Tractor Sizing How much HP do I really need?

[4570Man]

I disagree! Our 24HP (18PTO) tractor has enough power to do EVERYTHING we need it to do, I would be VERY displeased if we had a 32 HP tractor because it would actually be too large for mowing and use a LOT more fuel - both completely unnecessarily.

The fuel consumption of a 24 and 32 hp engine producing equal output is quite similar.

 

[Roger66]

You might want to look at the PTO HP requirements of the implements you are planning on and let that be your guide. It's power at the PTO more than overall HP that's more important sometimes. With only 1.5 acres to worry about the 1526 is likely adequate and it will drive most of the smaller chippers out there.

I think I'm convinced a 25 HP tractor will have enough HP for me. If I get a chipper, i'll be chipping smaller stuff. Anything 3" or thicker is firewood. Post Hole digger and 60" snow blower should also be fine. It seems all think it's plenty of HP for for towing, lugging, Dragging stuff at least at low speed. and with 1.5 acres I don't need speed!

Thanks all for your help!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I think I'm convinced a 25 HP tractor will have enough HP for me. If I get a chipper, i'll be chipping smaller stuff. Anything 3" or thicker is firewood. Post Hole digger and 60" snow blower should also be fine. It seems all think it's plenty of HP for for towing, lugging, Dragging stuff at least at low speed. and with 1.5 acres I don't need speed!

Thanks all for your help!

Roger66, I have had occasions where I have driven tractors from the local Mahindra dealer to my place 2 miles away. I have a short (200 yards)fairly steep road that I have to drive up to get to my place. I have driven a 49HP 3550 up that hill and it would not go up it in high range, just would not do it, had to drop to mid range and then no issues. I have driven a 1526 here also, it had no issues going up that same hill in high range.

My point being is that other than high PTO HP requirements, the 1526 will be great for HP-weight ratio for the majority of your needs. :thumbsup:

 

[Roger66]

If you guys want a laugh check out my current "tractor" cobbled together from spare parts. It might be "slightly" over powered with a Ford 300 CI 6 Cylinder engine on it.

Backhoe attachment - YouTube
Homemade Self-Propelled Log Splitter - YouTube
Home made log splitter with 6 way head - YouTube

 

[ericm979]

That's cool! Very creative.

 

[4570Man]

I like your little tractor. How do you like that wedge on the splitter?

 

[Roger66]

I like your little tractor. How do you like that wedge on the splitter?

The wedge is the Key! It breaks the bottom slice in 5 pieces. The top slice remains on top for another hit. Because the top is flat. It doesn't fall off. I suspect my blade angles could be optimized as it kind of extrudes the wood. I made the head so it's pinned to the beam so I can try different designs, but It's worked so well I haven't made others. I have just 2 splitting heads the one in the video and a single wedge which I never use. The single wedge is also reversible and doubles as a press.

 

[arrow]

The wedge is the Key! It breaks the bottom slice in 5 pieces. The top slice remains on top for another hit. Because the top is flat. It doesn't fall off. I suspect my blade angles could be optimized as it kind of extrudes the wood. I made the head so it's pinned to the beam so I can try different designs, but It's worked so well I haven't made others. I have just 2 splitting heads the one in the video and a single wedge which I never use. The single wedge is also reversible and doubles as a press.

Your wedge puts the 4 way to shame. Love to see a close-up of it.

 

[arrow]

If you guys want a laugh check out my current "tractor" cobbled together from spare parts. It might be "slightly" over powered with a Ford 300 CI 6 Cylinder engine on it.

Backhoe attachment - YouTube
Homemade Self-Propelled Log Splitter - YouTube
Home made log splitter with 6 way head - YouTube

This is a great freakin machine. Put a snow plow on it and I wouldn't even worry about getting a tractor. With 40" tires it could double as a log skidder.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I would say think of ANY attachment and implement you would ever possibly want to run off the tractor and take that into consideration.

Look down the road 10-20 years, what are your plans for the tractor? What could those plans potentially progress to? What do you have in the back of your mind you might want to do if you had a big enough tractor and the money? Do you plan to stay at your place for a long time?

