boostmg
Best RK Tractor for 37 Acre property?
10 acre field, 25 acre woods.
My situation:
- we have a ten (10) acre field with wet areas that needs cutting, tilling, and maintenance. "Getting stuck" is a concern.
A wheeled tractor is always susceptible to miring in wet areas. The best solution is to adapt. Work wet areas during a dry period. Adding over-the-tire tractor tracks is another possibility.
Tilling will be the challenge as you will be moving slowly and the tractor will be vibrating considerably.
- Other things we'd do: plow snow, till soil to make food plots, move logs and dead trees (clean up the mess), other stuff?
For these "ground engagement" or "ground contact" applications, tractor weight is more important than tractor horsepower in determining tractor capability.
The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Heavier tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.
Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, a significant tractor capability increase requires a bare tractor weight increase of 50%. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!
What do T-B-N contributors recommend as the best RK tractor for our situation, the RK37 or the RK55?
I want a tractor I'm happy to spend the money on. I always prefer having more power than I actually need vs less power.
The RK37 weighs 3,065 pounds bare tractor.
For the tractor applications you have enumerated, with the possible exception of moving boulders, this is ample weight and ample power for ten acres.
RK37 has a 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. I like the simplicity of the engine.
RK37 is competitive in weight and horsepower with Kubota L3301/L3901 standard L tractors.
The RK55 weighs 3,814 pounds bare tractor. In the real world you will minimally notice the 750 pound/24% bare tractor weight increase.
The RK55 has a 4-cylinder turbo charged engine. More complication than the RK37 engine.
For the tractor application you have enumerated the additional 18-horsepower will do little for you on ten acres. Your sole "power" application is mowing.
When considering a tractor purchase, bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second and (narrowly) rear wheel ballast third.
- We have 25 acres of mainly level woods. I want to smooth out paths through the woods. We have some big rocks in the paths. Not sure the proper way to do this with a tractor, if it's with the bucket or with a backhoe.
RK37 may be easier to fit between trees on your property.
"Big rocks" is not helpful. Please post weight estimates or sizes: baseball size, basket ball size, bushel basket size, etc.
Usually reasonable size boulders, up to 1,000 pounds, are loosened with FEL bucket, then towed from the rear center drawbar with chains or nylon straps. Lifting heavy loads with the FEL, then moving the laden tractor is when most tractor rollovers occur. Rocks can slide in the bucket, upsetting tractor balance.. That is why 1,000+ pound boulders are usually towed behind the tractor.
(Breakout force for RK37 FEL bucket is 1,680 pounds.)
Could we get away with less?
No.
I also believe we need the backhoe attachment.
$6,500. FEL should be ample for your patch construction.
In earlier posts you have been budget conscious.
plow snow, till soil to make food plots, move logs and dead trees ~~ These are Three Point Hitch or drawbar applications for which the Backhoe would be removed and Three Point Hitch components installed.
Go with the RK37.
How distant is your nearest RK tractor service?
A quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important for tractor neophytes. Most new tractors are delivered with a glitch or two requiring correction. My Kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment after seven years. Dealer proximity is less important for those experienced with tractors and qualified to perform their own maintenance.
Transporting a tractor for service is costly. For RK, tractor transport for service requires two round-trips = two loaded travel segments and two empty travel segments.
Photo #1: Slightly elevated log being pulled from Cross-Drawbar with optional "hanging tree".
Photoe #2, #3: Rear/center Drawbar. Large stump being pulled with chain attached to rear/center Drawbar on tractor.
VIDEO:
So you want to TRADE UP for a new Tractor? - TMT - YouTube
DRAWBARS:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...rs-cross-drawbars-illuminated.html?highlight=
