Is a subcompact under 25hp enough power?

[350c]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting an under 24hp.

You might take a look at the JD 2 series. They’ve gone to bigger frame so more stable and heavier. I have 2038R with 72” drive-over auto connect MMM and FEL. I also have the Load-n-Go attachment, allowing me to pick up the MMM and position it however I want, to change blades, sharpen blades, clean, etc. I had a 1025R before; was a good little tractor but I like the bigger frame much better. As an old farmer once told me, whatever HP tractor you think you need, get the next bigger one!

 

[JONNY BOYYYE]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting a under 24hp.

good hp range--you just dont want to work it too fast and in too high of a gear range..you will use less fuel too

 

[Gnab2]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting an under 24hp.

I have had the TYM254 and had to sell it since we sold our land. Well we bought more land a couple of years later and dad found a deal on a LS XG3037. Not a fan of it. The epa crap that is on the above 30hp motors suck or at least on the LS. The dealer says they have all kinds of problems with them. I have had it in twice and about take it in again in less than 2 years. Also it seems to have less power than my TYM. We are about to trade it off for a larger of the 25hp range. I have used the 254 on 12acres and had no issue. It moved around easy and had good power for what it was and more than the XG3037. I ran a 60” cutter and tiller with no issues.

 

[wawajake]

I got so TIRED of replacing the "garden tractors" that cost $2-$3k. They'd last 2 or three years and have to be replaced. After the 4th one died on me, I said some appropriate cuss words and vowed to NEVER get that genre of tool again. Had my Kubota BX2660 since 2009 now and it has already paid for itself, compared to the "garden tractors" from MTD, Sears, and even one yellow one. Further, the BX2660 has been used for actual farm work and road work, and snow clearing one season and still going strong. Needs new front tires (on order) and fuel filters replaced, <censored> <censored> "safety" switches repaired, and that's it. Oh, it's also dug a lot of holes with a PhD, too. Even with buying those implements, which the "garden tractor" absolutely could not pull, I'm still ahead compared to how I used to fork out the money ever couple years.

Looks like you went down the same road as me, got rid of my Husqvarna ride on and never missed it. Same front tire problems....so after each got tubes due constant punctures on Hawthorns, I bought 2 extra wheels with tires from dealer and now learned how to take tires off rims and patch them when I get time. So do quick wheel change in the field and slap a spare on to keep working. Oh and bypassed the seat safety switch , runs great meanwhile !

 

[Rhorn4400]

I generally prefer the biggest I can afford. I mow with a 28 ho Kubota and a six ft finishing mower. About 12 acres. But when I get behind I start thinking about upgrading. I think the bucket size would bother me too

 

[Zork]

Depends on what your time is worth.

Or, if the world has no shackles on you, then take your time and enjoy life.

 

[Yander]

Congrats on the new tractor! A lot of guys on here like theirs.

 

[FERLING]

I'm now leaning towards the same thoughts. I don't think I would be happy trying to do everything with a subcompact even though it can be done but with smaller implements/attachments and longer work time.

As they say ... buying a tractor can be a journey.

Buy more than you think you will need. Extra weight will make all the difference. You can make a lifetime purchase or you can buy something that you can't wait to afford to trade up to something bigger. It is less expensive to bite the bullet and get a lifetime purchase.

 

[gtunney]

I got so TIRED of replacing the "garden tractors" that cost $2-$3k. They'd last 2 or three years and have to be replaced. After the 4th one died on me, I said some appropriate cuss words and vowed to NEVER get that genre of tool again. Had my Kubota BX2660 since 2009 now and it has already paid for itself, compared to the "garden tractors" from MTD, Sears, and even one yellow one. Further, the BX2660 has been used for actual farm work and road work, and snow clearing one season and still going strong. Needs new front tires (on order) and fuel filters replaced, <censored> <censored> "safety" switches repaired, and that's it. Oh, it's also dug a lot of holes with a PhD, too. Even with buying those implements, which the "garden tractor" absolutely could not pull, I'm still ahead compared to how I used to fork out the money ever couple years.

The only companies that were selling real garden tractors in recent years were Simplicity and JD and those machines cost way north of $3k. Simplicity dropped their top unit with 4WD, the Legacy. JD still has the top tier X700 and entry tier X500 series. My own unit is the earlier X585 predecessor to the X700. Cub Cadet used to have some a bunch of years back, but they are long gone.

 

[flyingace43]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting a under 24hp.

I had a 37hp JD that I ran a stump grinder with and it was just barely enough power or weight for the job?

