40 HP vs 55 HP in the same tractor

[IslandTractor]

15 more hp may mean you can keep it in a higher gear digging into that pile without lugging, or carry the load up a hill at a faster speed/higher gear

Agree. Point being that it is a $2500 convenience upgrade. It doesn't really increase capability much when you are talking about the exact same tractor with different HP.

 

[airbiscuit]

I owned a 1955 Jeep Wagon with a 75hp 4 cylinder and a 1972 Jeep CJ5 155hp V6. When the more powerful CJ5 would get stuck, I would drive the underpowered Jeep wagon out to pull it out. Traction beat horsepower in those cases, I could however go faster in the CJ5

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

The weight of the tractor is what makes a tractor work. There was a reason the old for 8n could pull two row bottom plows at 25ish hp.

 

[airbiscuit]

Hook a chain between a John Deere A (19.5 PTO hp 2wd) and a Kubota L2350 (20.5 PTO hp 4wd) and see which tractor pulls which. My money is on green and yellow.

 

[4tillingdirt]

The weight of the tractor is what makes a tractor work. There was a reason the old for 8n could pull two row bottom plows at 25ish hp.

So you would rather have a Mahindra 3550 that weighs about 800 lbs more than an LS XR4155 but has 6 less HP?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This HP-weight ratio has been beaten to death so many times it's almost sickening. Yes the lesser HP machine will do the same job, just not in the same amount of time depending on what the task at hand is. Yes you can purchase more implements right away that can also be purchased later very easily. More HP typically means getting a different tractor. Sort of a costly thing and most probably just live with their getting the lesser HP unit.

Some people have all the time in the world, others not so much and have to get things done as quickly as is reasonable. People use to ask me why I got a 75HP machine when a 50 would have worked. I would have gotten a 100HP machine if I would have been able to afford it, I could not and the 75 was what I have had to live with. Every single time that I disk, I sure wish that I had that 100HP machine.

I guess maybe it comes down to how much you value your time and just how much you can afford.

Good luck to anyone that has to make this type of decision.

 

[IslandTractor]

This HP-weight ratio has been beaten to death so many times it's almost sickening. Yes the lesser HP machine will do the same job, just not in the same amount of time depending on what the task at hand is. Yes you can purchase more implements right away that can also be purchased later very easily. More HP typically means getting a different tractor. Sort of a costly thing and most probably just live with their getting the lesser HP unit.

Keep in mind that this discussion really only comes up when new potential tractor owners show up and ask questions. It is a relevant discussion to them even if the rest of us have heard both sides of the argument and made our peace. I'd say that the typical prospective buyer comes back from their first set of dealer encounters talking more about horsepower and understanding less about other important factors in tractor selection than is good for them. Participating in discussions here helps round out their understanding of the issues.

 

[4tillingdirt]

I appreciate all the input. I am just trying to weigh the pros and cons and having never had a modern tractor sort of hard to get a feel. I do realize that the tractor is probably going to be sitting a lot more than it is used. If you plug and sow/fertilize yard twice a year and put out mulch once a year and scrape driveway as needed then I am pretty much at my limit except for maybe plowing and making rows for a small garden. Plus if I get a tractor like a Mahindra 3550 or an LS XR4155 will I be regretting it when it comes time to sow the 2 1/2 acres of grass because they tear the yard up.

I guess it is kind of silly to even think about future events and focus on the now.

 

[airbiscuit]

I appreciate all the input. I am just trying to weigh the pros and cons and having never had a modern tractor sort of hard to get a feel. I do realize that the tractor is probably going to be sitting a lot more than it is used. If you plug and sow/fertilize yard twice a year and put out mulch once a year and scrape driveway as needed then I am pretty much at my limit except for maybe plowing and making rows for a small garden. Plus if I get a tractor like a Mahindra 3550 or an LS XR4155 will I be regretting it when it comes time to sow the 2 1/2 acres of grass because they tear the yard up.

I guess it is kind of silly to even think about future events and focus on the now.

Don't let our spirited responses diminish your curiosity and enthusiasm. Given your stated uses and the original price differential, then I think the lower hp tractor would have been a logical choice. Now that the price differential has closed, I think it is a coin toss. You will have a big smile on your face with either choice.

 

[LD1]

The tasks you describe are more yard /gardening oriented. 50+ hp just seems big to be.

I think the first step is decide on the size implements you want to run, THEN size the tractor accordingly.

If all I was doing was a small vegetable garden, mulching, fert/plugging, and occasional scrape of snow...I'd be looking at a machine half that size