kubota why so light in weight

[kully]

I have been looking at kubota and can not figure why the are built so light weight for hp kioti dk55 is 4685lbs,new holland tn65 is 5140 ,john deere 5220 is 4730, and kubota m4900 is 3968lbs all are around 45 to 47 pto these are 4x4 rops tractors does anybody know why they are light weight

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Have you considered asking why the others are so heavy? My second question is are you comparing tractors designed to do similar tasks, I think you might be mixing in different types of tractors which might skew your comparisions.


Heavy tractors put more of their HP into usable traction, which is great for plowing fields. It can be an asset for FEL work, but only if the weight is distributed properly. Excess weight also makes them far less suitable for some other tasks.

So really it depends on the tasks as to whether or not the weight is desireable or not. I am not advocating LIGHT weight or HEAVY weight, just saying that some tractors might be better than others from some tasks, depending on the tasks the machine is destined to accomplish.

The NH TN series are agricultural tractors which might explain the fact that that unit is the heaviest you list. I don't know what a similar HP "TC" series tractor weighs, but I suspect it is lighter.

 

[kully]

these are all ag tractors which I believe, does heavy mean built better, or can do more loader work or maybe have better traction

 

[MikePA]

Were all the weights you mention taken with the tractors configured the same way, e.g, same tire/wheel combination, full tanks of fuel, etc.

 

[kevincook]

I have this vague recollection that the Kubota weights are not an apples to apples comparison. It was something really weird, like they don't include the weight of the wheels and tires or some other crazy thing. Maybe I'm dreaming. I'm sure someone will remember the reason because this has come up a few of times in the past couple of years.

Kevin

 

[AndyM]

Lightweight isn't always a bad thing...

When I bought my tractor, I wanted to get the largest tractor for my needs, but with the lightest weight (if that makes any sense). My ground is soggy and the 3000 pound Ford 8N makes ruts all over the place. I now am using a New Holland TC18 that is 1400 pounds, but is large enough for a 60 inch finish mower. It treads lightly on my grass, just like I had hoped!

 

[kully]

you can get all these weights from all compernies specs weither on line for each tractor specs.they all spec out with ag tires or so it seems .other tire opt.are usely extras.

 

[_RaT_]

Whare's thar spill chicker whan are kned ert?

 

[TresCrows]

Ref the other thread on this subject.
Kubota has always put more horsepower in a given weight class. You are using horsepower to decide the class--wrong--go by weight. If you look at it that way you see that Kubota puts more power in their tractors of a particular weight class.

Here is another thing, if you want a heavy tractor I guess you need to buy something other than a Kubota /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Those Russian Belasuarous tractors are extremely heavy as are the Farm Pro Chinese tractors. I don't think I will trade my Kubota for a Belasauous.

To be clear--rather than thinking horsepower vs weight you need to consider weight first and then for that weight see who has the most horsepower. Kubota, often as not, has the most horsepower for a specific weight class they compete in.
Here is another thing, I don't want a heavy tractor--overly heavy anyway. I can ballast my Kubota with front weights, box weights, implements, filled tires etc but nothing you can do with the built (un-needed) heavy unit to make it lighter. Well, maybe put helium in the tires /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. I will take a light(er), strong, precision tool over a heavy, chunky tool any day. I know that tractors and aircraft are not a good comparison but in aviation making something heavy does not make it stronger but extra strength is then needed for that extra weight and on and on and on. I personally have an aversion to useless weight that serves no purpose. Massive castings that put metal where there is no stress path serve no purpose and is a sign of poor engineering or no engineering to me. That is just me, if'n you don't see it that way Attwoods got the Farm Pro Chinese 24 horsepower tractors priced below 4,000 dollars. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. Good luck. J

 

[MarkV]

At one time, can't say if it is still true, Kubota listed shipping weight of the crated tractor in their specs. The crated tractor does not include tires, wheels or fluids. Some of the other manufactures list field ready weight with fluids and all. If I remember right Muhammad confirmed this with Kubota when he was putting specs together for different brands. I hope he will see this thread and verify if my old memory is working right.

MarkV

 

[_RaT_]

Tractor weights can be very misleading and I believe you are right Mark, Kubota crates the tractor with no tires, no loader brackets or loader, no fluids (that may have changed). Regardless, you can compare tractors a lot of different ways. When comparing my L3830 to the NH and Deere, I never looked at weight, in fact, I still don't know what it is. I looked at the physical size, HP and above perhaps more then anything cost. My L3830 compared favorably against the JD 4410. I know the tractor is all steel especially on the rear end where others have been using aluminum which in and of itself is not bad provided it can take the punishement of heavy implements.

 

[Rimmer]

"...Kubota crates the tractor with no tires, no loader brackets or loader, no fluids (that may have changed)...."

I was at my dealer's place last Friday picking up some stuff, and he had a bunch of tractors sitting out back ready to be uncrated. The B-series tractors were all without wheels and tires, just as you say, and I think I saw at least one L-series, also without wheels and tires. The BX-series tractors were complete in the crate, with wheels and tires installed.

 

[TresCrows]

Yes, I have been told the same thing--weight is crated w/o tires and wheels. I really think this is an issue that was dead about 20 years ago when the little orange tractors showed up and people laughed at them, now they are not so smug. There is room for different approaches in design, if weight is what is importart to a particular purchaser they should look elsewhere perhaps. I think it is a wild goose chase. J

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I e-mailed Kubota today and asked this question:

"Are the tractor weights in the specifications "crated" weights,
or do they include the standard wheels, tires and fluids?"

- and received this reply (in less than 4 hrs!):

From: <compacttractors-implements@kubota.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Kubota Contact Sub Compact/Compact Tractors

"They are assembled weights (tires & wheels) dry."

 

[slowrev]

Thanks for being a myth buster. Keep this one around for reference, this subject will be back several times /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I thanked the nameless contact at Kubota for his response, and he replied:

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thank-you. I enjoy reading some of the Well informed discussions on this site but as you know I can not participate in the dialog. Brief explanation:

Over the years the way we ship and build products has changed. Original in crates (still some today) for containers and shipments from the warehouse. This weight was commonly found in the price book.

Then as we ship tractors in crates the wheel and tire assemblies and ROPS were sourced domestically and shipped from the warehouse to marry up with the crated tractor for the Dealer to assemble.

Then we shifted ROPS production back to Japan and they are now included in the crates. KMA (Kubota Manufacturing of America) Gainesville Georgia builds almost 50% of our retailed units some are completely assembled, some require assembly.

Best bet is to use Bid specifications or Published specifications and not use price page information as the intent is different. )</font>

I THINK he is saying that the "Published specifications" (e.g. as found on the Kubota website) will reflect the assembled unit weight, while the "price page" information may not, and is therefore less reliable.