~50~60Hp compact cabbed tractor with a good loader and lots of stability?

[2manyrocks]

The guys who cut steer slopes here have dual rear tires. I suppose checking into the option of adding dual rears would also be something to consider when shopping.

 

[Sid Post]

I know the problem, and have a solution that worked for me....probably not a universal fix, though. But I have an old Ag tractor that has wheels on both ends that can be spread out until the tractor has approximently the same look and stability as a horned frog.

It's old two cylinder JD530 series Ag tractor - originally for 20 to 40 acre corn and vegetables - with adjustable front and rear wheels. Rears are power adjustable for width but fronts you have to wrestle out.

The front and rear can be made to be ridiculously wide. The tractor only has 32 hp, but they made larger ones. I doubt this is special to JD. Chances are a lot of older Ag tractors in the utility 30 to 60 hp size were used for truck and crops were available with wide adjustable width.

This JD530 one weights right at 7500 lbs. 4 speed, manual shift, factory power steering. The loader easily handles a ton or more. The 3pt is cat II with draft and has hand cranks for adjustment, the PTO is independent and clutched, and the hydraulics are high flow. Seat is sprung and damped.

Nice old tractor, and you simply can't tip it over. Maybe there is something similar in your neck of the woods.
rScotty

I grew up with a JD 730 "Wheatland" tractor that saw a lot of mowing with me in the seat with a heavy-duty "brush hog"; AKA rotary cutter!

 

[Sid Post]

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification.

The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to first identify potential tractor applications, then, through consulataton, establish bare tractor weight necessary to safely accomplish your applications. Tractor dealers, experienced tractor owners and TractorByNet.com are sources for weight recommendations.

• post hole digger
• bush hog (AKA rotary cutter) so at least 35Hp PTO as a hard minimum
• heavy loader work
• big round bale movements (not stacking)
  buckets of wet soil
  Skid Steer pallet forks with moderately heavy loads like pallets of range cubes or half pallets of concrete

Sufficient 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!

Kubota L4600​

2011 - 2014 Standard L Series Compact Utility tractor

Kubota L4600 Weight
2WD gear :	3,109 lbs 1410 kg
4WD gear :	3,186 lbs 1445 kg
4WD hydro :	3,197 lbs 1450 kg

Dimensions
2WD Wheelbase:	72.8 inches 184 cm
4WD Wheelbase:	72.6 inches 184 cm
2WD Length:	122.8 inches 311 cm
4WD Length:	117.9 inches 299 cm
Width:	62.4 inches 158 cm
Height:	91.7 inches 232 cm
Ground clearance:	15.2 inches

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.

You need a 5,000 to 6,000 pound bare weight tractor. These are the heaviest tractors in the compact tractor category. Engine will generate 60 to 100 horsepower. This weight tractor will rut wet ground.

Width will be 72" to 84" in standard configuration. Almost all will have adjustable rear wheel/tire widths.

A cab will add 700 pounds to bare tractor weight. Cab air conditioning will absorb approximately 5-horsepower on hot days.

Massey Ferguson 5711​

2017 - 5700 Series Utility tractor

Dimensions
Wheelbase	95.7 inches 243 cm
Width	70.7 inches* 179 cm
ROPS Weight	9195 lbs 4170 kg
Cab Weight	10011 lbs 4540 kg

Absolutely! Tractor weight matters as does where the weight comes from (i.e. front and rear destruction).

Width, especially related to the overall length is also a big factor in tractor stability.

On the surface, my L-4600 looks good but, the rear end of the tractor lacks enough weight to be safe for use at the upper end of its 'working range' on anything other than perfectly flat hard surfaces (i.e. hard-packed soil or gravel areas and similar). This isn't meant to say the Kubota L-4600 is a bad tractor, just that many people with limited experience suggest it is capable of much more than it really is but they never work it that hard so the issue is moot in most cases.

