Tractor Sizing TRACTOR WEIGHT as a SINGLE CRITERION IN TRACTOR SELECTION

[Shaneard]

I bet 95 percent of them bought a bigger tractor because the FEL wouldn’t lift enough, or the tractor wouldn’t pull/push hard enough or was otherwise too small. Not because it didn’t have enough hp. If you need more hp you can go a little slower and get the job done. If you have a load that can’t be pulled or lifted by your tractor no matter how slow you go it’s not going to do it.

Let me put it a different way. I'll use Ford as an example even though I have a GMC. You buy a Ford F250 with a Powerstroke to pull your 12K pound trailer. Works great until you need to pull more weight so you have to upgrade to a F350, F450, or F550 but guess what, they all have the same HP Powerstroke under the hood. When you need to pull more weight with a tractor or lift more, you don't trade for a bigger tractor with more load capacity and the same HP engine. Tractors sizes get more HP the bigger the tractor, unlike a truck. People want to lift more with their FEL, they need more HP is what it boils down to is all I'm saying.

When people are buying a tractor and say "I need to pull a 9 shank ripper" they don't say I need a tractor that weighs X, they say each shanks requires X amount of HP and go from there. Like I said before, weight can be added or removed at any time.

 

[Shaneard]

The diversity of opinions offered by T-B-N contributors are its strength.

I agree with you on this, they make so many models and options because not all of us do the same thing with our tractors.

 

[MossRoad]

Some industry analysts are not agreeing with you. They say HP is most important, then ballast the tractor accordingly to achieve optimum traction. If you buy the tractor based on weight first, you may not be able to achieve the desired HP to move it effectively. You can add weight. It's very hard to add HP. Here's an interesting read.

Ballasting: The Great Balancing Act | Successful Farming

 

[MossRoad]

And another.

"Avoid the pitfall of buying one tractor over another based solely on machine weight; a lighter weight tractor tends to be more versatile in that you can always add ballast to achieve the perfect balance for the job at hand."

From here:
https://houstoncountyeq.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ballast.pdf

A very good read that gives specific reasons why you'd choose a lighter machine with more HP, such as haying tasks (for us home owners, that would equate to mowing the lawn or field). Please read this article.

 

[airbiscuit]

So, if we put weight vs. horsepower to the test, it would be interesting to do a battle of the Kubotas:

BX2680 24.8hp 26x12x12 R4 Rear Tires Weight 1521 lbs
L2501 24.8hp 15x19.5 R4 Rear Tires Weight 2623 lbs

So, if we hooked a chain between them and said GO, which would have better tractive power? Having grown up on a farm with small hp John Deere B's龍 with their heavy cast iron wheels and large diameter tires, my money would be on the L2501 with its larger tires and extra weight.

I'm not saying horsepower doesn't matter. It is a significant consideration for PTO intensive operations. But if your tractor is too light, or your tires are too small, you're just spinning your wheels.

So if you ballast the bejeezus out of the BX, it will pull as much as a L2501? Tire diameter is also a major factor. Again, I start with what frame size is suitable for my tasks. That generally gives you a balance of size, hp and weight. YMMV

 

[Shaneard]

So if you ballast the bejeezus out of the BX, it will pull as much as a L2501? Tire diameter is also a major factor. Again, I start with what frame size is suitable for my tasks. That generally gives you a balance of size, hp and weight. YMMV

Anyone with common sense would pick the right tractor to begin with with those 2 choices to fit their specific needs, wouldn't they? You are comparing the same tractor with different wheels/tires. They make both because obviously people have different needs.

 

[RickB]

Here are a couple thoughts.
A users needs are not always fully understood by others.
Hard and fast rules establishing selection criteria will not fit every situation, in fact will not fit many.
There are many opinions in this long thread, very few are completely wrong, none are completely right.

 

[airbiscuit]

So if you ballast the bejeezus out of the BX, it will pull as much as a L2501? Tire diameter is also a major factor. Again, I start with what frame size is suitable for my tasks. That generally gives you a balance of size, hp and weight. YMMV

Anyone with common sense would pick the right tractor to begin with with those 2 choices to fit their specific needs, wouldn't they? You are comparing the same tractor with different wheels/tires. They make both because obviously people have different needs.

Here are a couple thoughts.
A users needs are not always fully understood by others.
Hard and fast rules establishing selection criteria will not fit every situation, in fact will not fit many.
There are many opinions in this long thread, very few are completely wrong, none are completely right.

We are in violent agreement! I used that example to illustrate that utility is more that horsepower alone. The best tractor for the job is more nuanced. Generally the "Goldilocks" is a combination of frame size, hp and weight. Too often Newbys just see hp and price and end up buying a tractor that is smaller than what would be optimal.

 

[/pine]

Ballasting: The Great Balancing Act | Successful Farming

:thumbsup:

see post # 3...

 

[sd455dan]

So if you ballast the bejeezus out of the BX, it will pull as much as a L2501? Tire diameter is also a major factor. Again, I start with what frame size is suitable for my tasks. That generally gives you a balance of size, hp and weight. YMMV

Good point. Playing devils advocate,:stirthepot:

I would also add that a person that has specific FEL jobs in mind as the #1 duty would check the FEL specs 1st and then probably tractor weight.

as an example if the perspective buyer needs to unload 1 ton pallets from say pickup bed height,

Start with FELs lift to full height at pins that should meet the required pallet from bed lifting- lets say 2500lbs.

A Lot of CUTs regardless of horsepower were Flat eliminated, If the user needs to use the FEL to stack hay bales a certain height some more just got kicked out.

Prospective buyer 2 plans on barely ever using his FEL and will be doing a lot of mowing large fields and doesn't want to pack down the ground.
maybe run a good sized chipper and a wide snow blower in the winter.
Almost opposite needs, more HP regardless of FEL needs, and weight needs to be low to minimize ground compaction when mowing.

Now combine both scenarios...


After a tractor has been purchased due to unforeseen circumstances...


Buyer 1 is screwed... his FEL will not lift the new pallet that showed up or stack the heavy bales.

Buyer 2 is at a disadvantage, but can probably get most of the jobs done, his tractor will compact the ground more for sure, if the tractor has much less HP it will have to mow slower, snow blow slower and may be way under powered for chipping not to sure on this one may even be a no go.

buyer 1 can at least get most of the jobs done without buying another tractor.