Clueless about tractors

[paulfun9]

Not a bad post Paulfun, but it assumes 1 thing that I do not believe is always valid . . . that the operating experience and driving activity are equally enjoyable. If that were true . . everyone would own 2500 series trucks and no sports cars. Everyone would own Honda Interstates and Full Dresser Harleys. Everyone would own 50 foot houseboats or cabin cruisers instead of bass boats and 26 foot houseboats.

I think its alot more fun to have products that are more manueverable and pleasant. Bigger doesn't always mean more comfortable . . . but it often means heavier and taller and harder to transport.

Often we'll read comments like "a scut will do everything you want but it takes longer than a bigger tractor". That's "maybe" true if maneuverability isn't an issue (a 300 pound NFL lineman doesn't get used as a wide receiver just as a 185 pound cornetback get used as a pass blocker).

I didn't want a kubota bx1870 because its too small for my needs but I didnt want a Massey 1734 either because its too big and unwieldy for my needs.

In another point . . I've cut grass on a riding mower in one form or another for 55 years already . . and I still enjoy the ability to think and dream and plan as I'm doing it in nature . . no cab for me.

Life is hectic and hurried and stressful as it is . . A tractor or motorcycle is for fun with lots of reasons and justifications for also accomplishing things with them.

Assume what?

If you think I enjoy sitting out on an open platform tractor bush hogging in a light rain all day long your simply put insane! If you think I enjoy sitting out in the freezing cold in the middle of the night plowing or blowing snow so that people can get to work in the morning your also insane? No matter the tractor, big or small many of us will sooner or later find some job/task or chore becomes tiresome and more like work after years and for some even sooner.


Bigger does not always mean more comfortable?

Please explain as I have not found going to a smaller machine from any maker to give more room! I have also not met anyone who after getting some experience with both a smaller SCUT and a slightly larger CUT that has said their ride on the SCUT was more comfortable. Now there might be some who think they are more comfortable in their mind with the smaller machine and some might even think they are safer but my experience has been that the larger tractor is much more stable overall and my wife who is much more timid than I will back that up for she wont even run our small tractor off the bottom of our homes lot because it feels so unstable compared to our other tractors. But she will cut on the side of the hill all day long with the Kioti or the International.

Yep cutting the grass is still enjoyable to me and I have plenty of it, but bush hogging a 50 acre field that has to be done on schedule due to other commitments is something else, Plowing a field for planting is something else, digging a drainage ditch before the next heavy rain so you don't loose your driveway stone, or erode some of your freshly planted field is something else Getting those hay bales done and out of the field so you can get paid for them is something else.

Yes we all have different tasks, time frames, and other interests but it is up to each new person to read threw our posts and figure out which of the many different personalities and perceived lifestyles who freely give their experience and advice to them here would best fit their future experience.

 

[brasco426]

Yes we all have different tasks, time frames, and other interests but it is up to each new person to read threw our posts and figure out which of the many different personalities and perceived lifestyles who freely give their experience and advice to them here would best fit their future experience.

Well said Paul, it really comes down to the OP doing there homework and deciding what they need to accomplish and match a machine to it. When I bought mine I'm glad I did the homework and decided what needed to get done on a reoccurring basis then the other tasks throughout a years time. For me it was an enjoyable experience learning new things that prior I knew nothing about and still have no idea, and glad I did it on my own lol. Everybody's needs are different, the guy who spends time in "The Seat" career wise or as a serious farmer may not enjoy it like a newbie experiencing this way of life for the first time. I'm just a guy that works 7-4:30 as a burner tech, so for me I like zoning out on the tractor, no customers complaining to me about anything lol. Don't get me wrong I like people, but people suck, not all, but a lot. I'm just glad to come home and not move horse poop for hours some days, the tractor does it. The mowing, the driveway maintenance, and so on, it's just nice to have it around. I think some people get hung up on opinions too much than just going out and seeing what they need. Donnie

 

[brasco426]

Yep, I find having my tractors makes it easy to get a lot done. For my situation the x749 and 110tlb cover the majority of my needs. Maybe a couple of times a year having a scut would be beneficial but for the rest of the time it would be too small. Everyone should buy the size that they see fit. I have only seen one Mahindra Max 28 and it looked like a handy machine that would work well for small jobs. Hope your Max 24 works well for you and enjoy it.