 

[Sid Post]

If you have a Deutz dealer near you check out the 5080D 75 hp

5D Keyline - Deutz-Fahr America

deutz-fahramerica.com

willy

Other than JD and Kubota, brand options fall off pretty hard locally, though TYM and Mahindra aren't too hard to find.

 

[Sid Post]

Congrats on your pick. Which dealer did you use?

Thought I had one locked down at Jarvis in Lufkin which was a very good dealer experience but, they sold the loader off of it, and in the meantime, the price became a bit too high.

I'm dropping off the cashier's check with Cunningham in Paris, Texas today if all goes as expected. Smaller dealership overall but, I think I will have a good ownership experience there with very personalized service (no big company commercial infrastructure because I dealt directly with the owner and had simple straightforward conversations without the MBA business school banter and drivel).

 

[Sid Post]

To the OP, look at dual wheels. The difference in stability is amazing compared to single rear wheels. Also use a quick release style of dual wheel attatchment(don't fill with ballast either).
Always keep the loader DOWN LOW when travelling. It is amazing how many people travel with the loader up high where it can destabalise the tractor and cause a roll - over.
Good luck in your hunt.

In Junior and High School, I spent my time mainly on a John Deere 4630 with dual 20.8x38's so, I totally get that option.

Yea, a lot of people are ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS about using a loader safely. I don't walk under it either when loaded or with something suspended from it either! My buddy gets a little irked that I take the time to WALK AROUND THE TRACTOR instead of going under the loader.

 

[rScotty]

I know the problem, and have a solution that worked for me....probably not a universal fix, though. But I have an old Ag tractor that has wheels on both ends that can be spread out until the tractor has approximently the same look and stability as a horned frog.

It's old two cylinder JD530 series Ag tractor - originally for 20 to 40 acre corn and vegetables - with adjustable front and rear wheels. Rears are power adjustable for width but fronts you have to wrestle out.

The front and rear can be made to be ridiculously wide. The tractor only has 32 hp, but they made larger ones. I doubt this is special to JD. Chances are a lot of older Ag tractors in the utility 30 to 60 hp size were used for truck and crops were available with wide adjustable width.

This JD530 one weights right at 7500 lbs. 4 speed, manual shift, factory power steering. The loader easily handles a ton or more. The 3pt is cat II with draft and has hand cranks for adjustment, the PTO is independent and clutched, and the hydraulics are high flow. Seat is sprung and damped.
h
Nice old tractor, and you simply can't tip it over. Maybe there is something similar in your neck of the woods.
rScotty

Just thought I'd mention I looked up the width adjustment on our old JD above.
Tread width can be set from 59" to 104" on the rear, and 59 to 88" on the front axle.

With a 92" wheel base front to rear, that means the wheel base can be adjusted to make it wider than it is long.... Probably lots of Ag tractors have similar adjustability.
Maybe compact tractors like the L4600 could use wheel extenders or duals.

 

[Torvy]

Thought I had one locked down at Jarvis in Lufkin which was a very good dealer experience but, they sold the loader off of it, and in the meantime, the price became a bit too high.

I'm dropping off the cashier's check with Cunningham in Paris, Texas today if all goes as expected. Smaller dealership overall but, I think I will have a good ownership experience there with very personalized service (no big company commercial infrastructure because I dealt directly with the owner and had simple straightforward conversations without the MBA business school banter and drivel).

That tractor is double the size of what you started this thread with. I couldn't use anything that big. I look forward to seeing pics of it in action!

We are getting our UTV in Paris. Just found out my T574 is ready. Now I have to get it out there.

 

[5030]

Least he's buying a tractor unlike the Cahaba Valley Farm guy who just procrastinates...lol

 

[woolyAcres]

@Sid Post have you considered the Kioti RX6620? I believe it comes as a cabbed model, has adjustable wheel spacing options, has a loader lift capacity over 3300lbs to full height, bare tractor weighs nearly 6000lbs; with loaded rears and loader probably weights nearly 9000. Not sure if Kioti is well represented in your area but might be worth a look. Not to mention it's probably less expensive than many other options.