Selecting tractor size for vegetable farming with greenhouses

[jeff9366]

Can you explain the concept of liquid filled tires to me? This is a foreign concept to me. Is it just for added weight on the back of the tractor? Would this be needed no matter what type of tire I go with? I was leaning towards Ag tires on the front and back.

The early compact tractors were English Fergusons and Ferguson derived US Fords; both were solely 2-WD. Loading/ballasting rear tires with liquid, ballasting wheels with iron wheel weights, or sometimes liquid ballast AND wheel weights, increases tractor rear tire traction. Remains essential for 2-WD tractors today.

Now that most tractors are 4-WD loaded rear tires are less important unless pulling ground contact implements is a main focus, as in your case. You will need all the traction you can get for your application with a 2,700 - 2,.900 pound bare weight tractor.

Heavier tractors have more weight on the tires but also pull heavier implements.

Too much rear wheel/tire weight on 5,000 pound plus tractors can lead to soil compaction. Not an issue at 2,700 pounds.

All of my three tractors have had tires inflated with air. Soils in Florida are soft sandy-loam and a tractor can sink in easily. Air works for me.

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How To Choose the Right Tires for Your Tractor

 

[Egon]

[video]https://www.google.ca/search?q=root+vegetable+undercutter&client=safari&hl=en-ca&prmd=isnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjM4ti9y9rkAhXplOAKHR6zAbkQ_AUoAXoECA4QA Q&biw=1024&bih=671#imgrc=qaLkm_LpgV4_jM[/video]

If this is the type of root cutter referred to properly set up on the three point hitch it could add considerable downforce on the rear tires that would significantly increase traction.

It could also be sized to use as a cultivation tool between vegetable rows. ( might require row spacing that is inefficient? ) It would also work for secondary cultivation acting much like a rod weeder.

 

[farmerarty]

Sorry, newbie question: If I'm doing tillage in a greenhouse without the FEL, do I need to have some type of ballast box on the front to counter balance?

 

[tcreeley]

Rule of thumb for tiller, bush hog is 30hp for 5' width.

 

[jeff9366]

Sorry, newbie question: If I'm doing tillage in a greenhouse without the FEL, do I need to have some type of ballast box on the front to counter balance?

~ No. ~

 

[fatchance]

I would suggest going a bit bigger than what you need right now.

If you're buying new, some FEL come off and on quite easily so that can help with maneuverability in the GH.

Where in Ontario?

 

[aczlan]

The early compact tractors were English Fergusons and Ferguson derived US Fords; both were solely 2-WD. Loading/ballasting rear tires with liquid, ballasting wheels with iron wheel weights, or sometimes liquid ballast AND wheel weights, increases tractor rear tire traction. Remains essential for 2-WD tractors today.

Now that most tractors are 4-WD loaded rear tires are less important unless pulling ground contact implements is a main focus, as in your case. You will need all the traction you can get for your application with a 2,700 - 2,.900 pound bare weight tractor.

Heavier tractors have more weight on the tires but also pull heavier implements.

Too much rear wheel/tire weight on 5,000 pound plus tractors can lead to soil compaction. Not an issue at 2,700 pounds.

All of my three tractors have had tires inflated with air. Soils in Florida are soft sandy-loam and a tractor can sink in easily. Air works for me.

Generally, you ballast the rear wheels so that they stay on the ground when doing loader work...

Rule of thumb for tiller, bush hog is 30hp for 5' width.

Rule of thumb is about 5hp/foot for most such tools.

Sorry, newbie question: If I'm doing tillage in a greenhouse without the FEL, do I need to have some type of ballast box on the front to counter balance?

~ No. ~

It depends on what you are running. A tiller or something else that sits close, probably not.
A transplanter or something else that puts a lot of weight out behind the rear wheels? Definitely.

Aaron Z