Thanks Jenkins, before I ended up with a scut I did in fact look at the x700 series Deeres, awesome little machines for what they do. Having a loader became more of a must have the more I looked at our situation. So a scut it was. It's very true like you said, people should buy the size they see fit.

 

[jenkinsph]

Assume what?

If you think I enjoy sitting out on an open platform tractor bush hogging in a light rain all day long your simply put insane! If you think I enjoy sitting out in the freezing cold in the middle of the night plowing or blowing snow so that people can get to work in the morning your also insane? No matter the tractor, big or small many of us will sooner or later find some job/task or chore becomes tiresome and more like work after years and for some even sooner.


Bigger does not always mean more comfortable?

Please explain as I have not found going to a smaller machine from any maker to give more room! I have also not met anyone who after getting some experience with both a smaller SCUT and a slightly larger CUT that has said their ride on the SCUT was more comfortable. Now there might be some who think they are more comfortable in their mind with the smaller machine and some might even think they are safer but my experience has been that the larger tractor is much more stable overall and my wife who is much more timid than I will back that up for she wont even run our small tractor off the bottom of our homes lot because it feels so unstable compared to our other tractors. But she will cut on the side of the hill all day long with the Kioti or the International.

Yep cutting the grass is still enjoyable to me and I have plenty of it, but bush hogging a 50 acre field that has to be done on schedule due to other commitments is something else, Plowing a field for planting is something else, digging a drainage ditch before the next heavy rain so you don't loose your driveway stone, or erode some of your freshly planted field is something else Getting those hay bales done and out of the field so you can get paid for them is something else.

Yes we all have different tasks, time frames, and other interests but it is up to each new person to read threw our posts and figure out which of the many different personalities and perceived lifestyles who freely give their experience and advice to them here would best fit their future experience.

I agree with this^^^^^

A scut is good for some small jobs but if a MF GC1715 was good for everything then none of us would have bought larger tractors. You will find it better to ignore AxleHub as he has difficulty with anyone who feels a larger tractor is a viable consideration.

 

[dragoneggs]

Assume what?

If you think I enjoy sitting out on an open platform tractor bush hogging in a light rain all day long your simply put insane! If you think I enjoy sitting out in the freezing cold in the middle of the night plowing or blowing snow so that people can get to work in the morning your also insane? No matter the tractor, big or small many of us will sooner or later find some job/task or chore becomes tiresome and more like work after years and for some even sooner.


Bigger does not always mean more comfortable?

Please explain as I have not found going to a smaller machine from any maker to give more room! I have also not met anyone who after getting some experience with both a smaller SCUT and a slightly larger CUT that has said their ride on the SCUT was more comfortable. Now there might be some who think they are more comfortable in their mind with the smaller machine and some might even think they are safer but my experience has been that the larger tractor is much more stable overall and my wife who is much more timid than I will back that up for she wont even run our small tractor off the bottom of our homes lot because it feels so unstable compared to our other tractors. But she will cut on the side of the hill all day long with the Kioti or the International.

Yep cutting the grass is still enjoyable to me and I have plenty of it, but bush hogging a 50 acre field that has to be done on schedule due to other commitments is something else, Plowing a field for planting is something else, digging a drainage ditch before the next heavy rain so you don't loose your driveway stone, or erode some of your freshly planted field is something else Getting those hay bales done and out of the field so you can get paid for them is something else.

Yes we all have different tasks, time frames, and other interests but it is up to each new person to read threw our posts and figure out which of the many different personalities and perceived lifestyles who freely give their experience and advice to them here would best fit their future experience.

I agree with this^^^^^

A scut is good for some small jobs but if a MF GC1715 was good for everything then none of us would have bought larger tractors. You will find it better to ignore AxleHub as he has difficulty with anyone who feels a larger tractor is a viable consideration.

