Tractor Classification.

[SawyerDuke]

What specifically defines campact, sub-compact, etc. tractors?

 

[RoyJackson]

I doubt you find a "specific" definition by manufacturer.
Personally, I'd go with the weight of the tractor as the determining factor.

 

[Bigfoot62]

A "compact" tractor is one that is bigger than a "sub-compact," but still not big enough to do any real work. A "sub-compact" is any tractor bigger than your riding lawnmower.

Seriously? Those terms are thrown around by the manufacturers and can differ greatly from one brand to the next.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I'll use Kubota and Deere as an example, as those are the two I'm familiar with.

Sub-compact:
Kubota BX
Deere 1000 series

Compact:
Kubota B through Grand L series
Deere 2000-4000 series

Utility:
Kubota Mx through M
Deere 5000-6000 series


More generally, I think of a sub-compact as a tractor that has many of the design features of a large garden tractor, but with a 3pt hitch, pto, loader, 4wd. Compact tractors have a wide range of sizes, but in this category you start to see the construction be more like that of a true tractor. Also will have a full-size category 1 hitch and much more ground clearance than a sub compact. Utility tractors are generally built a lot heavier than compact tractors and have other features that are geared towards agricultural use. On thing that is not a determining factor is power. There are compacts nowadays with more hp than some utility tractors, and likewise with sub-compacts vs compact.

 

[SawyerDuke]

So my 8n ford would be a sub-compact tractor??

 

[MasseyWV]

Oh boy, here we go again. :confused2:

 

[LD1]

Oh boy, here we go again. :confused2:

:laughing::laughing:

So my 8n ford would be a sub-compact tractor??

Your 8n would be a compact in my book.

BUT....back in the day, there was no such thing. It was just a tractor.


There are a couple of other threads that will probabally take you a week to read all. Good arguments either way, but bottom line, there IS NO definitive or correct answer. And honestly, it really dont matter.

Here...the weeks worth of reading.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/mahindra-buying-pricing/235973-kobota-bx25-vs-mahindra-max.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/241917-tractor-definition.html

With all that reading, I think this is the BEST answer YET.

But to get technical, to determine a SCUT, you take the difference between the front and rear wheel diameters and cube it, then divide by the difference in air volume in the tires squared, measuring air volume at sea level at 70 degrees. Then measure the maximum 3-point lift height multiplied by the length of the drawbar, if you have one. Then determine the distance from the operators head to the imaginary line between the top of the rops and the front of the hood, doubling that distance if the hood is plastic, then subtract the turning radius after you have multiplied it by the GVWR less the bare weight. If you are in marketing, you then take those numbers and add or subtract randomly so you can call your tractor whatever you wish. It's simple. :laughing:

Stolen from another member here that goes by DavesTractor. It is in the first thread I linked.:thumbsup:

 

[mogwai]

So my 8n ford would be a sub-compact tractor??

Your 8N is a collector's dream & a working man's nightmare. :laughing:

 

[RPW]

For current tractors I would classify a sub-compact as having a class 0 3pt, a compact as having a class 1, and a utility as having a class 2, anything with class 3 or higher would be a full fledged tractor. Your mileage may vary