Tractor lift? #360  
You know, now that I think about it, I researched on here for about 3 years or more before actually buying. I originally was looking at the Yanmar/Cub Cadet SC2400, the BX line, the JD 1023 size, and the MF SCUT. At the beginning I even remember looking at the Kioti CK25 and thinking it was too big. I eventually bought the L3800. So thinking about it now, I bet I can blame it on tbn that I bought too big the first time ;-)

Well I certainly can't blame TBN that I bought too small the first time. I knew it was too small. My tractor is still too small for my tasks and expectations. But the tractor budget is only so much.... :confused3:
 

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