What compact tractor is safest on hilly terain?

keithym · Jan 30, 2005

I am looking to upgrade from my Kubota B7500. It is under powered and too light for my needs. What I do like about it, is it's low center of gravity, long wheel base and wide track with the rear wheels set out the farthest. My property is hilly, so stability is key. I don't want to use the ROPs more than the brush Hog!

I've been looking at NH TC33, Massey 1431 and Kubota B2910. The B2910 is by far the lightest machine and the lowest PTO HP. The NH appears to have a very high CG and appears to have a fairly short wheelbase. The Massey seems to be in the middle of these two machines. Any experienced insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Freds · Jan 30, 2005

I think if you take into account weight/center of gravity and stance you could pick a machine that is relatively stable or at least more stable on paper, but ultimately it comes down to the operator and what you are using it for at any given moment (hoggin', FEL use...).
In my opinion if you are in a situation where the color of your tractor is the difference between rolling or not, you're cutting hairs too close. A tractor may not be your best option.
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JerryG · Jan 30, 2005

Your assessment of the the three is what I would call right on. If you want stability, you need weight low down and adjustable wheels.

Bob_Skurka · Jan 30, 2005

Personally I think you need to take a look at a different type of machine if you are worried about stability on hills. Now I don't know how extreme your hills are, or what you real issues are because you didn't really describe the issues you are facing, however I think you might be well to look at the following machines.

Power Trac tractors

Ventrac Tractors

Steiner Tractors

These are all odd looking machines, but they are far more stable than any traditional cut. You have to think a bit different but if you do you will find them to be amazing, and amazingly capable machines. I own the smallest Ventrac. It can do "figure 8s" and "U turns" on slopes that used to scare the heck out of me on my Cub Cadet. It climbs and decends places that I would never dream of taking my NH or my Kubota. The larger units are equal to traditional CUTs in many ways and vastly superior to them in many ways. Power Tracs are probably the best overall tractors, Ventracs & Steiners are very capable but more suited to grounds keeping. All will run circles around a CUT on slopes that will topple a CUT end over end.

I'd seriously look at the Power Tracs in the 30hp range.

jfdlaw · Jan 30, 2005

I own a B2410, so I'm not biased towards Power-trac and Ventracs.

Bob's right, If hills are a major concern you have to check out these machines. If you post some more information about what you want to do with the machine, or why your present tractor does not meet your needs, the users may be able to give you more specific recomendations.

If you are looking at TC33s and B2910s I think you should look at a Power-trac 1430, the 30 hp diesel model. I spent an afternoon on one and it's a nice machine. The Ventracs are smaller machines, more comparable to a sub-cut.

rozett · Jan 31, 2005

I was concerned about the same thing when I went looking for my tractor. I built a spreadsheet to help compare colors. I recorded weight, wheelbase, track, and a few other factors important to me. The advantage of the spreadhseet is that you can sort any which way with a few keystrokes. I statred by figuring my minimum HP requirements based on what tasks (and attachments) I would be using it for.

Basically, all colors have models of the necessary HP. From there I used the spreadsheet to select based on the specs. When I was all done, I selected a brand & model that beat all the others in those important specs.

rockyridgefarm · Jan 31, 2005

My place is quite hiily. I have had great luck with my wheels set wide and filled tires.

Watch out that the setup you get DOES have adjustable wheels. The same model, with different tire setups may be very different. Some manufacturers don't encourage or even disallow setting the wheels wider.

Moon · Jan 31, 2005

What Bob said!! Reading your post the 1st thing I thought of was Power Trac. They are made for your type of terrain.

...one other tidbit ....For what its worth ...rather than a 2910 go up to a 3130 for better stability. Heavier, and BIG tires (if you go with R4's). Loaded the tires will keep the center of gravity low. I've been on lighter tractors on my slopes and been worried that me holding on to the fender handle that I could pull the tractor over. With the weight of my L3010 I don't get that feeling. For me the size is an advantage and the footprint with R4's helps it hold to the terrain.

Moon of Ohio

keithym · Jan 31, 2005

Maybe I'm overly skitish. I have never even lifted a wheel. Is there any general rule as to a minimum number of degrees of slope you should be able to traverse. Yes I realize there are an infinite number of variables. Example, when the brush hog and FEL are all the way down, it is pretty hard to get in trouble. On the other hand, if there both raised, it is an entirely different story.

Assuming just the tractor it self, is there a significant difference in stability between machines? Is may assessment (based solely on visual observation) that the NH is more easily tipped than the B2910 incorrect?

Thanks,
Keith

Bob_Skurka · Jan 31, 2005

I've got a New Holland TC24D and a Kubota B2910.

The TC24D is narrower than the B2910, however, as measured from the ground, both of the seats are at virtually the same height. So just based on that, I'd guess the TC24D has a higher PERCEIVED center of gravity.

However, I'm not sure if that is really the case.

Bear in mind that the Kubota B2910 is a engine over ladder frame design so the engine is sitting on top of the frame. The New Holland has no frame so it is possible that while you sit just as high the center of gravity might actually be lower.

Now I realize my TC24 is a much smaller machine than the TC33 but I don't have a TC33 sitting in the garage to go look at!

Also bear in mind that BOTH tractors scare the bejezzus out of me on some parts of my property and pucker factor has induced extreme "seat thong" too many times . . . and that alone explains why I bought a Ventrac! And I will say that the more I see Power Tracs, Ventracs and Steiners the more I am impressed with the logic and the engineering of these very unconventional machines. It is nice to get on a tractor and NOT worry about rolling over. It is nice to have a complete level of confidence on slopes, even if the ground is bumpy.

My brother, who we forbid from using power tools, and who has never been on one of my CUTS, has been all over my property with my Ventrac. He loves it. In fact he said driving it is "like driving a video game" That is the level of confidence that a correctly designed machine can instill.