I don't always agree with Axle but I will have to come to his defense here. Sure one can buy a bigger tractor and maybe more than necessary and a zero turn and be done with it. Also buy all of the more expensive implements... but if this is for your own modest property a SCUT doing multiple tasks might take a little longer on job time, but I am guessing cost of ownership is much lower. I have probably abused my BX SCUT more than most gentlemen... and after 300 hours on my private property, it is asking for more.

Larger is always a consideration and a CUT might suit the OP... but why are folks talking about bush hogging a 50 acre field? I think he said 4 acres mostly wheat field, if my memory is correct. Not knowing the exact landscape and projects it is of course hard to advise other than to comment on personal experience. In my travels, I see SCUTs with MMM mowing large lawns (several acres). Could you do it faster with a CUT and wider deck? Sure.

It sounded to me that the OP is budget conscious. A SCUT with a MMM might get you the most bang for your buck if you plan to do more than mowing and your projects are modest. That said, I am living luxuriously with a SCUT and a small zero turn on my smaller property and figure I could handle 5 acres if already tamed and hire out the one time job and be ahead on $$$. My :2cents:

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't always agree with Axle but I will have to come to his defense here. Sure one can buy a bigger tractor and maybe more than necessary and a zero turn and be done with it. Also buy all of the more expensive implements... but if this is for your own modest property a SCUT doing multiple tasks might take a little longer on job time, but I am guessing cost of ownership is much lower. I have probably abused my BX SCUT more than most gentlemen... and after 300 hours on my private property, it is asking for more.

Larger is always a consideration and a CUT might suit the OP... but why are folks talking about bush hogging a 50 acre field? I think he said 4 acres mostly wheat field, if my memory is correct. Not knowing the exact landscape and projects it is of course hard to advise other than to comment on personal experience. In my travels, I see SCUTs with MMM mowing large lawns (several acres). Could you do it faster with a CUT and wider deck? Sure.

It sounded to me that the OP is budget conscious. A SCUT with a MMM might get you the most bang for your buck if you plan to do more than mowing and your projects are modest. That said, I am living luxuriously with a SCUT and a small zero turn on my smaller property and figure I could handle 5 acres if already tamed and hire out the one time job and be ahead on $$$. My :2cents:

I don't have a problem with anyone choosing a scut for their uses. But I don't have a problem with others choosing larger tractors either. AxleHub asserts that the scut is just as capable as a larger tractor and for some reason can not get past this. I find him to be very irritating and missed his calling as a politician.

 

[AxleHub]

I don't have a problem with anyone choosing a scut for their uses. But I don't have a problem with others choosing larger tractors either. AxleHub asserts that the scut is just as capable as a larger tractor and for some reason can not get past this. I find him to be very irritating and missed his calling as a politician.

Yet when an op starts a thread saying he/she is thinking of getting a scut for a number of listed items . . there are a very predictable number of posters who try to convice those thread starters that you should always buy larger than you think you want.

Sometimes cuts are the right size and sometimes scuts are a good size . . but if you watch frequent threads you'll see that lawn mowing is a scut "thing" and most everything else is supposedly a cut "thing". And then fir lawn mowing a ztr is better than a scut . . . so that leaves scuts supposedly for ???? taking too much time doing anything.

My point is . . Some posters want to justify tractor size based on needs and uses the ops don't have.

I thought Paulfun had a reasonable post earlier for his viewpoint but then justified his viewpoint on needs like getting done sooner because 50 acres of bush hogging is not fun. But the op had only 4 total acres where his house would be located and stated he wanted to do things slowly.

I like to approach threads with the idea that the op knows more than I do about his needs. He knows his money and ge knows his terrain. But often it seems numerous posters start out by thinking they know more than the op does about the op's needs and situation . . and I find that not logical.

Tbn has great knowledge to share with new users and other users . . I just don't see it is our ability to dictate what is proper choices. If that is something that makes me irritating . . then I guess I'll be irritating lol.

 

[paulfun9]

My response wasn't for the original poster and my example might not have been based on his need but rather some of my needs to try to get a point across. Something that always seems rather hard to do when axel steps up to the plate!

