Light, Medium, Heavy Duty Attachments...

[JDGreenGrass]

I decided to start this thread rather than hijack another.

As I understand it, when purchasing attachments, things to be considered are the weight of your tractor and horsepower.

Let me cut to the chase...My tractor is 24hp, 4x4 and weighs roughly 3,000lbs.

Are light duty attachments a good match for my tractor.??

 

[RPW]

Personally I don't buy light duty anything primarily because I'll tear it up in no time at all. Go with a medium duty minimum. Others will disagree and that's ok. Usually light duty attachments are built very minimal and cheaply and you will be repairing often.

 

[easygo]

I would say you would be much better served if you bought medium duty implements. Another question is what are the implements and what is the frequency of use.

I have a light duty landscape rake that I only use 4-5 times a year for light work on my driveway and some other stuff. It works fine for that much and actually I might even sell it given the lack of use.
I have a medium duty grader blade that is put to the test in the winter pushing and pulling snow. I'm pretty sure that I would have bent a lighter blade and my tractor only weighs in around 2500lbs.

 

[My2305]

I would agree to not go with the light duty as long as you dont go over your max weight on the 3pt and can afford the difference you should be fine. The implement will probably be more durable too, thicker steel, better welds and more down pressure from the heavier weight of the implement if your 3pt's like mine when using things like a backblade.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would think you want to buy well made implements that will fit your tractor and needs. The last time I was at the local TSC I talked to the manager and sales people and let them know I was dissappointed in the quality of the implements on hand. I would choose the better built implements which might be considered medium duty but caution you not to buy something too big for your tractor. Most of the 4' to 5' stuff I have seen is what I consider light duty.

 

[spruce Deere]

I lean toward medium duty and heavy duty implements for the 790. The build and design of med/heavy duty implements means longevity. Frequency of use is a big factor as easygo states too, Once and a while use light duty is fine. But for implements that will take extended work, a good hammering or dig deep like tillers, subsoilers or rotary cutters a light duty build will raise its mangled head rather quickly compared to a heavier built, better design

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I would say that light duty implements are for BX size machines. Go to a regular cat 1 3PT, 2500lb+ tractor and you should go with medium duty at the least. But as has been said, you don't want to go over sized, your tractor will have a difficult time at best with an implement that is to big-heavy for your machine. A lot of the implement manufacturers rate on 2WD horse power ratings. It seems that they have started to convert over to both 2 & 4WD ratings along with gross weight ratings. But it is slow in coming. Be sure of your 3PT lift ratings and get your implements based on that.

Most of the time it is better to have the heavier implement, but as has already been said many times, it cost more $$$$ to get that heavier implement.

I hope that some of this helps.

 

[Baucom]

That depends on the definition of light, medium, and heavy duty. What one manufacturer refers to as medium duty can be comparable to another manufacturer's standard duty line. In general, I wouldn't buy anything with lower specs than a Woods/Bush Hog/Rhino standard duty line. If that means buying a "medium" duty in an economy brand such as KK or Howse, then that's where I'd be looking.

 

[Thomas]

Like the saying goes.."You get what you pay for"
Just have to be extra carefull w/light duty,could also take look around your area see what other owners are useing.

"things to be considered are the weight of your tractor and horsepower."
Also rear wheel base.

 

[E_Sanborn]

...My tractor is 24hp, 4x4 and weighs roughly 3,000lbs. Are light duty attachments a good match for my tractor.??

I drive a YM-21010D, similar in terms of weight and power. I have a small stable of Yellow TSC implements - KK; and I believe that these are well suited to tractors like mine. I have not had any issues whatsoever, and I use this equipment extensively. With about 250+ hrs on my Box Blade, SSoiler, Finish mower, RCutter, and Carryall, the equipment has performed admirably. I believe that this line is advertised as appropriate to use for up to 30 HP. I don't know about that, but it has handled my use very well.

As has been noted, there is little in the way of standards in this line of work, and some folks appear to be comfortable labeling all of company X or Y's equipment as 'good' or 'not good', without reference to the product line, or intended use. I have investigated other manufacturers sold in the area; there is a dealer who carries Great Plains and Woods, definitely premium manufacturers with a great rep, but honestly if you are comparing apples to apples on a product to product basis, there's little justification for me to pay 1.5-2x the price for essentially the same thing. While there were apparent differences in the finish of 3pt equipment, I was not impressed with the differences in material, weight and design to justify the cost difference.

I think in general terms, 3000 lb and 24 HP would be considered 'light duty' by most implement manufacturers, or at least it's at the bottom of their matrix for the equipment they design. For the most part, with 4-5' implements, there's only a few options for Medium or 'HD' implements on most product lines. If you were gong to use specific items in adverse conditions, or commercially, going to a Med or HD version may be warranted. And of course, these definitions are highly subjective. While I use my equipment responsibly, I also push it to do what needs to get done. I live in an area with rocky, hilly, difficult ground. Frankly terrain that many would consider difficult or crazy to even use a tractor in. Still, the "regular", 'standard', or 'light'
duty KK stuff has held up well.

On the other hand there is some equipment also labelled 'light duty', that is clearly designed and priced for intermittent use with lower-powered equipment. These tend to be knock-off brands or product specifically designed for use with BXs etc, and that light duty class might work well with a BX, don't know, but I suspect it would be compromised quickly with something bigger and heavier, regardless of HP rating.