Mine was cattle and custom brush hog work, I based my tractor on the ability to lift round bales on the FEL (800-1200lbs).

I was about to sign on the dotted line for a 1533 or 1538, one thing to keep in mind is Mahindra doesn't have a DPF filter or additives to worry about, the scary tier 4 jump isn't so bad with Mahindra's direct injection engine.

A 1500 series frame is a good one to be in, the 1526 is a tad bit smaller than the 1533 but not by much.

I personally think a 1526 would move a large trailer, I moved a 1500lb 6x12 single axel garden trailer a lot with my dads 21hp 455 JD garden tractor, a 1500 series tractor I would hook a 2800lb tandem trailer to all day long to move it, 5mph max I would say in mid to low range no prob. Let's say I would be VERY surprised if it couldn't handle it.

 

[Roger66]

This is a great freakin machine. Put a snow plow on it and I wouldn't even worry about getting a tractor. With 40" tires it could double as a log skidder.

Thanks! Its an awesome splitter, but only 2WD with an open diff which means it's really 1WD. It's not an ideal tractor. I do have pallet forks for it. I'll probably not buy a backhoe for the new tractor, I'll just use this machine for back hoe work.

 

[arrow]

Thanks! Its an awesome splitter, but only 2WD with an open diff which means it's really 1WD. It's not an ideal tractor. I do have pallet forks for it. I'll probably not buy a backhoe for the new tractor, I'll just use this machine for back hoe work.

I just love cobbled up stuff. I used to have an old Jeep frame that I put 33" tires on that acted like a log skidder. It had lockers both front and back so it didn't stop for much. They can be very handy.

Now the advice I'd give if you wanted a Mahindra is to look for a slightly used 3016. You'd probably save around $8000 over a new one if so many think the resale is so low if it's not a Kubota or JD. I'd take advantage of this and come away with a great machine for not too much money.

Anyway, can you showcase your 6 point splitter blade with some pics? I thought that very efficient as well.

 

[ModMech]

The fuel consumption of a 24 and 32 hp engine producing equal output is quite similar.

While technically accurate, it is not representative of real-life operation.

EG: The same p/u with a 350HP engine will consume significantly more fuel than a similar p/u with a 250 HP engine. Part of this is the human tendency to "use what you got" and some of it physical BSFE differences due to the engines.

 

[RalphVa]

My 18.5 hp original 4wd JD was enough to chip up to 3 1/2 inches. It was also enough for the 4' bush hog. So, when JD quit offering anything less than about 24 hp, I had to get either a 1025R or 2025R. I've finally ended up with the 2025R, less said about the less than 2 year 1025R the better. I run it at only 1800-2500 rpm. These rpms don't lug it. Still, it consumes way more fuel than the 0.46 gph that the 4010 did. I'd say the Tier 4 ones and these big engined tractors pollute the air more than my 4010 did.

The 2025 does have the best FEL of any of the 3 tractors. The one on the 1025 was a real loser. I was actually afraid of trying to load anything into the side of my pickup with it. The 2025's will dig and dump very reliably.

Never used a PHD except one of those 2 men ones. Where they would take the hp is if you hit a rock and you expect the tractor to jar it loose. If we hit a rock with the 2 men one, we'd stop, go on to the next hole while the wife dug out the rock. Then we'd go back to the hole and finish it.

 

[Shaneard]

While technically accurate, it is not representative of real-life operation.

EG: The same p/u with a 350HP engine will consume significantly more fuel than a similar p/u with a 250 HP engine. Part of this is the human tendency to "use what you got" and some of it physical BSFE differences due to the engines.

Your comparing a hundred hp to 8 hp. That's a lot of difference! How about a 350 hp truck vs. a 358 hp truck? Not much difference.

 

[oosik]

Thirty four years ago I started my saga, out here, with a 26hp Ford 1700 4WD. It was the perfect size for snow removal on my mile long gravel driveway and all other, smaller, chores around my 80 acres. Seven years ago - most all the smaller chores were completed except snow removal on the driveway - and I then knew I needed more weight and horsepower. I wish I could have obtained the same frame size with a 60hp engine and added weight - but that was/is not the case. So I moved up to my current Kubota M6040 and can now easily complete the "larger/heavier" chores.

