Compact Tractors are Designed All Wrong

[Creamer]

7,000+ may be "light" by ag standards... but it's nowhere near the compact utility class and will EASILY tear up turf. Lastly, the overall size of the unit makes it a no-go for low clearance tasks.

You are right CUTs are lighter and shorter but it all depends on what you are after. I wanted a good work platform 10' high and this is very light for something like that.

As for tearing up turf - yes you can or you can drive it right and there is little to no damage. I drive it across my lawn on a regular basis as long as it isn't too soft and it is not a problem. I do not carry a lot of weight on it and do that nor do I turn with it stopped. I keep the tires a little soft to spread the load better. I may change tires to one with a little more flotation and not ag tread.

 

[SpringHollow]

That kind of weight would definitely ruin my lawn, especially with ag tread. With a tractor that weighed slightly more than half that and had ag tread, i could see each bar indentation into the ground which for my property was reasonably hard at the time.

Ken

 

[4570Man]

That kind of weight would definitely ruin my lawn, especially with ag tread. With a tractor that weighed slightly more than half that and had ag tread, i could see each bar indentation into the ground which for my property was reasonably hard at the time. Ken

Not necessarily. Tire size is a lot more important than weight.

 

[SpringHollow]

I do understand that but for that tractor, the tires would have to be over 24" wide to have an equivalent ground impact.

Ken

 

[4570Man]

I do understand that but for that tractor, the tires would have to be over 24" wide to have an equivalent ground impact. Ken

Not true at all. My tractor weighs that much fully ballasted. It doesn't rut the yard nearly as bad as the the old much lighter L2550 did. The L3240 has r4 tires and the l2550 had ags. It's difficult to get a scale for the machine, but I'm guessing my back tires are bigger than his, but my fronts are a lot smaller giving him the higher contact area.

 

[SpringHollow]

Ground impact is basically weight of the tractor divided by the contact area. I am not talking about the damage caused by turning, etc. where the type of steering (articulated, skid steer, conventional) makes a large difference. So for the same style tire, twice the weight needs twice the ground surface area. For the same diameter tires, twice the width would be a reasonably close approximation.

Ken

 

[4570Man]

Yes, but his loader doesn't weigh twice what a larger well ballasted compact tractor weighs.

 

[roadhunter]

My tractor weighs in the 13k range and with 4 wheel steering it is amazing how easy it is on the lawn. I think having the weight balanced and contact area of industrial tires the same on front and back helps tremendously.

 

[Creamer]

I have 12.6 - 24s all around. they are ag tires but they are fairly worn - probably under 20% tread remaining. I also am running them at only 15 psi (tire is rated for 22 max) which gives greater weight distribution. I do get bar marks in the lawn if it is soft but they are gone in a couple of days. I would not want new ag tires of this size on the lawn.

The front end of my Ford 1710 does as much or more damage to the lawn assuming the same conditions. They are 7.50-16s R4s.

I think the weight distribution to all four wheels on the 150 helps a lot. Still I would prefer a more flotational bar type tire like I have on my Zero Turn lawnmower.

 

[MossRoad]

I have 12.6 - 24s all around. they are ag tires but they are fairly worn - probably under 20% tread remaining. I also am running them at only 15 psi (tire is rated for 22 max) which gives greater weight distribution. I do get bar marks in the lawn if it is soft but they are gone in a couple of days. I would not want new ag tires of this size on the lawn.

The front end of my Ford 1710 does as much or more damage to the lawn assuming the same conditions. They are 7.50-16s R4s.

I think the weight distribution to all four wheels on the 150 helps a lot. Still I would prefer a more flotational bar type tire like I have on my Zero Turn lawnmower.

It articulated... therefore I love it! :laughing:

Cool machine. Never saw one before. Now I've got some reading to do... Thanks. :thumbsup: