Dealer Recommends Dualies - can it be?

[IslandTractor]

Well, that's kind of what I said above. The dealer seems to be pushing duals for stability rather than traction.

But, I would expect some serious and daily slopes being worked upon to need that. Hey, if you think you need some bolt-ons for work on the slops, fine. All I'm saying is that they work against what the poster has said he wants the rig for...

No doubt it is relatively unusual to use dualies but the poster did mention slopes and brushhogging so that is what I imagine is the rationale. I suppose dual tires would be compatable though no help with his other stated goal: driveway maintenance.

Dualies would make sense if his land is moderately sloped and difficult to safely bushhog with a CUT. His earlier posts talk about PowerTracs so I imagine his slopes are borderline for CUT use. Dual tires keep his options open to use the CUT instead of the PT so it seems reasonable to me.

 

[N80]

I would do a lot of research before putting duals on some CUTS, especially if they are like mine and have the final drive outboard from the tranny (in other words not a 'straight' axle coming from the tranny). Duals effectively extend the axle and increase the stresses on the axle and could possibly lead to premature failure of bearings, etc. Most CUTS are plenty tough but are often not built to exceed basic configurations. I think my Kubota L4400 manual says not to put duals on, but I may not be remembering properly.

In any case, if you do go that route, I'd get specific info from the manufacturer or rep that it is okay to do. Probably just me being over cautious but it wouldn't hurt to do the research.

 

[Billy_S]

I must be dense. Why would duals stress an axle any more than putting fluid in singles would?

 

[john_bud]

I must be dense. Why would duals stress an axle any more than putting fluid in singles would?

Filled tires don't add stress to the axle. (huh??) The weight of the fluid is carried by the ground, not the axle or the bearing. The only time you have any extra stress on the axle is by picking the tractor up by the frame, then it's only from gravity.

Duals (and widely spaced singles) put more torque on the bearings in the flange. It's due to the greater lever arm provided by the extra length between the tires centerline and the axle flange. Tractors are tough, and it probably is OK for a homeowner application. A county tractor in hard use 40 hrs+ a week running over curbs and such may be a different kettle of fish. If there are concerns, ask the dealer for some references of folks that have bought duals 7-10 years ago and see if they have had any issues.



jb

 

[woodlandfarms]

A bit of backstory on my tractor quest. Our property goes from flat to 60 degree ravines. The areas I am interested in working are around 25 degree slopes (according to topo and my own noodling). Those areas would be brush hogged, post holed and maybe sled dragging timber. I had initially decided on a TYM 330 hst with R1's dished. We rented a Kubota (I forget the number but small - it turned a 4' hog). While the tractor was not loaded nor dished, the pucker factor was very high, so hi I never dared to go anywhere near sever stuff (15 degree slopes and the pucker was on). I needed to rethink my plans. I saw in a vineyard the Carraro (Wow, are they cool) but there was no FEL attachment and the price was high. Someone suggested Power Trac and after initial research I was sold.

But this week there was a guy who unloaded his top of the line PT (actually 2 of them) and got less than 1/3rd his purchase price after only 3 years of use.

I have no plans to sell, but having an albatross on my neck is not a good thing.

This all said, we are in a holding pattern on the tractor. I have to get back to work, and our property currently has snow on it today, but is usually a muddy mess and I could not do anything with the tractor until spring...

I will add this, there is a used PT that someone has offered up later on this year, and I may do that as the price will hopefully be low enough that I can afford to "eat" it. Assuming it does go up for sale and the price is what I think its street value is. If not... I am here asking questions trying to find the proper tractor for my difficult situation.

Thanks to all the responses so far. Truly a great site and great community support.

Carl

 

[N80]

What do other folks in the area use?

 

[woodlandfarms]

What do other folks in the area use?

Straight tractors, but lots of people own bulldozers (lots meaning a few but that seems like a lot to me). Those who own have come buy and said that I am in a world of hurt. They would not risk their tractor on it.

I spoke today to TYM and to Kubota. Neither offers kits, both say it will void the warranty, but both also say that unless I am dragging plows (stressing the rear) that the tractor should be fine......

Now to see who makes these kits. Going to call the Kubota salesperson again and see what he was talking about...

 

[hsvhobbit]

FWIW, when I bought my 4630HST last year, I specifically asked the dealer about dualies so as to increase the stability on hills. He told me that Kubota didn't offer anything like that and that it wasn't recommended. Didn't explain the why's and wherefore's.

 

[N80]

You know that Kubota makes an M9000 "Low Profile" model. I have no diea what they mean by low profile. I would assume it meant a lower center of gravity but it does not say so anywhere on the web site and I couldn't find and explanation of what it was designed for.

 

[rback33]

A bit of backstory on my tractor quest. Our property goes from flat to 60 degree ravines. The areas I am interested in working are around 25 degree slopes (according to topo and my own noodling). Those areas would be brush hogged, post holed and maybe sled dragging timber. I had initially decided on a TYM 330 hst with R1's dished. We rented a Kubota (I forget the number but small - it turned a 4' hog). While the tractor was not loaded nor dished, the pucker factor was very high, so hi I never dared to go anywhere near sever stuff (15 degree slopes and the pucker was on). I needed to rethink my plans. I saw in a vineyard the Carraro (Wow, are they cool) but there was no FEL attachment and the price was high. Someone suggested Power Trac and after initial research I was sold.

But this week there was a guy who unloaded his top of the line PT (actually 2 of them) and got less than 1/3rd his purchase price after only 3 years of use.

I have no plans to sell, but having an albatross on my neck is not a good thing.

This all said, we are in a holding pattern on the tractor. I have to get back to work, and our property currently has snow on it today, but is usually a muddy mess and I could not do anything with the tractor until spring...

I will add this, there is a used PT that someone has offered up later on this year, and I may do that as the price will hopefully be low enough that I can afford to "eat" it. Assuming it does go up for sale and the price is what I think its street value is. If not... I am here asking questions trying to find the proper tractor for my difficult situation.

Thanks to all the responses so far. Truly a great site and great community support.

Carl

You know.... the thing about Carraro and no loader..... Several articulating tractor companies have contacted us about making a loader for those. We wish we could do it but it is just NOT cost effective. Those tractors are very hard to fit a mount kit to and the volumes don't justify the engineering. The only way it would work is if they exported them to increase the volumes, but even then I don't think they could order enough to cover the engineering.