Pros and Cons to owning a Heavier Tractor??

[jodebg]

I currently own a Kubota B7800 and now looking at buying a
John Deere 3520. The JD is a about 1000 lbs heavier and also
has R4 tires. My Kubota has turf tires.

I am fairly new to tractors and would like to know the pros and
cons to a heavier tractor.

Also, if someone could comment on the difference in tires.
Most of my work is hauling material, and firewood and general use around
the yard.

Should also ask if the JD 3520 is a good model to consider. Have not owned
a JD utility tractor.

The JD also has rear wheel weights installed. Good idea to keep these on?

Thanks.

 

[4570Man]

If the tractor is EVER going on the yard I prefer R4s. I prefer r4s on the front for everything. The only pros I can think of for a lighter tractor would be transporting it, less damage to the yard, and mowing with it.

 

[jodebg]

If the tractor is EVER going on the yard I prefer R4s. I prefer r4s on the front for everything. The only pros I can think of for a lighter tractor would be transporting it, less damage to the yard, and mowing with it.

Are R4's better on the grass/lawn than the turf tires..including turning?

 

[4570Man]

Are R4's better on the grass/lawn than the turf tires..including turning?

No, but they have better traction. They also have a higher load rating for loader use, and are more puncture resent. If the grass is the primary concern then get turfs. R4s aren't the best at anything, but the best at everything IMO.

 

[pmsmechanic]

R-4's have better traction on what? In snow they are useless. On dry hard pack dirt they have less traction. They also ride a lot rougher than turf tire's. They do have more weight capacity and they are more puncture resistant. They are better on sharp rocks.

 

[4570Man]

R-4's have better traction on what? In snow they are useless. On dry hard pack dirt they have less traction. They also ride a lot rougher than turf tire's. They do have more weight capacity and they are more puncture resistant. They are better on sharp rocks.

Pretty much everything except snow. This comparison was R4s vs turfs.

 

[murphy1244]

R-4's have better traction on what? In snow they are useless. On dry hard pack dirt they have less traction. They also ride a lot rougher than turf tire's. They do have more weight capacity and they are more puncture resistant. They are better on sharp rocks.

On mud they are useless too. They fill up and slip but you can't beat them for loader work.

 

[tractchores]

I went through a process of looking at different setups when I got my tractor. From that and some use I've found the following around weight and tires:

Weight:
Pros: Helps with ground engaging tasks. The heavier the better for FEL, Backhoe, etc.
Cons: Soil compaction ( a real issue if you run around a yard or wood lot), operating on a septic if you have one, operating on surfaces like pavers, a pool deck, walkways etc lighter is better. Towing and transporting lighter is better.

On weight my thought was you can always add it, so I went with a B2920, which is fairly light and doesn't mess up the lawn unless its wet out. It does still cause some compaction in the woods, but not much. When I do ground engaging tasks I add weight, the BH is a great ballast for example.

On tires: Ags are great, but too aggressive for use on a lawn or landscaped areas. R4's seemed useless outside of paved or compacted soil. In mud or snow they really struggle and on ice are terrible. I went with Turfs, which are surprisingly good on snow and ice or in mud. They don't do well in snow that packs and becomes ice. I run chains in the winter for plowing, which solves the issue.

Enjoy your shopping!

 

[gladehound]

R4 industrial tires are not useless on mud. Turfs are useless in mud! There is a big difference between a turf tire and an industrial tire in mud. R-1 tires (Ag tires) are worlds better than industrial tires in mud. If an Ag tire is your reference point, I can see how one could conclude that industrials are useless in mud. But with turfs as a comparison, industrials are great in mud!

In 2 wheel drive I can easily drive my tractor with industrials through mud that will sink a walking person a foot and suck their boot off! In 4wd drive I can push through mud until it comes over the front axle before I have to use the loader to get my self.

In the mud in the pictures, I never needed 4wd. 3 people lost boots that day!



As for negatives of a heavier tractor, the only one is ground compaction which might not even be a factor if the tires are larger. Most heavier tractors come with larger tires. I know for a fact that carrying 700 pounds in the bucket of my now sold 20hp CUT would make deeper ruts in the yard than the same 700 pounds in the front of my 45hp tractor. This is because the larger tractor has much larger tires to better distribute the weight. Both of those tractors had industrial tires. Turfs do the best job of distributing load on turf and tear it up the least but industrials wont tear up a lawn if the ground isn't wet.

 

[devildog1]

This which tire choice could and has gone on forever, r-4's for loader work and best all around tire if your not doing field work, like plowing or disking , planting. Just look at the big I mean the real big International 1066 & 1468 tractors and what kind of tires do you see? Now look at any city or county crews that are using Cat or John Deere backhoes digging up streets for water or gas lines, did you ever see r-1's or turfs on them?
DevilDog