 

[pitt_md]

Just an FYI, I drive a 45 pto hp tractor and bought a medium duty brush hog from woods. It's great and has been really put to the test with no problems. I did notice that if you buy a smaller (< 72") one in the same (medium duty) line that they use lighter duty blades and other parts.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Hey Pitt_md,

Which model Woods mower did you get. We've been looking for something to put behind the DX60.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I drive a YM-21010D, similar in terms of weight and power. I have a small stable of Yellow TSC implements - KK; and I believe that these are well suited to tractors like mine. I have not had any issues whatsoever, and I use this equipment extensively. With about 250+ hrs on my Box Blade, SSoiler, Finish mower, RCutter, and Carryall, the equipment has performed admirably. I believe that this line is advertised as appropriate to use for up to 30 HP. I don't know about that, but it has handled my use very well.

As has been noted, there is little in the way of standards in this line of work, and some folks appear to be comfortable labeling all of company X or Y's equipment as 'good' or 'not good', without reference to the product line, or intended use. I have investigated other manufacturers sold in the area; there is a dealer who carries Great Plains and Woods, definitely premium manufacturers with a great rep, but honestly if you are comparing apples to apples on a product to product basis, there's little justification for me to pay 1.5-2x the price for essentially the same thing. While there were apparent differences in the finish of 3pt equipment, I was not impressed with the differences in material, weight and design to justify the cost difference.

I think in general terms, 3000 lb and 24 HP would be considered 'light duty' by most implement manufacturers, or at least it's at the bottom of their matrix for the equipment they design. For the most part, with 4-5' implements, there's only a few options for Medium or 'HD' implements on most product lines. If you were gong to use specific items in adverse conditions, or commercially, going to a Med or HD version may be warranted. And of course, these definitions are highly subjective. While I use my equipment responsibly, I also push it to do what needs to get done. I live in an area with rocky, hilly, difficult ground. Frankly terrain that many would consider difficult or crazy to even use a tractor in. Still, the "regular", 'standard', or 'light'
duty KK stuff has held up well.

On the other hand there is some equipment also labelled 'light duty', that is clearly designed and priced for intermittent use with lower-powered equipment. These tend to be knock-off brands or product specifically designed for use with BXs etc, and that light duty class might work well with a BX, don't know, but I suspect it would be compromised quickly with something bigger and heavier, regardless of HP rating.

Very well said. Thanks for the reply.

My experience reflects yours.

 

[pitt_md]

Hey Pitt_md,

Which model Woods mower did you get. We've been looking for something to put behind the DX60.

I got the 72" Woods Heritage model HSS72. I did replace the blades after 3 years of finding stuff hidden in the weeds.

 

[sandman2234]

In the light duty/medium duty/heavy duty discussion, I might add that what is light duty for one tractor, can't be torn up by another. I had quite an impressive collection of implements for my Ford 1100 4x4 and could do just about anything to them/with them that I wanted. When I got my JD 2555, I proceded to tear up a good portion of those implements just in general use, as the implement became the wear link instead of the tractor's horsepower. Keep this in mind when somebody recommends a particular brand/model of implement for your operating pleasure, as they might fall into a catagory such as I did. My little Ford 1100 didn't have the power to tear up a lightweight implement no matter what I did with it, but the larger tractor has no problem destroying them whenever it takes a notion.
Couple horsepower differences with operator habits and you add in a totally different set of rules. After all, there are guys that own implements that they use for years and never scratch the paint on, and then there are the guys that can tear up a steel ball bearing with a rubber mallet. If you are one of the rubber mallet guys, then you might want to consider getting a little heavier duty implement as insurance. By the way, weight alone isn't the only factor in deciding what is heavier duty, as strenght is often "engineered in" to an implement. Shop, Shop, shop, looking at different implements, including used ones, as a used one should tell you where the weak points of a particular brand/model are, which should guide you in your search.
David from jax

 

[Reg]

I decided to start this thread rather than hijack another.

As I understand it, when purchasing attachments, things to be considered are the weight of your tractor and horsepower.

Let me cut to the chase...My tractor is 24hp, 4x4 and weighs roughly 3,000lbs.

Are light duty attachments a good match for my tractor.??

Yes, a GOOD MATCH.

 

[Goodluck w/ That]

It depends on how much & how hard you are going to use it. If your getting a bushhog to mow grass off field a few times a year LD, if your going to be knocking down small brush than Med. or HD. I think the average home owner that's not going to be abusing his own equipment would be fine with LD stuff. Everybody wants the best of the best but sometimes your wallet won't let you do it!!

 

[canoetrpr]

In my experience I have learned that I am best off going for the heaviest duty stuff that my tractor can handle from a main line manufacturer.

This is what has worked best for me. I bought a Kodiak rake and the thing just came apart. Welds on the gauge wheels broke. Tines broke and I barely use the thing 5 to 6 times a year for my driveway and manure cleanup.

 

[SPYDERLK]

My experience is that a well built tractor, employed firmly, will promptly tear up any light duty implement that is not just plain too big for the tractor. A medium duty implement will last quite a while under the same circumstances before the tractor tears it up. I have never had an implement that did any better in relation to the tractor. Basically, a tractor will eventually tear up anything you would put behind it.
larry

 

[schmism]

IMHO it has more to do with matching the implement to the tractor.

brush hogs and box blades have a rule of thumb of about 5hp per foot.

for your SCUT 4' implements are going to be the norm.

a 4' light duty BB is NOT going to be the same as a 6' light duty BB. the forces on a 6' BB are much larger than a 4' BB. If you put a 6' light duty behind ya your unlikely to be able to 1) pull it 2) impart enough force on it to break it with your current SCUT.

one other thing to consider, if you ever see yourself buying a larger tractor in the future, you might consider that when purchasing implements now. While a 4' light duty may work now, its going to be undersized if you go to a class 1 CUT (AND way undersized if you go to a class 2 CUT)

but if your happy with your current SCUT and have no plans for future expansion, then youll do fine with light duty implements.