Comparison How to compare tractor & implement features?

[e.myers]

How do I compare apples to apples when it comes to tractors?
What are the main specs to compare?

Certainly people on here have a list of must haves as far as mechanicals go. Anyone care to elaborate?

Similar question about those types of things that may not be standard on a particular tractor. But if you wanted to make sure you were getting your tractor set up (expense no object) right, what would you want to have as options. The little things that make a difference in your productivity and enjoying your work as much as possible. What you didn't get that you wish you had etc.

Similarly, when it comes to bells and whistles that are on tractors now, what doesn't mean anything to you. Is a waste of money/durability/etc.

Any brands in particular that take shortcuts in quality or options?

What do I want? What am I looking for?

Need the following.
4 wheel drive with front end loader.
Tiller
Rotary Mower
Box Blade.

 

[JoeinTX]

It's just like buying a car/truck.

Price vs. features vs. abilities. No different.



We need details, man, details. I know people cutting 10 acre patches 2-3 times a year with 35 year old IH 1066s and brand new Land Pride 10'-ers. I know other people doing the same twice as often with new JDs and 40 year old Corsicana 5' mounted mowers.


There is no formula for it. Personally, I buy older used tractors and new implements...not the vice versa. Economically the best for me since I'm not made of gold.

 

[jbrumberg]

e.myers:

Welcome to TBN! You know what you want as to basic tractor setup. Now is the time to look at your property, anticipated tasks and projects. Jay

 

[jbrumberg]

I read your other post- you posted a lot of information . You seem to have a good handle on what you need IMHO. I agree about the most tractor weight to HP and "footprint" as it relates to ground clearance and your projects. At minimum, a tractor in the upper 20's and higher HP would work. Jay

 

[e.myers]

"I read your other post- you posted a lot of information"
Come on now. That's a nice way of saying D*** you sure can ask a lot of questions!
Seriously though, I'm really scratching my head over all of this.
You really think a 30 hp tractor would do what I need to do?

"I agree about the most tractor weight to HP and "footprint" as it relates to ground clearance and your projects."

So, If price was no object, find the tractor that has the HP I need, that is the narrowest and has the most ground clearance? That's what I was getting at I guess.

So what do you use your tractor for? I see rows in the background of your avatar and also see that your FEL is wider than the tractor. Is that typical?

What is all that stuff in your signature? Anything that I need to know about for my application?

Thanks for the interest.

 

[whistlepig]

How do I compare apples to apples when it comes to tractors?
What are the main specs to compare?

Certainly people on here have a list of must haves as far as mechanicals go. Anyone care to elaborate?

Similar question about those types of things that may not be standard on a particular tractor. But if you wanted to make sure you were getting your tractor set up (expense no object) right, what would you want to have as options. The little things that make a difference in your productivity and enjoying your work as much as possible. What you didn't get that you wish you had etc.

Similarly, when it comes to bells and whistles that are on tractors now, what doesn't mean anything to you. Is a waste of money/durability/etc.

Any brands in particular that take shortcuts in quality or options?

What do I want? What am I looking for?

Need the following.
4 wheel drive with front end loader.
Tiller
Rotary Mower
Box Blade.

Necessities for me:

Hydro
4WD
FEL
Power Steering
Wet Brakes
Filled Tires
Easy access to the motor and radiator to clean and service them
A premium brand tractor
Good dealer for parts, service, and advice
Ease of use-That will be determined by test driving. There is a big difference in the way the controls are set up between brands.

Things that I would like to have:

Heated and air conditioned cab.
Stereo
A couple of million dollars would be nice also.

