Tractor Sizing Almost Daily Thread: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR?

[js5020]

I found the solution to the problem

 

[Industrial Toys]

Then comes Box Blade or Regular Grader Blade.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

]Ill clear some things up from the perspective of a new person, since my thread was apparently one of the straws that broke Jeffs back [/B]

I知 using a phone for most of my reading, and there is but one search button on here and it痴 not very helpful. The main problem is the absence of useful search terms. A search for subcompact vs compact is either exact and excludes similar threads that don稚 say that exactly or it brings up every thread that includes either word.... which is all of them basically. On the phone interface I didn稚 see a sticky that addressed common questions, so I just went for it. All being said, I think everybody has given great info, but if someone wants to write up a nice concise guide (I don稚 think anybody would read a thread like this after a page or so) then a lot of us would jump into it and maybe ask some less common questions.

What I do think us new folks could work on more is going to the dealer and test driving more to get a feel for these machines. My excuse is that I知 too darn busy and I work when the dealer is open, but I知 working on it

No, this has nothing to do with you. He's been like this since day 1. At least one wall of text per day = Jeff. Gives him purpose. Same thing with preaching to people about putting in their location. And preaching about posters must use full and proper punctuation in every post(FOR RESPECT!).

Don't feel singled out. He's our poster child.

 

[LeeL]

My thought is that if it bothers someone to post the same answers then just skip the **** thread. Others may want to help or may like helping.
For an OP It may not be just about finding information. It's possible that it's a way to start making coversation and getting to know fellow members.
I personally have met and made many friends off boards like these so give us noobs a break for asking something that has already been asked.
I found a lot of good info here but even better info from replies to my threads.
Thanks for all the help and lifes to short to get upset about reposting answers.
Plow ahead!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Makes me curious about the psychological basis for people to think of a forum site as their own little clique. Probably OWN a corner of facebook too.

 

[MossRoad]

I found the solution to the problemView attachment 601624

I'd get in that jeep and drive away for a while... hoping the problem was resolved when I returned.

 

[chim]

Especially important if your are six feet tall or taller, wear a size 10 shoe or larger, if portly, or are considering an optional Backhoe, which often have snug operator stations.

True. I'm 6'-3", wear a size 13 shoe and tip the scales at 250#. I was considering a new cabbed Mahindra when shopping around late last year. When I went to look at them it was obvious they were engineered for smaller people. One tractor was a little tighter than the other, but both were cramped. The salesman was very nice and offered to see if their mechanic could rig the seat to go back farther. It didn't look like there was enough spare space behind the seat to make any big difference.

Ended up with a used Kubota that has a generously sized cab a much larger person would find comfortable.

 

[shooterdon]

As a neophyte, I still learn from those repetitive threads. But I can see how the experienced old timers would find them tedious...just ignore them I guess.

I am a member of a cast bullet forum that has a lot of "stickies" and it seems a lot of newbies do not read them. The age of instant gratification I guess.

I recently found an old thread on using draft control with a blade. Even the "experts" do not agree on some things....LOL. BTW, my search was to address my desire NOT to spend a bunch of money if I can get my rear blade to do a better job. My new LS has draft control so was wondering about it.

Also, the search function is not very good. I wind up using google and it takes me to old threads here.

Lastly, new members do not know what they do not know. They are looking for affirmation plus they think their needs/situation are unique. Buying a tractor is a significant investment.

 

[MossRoad]

As a neophyte, I still learn from those repetitive threads. But I can see how the experienced old timers would find them tedious...just ignore them I guess.
...

At my old job, a woman who is about 20 years older than me was retiring. She was my first boss there for the first 3-4 years. We'd worked together for about 20 years after that. We were sitting around reminiscing at lunch and I mentioned to her that while I like the younger people they are hiring now, they kind of annoy me. And then I asked her "When I was that young, did I annoy you like that?" She quickly replied "You still do!" and laughed really hard.

 

[rbstern]

I think it's good that repetitive threads are posted from tractor neophytes. The new member can refine his or her own thinking by having to describe their issues to others, and it gives experienced forum members who don't spend all of their time here a chance to help someone.

If you're tired of the questions, stop reading them. Someone else will answer them.

 

[jeff9366]

I think it's good that repetitive threads are posted from tractor neophytes. The new member can refine his or her own thinking by having to describe their issues to others, and it gives experienced forum members who don't spend all of their time here a chance to help someone.

Unsurprisingly, the replies are basically repetitive too. The purpose of this thread is to optimize initial replies to the basic and frequent question: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR?

 

[rbstern]

Unsurprisingly, the replies are basically repetitive too. The purpose of this thread is to optimize initial replies to the basic and frequent question: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR?

