72” vs 84” Tiller

[Lucky_Ducky]

My tractor has 74” outside tire width. Should I get a 72” or 84” tiller?

Any recommendations would also be appreciated

 

[JJT]

Tillers need lots of horsepower unless you have really nice soil. If you have 50+ hp, get the larger tiller.

 

[EastTexCowboy]

How much tilling are you planning on doing? I suspect there's a significant difference in cost. If you will be running it a lot then the extra foot will cut down on your tractor time. If it's only occasional use it may not be worth it. I have an 84" Titan that is just a beast and I've used it maybe a total of one hour in the three years I've owned it. Some of that was due to plans changing but it was probably a bad decision on my part. If it doesn't get some use in the next year or two I'll probably just sell it.

I concur with @JJT that they need a lot of HP. With your MX6000 you should be good either way.

 

[leonz]

Are you hobby farming, row crop farming or truck farming with the MX6000 or are you
doing orchard and vineyard work breaking sod to control weeds? Lets start there.

Can you hire a neighbor with a plow and harrow and plant a cover crop for the
first year and winter wheat in the fall of the first year?

What is the soil like, clay, gravel, rocky, muck, sand?

Are you going to flat land farm or ridge till? Ridge tilling-bed forming allows
the seed to start sooner and create a leaf canopy faster to kill off weeds by
blocking the sunlight from reaching the ground and the soil holds water more
easily and effectively by letting the water soak into the soil instead of evaporating

How deep do you want to till? Has the ground been under tillage before??
Breaking the hardpan layer and keeping it broken creates the greater chance
of deeper root growth and water penetration.

How much do you want to spend or expect to spend on a basic rototiller or a high
quality tiller that will create a seed bed on the first pass and give you zero issues
and give you decades of service??

 

[jeff9366]

Kubota MX series tractors have adjustable rear wheel spread.

See your owner's manual for wheel width options.

 

[leonz]

I neglected to mention that your new tractor should have loaded tires or wheel weights.

 

[jyoutz]

Get the larger tiller. With 50 pto hp your tractor will have no difficulty with it. And it’s nice to be able to till closer to rows, fences, etc and be able to be a foot away with the tractor. Also, less chance of tire marks on tilled soil.

 

[5030]

I neglected to mention that your new tractor should have loaded tires or wheel weights.

Kubota offers cast center sections for all their larger tractors (I have them on both of mine) and I've never loaded the tires with anything and never will and all the larger units (MX included have adjustable tire width on the rears) as well. The larger M series have adjustable front's as well.

 

[Lucky_Ducky]

Are you hobby farming, row crop farming or truck farming with the MX6000 or are you
doing orchard and vineyard work breaking sod to control weeds? Lets start there.

Can you hire a neighbor with a plow and harrow and plant a cover crop for the
first year and winter wheat in the fall of the first year?

What is the soil like, clay, gravel, rocky, muck, sand?

Are you going to flat land farm or ridge till? Ridge tilling-bed forming allows
the seed to start sooner and create a leaf canopy faster to kill off weeds by
blocking the sunlight from reaching the ground and the soil holds water more
easily and effectively by letting the water soak into the soil instead of evaporating

How deep do you want to till? Has the ground been under tillage before??
Breaking the hardpan layer and keeping it broken creates the greater chance
of deeper root growth and water penetration.

How much do you want to spend or expect to spend on a basic rototiller or a high
quality tiller that will create a seed bed on the first pass and give you zero issues
and give you decades of service??

I have 8ac of cherry trees, 4ac of corn, and several 1/2ac food plots.

I have perfect loamy soil except for the ivy that has taken over by the tree lines.

Cost is relative- I don’t need the absolute best if a cheaper alternative is 90% as good

I have the rear tires filled with Rimguard

 

[Lucky_Ducky]

Get the larger tiller. With 50 pto hp your tractor will have no difficulty with it. And it’s nice to be able to till closer to rows, fences, etc and be able to be a foot away with the tractor. Also, less chance of tire marks on tilled soil.

Any recommendations for an 84” tiller?