Tractor Sizing GUIDE: Shopping/Sizing A Tractor (Version 1.0)

[jeff9366]

WORKING DRAFT (7.4)​

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Heavier tractor weight is more important for most tractor operations 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. The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to define potential tractor applications first, then determine bare tractor weight needed to safely accomplish your tasks.

Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, bare tractor weight must increase 50% before you notice a significant tractor capability increase. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!

Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in residential or hobby farm applications on one to ten flat acres. Subcompact and compact tractors under 3,000 pounds will enter a residential garage with typical 84" door height.

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

Tractors over 3,000 pounds bare weight are generally offered in a economy configuration and a deluxe configuration. Deluxe kit enhances productivity and operating comfort ~~~ but you must pay. Many tractors over 3,000 pounds bare weight are too tall to fit through an 84" height garage door, even with ROPS folded.

Heavier tractors are constructed on larger frames and are built using thicker steel which can stand high stress. Heavier tractors have larger wheels/tires. A heavier tractor with large diameter tires has more tractive power pulling ground contact implements, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Large wheels and tires increase ground clearance, enabling a heavier tractor to bridge holes, ruts and tree debris with less bucking and less operator disturbance.



Safe hillside operation demands more tractor weight than level land operation. Heavier tractors have adjustable rear wheel spreads; wide rear wheel spreads hugely improve tractor stability. Four wheel drive is essential on hillsides. Four wheel drive supplies increased traction. When descending slopes 4-WD augments rear brakes as tractor weight shifts forward, decreasing rear tire grip.

Compact tractors optimized for hill work have liquid installed in the rear tires rather than air. "Loaded" tires are filled 50% to 75% with liquid, which lowers the tractor's center-of-gravity, increasing rollover resistance. "Loading" two compact tractor rear tires will increase tractor weight 300 pounds to 800 pounds over weight of identical two tires inflated with air.



A quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is important for tractor neophytes. Almost every new tractor is delivered with a glitch or two requiring correction. My kubota dealer is six miles away. I feel my local dealer continues to add value to my equipment. Dealer proximity is less important to those experienced with tractors and qualified to perform their own maintenance.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.​

 

[majorwager]

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There is pushback in Buying Too Much Tractor. The excessive weight mantra is NOT Universally shared and supported.

 

[majorwager]

Here is a point lost on jeffy,
Messick's submitted a relative post recently,stating that effective operating weight is NOT achieved by piling on a bunch of attachments to your tractor. Just like people, weight in the wrong place is just simply ineffective.

Yes, a loader technically is included in operating weight, but is is not as beneficial as a tractor w/ an manufactured bare weight. Jeffy even includes the bucket as oper wt when often the bucket is engaged and actuality part of the load or resistance.

A manufacturer designs a tractor to accommodate a FEL, not as a necessity. So in writing a tractor encyclopedia as DIg has labeled it, there is a basic premise to remember.

If a heavy tractor is desired or warranted, that goal is best accomplished through the factory bare tractor and the addition of attachments and implements might technically increase the operating weight, it is often NOT the best means to EFFECTIVELY increase weight.

With that said, I reinforce that smaller lighter tractors accomplish amazing tasks and being saddled with unnecessary additional cost burden results in paying for too much tractor.

So If we lead by example, why DIDN'T the OP and reinforced in post 71, purchase a 5000 lb plus bare tractor w/ a larger stature and physical presence for his own use? (Toutes a 5400 lb operating weight in avatar)

Could it be that when spending our OWN MONEY, the criteria of NECESSITY suddenly changes. ??

So remember what Messick's tells us, If the large heavy tractor is required, the means to that goal is NOT through a bunch of misplaced and ineffective attachments and implements. Begin w/ the proper tractor, proceed from there to meet the objective.

As an aside, folks will note a wheeled loader includes the actual loader. In that case, and w/ a dedicated TLB, (commercial const. Type) the loader and hoe are not removable and the tractor design included those features, they are not add-ons. Purpose built.

 

[rbstern]

I've come to the conclusion this one page guide concept isn't worth the bits and bytes it consumes.

A tractor isn't a whimsical purchase that can be meaningfully aided by a one page cheat sheet, hyper-focused on a particular tractor characteristic. If a tractor noob is intent on buying a tractor on impulse, with little or no research effort, the seller will hold much more sway.

There are too many important variables to dismiss so readily, in relentless pursuit of a one page document. The excessive focus on weight discounts the most important issue: Every user has a unique assortment of circumstances for which there is no single, right answer.

Also some of the content remains highly subjective: "Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, bare tractor weight must increase 50% before you notice a significant tractor capability increase. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!" Jeff, that may be your perspective, as felt thru the seat of your pants, but it's likely to be assessed quite differently by someone else, in different circumstances. Maybe a 20% increase in bare weight elicits MY-OH-MY! from someone with different experience. There is no objectivity in your statement.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I've thought that his horribly lame attempt at this worthless guide was nothing more than self gratification and a sad attempt for a noob to pretend to be an expert at something that he obviously is not.

I find great humor as I watch others admit to similar interpretations in some form or another.

I'm not a 60 years experience, worked agriculture for life, farm hand who's operated every type and color of ag machine imaginable in conditions from mild to wild.

Nope.

I'm a drag racing, rock crawling, sled pulling, gun shooting, dog loving, beer drinking Republican who needed a tractor and so went and bought one.... and hated it. And sold it, and bought another one and loved it.

But Jeff and his guide are funny. It entertains me

 

[majorwager]

rbstern and rock crawler,
Jeffy is oblivious to anyone in disagreement. Even the Messick's post, clearly stated that his lengthy dissertation is invalid. He is unlikely to alter his position. His self-perceived intellectual superiority fuels his discount of criticism as simply comments from the Unwashed .

He posts the same babbling format response to every post seeking tractor advice. The tractor cost per pound is twilight zone nonsense.

Jeffy's percentages have NO factual foundation, neither do his formulas for Parcel size and tractor model. His facts are pulled from the dense florida air.

The sad result is that some bite on his illogical tractor babble and discount smaller tractors as effective tools.

The rbstern comment is rather humorous, the tractor guide being felt through the Seat of the OP's pants.

 

[gladehound]

I've always wanted to write a guide like this! Jeff beat me too it. So here's my version 1!

Tractor buying guide V1:
Tractor capabilities should be matched to the tasks for which it is purchased and the budget of the purchaser. If you're unsure what this means, ask for advice on TBN and you'll get lots!