What is the value of the optimization you seek?

 

[nards444]

What is the value of the optimization you seek?

I dont know because his stuff while informational at times reads like a manual and only talks Kubota. Not sure how much I have gleaned there

 

[/pine]

IMO the term "subcompact" is a misnomer and just a marketing term...I've never seen any industry standards that discern the terms...
Any tractor smaller than what is typically considered a full size machine (think 9n etc...) is a "compact" tractor...some are more compact that others...

Methinks the term subcompact was coined to prevent them from being called "mini-tractors"

 

[nards444]

IMO the term "subcompact" is a misnomer and just a marketing term...I've never seen any industry standards that discern the terms...
Any tractor smaller than what is typically considered a full size machine (think 9n etc...) is a "compact" tractor...some are more compact that others...

Methinks the term subcompact was coined to prevent them from being called "mini-tractors"

Its all marketing to sell to certain niches and to separate brands etc. I also think the term is used to sell these to suburban novice users that think tractor and think I dont need or want some monster, but maybe a smaller a one. It has worked I see a lot of 30-40k machines sitting around in yards that arent used to but mow and move a few wood chips around

 

[jeff9366]

Four reasons owner/operators trade up from a BX:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
Greater ground clearance
Three-range (3) HST rather than two-range (2) HST on BX. (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH)

Five reasons owner/operators trade up from a Subcompact Tractor:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
More ground clearance
Three-range (3) HST (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH) rather than two-range (2) HST.
Larger wheels and tires yield more tractive power pulling ground contact implements and logs, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less operator perturbation.

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Heavier 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.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Is a garden tractor a tractor? Because that's pretty much what the term in its smallest versions has come down in size to. To me, an 8N would have been about the smallest (serious) tractor. Everything else smaller is just some kind of homeowner intended rig designed to take advantage of an obviously large market.

To me, TRACTOR is all about traction, so it gets me to wondering. If you had to pull out your stuck half ton, what would stand a better chance, an old 8N or a 4wd scut, tlb with turf tires?

 

[Tractorable]

To pull out a half ton, my money would be on the TLB with turf tires. I own a ‘52 8N and it’s only 2wd with no diff lock. It gets stuck easy unless you have loaded rears and/or chains.

 

[chim]

Is a garden tractor a tractor? .........................

I remember seeing a post once that made me smile. It was something along the lines of "If you don't have to go up at least three steps to get into the cab, it ain't a real tractor".

 

[jeff9366]

I'm torn between the baby RK24 or a comp. brand model and the RK37.

We have 10 acres of semi cleared land. The rig will be used primarily for keeping up the dirt road, clearing some trails, hogging and some tilling (less than 5 acres) and likely a grapple for misc. tasks.

Am I likely going to kick myself if I go for the more affordable RK24 or should I step up to a 30hp series? Only ran a few tractors in my life and while we will certainly feel the squeeze on our wallets with the bigger unit i don't want to regret our purchase or feel like it can't handle the work.

The RK24 is a Subcompact Tractor.

The RK37 is a Compact Tractor.


Subcompact tractors are best regarded as wonderful lawn mowers with the ability to do light landscaping tasks. You have not itemized mowing turf as a tractor application.

With only 9" ground clearance with mower removed, it is difficult to take a subcompact tractor into woodlands.

FEL bucket lift capacity is around 500 pounds. Not much by tractor standards BUT SURE BEATS TRUNDLING A WHEELBARROW OF 80 POUNDS CAPACITY. With a full bucket, the tractor can be a bit unstable.....but so are other tractors. Front axle is thin. Plan to keep 350 to 450 pounds counterbalance mounted on the Three Point Hitch when doing Loader work. Weight behind the robust rear axle unloads weight from the relatively weak front axle, pierced by the steering pivot.

Subcompact tractors are solid for what they are. Excellent first tractors. Easy to service yourself.


Five reasons owner/operators trade up from Subcompact Tractors:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
Greater ground clearance
Three-range (3) HST (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH) rather than two-range (2) HST.
Larger wheels and tires yield more tractive power pulling ground contact implements and logs, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less operator perturbation.

Selling a used tractor is easy. Selling multiple light implements in order to buy heavier, wider implements for a new, heavier tractor requires a lot of time. Depreciation on implements is generally greater than depreciation on a tractor.

Be sure to try both RK models for operator station fit. Especially important if your are six feet tall or taller, trend portly and/or wear a size 10 shoe or larger.

For the tractor applications you have listed, I recommend the heavier RK37. The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Heavier 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.


VIDEO: So you want to TRADE UP for a new Tractor? - TMT - YouTube