Newbie Alert... looking for tractor buying advice.

[jeff9366]

We have an online business selling high end garden tools that we import from Holland and we receive the tools via tractor trailer. These boxes are typically 36x36x72 and weigh 1200 to 1500 lbs. I think I can do most of the chores with a smaller tractor, but no matter the size, I need a tractor to be able to unload these boxes full of tools from semi-trailer height. Our budget is under 30, but as we all do, I'd like to have some change left over for implements.

How frequently do you receive these shipments?

If frequently, buy a rear engine Fork Lift, with equal size wheels, which is the safer tool for unloading freight.

With small front wheels and large rear wheels tractors are inherently unstable lifting HEAVY loads with the FEL. FEL lift capacity decreases rapidly as lift height increases, so we need to know if you will STACK loads coming off trucks two, three, or more pallets high. Once we have this info we can give you a good estimate of how heavy a tractor is required, how much counterbalance is required on the Three Point Hitch and how much FEL lift capacity is required to reach the heights you specify.

You will need liquid filled rear tires, for unloading freight and to lower tractor center-of-gravity on slopes when doing ag work.

In this case tractor horsepower is barely relevant, tractor chassis weight and wide wheel spacing are the important metrics.

You will want an FEL with SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) pallet forks.

You probably want an HST transmission for its ability to creep forward/reverse with excellent operator control.

 

[jibe717]

With the amount of weight you want to lift yeah you probably need something in that 50HP range. It needs to be a bigger unit simply for the weight too. I had a L3800 Kubota and in all honesty that would have been too much for that tractor and so would your hills. But to get 50HP and an FEL you are going to likely blow through the budget. My MF 2615 I would feel comfortable with doing what you want to do.It is 48 HP and no FEL. In Kubota I guess you would be looking to go with the Grand L series. My neighbor has the L5060 and that is a good unit.

 

[Blicker]

Hi GManBart,

Thanks for the great info! Looking at some tractor specs and their lifting capacities was just confusing as it really doesn't let you know what capacity is in the bucket or on forks. Good also to know about the counterweight and not loaded tires. I'm also learning that you'll never complain about more HP...the same a building a bigger barn than you think you'll need. (I'll be building a barn too)

Thanks for the buying guide offer, I PM you my email.

Nice bench vise website!!!

 

[IndyIan]

Something in the 4000lb range with a good boxblade as ballast should lift your crates easily. Then you want one you can set very wide with R4's. I have lots of clay soil hills so I went with R1's. My tractor is 72" wide with loaded rears and with the 1000lb boxblade its pretty stable.

 

[Blicker]

Hi jeff9366,

Thanks for your reply. We only get 6-8 shipments from this particular vendor per year, so I hope that's not too much to ask of the right size tractor. They are never double or triple stacked, so they come off one at a time...and there's usually just one or two of them. We do get shipments from other vendors, but they are not as big of boxes (half the weight) We thought about a forklift, but the ground would never allow it and a skid steer did not have the versatility of a tractor.

I'm certainly looking into a to a FEL with the SSQA, HST, loaded tires and 3pt counterweight.

Thanks again!

 

[Blicker]

Hi jibe717,

Thanks for the info. It seems like the consensus is around the 50 HP range. All of the unloading will be on level ground, so the pucker factor will be reduced considerably.

Thanks so much!

 

[Blicker]

Hi Indylan,

Thanks for your reply. So I wouldn't need a counterbalance box if I had a box blade on the 3pt? I was thinking that the R4's are what I needed, so I'm glad to hear you say that.

Thanks so much!

 

[jeff9366]

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed as to what size tractor I might need. Our budget is under 30, but as we all do, I'd like to have some change left over for implements.

15 minutes away is a town of about 20,000 with a Kioti, Kubota and John Deere dealers.

As your budget is limited to $30,000 and you need a tractor weighing 4,000 pounds BARE, I would start at Kioti.


Consider a Kioti NX4510 HST tractor, 3,989 pounds with HST. KL6010 FEL with 2,761 pounds lift capacity.

KIOTI WEB SITE: NX4510 HST Utility Tractor | Kioti Tractors

(Consider all specs with some skepticism, also consider that tractors age and lift/horsepower decreases somewhat over time.)

 

[sea2summit]

Hi sea2summit,

Thanks, I appreciate your response. I'm not ruling out any of the other brands, but the MX sure is a nice machine and there's certainly no lack of people who are happy with the Kubota brand.

Thanks again!

I've had mine a year now and just hit 200 hrs and I love it, great tractor and capabilities.

 

[Blicker]

Thank you very much, jeff9366

I will definitely look at the Kioti NX4510 HST w/ FEL

Thanks again!!!