What is the lowest CG / Widest Stance Tractor?

jcmseven · Oct 3, 2006

In my opinion, if you are mainly going to mow, but also wish to do other things, I would look strongly at the Steiner or Ventrac. Our hospital has two Steiners and they mow great on steep hills. With dual tires they do not slip and really go well on very steep hillsides. Our facilities director tried virtually every tractor combo before he went with Steiner and has not regretted it. They also offer attachments that make the machine like a SCUT/CUT. I do not own one, but really like them and have used the hospital one some too. They have styling from the 1980's but are tough and have good dealer support. Well worth a look. One of my business partners sold his MF tractor and bought a Steiner. He said there were areas on his property he would not touch with his big tractor that seemed comfortable on the Steiner machine. He also has a bucket loader and tiller for his and says it is not much slower doing classic tractor work than his old and much larger MF.

John M

KMA · Oct 4, 2006

For mowing very steep slopes, I believe Power Trac is the answer. Either the 1845 or 1850. These machines are purpose-built, but still able to perform other types of work with 30+ quick attach/detach attachments available. (e.g buckets, forks, trenchers, etc...)

TSM Class

Good luck!

odleefs · Oct 5, 2006

Another option, but I have never seen one is an Antonio Carraro TTR 4400 HST. Interesting set up with oscillation standard and dualie able (pun intended). Check them out at http://www.acamerica.com/TTR_4400_USAPDF.pdf
steve

IslandTractor · Oct 6, 2006

Cool video on the Carraro tractors too: http://www.acamerica.com/ACA%20NO%20Sound_0001minweb.wmv

Looks kinda like a PowerTrac on steroids painted Ferrari Red.

odleefs · Oct 6, 2006

IslandTractor said:
Cool video on the Carraro tractors too: http://www.acamerica.com/ACA%20NO%20Sound_0001minweb.wmv

Looks kinda like a PowerTrac on steroids painted Ferrari Red.

Island Tractor,
You hit the nail on the head...Ferrari Red PT on 'roids!
Steve

daTeacha · Oct 6, 2006

The Steiner and Ventrac were invented in this area. The Steiner was first, and the Ventrac came along after the Steiner company was sold. I believe the same guy or a close relative came up with the Ventrac. They're pretty similar and both have solid reputations in the residential and commercial fields for serious lawn/garden/landscaping work. They are very well built machines, but have a couple of limitations compared to a standard tractor. Ground clearance is not much for one, and the FEL lift height is limited.

On the plus side, the things are about as agile and stable as a mountain goat. I used one to make and maintain a hiking trail in a park I used to work in. It would go and mow some places that nothing else would touch except a weedeater.

The front mounted mowers are super for working around and under trees. The maintenance guy rigged up a furnace squirrel cage fan running off the PTO plus some sheet metal and 6" duct work to make a 25 hp rider leaf blower to clear the leaves off park roads. He could switch the output from left to right by pulling a light rope while driving the thing. There are all kinds of attachments for them. We have two here in the school district for detail mowing, mowing the athletic fields, brooming the sidewalks free of light snow and debris, plowing heavier snow, spreading salt or fertilizer, etc.

woodlandfarms · Oct 7, 2006

thanks to all for the comments. I would love to make one of these articulated tractors work, cause they are really nearly perfect, except the Front Loaders appear to be questionable in ability.. Really too bad, liked what I saw...

IslandTractor · Oct 7, 2006

woodlandfarms said:
thanks to all for the comments. I would love to make one of these articulated tractors work, cause they are really nearly perfect, except the Front Loaders appear to be questionable in ability.. Really too bad, liked what I saw...

I don't think there are any serious problems with the PT front loaders. They don't have the lift height that tractor loaders do in general but they work just fine and have the flexibility of rapidly changing implements too.

TBrown · Oct 9, 2006

You might want to pay a visit to an orchard/vineyard tractor dealer, if you have one in your area. Aside from the aforementioned Antonio Carraro, there is Goldoni and Ferrari.

Many of the tractors offered by these manufactureres are lower and wider than standard CUTS.

MossRoad · Oct 9, 2006

woodlandfarms said:
thanks to all for the comments. I would love to make one of these articulated tractors work, cause they are really nearly perfect, except the Front Loaders appear to be questionable in ability.. Really too bad, liked what I saw...

My little PT425 lifts 800 pounds at the quick attach point. Not bad for a 1500 pound machine. The larger units lift more, of course.

You should make a spread sheet and list the models and features that you want to compare. Then include the weight of the machine, how much it lifts, other statistics, etc... and start comparing. You will be surprised at the bang for the buck of some of these machines VS conventional tractors.

MossRoad · Oct 9, 2006

Also, click on my little animated tractor icon in my signature at the bottom of this post. It is a link to my website about my PT425. Then click the videos link and watch. They are grainey, but you will get the idea of what the little machines can do. Just think what the larger models can accomplish.

Tractor Rep · Sep 2, 2008

This is easy! 35 horse, hydro, VM Detroit diesel, 4x4 constant with 2WD option, loader is QA. Option on a cab, and 3 point to also go on the front so you can run a snow blower and a sand broad caster (for example), the operators station spins around to face the rear 3 point/PTO,,,, any normal feed/farm or tractor store implement in the category one size class is going to work. I'm located in the NW, but have guys that can drop one off for you to check out pretty much nation wide... Oh, these also have 4 year parts and labor warranty,, which also include covering the cost getting it to and from the shop.

Sean2202 · Mar 10, 2020

Had to Google search "Antonio Carraro" because of that last post. I can honestly say that I had never heard of them and now I have to see them in action. Some great you tube videos of them. I have a dealer about 45 mins from me that I requested information from and maybe even a demo will happen. Antonio Carraro have many tractor models and they look like impressive machines. Seems as they do a lot of hillside work in vineyards.

Tractors antonio carraro

woodlandfarms · Mar 18, 2020

Wow. Very old thread. I loved the Antonio but my wallet kept me far away. Ended up with a power Trac 1850 and love the machine.

WranglerX · Mar 19, 2020

I have a MF CG 1750 (SCUT) ... Just put a set of Bro-tek 3 inch spacers on it and I am amazed at the difference in what the stability seems to be with the extra 6 inches of width made... Went for 53 to 59 inches outside of tire to outside of tire...

Dale

4tillingdirt · Mar 22, 2020

I like the stance of the Mahindra 3650. If you look at the stats it is a lot wider than other tractors. A TYM T494 is 63.8 with 48HP is 63.8 vs the Mahindra 3650 at 75 inches. Of course I don't know if I would trust a Mahindra and they are not as cheap on price as people make them out to be.

Dave588 · Mar 27, 2020

There was a pasquali option in the 1980's

Rebeldad1 · Apr 5, 2020

2nd on the orchard tractors. they sit lower to the ground and wider.

Ishkatan · May 31, 2021

The Bobcat Toolcat 5610 runs on what look like skid steer wheels - very low. They have a front end hydraulic bush hog variation and has an optional 3 point PTO. Looks like 4 wheel steering too. At 61 HP prices it is a bit steep for me. I wish they had a 35HP version for a small lot (7 acre) owner. If I was a contractor I would be looking at that. Of course, if you can afford this you can afford a 60 HP farm tractor that will have much wider wheels. Or the 5600 if you use their front end mower and don't need the PTO.