what do people look for hp or lift capacity

[daTeacha]

My tractor is mostly used as a "toter" in that most of it's use is in lifting and carrying things from one place to another. The second most common way I use it is plowing snow and/or grading the driveway. When I finally had my choice narrowed down to 2 different machines/dealers, I went with the tractor that had the sturdier loader and better ergonomics. Unless you find yourself in a major hurry to get stuff done, loader volume and weight capacity is probably more important than loader speed. Same with the 3 point. Most manufacturers tend to work toward a balanced package so you are less likely to pick the opposite end of the tractor off the ground when lifting things.

If most of your work is pulling things, especially ground engaging tools like plows, discs, harrows etc., then you want to lean toward hp over load/lift abilities.

The two tend to go together, but some manufacturers favor one, some favor the other. Figure out what type of chores you will do and align your priorities to suit.

 

[RoyJackson]

My criteria was PTO Horsepower. As far as loader work, the break out force means more to me then maximum lift capacity.

When looking into implements (as a residential user), I'm most interested in what it takes to operate a rotary cutter, a rear mower and a chipper.

I don't do enough loader work to be too interested in lifting anything too high, but digging into a pile of clumpy dirt does. Break out force is as much a matter of traction as lifting capacity (my 790 is pretty light...traction is important).

 

[slaveToHorses]

I look at what the tractor needs to do for me.
Then I think about fun
then I think about cost difference, dealer difference
then I think about what color it is

I am right in the throws of getting a mid/small tractor.
It will be my 6th tractor purchase. My first two were red, my last 3 green, my next... well it's a harder choice this time.
It might be green but I don't donate to them, they have to earn it!

There is always something... like if Kubota offered the L39 with a hydro then my next one would be orange /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but alas...
So many factors.

For lift, do make sure you are looking at the right comparison.
The lift rating at the pivot is just the rating of the lift arms.
The lift rating in front of the pivot tells you what the bucket arms can deal with.
Same with the height, is it the pivot point, bottom of level bucket or dumped bucket clearance?
Does it have auto leveling. Dang I wish the Deere 300CX loader had that feature! Dummies. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Speed of the loader is important to me but not as important as a hydo transmission.
Once you get used to a hydro/loader there's no going back. The eHydro has an advantage there.

One criteria I have is to be able to dump the bucket over the side of a dump truck. This gave me a minimum lift requirement.
The orange, green, red and blue options all had sloped hoods and arms and I like that.
Some are easier to remove than others but I rarely remove mine.
The green and blue ones (I think the others as well) have one piece lifting hoods and folding guards so removing the loader isn't the issue it used to be.

I love the loader lever and control ergonomics on the Kubota L39/48 and the swiveling seat.
The Deere seats are really nice. Wish it swivelled! Yellow is a good color when you get on a tractor that has been out in the sun all day!
Black is for my son's clothes (Henry Ford wardrobe), it's not so good for seats. Ditto for control levers.

Man, they have all gotten better in many ways, though my wife is dissapointed in them all. She says they don't look like tractors anymore. She took one look at the plastic gauges and said what the heck is that?!!! Gotta love her! I hate paying for a speedometer on a tractor, sheesh. Like I'm going to get a speeding ticket?

HP is of interest because I would like this tractor to be a backup for it's larger shed mate. That one runs an 8" chipper. But it wasn't the primary criteria.

I'm only looking at brands that have a strong dealership near by. I have eliminated one of those due to their service department.

OK I'm ramblin'

back to the manure pile
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[SWB]

Lift capacity is a function of hydraulic pump flow. Although this is often higher with more HP, it usually goes in ranges within a given manufacturer's line. For example in the Kubota grand L series, the 3130, 3430 and 3830 all have the same implement pump flow. The 4340, 4640 and 5030 also have capacities that are similar to each other. So do the Case/New Holland 35, 40 and 45 HP tractors. You may notice better PTO performance with increased HP, say in the operation of a rotary cutter, but if the hydraulic flow capacity of the implement pump is the same, the lift capacity for FEL and 3PH will be the same.

 

[weesa20]

I thought of things a little differently when I bought my subcut. I was looking at tractors with almost exactly the same size chassis but one had nearly 5 more more HP than the rest (all diesel). This actually scared me off because I felt like it was too much motor for the chassis/weight, and therefore traction, and would actually make it less useful for loader and implement work and that I would potential break things because I push my equipment up to and some times beyond what they are designed for. The extra HP makes this tractor an excellent mower but it kept me from buying it because I thought it was over powered.

Andrew

 

[Volfandt]

In my case HP was an important factor but not the deciding factor. The HP of the machine I was looking for had to be high enough to power/control the implements & features I was planning on having and using on the tractor.

Lift capacity wasn't the deciding factor either as my machine is primarily a finish mower. What it could do as a small utility tractor was also an important factor in that it had to be light enough to not damage the lawn when mowing but heavy enough to dig and transport material useing it's OEM FEL & BH.

For me the size & weight of the tractor, size of the MMM, hydraulic capacity, lift of the FEL & 3PH and the ease of owning & operating were as important if not more so than the engines hp. I will add that the engine being a diesel was a very important deciding factor though.

Volfandt

 

[RalphVa]

Hp doesn't necessarily relate to more lift capacity. The more heavy duty tractors like the 4000 series (now 2320/2520) had more lift capacities than the 2210 JD (now 2305). Think you'll find the same thing comparing the "B" Kubotas vs. the "BX" ones. You'll probably find similar comparisons in the NH line.

Ralph

 

[Ryno1]

I started out with what do I want the tractor to do. I knew I wanted a mmm to hook a lawn vac to for leaf removal. That was a limiting factor - 100hp tractor aren't very useful mowing a yard. I was selling an older 50+hp tractor and I knew it was too big. I also knew that I would be brushcutting 10+ acres at times. Now most will tell you that you need a the biggest brushcutter you can pull. Well I'm not sure of that, the old tractor I used a 6', now I use a 5'. The 5' gets the job done quicker. I had also decided if possible I wanted a backhoe for various landscaping jobs and digging stumps.
Some loader work, mostly pushing brush, hauling mulch and compost type stuff.
\
After deciding what I needed to do, I had kinda narrowed it down to 25=35 hp models. I felt the 25s would probably be a little on the light side (weight and hp wise). after looking at the 35s I thought most were a little large for yard work. That brought me down to tractors in the 29-33 hp range.

Ended up with one at 30hp and it has been the right size. Not too big for the yard (and bigger would not be better here), big enough to do the field work (bigger might be better in this case). So you tractor choice will always be a balance, only way to make it perfect is to have 2 or more.

 

[AndyMA]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Oh yeah I forgot the gasoline versus diesel conversion. A diesel HP is far more than a gas HP rating when it comes to usefulness. Others will add their comments, but this might be a guess

15 diesel Hp= 25 gas HP

I have a 16HP Kohler gas engine on my 42" riding lawnmower. My tractor has a 28HP diesel. I can assure you that my tractor has at least 5 times the power of the mower, if not 6 times the power. Gearing and torque are more important than raw HP ratings. )</font>

Actually Lewis, A "diesel horsepower" equals a "gas horsepower" equals an "electric horsepower" and any other method of generating power. It is all based upon a fixed formula equating torque and rpm. The reason you may feel that one type is more useful is simply the "packing", the gear rations, the ability to deliver it to the ground etc.

Andy