What are the general rules of tractor sizes?

[Willie B]

Ain't no tractor too big! That is rule #1.

 

[airbiscuit]

Rule #2 The tractor I want is $5,000 more than I can spend.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Ain't no tractor too big! That is rule #1.

As long as you’ve got 5 acres to turn it around on?

World's Most Powerful Farm Tractors - YouTube

 

[newbury]

Newbury,

I'm a little confused. you've got 8800 posts and considered a supermember and you're asking a new member type of question ?? LOL

I thought I knew the answer before I ran across the graphic on Kubota's web site that lumps it entirely differently.

I had thought 4 classes:
1. sub compact < 25hp
2. compact 25 to 50hp
?? economy utility (what the dickens is this??)
3. utility 50 to 120hp (when my M4700 was sold it was advertised as a utility tractor, this is before the MX's came along)
4. everything else
Note that it USED to be everything above about 50HP in Kubota's lineup was geared.

But by Kubotas reasoning there's only three classes:

1. compact 17.5 to 62 hp (includes sub compact 18 to 26hp and economy utility 49.3 to 61.4hp)
2. utility 57.9 to 133hp
3. everything else

But to answer the question as best I can - I'd use the following thought process:

A subcompact tractor can be anything from 15 hp to 26 hp in today's standards.
It typically has up to a 6 or 7 inch undercarriage clearance
It typically is no wider than 54 inches at the rear wheels
It typically is a 3 cylinder diesel engine and a subcompact typically has a hydrostatic transmission and both a mid and rear PTO.

Because of its ground clearance - it has smaller tire/wheel combinations and its weight without fel or backhoe is typically under 1700 lbs

A Compact generally has 7 to 12 inch ground clearance, anywhere from 25 to 60 hp and is wider than 52 inches and heavier than th 1700 pounds without fel or back hoe.

A Compact may come in hydrostatic or gear transmissions.

Large compact and utility tractors (in my opinion) are typically 65 hp to 125 hp. They have large wheels and tires and clearance in the 13 to 18 inch area.
They are normally wider (60 inch or larger).

Ag tractors are everything else LOL - big and biggest.
<snip>

I tend to agree with that but I had lower limits for the utility One of the reasons I'm asking is the confusion for new buyers and posters not using specific terms. Some newbie writes :
"I've 75 acres of wooded land, I need a tractor".
One of us suggests get a 50 hp utility tractor, another suggests a get a 50 HP compact. And it confuses the newbies.

One other opinion - TBN is a great place for information and a sense of friendship. But there is a large tendency to spend your money and for you to buy what others bought for themselves. You have to stick to your priorities and needs do lots of study and testing yourself - because on a forum - people can't "see" your desires or terrain.


JMHO

They can post Google earth snaps so we can see their terrain.

 

[4570Man]

What class of “tractor” is a 4 engine 10,000 hp tractor?

 

[airbiscuit]

That is the Big Money class.

 

[4570Man]

That is the Big Money class.

Yes it is. Probably a 1/2 million dollar tractor and a high dollar hauler truck in the parking lot.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Works great as long as your rows are only 320’ long, with a fuel truck on each end.

Tractor Pulling Putten 2011 Whispering Giant finale 4500kg modified Beach Pull - YouTube

Heavy Modifieds - European Superpull Ahoy 2013 - YouTube

 

[LD1]

No matter where you draw the line between tractor categories, someone will point out a small tractor that performs over the line while someone else mentions a larger one that performs under the line.

There isn't a line between categories, there is a smudge.

Bruce

Best answer right there.

When I tractor shop....or recommend a tractor for someone....I pay no regard to "category"......who cares what "category" a tractor is.....its about getting the right machine regardless.

The SCUT class is pretty easy....they are little. I dont want to offend anyone with comments like saying "they are barley a step above a garden tractor" or "they arent a real tractor".....but those phrases do come up.

CUT.....is probably the widest stretching category that we here on TBN are familiar with.

Just park a B2320 next to a GL6060 and step back and look at them......and remember in your head....these two tractors are in the same "category".:laughing:

Same can be said with a deere 2xxx vs a 4xxx.

And kubota puts the MX tractors in the "utility" class.....all be it and "economy utility" class. But they are built on the same platform as the larger GrandL CUT platform. So that makes no sense.

And The M5660 is in the full fledged "utility" class. As is the M6 tractors. Look at those two side by side and there is NO comparison at all.

I have an MX5100. Dont know weather others consider it a CUT or a UT. Dont make a difference at all to me. Dont care. It does what I need. And is the BIGGEST frame tractor that kubota makes with a HST.

If someone would make a tractor with TALLER front tires....like the M6060 but still offered in a HST....I'd give it a serious look. But as it is now.....9.5x16 front R1 tires seem to be the largest you can get and still have HST trans.

Used to have a JD2040. A little heavier than my MX, but less power. And roughly the same physical size, wheelbase, rear tire size, etc. JD considered it a utility at the time.

The old ford 2000-3000 series were considered utilitys....though by todays standards they would probably be CUT's.

So the lines between classes have evolved....and blured. And they will probably continue to do so. The tractors that many of us have as "utility" machines for our "hobbies".......The 50-70HP machines we own and dont even farm.......50 years ago someone farming a family 100-200 acre farm....that would have been their biggest machine doing the bulk of the plowing and discing. Now its rare (in my area) to see less than a 150HP 4wd and 12,000# of machine in a field. Times have sure changed

 

[pmsmechanic]

I was looking at the MX5200 and Grand L 5460 and 6060 as my very first tractor. Never operated one before. I decided to listen to these guys and go bigger, I ended up with an M7060 and glad I went with that. It's a little light for plowing or discing, only maybe because I have R4's, my tires spin. I would love to see how it works with R1's. I can't have cast centers with the R4 rims, they are different . I can only add the 103 lb bolt on wheel weights, 3 per side...Will 600 lbs make much more of a difference? I don't know, but to do that it'll cost me a grand. Should have got those when I ordered, they are cheaper.

Can you work with your dealer and have him order in a tractor with your weight's on it? Just a thought.