Buying Advice Tractor HP

   / Tractor HP #1  

mustangfarm

Bronze Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2018
Messages
56
Tractor
L3400
I am considoring a 37hp compact L series Kubota tractor. I am not planning on using the pto often and mostly will be doing loader work, grading, trying to reclaim woods to pasture. I plan on getting a box scraper. I will have R4 industrial type tires as I want to be able to drive over lawns too without much damage but don't want turf tires either. I want to be able to grade land, pull up rocks/roots/small stumps... The loader will also be used for our manure pile and moving dirt/wood chips/etc around 8 acres.

My question is on the HP of the tractor. Dealers tell me that the HP doesn't really effect loader/hydraulic strength at all and they also seem to tell me pushing/pulling power is mostly based on weight/traction rather than HP. Seems HP is mostly used for PTO or top speed going up hills, etc.. My property is very flat..

So given all this info am I wasting money getting a 37hp L rather than a 25hp one??
 
   / Tractor HP #2  
Sounds like weight is going to be the more important factor for you. Have you looked at Mahindra? They are built HEAVY and offer a but more value overall. Mine isn't perfect, but it gets the job done.
 
   / Tractor HP #3  
Hi Jeff - welcome to TBN and the forum. More hp is generally going to mean a larger tractor. Larger tractor is usually a heavier tractor. Larger tractor will generally mean a larger loader with greater lifting capabilities. Weight is your friend as far as traction & pulling.

Generally speaking a larger tractor with increased capabilities will get a job done quicker. IE - larger load in the bucket - pulling larger implements - etc.

YOU have to decide if the larger unit is what you need/want/require to complete the jobs/projects on your property.

A good start - list all the projects you want to take on and complete in the next five years. List them in the priority of completion. Now - how much time do you have to complete each task - do you need the capabilities of a larger tractor to complete the job in the time you have or will the smaller tractor work out OK.

This is the kind of planning/thinking that will get you closer to a good decision. Recognize - however - there is no such thing as the perfect tractor. It boils down to a compromise that you are willing to accept.
 
   / Tractor HP
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Thanks guys. It seems the L series Kubotas are the same frame/size/weight but different engine options. The bigger engine of course does weigh a bit more too though. The tires will be filled on this tractor for added weight and I can always add a box on the back too. I wonder if putting chains on the tires will get more of the HP to the ground or will I still not run out of HP on the smaller 22-25hp machines. Another thing I always keep in mind too is resale value, I don't mind spending a bit more if I get it back when I sell!
 
   / Tractor HP
  • Thread Starter
#5  
It is a L3700SU tractor by the way.. I am told the main disadvantage of the "SU" is no mid pto but I don't think I would need it. I certainly would never put a belly mower on it and have no plans for a front snowblower, not sure I know anything else that uses that.
 
   / Tractor HP #6  
I am considoring a 37hp compact L series Kubota tractor. I am not planning on using the pto often and mostly will be doing loader work, grading, trying to reclaim woods to pasture. I plan on getting a box scraper. I will have R4 industrial type tires as I want to be able to drive over lawns too without much damage but don't want turf tires either. I want to be able to grade land, pull up rocks/roots/small stumps... The loader will also be used for our manure pile and moving dirt/wood chips/etc around 8 acres.

My question is on the HP of the tractor. Dealers tell me that the HP doesn't really effect loader/hydraulic strength at all and they also seem to tell me pushing/pulling power is mostly based on weight/traction rather than HP. Seems HP is mostly used for PTO or top speed going up hills, etc.. My property is very flat..

So given all this info am I wasting money getting a 37hp L rather than a 25hp one??

As far as HP doing ground engaging tasks. On one hand your dealer is correct, if you take the same exact tractor, same everything other than one has 40HP and the other has 50HP, both will do the same exact tasks, moving, lifting the same weights. But the 50HP tractor will do them faster. So more HP is not just for PTO implements, although that is a common line of thinking.

As has been mentioned, you have to decide is the additional expense worth it to you to gain some time. If you are retired and don't have anything else to do, then slower might be fine. If you only have time on the weekends, then you might consider a tractor that will get your projects done quicker. Only you can make that decision.;)
 
   / Tractor HP
  • Thread Starter
#7  
I'm happy to spend more to save time! I just don't want to spend more for no gains.
 
   / Tractor HP #8  
I'm happy to spend more to save time! I just don't want to spend more for no gains.

Very seldom do you hear or read, " I have more HP than I need." Plenty of posts saying, "I wish I had more HP."

If you can afford the additional cost, I recommend going with the maximum HP available in whatever frame size you are getting.

Just my :2cents:
 
   / Tractor HP #9  
One other thought I had, reading your posts, SCUTS/CUTS are not bulldozers. Neither are their FEL's intended for actual ground digging work. The FEL's + buckets are meant for scooping up and moving loose material, dirt, rocks, gravel, etc. Not for breaking up ground and digging holes like a true dedicated TLB would be. Now some of this can be improved, with say a tooth bar (see Piranha, etc), but you're not just going to drive up to a tree stump and dig it out with your FEL + bucket.

I think tractor weight gets ignored more often, in favor of hp numbers, when folks look at tractor stats. Tractor weight goes a long ways towards getting things done. Hp is mostly important for driving pto powered attachments, but if you have a heavy tractor that's underpowered, you can stall the engine before you break traction. The end result would be the same if it was the other way around, more hp than tractor weight, and the tires break traction (not enough weight) before the engine stalls. Either way, you're not getting the job done. So, I guess I'm saying, "It's a Balance"?

But the tractor is just a tool. Part of that tool's job is to be a mobile power plant (pto) to drive other tools. Say you start off with a 25hp power plant, vs. a 35 or 40 hp power plant, you just immediately cut out a large set of optional tools that you could attach and drive off of that power plant (tractor). Assuming (oh boy!), that you're purchasing new, and staying with the same model family (you mentioned Kubota L), how much actual price "savings" are you talking about by down grading your purchase to a 25hp unit?

Now you also mentioned "resale". You're ultimately hoping to match your tractor choice to some yet unknown prospective buyer when it comes time to sell. How much harder would it be to find such a buyer that's able/willing to do what they need off of a 25hp unit (yours) vs. the guy down the road selling a 35 or 40hp unit?

One other thing that sticks out. I was personally not able to climb on or test drive a Kubota (local dealer has everyone on "IGNORE", no idea how he's still in business), but I did look over the stats. I recall I was disappointed in both the chassis weight, and FEL stats on the L series. I did like the Grand's though. Maybe I'd have bought one if I had an actual dealer.

Not trying to turn this into a "brand fight", but just make sure you look at all your tractor options that make sense for your local area (dealer locations, etc), and don't just fixate on one single brand.
 
   / Tractor HP #10  
It is a L3700SU tractor by the way.. I am told the main disadvantage of the "SU" is no mid pto but I don't think I would need it. I certainly would never put a belly mower on it and have no plans for a front snowblower, not sure I know anything else that uses that.

Kubota L3700SU is a 2011 model so I'm guessing you are buying used. Can you tell us how many hours are on it and the asking price?

Kubota Showroom <-- old spec page still on dealer website
 

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