However - there are now those few times I wish I had the smaller tractor. The larger tractor, some times, requires that objects be moved so I can get to the work.

It appears that there will never quite be a perfect solution to all situations.

 

[Snowback]

I think I'm convinced a 25 HP tractor will have enough HP for me. If I get a chipper, i'll be chipping smaller stuff. Anything 3" or thicker is firewood. Post Hole digger and 60" snow blower should also be fine. It seems all think it's plenty of HP for for towing, lugging, Dragging stuff at least at low speed. and with 1.5 acres I don't need speed!

Thanks all for your help!

Yup - I too think you have narrowed in appropriately. In my opinion the 1526 will be plenty for you on one and a half acres. We purchased a Max 25 back in 2012 and it served us very well for almost four years of sporadic, but vital use on a two acre partially wooded lot. More than capable of working to level fence lines and grading hundreds of yards of fill dirt along with completely relegating the wheelbarrow to the back of the shed, even for small tasks.

We used a four foot cutter and box blade with no problems at all, even in heavy stuff when mowing a five acre field of four foot weeds for the HOA.

When we did try to re-home it on a bigger 16 acre tract north of town that had recently been logged, that is where it reached its limits in late 2015. At that time the 2538 moved into the shed.

I can also speak to the benefits of the smaller Max 25 when navigating around the trees, home, and outbuildings. HST is a plus on this sized tract, and the smaller size allowed for more agility and less twisting and turning. I do have to be careful with the bigger machine now when doing work in town. The 1526 is bigger than the original Max 25 and a bit smaller the 2538 or larger machines, so you should be in the sweet spot.

If I needed the odd old stump removed I could even dig around the sides with the bucket and then pull it out with a chain usually. This is where the Max 25's only real shortcoming was. Lower weight limited ground engagement as pointed out by others above. In low gear I always had more power than weight/traction, and if running the box blade into a rooted area with the rippers down, I would have to work the three point to bust lose some smaller roots to keep on trucking. (The trees are probably happy for that limitation.)

One last thing - I was going to get a chipper as well, but found that I could just as easily burn that smaller stuff and not have to store another implement. I guess it depends if you have some area to pile firewood and limbs or just let stuff break down.

Enjoy your new machine when you get it!

Here's the little brother to the 1526 that did just fine on two acres. I think the 1526 will impress you.

 

[Shaneard]

Thirty four years ago I started my saga, out here, with a 26hp Ford 1700 4WD. It was the perfect size for snow removal on my mile long gravel driveway and all other, smaller, chores around my 80 acres. Seven years ago - most all the smaller chores were completed except snow removal on the driveway - and I then knew I needed more weight and horsepower. I wish I could have obtained the same frame size with a 60hp engine and added weight - but that was/is not the case. So I moved up to my current Kubota M6040 and can now easily complete the "larger/heavier" chores.

However - there are now those few times I wish I had the smaller tractor. The larger tractor, some times, requires that objects be moved so I can get to the work.

It appears that there will never quite be a perfect solution to all situations.

Have 2 tractors. Problem solved. We live on 1.27 acres and have 5

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Have 2 tractors. Problem solved. We live on 1.27 acres and have 5

You prob take up 1/2 an acre just parking them all lmao, that's a lot.

Tech I have 2 tractors for 3 acres, a garden tractor and a tractor big enough to do all the chores for the cattle, snow removal ext.

 

[Shaneard]

You prob take up 1/2 an acre just parking them all lmao, that's a lot.

Tech I have 2 tractors for 3 acres, a garden tractor and a tractor big enough to do all the chores for the cattle, snow removal ext.

I failed to mention I keep up 44 acres for a friend who moved to Missouri, lol. Why else would someone with 1.27 acres need a 60 hp tractor, 6' bushhog, 7' boxblade 2 row corn planter, plows etc.? Not even mentioning the other 4 tractors & 3 trailers, lol.