 

[jbrumberg]

Actually my avatar is a picture of myself rotary cutting my lower field. Everyone's tractor needs are different. I needed a 4WMFWD, heavier tractor for dirt work and moving snow. I weighted my R-1's for more traction and stability. Rotary cutting my sloped lower field with a few "surface anomolies" required a tractor with relatively high ground clearance and "decent" stability (all CUT's feel a little "tippy" on slopes). Having had a geared tractor for over 20 years I went with HST with my "29" due to the FEL work I am doing. One thing one has to consider when cutting trails is what size trail which is tractor size dependent. My "29" can not go where my old Ford 1100 could go. My signature indicates my "set up". My basic (most used) attachments: FEL and toothbar, box blade, tiller, and rotary cutter. My front bucket is a HD 60". I wanted all my attachments to be wider than my wheel width. Jay

 

[e.myers]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still watching. Getting a little overwhelmed and kind of need to step back a little, maybe look into getting my older tractor fixed....

 

[Soundguy]

compair engine and pto hp.

if $$ is not an object.. get 2 remotes from the start.

choose a transmission type that you like and fits your needs.. ie.. shuttle/powershift or hst for alot of loader work... etc.

test drive a bunch.. buy 1.

soundguy

 

[NBmojo]

I'm new to this tractor world and went through many of the same dilemas you are currently facing. I find that on this site many people reccomend smaller machines, what is basically the minimum that could do the job. But you also often hear that most regret not getting a bit bigger, as too much HP is better than to little.

As I'm not mechanicaly inclined, I wanted a new tractor with full warranty and a dealer known for its good service. I went with a New Holland TD5050, which is a 95hp tractor with a cab. The tractor is built solid and heavy, the local dealer has a good rep, and compared to lower HP machines it wasn't all that much more money.

As far as implements, I would be less hesitant to buy used as warranty isn't as much of an issue.

Moe

 

[flusher]

How do I compare apples to apples when it comes to tractors?
What are the main specs to compare?

Certainly people on here have a list of must haves as far as mechanicals go. Anyone care to elaborate?

Similar question about those types of things that may not be standard on a particular tractor. But if you wanted to make sure you were getting your tractor set up (expense no object) right, what would you want to have as options. The little things that make a difference in your productivity and enjoying your work as much as possible. What you didn't get that you wish you had etc.

Similarly, when it comes to bells and whistles that are on tractors now, what doesn't mean anything to you. Is a waste of money/durability/etc.

Any brands in particular that take shortcuts in quality or options?

What do I want? What am I looking for?

Need the following.
4 wheel drive with front end loader.
Tiller
Rotary Mower
Box Blade.

Before you get down and dirty with tractor specs, you need to clearly figure out what jobs you'll be doing now, 1 year from now, 3-5 years from now with your tractor/implements.

Then you need to figure out which implements you'll need and, very important, what size implements will be required for your job. How big a tiller? Box blade? How much acreage are you planning to mow? How quickly do you want to finish a mowing job?

Then test drive a bunch of candidates.

As far as must haves on the tractor: chain hooks on the FEL bucket; skid steer quick attach plate on the FEL; double or triple rear hydraulic remotes; a decent sunshade on the ROPS; a large tool box on the tractor (most come with tool boxes that are way too small). You'll also want to attach some protection to the ROPS to keep stuff from hitting you in the backside when you mow. Here's what I have on my 2008 Mahindra 5525





It's a piece of expanded metal from my local weld shop attached to the ROPS with hose clamps (you don't want to drill or weld on the ROPS since it's a safety device).

You can see the triple hydraulic remotes (flat top fenders are a big plus when installing these).

Here's what the skid steer quick attach plate looks like



This image also shows the chain hooks that the dealer welded to the FEL bucket. Two grab hooks on the ends and a D-type slip ring in the middle. The dealer welded 1/4" steel stiffener to the bucket and then welded the hooks to the stiffener.

 

[e.myers]

Thanks. Noted!

 

[daveinnh]

I would agree with Soundguy and add:
- consider a factory cab in a cold climate
- make sure you can add chains between tires and wheelwells
- have dealer show where you fill diesel and change fluids and filters

 

[timswi]

We really need to know acreage and intent. If you have 4 or less acres and doing property maintenance, a BX would be perfect. If you are working 300 acres, that's another story.

There are times that too big is a problem as well. I sold a larger tractor for a BX because the big one just destroyed everything and got in my way.

Just another side of the equation.