New to compact tractors

blucoondawg · Mar 17, 2012

I'm looking into compact tractors and I have some questions, all my tractor experience is with my old Allis C so the new stuff is greek to me, first off I will probably need around 30-40HP, 4x4, FEL, and most likely a backhoe. I will mainly just be doing work around my place tilling and whatever little excavating I need, snow plowing, and I do cut alot of firewood and use the tractor to skid it out sometimes. My main questions are do I need to be worried about a backhoe putting too much stress on the tractor and if so what can I look at to avoid that, second question is with the tranny, I have been told hydro will not transfer as much power to the ground as will a standard tranny, is this true and is it enough loss of power to even worry about, and what is a shuttle shift tranny? Which tranny would be the most powerful and most dependable? I am probably going to be considering Deere, New Holland, Massey Fergusson, Kubota as I have heard you can run into warranty or customer service problems with the Chinese tractors. However I am open to input on other brands that may suit me as well. Sorry for the long post.

Martian · Mar 17, 2012

blucoondawg said:
I'm looking into compact tractors and I have some questions, all my tractor experience is with my old Allis C so the new stuff is greek to me, first off I will probably need around 30-40HP, 4x4, FEL, and most likely a backhoe. I will mainly just be doing work around my place tilling and whatever little excavating I need, snow plowing, and I do cut alot of firewood and use the tractor to skid it out sometimes. My main questions are do I need to be worried about a backhoe putting too much stress on the tractor and if so what can I look at to avoid that, second question is with the tranny, I have been told hydro will not transfer as much power to the ground as will a standard tranny, is this true and is it enough loss of power to even worry about, and what is a shuttle shift tranny? Which tranny would be the most powerful and most dependable? I am probably going to be considering Deere, New Holland, Massey Fergusson, Kubota as I have heard you can run into warranty or customer service problems with the Chinese tractors. However I am open to input on other brands that may suit me as well. Sorry for the long post.

I think you'd be best suited with a 40+HP tractor on a JD 4x20 or similar frame size.

As long as you get a subframe mounted backhoe, you have nothing to worry about as far as too much stress. If you get a 3ph mounted backhoe, different story and is not recommended.

Hydro trannies are great. You will typically see that a hydro tranny will loose you a couple HP, but the versatility of the HST is worth it. I have both, and in a compact tractor, the HST is worth it. I want a HST in compacts for the versatility to get right next to objects and the extra power in the bigger machines for use in the wide open.

Have you considered a cab? Nothing beats beating the weather...

rsewill · Mar 17, 2012

Spend a little time at tractordata.com to familiarize yourself with what is out there.

blucoondawg · Mar 17, 2012

Martian said:
I think you'd be best suited with a 40+HP tractor on a JD 4x20 or similar frame size.

As long as you get a subframe mounted backhoe, you have nothing to worry about as far as too much stress. If you get a 3ph mounted backhoe, different story and is not recommended.

Hydro trannies are great. You will typically see that a hydro tranny will loose you a couple HP, but the versatility of the HST is worth it. I have both, and in a compact tractor, the HST is worth it. I want a HST in compacts for the versatility to get right next to objects and the extra power in the bigger machines for use in the wide open.

Have you considered a cab? Nothing beats beating the weather...

Thanks for the info, how is a sub frame backhoe for taking on and off is it a big project or is it relatively fast? I would probably be leaving it on most of the time but would need to remove it for tilling and other implements from time to time. I have been reading about Mahindras too, it seems they are more highly regarded than I had previously thought, they may be worth a look as well?

hotwire45 · Mar 17, 2012

Don't limit yourself to the big boys if possible. The new players to the game such as Mahindra, LS and so forth can offer what you are wanting at a much lower cost. When you look at Deere, NH, MF you'll see they are built buy someone else, such as Yanmar, Mahindra and NH is suppose to be going to LS for their CUT either this year or next. As far as hydro trannys go, I personally prefer a shuttle shift and gear tranny. There are some good deals out there, just spend the time to do the research.

jlsmith · Mar 17, 2012

Look at the MF 1500 or 1600 series. Like the other person said go with the sub frame on the backhoe and u will be ok. You do lose a lot of hp with the hydo and personally I would not have one. Id go with the power shuttle. Jmo

blucoondawg · Mar 17, 2012

hotwire45 said:
Don't limit yourself to the big boys if possible. The new players to the game such as Mahindra, LS and so forth can offer what you are wanting at a much lower cost. When you look at Deere, NH, MF you'll see they are built buy someone else, such as Yanmar, Mahindra and NH is suppose to be going to LS for their CUT either this year or next. As far as hydro trannys go, I personally prefer a shuttle shift and gear tranny. There are some good deals out there, just spend the time to do the research.

Yes I was just reading on Mahindra and what I read sounds pretty good, I am not familiar with LS at all I will look into it, in fact I believe one of the local guys started dealing in them last year sometime. I had heard there were service issues with some of the offbrand stuff like Farmtrac so I wanted to steer clear, but someone like Mahindra being the top seller in the world I would think parts and stuff would be easily accessible.

Rosedalegarden · Mar 17, 2012

Front end loader also, good for hauling and lifting. I use my John Deere for doing all my lifting of bagged goods, hauling weeded stuff from my flower beds to the compost pile and hauling mulch back.

Martian · Mar 17, 2012

blucoondawg said:
Thanks for the info, how is a sub frame backhoe for taking on and off is it a big project or is it relatively fast? I would probably be leaving it on most of the time but would need to remove it for tilling and other implements from time to time. I have been reading about Mahindras too, it seems they are more highly regarded than I had previously thought, they may be worth a look as well?

Mines pretty simple. I can have it off and the 3ph on in 10 minutes, though it's new to me, so that will decrease with age as well.

I wouldn't limit yourself to any brands. Check them all out. If one of the off brands has a good dealer, they are still worth it.

DK35vince · Mar 17, 2012

blucoondawg said:
Thanks for the info, how is a sub frame backhoe for taking on and off is it a big project or is it relatively fast? I would probably be leaving it on most of the time but would need to remove it for tilling and other implements from time to time.

My subframe backhoe isn't bad to remove/install. I can remove it in 5 minutes or less. Takes around 10 minutes or so to install.
Bobcat and Kioti offer some nice machines also that are worth checking out if you have a dealer nearby.