Buying tractor w/ front hydraulics for attachments

[RussMan]

I have debated whether to try to purchase a skidsteer ($$$) , or whether to purchase a tractor with hydraulics on the front that would allow for skidsteer type attachments (grapple, mulcher) to clear brush. My question - do most tractors have the option for front hydraulics to allow these attachments? And do tractors have sufficient hydraulic gpm pump to power these attachments?

I hate to spend $$ for skidsteer if I could get a tractor that would 1) cover this task and 2) use the tractor for typical tractor work as well.

Advice?

 

[MMalabama]

To briefly answer your question, NO, you shouldn't try to use a tractor for attachments that are designed for SS. Hydraulics on SS are significantly higher flow. Most people with experience using hydraulic attachments on a tractor will tell you they will be underpowered. It just greatly depends on what your majority needs are, if you have a lot of dirt work and need to use a lot of front mounted hydraulic attachments then you should consider the SS as long as you can afford it. However I don't see many people plowing their fields with a SS LOL if you need to do some plowing and similar things. When I was buying I underestimated how much dirt work and other tasks that were better suited for a SS that I had, looking back I may have tried to save up longer in order to get a SS. But I still enjoy my tractor and have gotten a ton of use out of it, but not anything that I couldn't have done with a SS.

 

[ericm979]

Skid steers have more hydraulic flow than many tractors. Some tractor makers add the power steering and hydraulic system flows together in the spec sheets to inflate the numbers. It's misleading as you can't hook into the power steering circuit only the regular hydraulic circuit. Forestry mulchers need a lot of flow, more than most compact tractors have. Grapples don't need much flow and many people run them on compact tractors.

There are PTO driven forestry mulchers but even they require a good amount of HP. I've found one small one whose HP requirements are low enough that my 37hp Branson could run it. A track loader can operate on steeper and softer terrain than a tractor can.

 

[lpigott]

You can do exactly as you mention there are just limits. Most any tractor can have a 3rd function valve added for operating front mounted attachments. If you are doing anything more than powering a hydraulic cylinder(s) then you will need to carefully review the flow capacity of your tractor. There is a growing number of attachments that work with a tractor's lower flow. The high flow mowers, mulching heads etc need a larger skid steer to run them. Also flow rates are different even within the same tractor model. For instance, the M7060 Kubota with the 8 speed tranny puts out 11 GPM where the same tractor with the 12 speed tranny puts out 16.2 GPM. I was kinda of in the same boat as you. I needed the tractor capabilities more than a skid steer. I will have a front mounted grapple, bucket, forks, a tree shear and a Lane Shark. The Lane shark is a smaller mower/limb trimmer that is designed to run with as low as 10 GPM but I am up sizing to the 15 GPM motor since I have higher output on my tractor. So yes you can do lots of things with different skid steer attachments just do your homework in advance and realize there are limits.