Tractor Sizing Tractor buying advice for 47 acres at 8600 ft

[ning]

There is simple physics behind the mileage. To double the speed you have to increase power 8 times. Rolling resistance increases linearly while aerodynamic drag increases with square of speed. Multiplying those together results in cubic relationship.

Your initial statement here is correct, but ... nope.
Rolling resistance is linear with velocity, and air resistance goes by the square, but you don't multiply them together but add them:


I suspect the real reason we see turbos added on tractors is that the base engines are built strong enough to handle turbos, and these days turbocharging is pretty cheap... slapping a turbo on lets you sell a range of power in a tractor with almost no modifications and an incremental cost which is much lower than the incremental price. Selling an L3301 that has a different base engine than an L2501 would incur substantial effort for the manufacturer - possibly different placed engine mounts, hood, definitely a whole slew of different parts etc.

Best of all, you get to upsell a customer who comes in for the base model that he's getting the size tractor that he wanted and should use for his topography, but you'll never regret having moar power!!1!

 

[goeduck]

That's a very clever system you describe. Although it does add another layer of mechanical complexity that isn't needed without a turbo in the first place.

Whether the exhaust energy is ultimately used to compress air, or drive an electric motor, or stored in the battery makes no difference to conservation of energy. That electrical energy still has to be generated by the diesel in the first place.

If quieter running is the goal there are simpler ways to do that as well.

Yeah, interesting but agree that it is another layer of complexity I do not need or really want. Maybe as a long hauler where slight percentages matter but not as a hobby fart arounder. I am not really into having a trophy tractor.

 

[rScotty]

Yeah, interesting but agree that it is another layer of complexity I do not need or really want. Maybe as a long hauler where slight percentages matter but not as a hobby fart arounder. I am not really into having a trophy tractor.

Maybe since I live at sea level is why I do not seem to need a turbo then? Plus I buy tractors used and fix them up since I am cheap and the older tractors are often NA.

IMHO, the market is real favorable right now for those of us who like to mess with older machinery. Tractors pretty much reached a high point in reliabiity and features about 30 years ago. Today's machines have more convenience features - important for those who like to buy new. But your dollar buys a lot in the used market.

But one of the things I wouldn't be worried much about reliability-wise is the turbo. Turbos are amazingly reliable.... and they do add performance and efficiency in spite of my pointing out that there are other ways to solve those particular problems. And for a mechanical type guy a bad turbo is easily dealt with. So I wouldn't pass on a good machine just because it has a turbo. Likewise, I wouldn't make a turbo a necessity if the machine otherwise has good reserve power.

I recently bought an older 4wd tractor with 6500 hours and it has a turbo. Pretty nice machine, and at about 1/3 of today's cost new. As little as I use it for hobbyist work it'll serve just fine.
rScotty

 

[Jchonline]

Quick update: Just signed paperwork for the M62 with hyd thumb and 3rd fxn. In addition I got the 3pt kit, top/tilt, and 3 rear remotes. Rears filled with rimguard.


For attachments I am going with forks, grapple, rear hydraulic blade.

Tractor is fully configured and checked over by dealer. Just waiting on my garage to be finished so I have a place to park it. Should be a couple of weeks.


I went with the M62 because it is the machine I need now. I will worry about a cab once we move up there and get a better feel for the snow.

Photos once it is delivered. Thanks so much to everyone for their help!

 

[Tompet]

Quick update: Just signed paperwork for the M62 with hyd thumb and 3rd fxn. In addition I got the 3pt kit, top/tilt, and 3 rear remotes. Rears filled with rimguard.


For attachments I am going with forks, grapple, rear hydraulic blade.

Tractor is fully configured and checked over by dealer. Just waiting on my garage to be finished so I have a place to park it. Should be a couple of weeks.


I went with the M62 because it is the machine I need now. I will worry about a cab once we move up there and get a better feel for the snow.

Photos once it is delivered. Thanks so much to everyone for their help!

Reading through this thread, other than cab concern you had, you abandoned list/suggestions and made an apparent sudden right turn to an awesome choice with a construction TLB machine...cool! Enjoy...

 

[Jchonline]

Reading through this thread, other than cab concern you had, you abandoned list/suggestions and made an apparent sudden right turn to an awesome choice with a construction TLB machine...cool! Enjoy...

Evolution is a funny thing hehe. I dont live on a farm. I live in a giant rock pile with trees sticking out of it. It just made the most sense. We will see if I eat these words once the winter hits! Exciting times at 8600 ft.

 

[Jchonline]

Also, went by the dealership today, removed the BH, hooked up the 3pt/TNT, then removed, then put BH back on. Not bad at all, but glad I did it at the dealer. A few pins had to be ground to a better angle at the tips to fit the links better. We also had to put a vice to the lower Tilt arm where it pins into the lower link arm, as the pin was too short to fit. A few thousandths did it. Also got a few extra pins to go along with it.

 

[Piston]

Quick update: Just signed paperwork for the M62 with hyd thumb and 3rd fxn. In addition I got the 3pt kit, top/tilt, and 3 rear remotes. Rears filled with rimguard.


For attachments I am going with forks, grapple, rear hydraulic blade.

Tractor is fully configured and checked over by dealer. Just waiting on my garage to be finished so I have a place to park it. Should be a couple of weeks.


I went with the M62 because it is the machine I need now. I will worry about a cab once we move up there and get a better feel for the snow.

Photos once it is delivered. Thanks so much to everyone for their help!

You could NOT have made a better decision! Congrats!

You can always add a really nice aftermarket Curtis cab down the road.

Did you get the hydraulic skid steer quick disconnect option?

 

[goeduck]

Yes, NICE CHOICE. Pictures of that bad boy M62 when you get it please.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Be careful with those rocks, a TLB is not a rock crusher or rock drill. You will be amazed at the work you will find for that TLB. I rarely even start my LS anymore when I need a tractor, I go to the Kubota B26 for nearly all my chores. The cab on the LS is nice for cold/wet/hot days but the B26 TLB does much more than just a tractor with an FEL.