Why is cost per HP so high?

[aesanders]

You simply cannot compare a tractor to a passanger vehicle. Most tractors are designed for a completly different task.

Take my old 580 k Backhoe that I use to own. I bought it second hand but new it probably went for 50-60k. Only had a 60hp engine in it. So, for this machine you are talking 900-1000 dollars per hp. Yet this machine outweighs the pickups mentioned above 2-1. If you hooked a chain up to the pickup and the backhoe, the backhoe would drag the pickup around all day long and barely even notice the truck being dragged. Also when you got tired of dragging the pickup around you could flip the pickup over with the front end loader and smash it to smitherines with the backhoe just for kicks and giggles.

 

[john_bud]

Maybe you should ask how much can the truck lift? Or how many acres the truck can plow in a day? Or compare weight? L3400 is about 3000#, Avalanche is what 5000#? So the tractor is $5.33 a pound and the Avalanche is $ 7.17 a pound. Now who got the better deal?

jb

 

[DavesTractor]

Seems a new Z06 Corvette has 505HP and can be had for about $80K. So the way I figure it, that is a good deal. Only $158/HP. Therefore, it is cheaper than a tractor and we all know that tractors are good deals. Bullet proof logic.

There, I just rationalized getting the car I want. I bet most of you guys would agree with my logic. If not, don't spoil it for me. I need to get this ordered before I come to my senses. (Don't I wish!)

 

[Soundguy]

But the poster isn't talking about heavy industrial trucks... He's talking about consumer grade passanger vehicles. When you move over to heavy duty, and industrial grade vehicles.. that dollar per hp figure starts to head off to the same pastures that tractors graze in.. vs the geo metro cars and trucks .. etc..

soundguy

Actually some of the over the road Cats and Cummins are the same engines in stationary units. The only difference is the fuel systems are turned down a bit (thus dropping some HP) to keep the engine from overheating. I replaced a v12 motor in a large mobile crane that was shipped here from Europe. The pump was set for the hills over there(intermitting load). When it came to TX and the flat land the engine burned up. We replaced the engine and had M&D Diesel in Houston set the pump for a 100% duty cycle. The exact same engine engine ran pumps, generators and compressors.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Actually some of the over the road Cats and Cummins are the same engines in stationary units. The only difference is the fuel systems are turned down a bit (thus dropping some HP) to keep the engine from overheating. I replaced a v12 motor in a large mobile crane that was shipped here from Europe. The pump was set for the hills over there(intermitting load). When it came to TX and the flat land the engine burned up. We replaced the engine and had M&D Diesel in Houston set the pump for a 100% duty cycle. The exact same engine engine ran pumps, generators and compressors.

RobJ, I'd have to submit that you are now comparing Apples to Plums here. The original poster was talking about a light duty truck engine versus a tractor. Neil posted to that fact. To compare a commercial duty/industrial truck engine to a light duty truck engine is about the same as comparing a light duty truck engine to a tractor engine. That is to say, they are not comparible due to their design intent and capabilities to operate at/near maximum load for extended periods.

 

[lopezian]

There is a flaw in your logic here. Cars and trucks produce a lot of HP, but very little torque per HP compared to a tractor. ...

Good point. I wondered if that might be part of the difference. When I was looking up HP ratings on trucks I saw lots of references to torque measures as well. Time to go do some more reading to understand the relationship between horsepower and torque.

I have to say everyone who has replied has been very helpful with several insightful comments. I fully expected to be chastized for asking a really dumb question so I appreciate all the serious responses.

 

[RobJ]

RobJ, I'd have to submit that you are now comparing Apples to Plums here. The original poster was talking about a light duty truck engine versus a tractor. Neil posted to that fact. To compare a commercial duty/industrial truck engine to a light duty truck engine is about the same as comparing a light duty truck engine to a tractor engine. That is to say, they are not comparible due to their design intent and capabilities to operate at/near maximum load for extended periods.

Ok Bob, Soundguy, you got me! I digress.

But digressing aside... in the spirit of the original post comparing a 3/4 ton 4x4, to a 1/2 ton 2x4, to a tractor. You can't accuse me of drinking while posting!!

I want to toss in a Cessna Skyhawk (the new ones) $230,000 and 180hp. That's only $1277 per hp. By weight it checks in at $140 per pound on the empty weight.

I hope this helps the discussion.

 

[SkyPup]

If you want allot of horsepower for the money, don't purchase a tractor, car or pickup truck, get a Kawasaki, Honda, or Suzuki Sportbike motorcycle.

You can get a one liter four cylinder bike that puts out 150 horspower at 15,000 rpms for $10,000.

That is more horsepower per dollar or more horsepower per weight than any tractor or automobile on earth.... plus it goes over 160 miles per hour too!

 

[schmism]

what i dont understand is from class to class the price diffrence.

when looking at (used) tractors i could get the one i have for X... well for about half as much more, i could get one that was physically twice as big, heavy and HP.

how does THAT work....

 

[Robert_in_NY]

There is a much higher demand right now for 30-50 horse tractors then there is for 50-100 horse tractors. As this site shows, almost everyone that owns a few acres or a lot of acres of land dreams of owning a tractor. They look at the new ones and figure that is more then they want to pay for something to play with and the 80 horse farm tractor is too big and heavy for their property so they buy the smaller utility tractors. The farm economy is not as great as it use to be and is keeping the price down on used farm tractors.

I paid $13,900 for a 110hp Ford 7710-II with cab last year. Two years ago I paid $16k for a 30 horse Ford 1920 with loader and a couple attachments. The 7710 is older and has more hours but it will do more in a day then the 1920 can do in a week and for basically the same dollar. But if I set both tractors out front of my house the 1920 will sell by weeks end and the 7710 will sit here for a while until some farmer decides he likes it or some large landowner wants it for working up food plots.