Buying Advice L4600 Dealer Installed Options - Draft Control Kit and Top-N-Tilt Kit

yellowdog00 · May 28, 2014

These two options are listed for the L4600:

(1) DRAFT CONTROL KIT
L8311C-DRAFT CONTROL KIT
$462.00
(1) TOP-N-TILT KIT
L8388-TOP-N-TILT KIT
$871.00

I understand the Top-N-Tilt kit is the hydraulic third arm for the 3 pt. hitch and would be useful for a box scraper. I'm not sure what the Draft Control Kit gives me and what use it is. Forgive my ignorance and help me understand whether these options are worth adding to tractor purchase?

C4Ranch · May 28, 2014

Lots of discussion if you search and some like it and others don't.

Basically it is for ground engaging implements. If it senses the plow hits something, it will raise the 3pt slightly to get over.

That's my understanding after reading. I don't have it.

TripleR · May 28, 2014

A bit long, but this explains draft control.

"How To" Operate and Drive a Tractor: Part 1 - YouTube

TripleR · May 28, 2014

A bit long, but this explains draft control.

"How To" Operate and Drive a Tractor: Part 1 - YouTube

I highly recommend the TnT and got three rear remotes on my last tractor: Kubota Top-n-Tilt Kit with Land Pride HR2572 Box Scraper - YouTube

MtnViewRanch · May 28, 2014

yellowdog00 said:
These two options are listed for the L4600:

(1) DRAFT CONTROL KIT
L8311C-DRAFT CONTROL KIT
$462.00
(1) TOP-N-TILT KIT
L8388-TOP-N-TILT KIT
$871.00

I understand the Top-N-Tilt kit is the hydraulic third arm for the 3 pt. hitch and would be useful for a box scraper. I'm not sure what the Draft Control Kit gives me and what use it is. Forgive my ignorance and help me understand whether these options are worth adding to tractor purchase?

Like anything, these things need to be used often to really make it worth the investment. If you are going to be doing much grading, then they are a worth while investment. But just having them doesn't help a lot without understanding how and when to use them. Most of that comes with experience.

If you can afford the options, it is nice to have these things and not need them vs needing them and not having them. At some point it may be worth looking into stepping up to a tractor that has some of this stuff as std equipment.

Just my :2cents:

Fallon · May 29, 2014

TnT is dam useful, but easy to add later & lot of good aftermarket kits exist.

You can add the hydraulics later too. Search my old posts for my install. I hear it might be nicer than the stock one.

Draft control is for plowing. Probably useless unless that is in your future.

MtnViewRanch · May 29, 2014

Fallon said:
TnT is dam useful, but easy to add later & lot of good aftermarket kits exist.

You can add the hydraulics later too. Search my old posts for my install. I hear it might be nicer than the stock one.

Draft control is for plowing. Probably useless unless that is in your future.

Have to disagree, depending on the type of grading that you are doing, draft control can be VERY useful. As long as a person understands how, when and where to use it, it can make life a whole lot easier.

For some reason, a lot of tractor users seem to think that draft control is only for plowing and raises way up when the tractor bogs down. It only raises up enough to allow the tractor to continue on it's way. In an extreme case that would be true, but typically not in my experience anyway. When I use it for grading, it lifts very little and the tractor continues. Rough grading, say the first cut for making a new road, it may lift as little as 1/2", for the next pass, set to be more sensitive, as little as 1/8 of an inch. You just need to know how to use it is all.

If a person only has small areas to deal with, it may not be worth the trouble or cost. But if you have a lot to do, worth the time and every cent in my opinion.

TripleR · May 30, 2014

Agree with Brian, I grew up farming and when I ordered my L5740 didn't think draft control was worth the cost, sure wish I had put a bit more thought in it. It's not worth the cost and down time to put it on now, but wish I had it when running a box scrapper all day.