Buying Advice Which tractor? How much to pay?

[Blue14]

The HST transmission honestly frighten me. I envision lots of expense because of repair and maintenance. For my trucks I choose to only use manual transmissions. Every pickup I have had with an automatic transmission, I have had to replace and repair the transmission, transfer case etc. I would appreciate comments and suggestions, thoughts by anyone with experience with the different transmissions.

You might want to look at Yanmar YT series of tractors with the i-HMT transmissions.

 

[4570Man]

I think the lower limit on the tractor will be set by the need to safely handle 2500lb pallet loads. I'm guessing you will need near 3500lb loader lift capacity for the fork weight plus the pallets, with a safety margin.

Bruce

That depends on if you're happy just lifting them off the ground a little bit or want to set them on a semi trailer. I kinda doubt the 3600 pound loader could set a 2500 pound evenly distributed pallet on a semi.

 

[bcp]

That's why it was a guess.

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

That's why it was a guess.

Bruce

Well, I'm also guessing.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Re: Quest for Wisdom -

The best way to shop for tractors is to list your tasks first, then determine how much bare tractor weight you need to SAFELY accomplish your tasks. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models.

For most tractor tasks greater chassis weight is more important than tractor horsepower. This tractor fundamental is difficult for people new to tractors to comprehend. It takes a 50% increase in bare tractor weight before you notice a significant tractor capability increase. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!

Heavier tractors have more tractive power pulling ground contact implements. Greater mass of heavy-chassis tractors increases tractor stability when transporting loads in the FEL bucket, the most rollover prone of routine tractor tasks. Heavier tractors have larger wheels and tires better able to bridge holes, ruts and downed tree limbs, yielding a smoother, less disturbing passage over rough ground.

Safe hillside operation demands more tractor weight than flat land operation. Heavier tractors have wider wheel spreads making heavier tractors less laterally unstable. Rear wheel spreads may be decreased or increased after jacking up the rear.

Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

Tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight are offered in one configuration. Most, such as the high volume kubota standard L series, are sparely equipped to hit competitive price points. Others, such as the Yanmar YT235 and Kubota B2650/B3350 series, include enhanced productivity and comfort components.

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight are operated in residential applications on one to five fairly flat acres. These "residential tractors" fit in a typical garage.

Tractors over 3,000 pounds bare weight are generally offered in a utilitarian configuration and a deluxe configuration, on a common chassis. Deluxe kit enhances productivity and operating comfort ~~~ but you have to pay. Many tractors over 3,000 pounds bare weight are too tall to fit in a typical garage, even with ROPS folded.

Selling a used tractor is easy. Selling light implements in order to buy heavier, wider, implements for a heavier tractor you take a hit in depreciation. Passing time with multiple browsers is a pain. ((Ask me how I know.))

For most new to tractors a quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important. Dealer proximity is less important to others, well experienced with tractors, who perform their own maintenance. My kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment.

Horsepower is only a primary consideration operating PTO powered implements.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.​

Only addition I would add to this list is:

When you visit a dealer sit in the machine. adjust the seat. Use your arms to manipulate the FEL lever.
Can you picture 4 hours or so of FEL work in that position?
Have room for your legs. Can you turn and visually see the back 3PH in a reasonable manner etc.
A good test drive of each will help reduce that buyers remorse or maybe not but sure reduces the odds of having buyers remorse afterwards.

Good luck in your search. It was the fun part for me.

 

[jeff9366]

To unload 2,500 pound pallets from trucks safely, with the tractor and truck on a hard, smooth surface, you need a tractor with a minimum bare tractor weight of 5,000 pounds. Tractors with this weight are classed as Utility Tractors.

The minimum 5,000 pound tractor will need around 1,600 pounds of Loader counterbalance mounted on the Three Point Hitch to keep the tractor's rear wheels on the ground lifting 2,500 pound pallets. Loader + Utility Tractor + Counterbalance make a l-o-n-g combination.

Kubota Utility Tractor models begin with M6060 and M7060 models. Loader for these models is LA1154 with a nominal lift capacity of 2,500 pounds, so no reserve lift capacity. Loader lift capacity decreases rapidly with height of lift.

Building lasting roads takes a lot of experience. If you want to construct a 3,000 foot road yourself, with all the crowning, culverts and ditching necessary where there is considerable precipitation, a Utility Tractor has the grunt to do so over months of time ~~~~ with the right implements. Personally, with your difficult conditions I would contract road siting, road design and road construction to a construction contractor. You are quite likely to beat up the tractor doing road construction in rocky soil and over hills.

Your remaining tasks require less tractor weight. A 4,000 pound tractor is ample for road maintenance.

Utility tractors are NOT small enough to fit in tight spaces.

Utility tractors are NOT available with HST transmissions. You have not seen Utility Tractors if you have inspected HST equipped models.

LINK: https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/brochure-sheets/m60.pdf?sfvrsn=bbfa43b0_4


My bare weight 3,500 pound Kubota L3560 tows some fairly heavy loads from the rear/center drawbar with chains. You can drag some large boulders with from the rear/center drawbar of a much heavier Utility Tractor.

 

[MossRoad]

I think people ask about rain because rain = mud and mud = stuck tractor, for various reasons, like tire selection, size, floatation, traction, weight of machine, etc...

Mud and rain also = tire ruts, and tire ruts contribute to erosion which = washed out road.

 

[jeff9366]

If you will be loading and loading 2,500 pounds pallets regularly buy a Fork Lift, which has a rear engine for counterbalance and four equal size wheels for stability.

If you have a Fork Lift for unloading pallets and contract out road construction, a bare weight 4,000 pound tractor will meet your needs.

Tractors are inherently unstable = rollover prone. You do not realize how hazardous operating a tractor can be.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think one tractor is going to meet your requirements. A tractor that will lift a 2500# pallet off a trailer will be too large to fit in small spaces (Utility class of tractor). You will need to unload about half that weight in order to get even the largest of the mid-level class of CUT tractors (like L series Kubota) to lift it.
As for digging in irrigation lines- What did you plan to use to do this? Are you thinking of a TLB tractor (tractor/loader/backhoe). This puts you in a whole different class of tractor if you need a construction grade backhoe.

 

[sd455dan]

My :2cents:
from reading this thread ,

Small but enough loader to lift 2500lb and Not to large of size with good weight/ - maybe a quasi utility/CUT sized machine thinking like a kioti DK 55 sized tractor. Not sure what the newest Kioti model would be?
Tires everything Op mentioned says R1's hopefully 6 ply rated or more.
Transmission: Synchronized Shuttle shift - The OP isn't crazy about HST , that's fine.

Not to far to far to Spokane So familiar with the weather around there.

Another thought Maybe 2 machines are in order- say maybe a full sized older backhoe for the odd heavy lift / truck unload and backhoe digging as posted above, and a mid sized newer CUT for everything else