Is sub compact big enough?

[milkman636]

Funny, reading your thread reminds me of my experience with chainsaws. The first one I bought was Stihl 026 with an 18" bar. I wanted something that would be big enough for most chores. Years later I bought a Stihl MS180c with a 14" bar which was much lighter. I found that I use the MS180 for nearly everything and only bring out the heavier one when I am cutting something big. Now considering a DeWalt cordless to take around with me on the tractor for those cases where you just need to hop off and cut one branch off or clear a fallen tree blocking a trail. I can see where that might become the go-to saw for little, quick jobs.

I did the same the same thing with chainsaws too. The 14” EGO battery saw that I picked up on sale last year was a game changer. It just makes sense to me to have more than one size of certain things.

 

[hornett22]

Never used a scut I'd own. Just not impressed. No ground clearance but all seem tippy.

3 point/pto area too cramped and low to the ground.

 

[milkman636]

Never used a scut I'd own. Just not impressed. No ground clearance but all seem tippy.

3 point/pto area too cramped and low to the ground.

The 3 point is cramped and low to the ground. A quick hitch really helps. The counter point would be that sub CUT sized implements are less costly and take up less space in storage. Plus the size is friendly and less intimidating to wives and children just learning to operate.

 

[rScotty]

I did the same the same thing with chainsaws too. The 14” EGO battery saw that I picked up on sale last year was a game changer. It just makes sense to me to have more than one size of certain things.

Uh oh... it wasn't bad enough that we have split 50/50 on small compacts vs sub compacts....but now we have thread drift as well.

Ok then, I have a gasoline chainsaw- most of us do. And I confess to buying an electric chainsaw last year just to see if they were useful.
What sold me on trying it was 3 things. It came with a spare set of lithium batteries, I knew the Makita brand was decent, and I was tired of carrying around all the peripherals that the Stihl requires.

Bottom line: That battery chainsaw has been surprisingly handy. Way more handy than I figured it would be.
Maybe it's time to get another smaller tractor as well.
rScotty

 

[mred2]

I have a LS XR4150 with a lot of attachment. My son has a Mahindra 26 emax. Both are great for what they were designed to do. I pickup logs and move rolls of hay. He can put top soil in the yard without packing it down. He can move between the trees. If he didn't own a smaller tractor, my wife would make me buy one.

 

[hornett22]

The 3 point is cramped and low to the ground. A quick hitch really helps. The counter point would be that sub CUT sized implements are less costly and take up less space in storage. Plus the size is friendly and less intimidating to wives and children just learning to operate.

The price difference from what I've seen is minimal. My time is definitely worth more. If a CUT the size of a L2501, CK2610, or a 1626 are intimidating, y'all probably should have stayed in the city.

 

[California]

... battery chainsaw has been surprisingly handy. Way more handy than I figured it would be.
Maybe it's time to get another smaller tractor as well.
rScotty

Works for me! I added the chainsaw after I had several Ryobi 18 volt shop tools. I discovered it's all I need here for the apple orchard. By the time an old tree keels over, its hollow and the little 10 inch bar is sufficient to buck limbs and cut the hollow trunk into portable sections. Sold the gas chainsaw, no more gas stored here, life is simpler. Likewise I prefer the smaller tractor I described above. Life is good.

 

[PreacherM]

Seems to me many of the replies overlook what OP specifies that he needs. And then recommend an ag-size tractor because that's what fits their own application.

He's mostly replacing a garden tractor that has been sufficient for the 2-3 acres at his home. He needs a loader, and if he no longer had the poor-condition elderly Deere, then the replacement needs to do the '15-20 hours per year' of firewood hauling. (I presume, pulling a small trailer over flat rough ground).

Does he really need 50 hp?

Thanks to all for posting. I'm not trying to buy the biggest tractor I may possibly need. Some of the posts seem to imply that a 50 hp tractor can do everything a SCUT can, but not vice versa. That only tells half the story.

I'm going to keep looking for a good deal on a gc1705/1715 or gc 1723/1726. I'll also be watching for the kioti version as well as a Kioti ck20 or equivalent.

I don't like to make quick decisions and my cash on hand should be much better in a couple months.

 

[PreacherM]

For those who advised keeping the 2010 or wondered about the 3pt hitch: do some research on this site. You'll find that these tractors are pretty much a hopeless case. I'm content to use it for now since it's all I got on hand. Like my brother has said: "the only good thing about a 2010 is that it beats no tractor at all." OH and the power steering also has issues. Locks up at the worst times.

 

[Metalmaster10]

As if there aren't enough of these threads! Sort of an old question I know. I've been eyeing a newer tractor for a long time. Was hoping the market prices would correct themselves, but it don't look like that will happen soon.

I own 18 acres (no hills). 2-3 around the buildings, 10 acres field (rented out), 6 acres woods. I've got access to large tractors if needed for any ag type work. I cut 4-6 cords of firewood every year, but mostly not in my own woods. I've owned a JD 2010 with loader for 2+ years. It's had its typical problems, but I knew that going in. I only put 15-20 hrs on it a year, mostly cutting firewood and doing random loader work. The 3pt hitch is nearly useless so that has kept me from doing any brush cutting, etc.

If money and space were no object I would buy a 40 hp tractor and a SCUT as well. In reality, I've got 4 children to feed and clothe so $ is an issue! I'm mechanically inclined with 2 diesel mechanics in the family so I'm not afraid of used machines.

I really like the Kubota L30 series (31-43 hp) they seem like a good fit and value, but I'm not ready to pay that much just yet. I keep coming back to the SCUT class for 2 reasons: price and "handiness". I have to ask myself, what could a small tractor not do that I really HAVE to do? FEL lift height and capacity are really the biggest disadvantages of the SCUT. But then, it would take a 60+ hp tractor to really lift everything I would like.

A local Massey ferguson dealer has a used GC1705 coming in next week. I told him to call me when it does. With a tractor this size, I would probably use it 60-100 hrs per year. It bugs me that a larger compact tractor would sit in the barn unused much of the year. Purchasing a small tractor would also allow me to sell my Simplicity Sovereign garden tractor. (Have ZTR for lawn). Having 1 machine instead of 2 would be great. The Simplicity is mostly used for snowblowing (2010 is way too clumsy), lawn rolling, pulling sm trailer loads of mulch, and navigating the narrow trails in the woods.

Feel free to comment on any of the above. Several questions in addition:
How much will a GC1705 (or similar) track up a soft lawn or trail?

Will it run a 5ft brush cutter? Dealer says it will. By brush cutter I really just mean tall grass.

Is it dumb to purchase a tractor as a 2-5 year 'trial'?

I will throw a new spin on things.
You already have a larger, heavier utility tractor that doesn't get used much.
You already believe that you will use a sub compact 5 times as much.
My question, given your small area, is a larger tractor SMALL enough to be handy?
I bought my MF1736 utility with only 40 hrs on it because the original owner has a 4 acre plot and said it was too big to be handy for him, so he wanted a sub compact. Yes, the bigger tractors have distinct advantages, but the small ones are often handy in tight spaces that a larger one is not. The SCUT will do nearly everything the larger utility will do, you just need to take smaller bites, so it will take longer on some jobs.