Will my Kubota L3901 pull a 4 row planter? And what size disc?

[Timmer92]

I have a small hobby farm and own a Kubota L3901 that generally meets my needs. However, I just bought more acreage. The land deal included a 4 row seeder. There is an 8 acre field for which I would like to plant corn in the near-term. There is an additional 44 acres leased to a neighbor for grazing cattle. I might want to use that in the future for crops as well. I am wondering if my L3901 is sufficient for this? Further, I just realized the planter has a hydraulic hose so I would need to invest in a rear hydraulic kit. Am I good for this or should I be looking for a bigger tractor?


Assuming my tractor will work, I also want to stop borrowing my neighbor's disc. What size disc could I be pulling?

Thanks!

 

[jyoutz]

I have a small hobby farm and own a Kubota L3901 that generally meets my needs. However, I just bought more acreage. The land deal included a 4 row seeder. There is an 8 acre field for which I would like to plant corn in the near-term. There is an additional 44 acres leased to a neighbor for grazing cattle. I might want to use that in the future for crops as well. I am wondering if my L3901 is sufficient for this? Further, I just realized the planter has a hydraulic hose so I would need to invest in a rear hydraulic kit. Am I good for this or should I be looking for a bigger tractor?


Assuming my tractor will work, I also want to stop borrowing my neighbor's disc. What size disc could I be pulling?

Thanks!

Planters don’t take a lot of hp to pull. In my experience, discs that are sized for small tractors are light weight and aren’t very good at preparing soil. Maybe a small moldboard plow and harrow combination? Or a tiller?

 

[Timmer92]

Planters don’t take a lot of hp to pull. In my experience, discs that are sized for small tractors are light weight and aren’t very good at preparing soil. Maybe a small moldboard plow and harrow combination? Or a tiller?

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm learning so I'm open to all ideas!

 

[Williy]

I use a roto-tiller, its quick, easy and ready for planting when finished

willy

 

[jeff9366]

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[jeff9366]

If you will plant a crop or crops on each and every one of 52 acres in the future I recommend a tractor with a bare weight of around 5,000 pounds.

https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/spec-sheets/m60series_spec.pdf?sfvrsn=4f8ae861_6

The bare weight of a Kubota L3901 is 2,800 pounds.

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in residential or hobby farm applications on one to ten flat acres.



The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification.

The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to first identify potential tractor applications, then, through consulataton, establish bare tractor weight necessary to safely accomplish your applications. Tractor dealers, experienced tractor owners and TractorByNet.com are sources for weight recommendations.

Sufficient tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

Selling a used tractor is easy. Selling multiple light implements in order to buy heavier, wider implements for a new, heavier tractor requires a lot of time. Depreciation on implements is worse than depreciation on a tractor.

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third, rear wheel/tire ballast fourth.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.



​

The Kubota M5660 model has a bare tractor weight of around 5,000 pounds.

 

[oldnslo]

If you have any significant slopes or hills I suspect you will be lacking on traction to pull a 4 row planter.

What type of soil do you have on your acreage? Lighter sandy soil or heavy clay loam? That will make a big difference in implements you can pull.

 

[Timmer92]

I use a roto-tiller, its quick, easy and ready for planting when finished

willy

I will consider that as well. Thanks!

 

[nybirdman]

Tractor that size;and we have two p low and then roto-till.Purchased our tiller in 2005 and use it every year.Disc for small tractors(depending on soil conditions) are a waste IMHO.
One pass with a tiller is equal to three with a disc.

 

[jeff9366]

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If you decide to keep your Kubota L3901 a PTO powered roto-tiller is your better choice. You could run either 60" or 72" tiller width, progressing very slowly.


If you decide to work 50+ acres with a 5,000 pound bare weight tractor a Disk Harrow with pans 24" in diameter will be a much better choice. No need for a plow for primary tillage with heavy 24" pans cutting moist soil.

A 5,000 pound tractor will pull a 84" width Disk at 4-mph while churning soil 9" deep if desired. This tractor/disk combination will till three acres per hour.

A 5,000 pound tractor will pull a 96" width Disk at 4-mph while churning soil 7" deep if desired. This tractor/disk combination will till 3-1/2 acres per hour.

One (1) pass with a 84" width or 96" width Disk Harrow over 50+ acres will require 2-3 days in the tractor seat.

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[kneedeep]

I have a small hobby farm and own a Kubota L3901 that generally meets my needs. However, I just bought more acreage. The land deal included a 4 row seeder. There is an 8 acre field for which I would like to plant corn in the near-term. There is an additional 44 acres leased to a neighbor for grazing cattle. I might want to use that in the future for crops as well. I am wondering if my L3901 is sufficient for this? Further, I just realized the planter has a hydraulic hose so I would need to invest in a rear hydraulic kit. Am I good for this or should I be looking for a bigger tractor?


Assuming my tractor will work, I also want to stop borrowing my neighbor's disc. What size disc could I be pulling?

Thanks!

85 hp is adequate for my 4R JD planter.
I don’t think you have enough hp for that planter.
You would be fine with a mounted 2 row, maybe.

 

[dieselscout80]

85 hp is adequate for my 4R JD planter.
I don’t think you have enough hp for that planter.
You would be fine with a mounted 2 row, maybe.

I agree!

To run that planter your PTO has to run the fan. The hydraulic hose goes to the cylinder to raise and lower the planter.

Another thing it looks like it has no till coulters on it, so it will pull harder when used to no till in seeds.

You may want to ask your question on the forum linked to below.

Red Power Magazine Community

www.redpowermagazine.com

 

[TractorNoob85]

You won't know unless you try.

 

[Sid Post]

Planters don’t take a lot of hp to pull. In my experience, discs that are sized for small tractors are light weight and aren’t very good at preparing soil. Maybe a small moldboard plow and harrow combination? Or a tiller?

Bingo!

My L4600, slightly more Hp but the same size frame runs an Angsung gear drive 72" tiller extremely well. You won't as fast as with a disc but, the seedbed it leaves behind is really good. It also works well to clean up "field trash" from other plants.

Regarding discs in general, not enough traction or Hp to pull a disc that will cut well in a normal field. Fine for a hobby garden but, not really for 'traditional' agriculture.

A 2-bottom plow is that I would look for personally. Depending on soil conditions, a 3-bottom would likely work well too. Follow up with a good harrow or field cultivator and you should be set pretty well for most crops. You will definitely want the plow for the 44-acre pasture to become crop land!

 

[Sid Post]

I have a small hobby farm and own a Kubota L3901 that generally meets my needs.

Do you have Ag R1 tires or Industrial R4 tires?

Is your tractor 2WD or 4?

Traction matters as much as Hp in most cases. So, 2 wheel drive in hard firm soils works fine with a heavy tractor (8,000lb 55hp and 4-bottom plow where I grew up but, Case 930 was better!).

4 wheel drive helps with traction, especially in softer or wetter soils. I never personally ran a 4 wheel drive tractor in Oklahoma wheatfields and did 1600acres each Summer growing up through Junior and High School! My main tractor was a 135Hp John Deere in my early youth and 150Hp JD later in High School.

Tires matter a lot! You really want R1 Ag tires for any field crops. R4's might be ok in a feedlot or in barns but, in a tilled field are not what you want.

TRACTION MATTERS!