I did not recommend anything for the original poster as of yet. But I would probably recommend something a little larger than others might because even on the property that my home sits on I don't even bother to get my SCUT out of the garage and use My DK40 instead. I have spent way too much time on the SCUT and know better than to waste my time doing something with it that I can do in half and sometimes less time with the CUT.

WHat I don't understand is why Axel decided to come out of left field with a sports car -vs- truck analogy that made absolutely no sense to me. Since we don't drive our tractors like sports cars, they are indeed a tool for getting work done not for driving around a race track or flying down a back road taking turns like a wild eyed youngster. My truck is a work truck used for hauling things and I don't drive it everywhere but rather use it for work related things.
My sports car sits in the garage with my SCUT most of the time and rarely gets run at all because I prefer to drive the Jeep most of the time as its much more flexible than the car and doesn't swallow nearly as much fuel as the truck.

This is the only part of my last post that the original poster should be paying attention to- --- Yes we all have different tasks, time frames, and other interests but it is up to each new person to read threw our posts and figure out which of the many different personalities and perceived lifestyles who freely give their experience and advice to them here would best fit their future experience.

 

[AxleHub]

My response wasn't for the original poster and my example might not have been based on his need but rather some of my needs to try to get a point across. Something that always seems rather hard to do when axel steps up to the plate!

. . . . . .

WHat I don't understand is why Axel decided to come out of left field with a sports car -vs- truck analogy that made absolutely no sense to me. Since we don't drive our tractors like sports cars, they are indeed a tool for getting work done not for driving around a race track or flying down a back road taking turns like a wild eyed youngster. My truck is a work truck used for hauling things and I don't drive it everywhere but rather use it for work related things.
My sports car sits in the garage with my SCUT most of the time and rarely gets run at all because I prefer to drive the Jeep most of the time as its much more flexible than the car and doesn't swallow nearly as much fuel as the truck.

Greetings Paulfun9,

You mentioned a couple of legitimate questions/comments and I thought I would try to answer them.

1. You said you were trying to get a point across with one response and that it was not about the op's needs. But I don't see how your point had anything to do with the example relating to scut vs. cut. Would anyone on tbn routinely bush hog 50 acres with a scut? Of course they wouldn't . . there was no point to make. Not only did it not have anything to do with the op . . but it didn't have anything to do with me or any other scut owner or even small cut sizes.

2. You wrote you didn't understand my truck vs spirt car or lineman vs cornerback etc.. Again, I wrote it to contrast the big differences that units offer. Your post was all about big is the way to go because it saves time. But your post didn't reflect that some of us really actually like running our equipment. We like that our units are nimble and can work in tight places and have far shorter turning radiuses and are closer to the ground. We like that we don't way big weight and yet can lift 700 and 800 pounds with our forks and not damage the yard doing it. And we can't financially afford to have tractors sitting because they don't get used. My point Paulfun9, I think you have knowledge and experience to share with others . . . but you don't seem to recognize that viewpoint isn't enough. You need to recognize that you have a "lot" of stuff that others don't. You have lots if acres and lots of vehicles and multiple tractors . . but you forget what its like to have to make a choice of having only 1 imo. You forget what uts like to have only 2 or 4 total acres which includes the house. Maybe you even forget what its like to decide only only 1 tractor you can afford to pay for or have to use on 2 acres of land including the house.

Bigger is better when you have bigger jobs and the space and money to justify it . . but many if us on tbn don't have those conditions. You could be using your knowledge and experience better in my opinion if you understood that you have a great deal mire than many of us and remember when you had only a couple acres and jobs to be done. Or when you used to enjoy driving a scut because it was fun and all you had; and you could turn tight and be safe on a slope and could reach down from the seat to pick up a fallen branch in the yard. For many of us . . the new scuts can do what small cuts used to do . . and still allow us to enjoy doing it and then telling the wife how much we got done too.

My point Paulfun9, is you have a lot more knowledge and experience that you aren't sharing that we could learn from . . and that you could "remember" other than big is better and get it done fast. I'm sure you used to have other viewpoints in your earlier days too.

Jmho.