Well in post #1 Jeff did post this:
I have been revising this screed for three days.
I seek outside criticism and input.
FIRE AWAY!
Buy enough tractor still makes (some) sense to me, tractors do seem to shrink when a person gets some seat time in.
And after reading /pine's recent post
"Using typically common attachments a small, light tractor can do the exact same work a large heavy tractor can do...just not as efficiently time wise..."
Agree with the statement- But as a counterpoint
What if you need to load a truck or lift an object higher than the limited height of some of these CUT loaders or It just doesn't have quite enough FEL lift capability to unload a pallet off a truck.
Or you can get a great deal on a heavy duty box blade or other 3 point attachment- but because a small CUT was purchased it wont lift it - let alone pull it. 2 of my used implements were acquired this way,
because of CUT owners thinking their tractor could handle the implement and then finding out they did not buy enough tractor.
In another case a local hay seller was reluctant at 1st to deliver hay to us because he had his time wasted the previous week by 2 CUT owners that said their tractor was more than capable of of unloading his trailer but when he arrived could not budge the bales. The guy had to turn around and drive back with a full load in 1 case, in the other there was a neighbor with a larger heavier tractor that was able to off load the bales.
Other than working in very tight areas or worrying about a bit of lawn damage on a wet day
buying a bit larger framed/weight tractor has few drawbacks and maybe some advantages like a better ride
due to larger tires
That said, still planning on eventually getting a smaller CUT or even SCUT to compliment my main tractor- for the smaller jobs- tight barn stall cleanouts.
In tight spaces the bigger machine does get a bit cumbersome but The difference sometimes is inconvenience versus not being able to do the job at all.
Obviously this would also apply to the tractor flat out being to big to get in or out of an area- in which case a smaller tractor is vital.
ps.
Happy Independence Day Everyone