which machine for Colorado?

[adventure bob]

Ok so I live in CO, have a Kub 4060 and there's this wonderful invention, maybe you've heard of it: electronic fuel injection? Has the ability to deal with barometric pressure variances up to 14K feet? While a turbo is much cooler than my NA Kub, I'll bet you a beer I dyno at real close to rated HP, just like my fuel injected Jeep does. Now if you plan on running Pikes peak in your tractor you may have issues.
For dealers there's Protesio Brothers (JD) Steel Tractors (Kub) and a couple of used "equipment" dealers. My tractor is at Steel right now for service and a tire fill. Theyre the only ones left in CO doing beet juice.

Welcome to the mountain life, look me up.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Ok so I live in CO, have a Kub 4060 and there's this wonderful invention, maybe you've heard of it: electronic fuel injection? Has the ability to deal with barometric pressure variances up to 14K feet? While a turbo is much cooler than my NA Kub, I'll bet you a beer I dyno at real close to rated HP, just like my fuel injected Jeep does. Now if you plan on running Pikes peak in your tractor you may have issues.
For dealers there's Protesio Brothers (JD) Steel Tractors (Kub) and a couple of used "equipment" dealers. My tractor is at Steel right now for service and a tire fill. Theyre the only ones left in CO doing beet juice.

Welcome to the mountain life, look me up.

Consider that at the end of the day engines make power by piston speed and compression. Lower air density at higher altitudes leads to lower compression pressures and less power. While engine management systems bar and map sensors will tell the ECU there is lower air pressure and manifold pressure allowing the common rail direct injection pump to compensate for stoichiometric mixture, power will still be down relative to sea level.

In contrast, turbo applications over-pressurize to the point where as rpm climbs, the turbo must vent excess intake pressure through a waste gate. As a result, turbos have negligible losses due to altitude relative to their performance at sea level and in application only at point where the turbo isn't contributing (i.e. idle and just off of idle).

 

[orezok]

Stoichiometric ONLY applies to gasoline engines.

 

[GManBart]

If anyone wants to read up on horsepower versus elevation:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/62842-horsepower-loss-vs-elevation.html

 

[jenkinsph]

My wife and I are moving to Colorado. Our cabin is at 7400 feet and we get an average of 60" of snow. Our driveway is 1/4 mile long with some short parts with a fairly steep 15-18 degree pitch. I have read a goodly amount about all the different makes. I'm trying to figure out which machine would be right for the job. I will be doing tree/firewood work as well but that doesn't seem to put a lot of demand on a machine like the plowing does. Thanks

Sounds like a nice place, but be careful on slopes they can be dangerous to deal with. Besides clearing the driveway and fire wood what else will you use the tractor for? How much property to maintain, mowing or brush cutting and any other tasks?

I live in Ruidoso NM and work similar altitudes and feel the turbo diesels perform better than the natural aspirated models.