 

[TN8Man]

I had a 37hp JD that I ran a stump grinder with and it was just barely enough power or weight for the job?

I'm not saying people should do this but when I was looking at Kioti 2520 tractors I saw these videos ...

 

[Torvy]

Congrats on the decision. Everything is a compromise.

I've got the turbo version with open station. I figured I might need the extra PTO HP and the turbo was worth the risk and the extra 1500 bucks. On my place, a bigger tractor would just catch more branches.

Need to get a brush guard. Homestead makes one to fit. I'll probably buy local as my neighbor has a custom welding business.

 

[TN8Man]

Congrats on the decision. Everything is a compromise.

I've got the turbo version with open station. I figured I might need the extra PTO HP and the turbo was worth the risk and the extra 1500 bucks. On my place, a bigger tractor would just catch more branches.

Need to get a brush guard. Homestead makes one to fit. I'll probably buy local as my neighbor has a custom welding business.

Thanks!

For my needs the Kioti NX5010 was overkill and so is the T494. I was looking at the series 2 T474 but splurged a bit to get the bigger series 3 T494 with much better specs. The difference in cost for the T574C wasn't that bad but I just could not justify the extra cash if the T494 was overkill for my needs. This was a cash deal so more scrutiny on cost.

With my NX cab I would always cutback branches in the area I was going to work.

 

[Shupiuliuma]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting an under 24hp.

I have been using a Kubota BX 1870 for snow and brush mowing. The top link on this size machine can’t handle heavy work like plowing snow in reverse or pushing the brush mower into light thickets. I would have bought an L series had I known that. Ground clearance is also too low.

Great tractor though.

 

[ap0915]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting an under 24hp.

You can do all that stuff it’ll just take a bit longer. Which personally I enjoy, what’s the hurry. Always a good day to be outside on the tractor

 

[TN8Man]

You can do all that stuff it’ll just take a bit longer. Which personally I enjoy, what’s the hurry. Always a good day to be outside on the tractor

Agree! Being outside on a tractor or a mower is my deep thinking platform.

 

[navyjoe]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting a under 24hp.

I have a Kubota BX2380 (21.6 HP) and a Kubota L2501 (24.8HP). I am amazed at both.

The BX2380 has a 5 foot mowing deck and a quick release front loader. I often hitch up a 5 foot bush hog or a 5 foot scraper. Probably shouldn't but they work ok with light duty jobs.

The L2501 Has a front loader and a backhoe. It is quite a beast to be such a compact tractor but is a VERY capable machine. One drawback when using the backhoe attachment is I have to remove the 3 point hitch.

I have 25 acres

 

[Dadah]

Is a subcompact under 25hp engine enough power to maintain a under 15 acre property where the tasks are mowing w/ mid mower, finish mower, brush hogging, stump grinding, hole digging, box blade and typical loader work?

I have owned a 35hp and 50hp so I'm a little uneasy getting an under 24hp.

No!! I have a JD 3025E. I just spent 2 weeks discing, tilling, packing, planting grass seed and pulling a drag harrow around my 5 acre yard. i had to borrow a bigger tractor to pull the 16’ disc, then used my tractor on the smaller implements. Others have suggested this. If you have all the time in the world and don’t mind being beat to death a smaller tractor is ok.
Attached are some pics of the yard right before seeding.
I wish a thousand times mine was a minimum of 50hp.
You know the advantages of more HP, please don’t go small.

 

[Mudfarmer]

As I have posted before. I have managed my hilly 80 acre tree farm for 40 years with 25 HP (or less) tractors, including a Ford 1700, Kubota b7100 (13 HP), JD 3005 (current) Kubota B2710, and Kubota B2650 (current). I prefer R1 tires for the hills during mud season. I mow over 10 acres each summer with a four foot bush hog in places where a bigger tractor would not fit. I yard substantial logs - anything I am comfortable with falling. I haul everything I ever need to haul. I pull trailers. I use a box blade. 15 acres would be well served with a small tractor. I would go midsize, like a kubota B series rather than the BX size. I wouldn't go heavier unless you already have a trailer and truck capable of loading it out.
MF

 

[Ronald G]

I wouldn't attempt any of that with a subcompact, I have a compact (26 hp) and I wish it was larger because the pto is not rated at 26 and you can't find a generator that will work on that low hp.
You can dig holes and I moved and leveled 800 yards of fill dirt, but still wished I had at least 30 hp at the pto.
The weight of the tractor is a little scary could be heavier.
A subcompact is a lawnmower and nothing else.