Plastic tractors, Oh boy!

[Oldpath05]

I had a few extra minutes today so I stopped at the green tractor place, just to compare apples with apples. I started looking at the small tractors first, kick the tires, for some reason I knocked the fender, plastic, yeah ok went down the line to the bigger ones, plastic fenders everywhere, guess it's been awhile since I looked at John Deere, I wasn't impressed. I know plastic is ok for the hayfield in warm weather, but it's been my experience in cold air, if I sneeze it cracks, let alone the narrow 2" fender clearance, that's a good thing for JD cause I wont be able to fit tire chains on them, if I did get them on, one slap in January and kiss those pretty green plastic fenders good by.

So this makes me wonder in todays tractor colors, who wins the most plastic on a tractor award.... I mostly focused on 3033R and to be somewhat fair, the rear ends looked rugged, on all, but the front end housing on most of JD, to me looked really light duty, might be strong but didn't look it to me, until I got to the big tractors.

 

[Tractorable]

Yea, it's funny how some manufacturers advertise plastic hoods and fenders as a positive selling point. They say that metal dents and rusts, but everybody knows that in 20 years that plastic is gonna be cracked and faded.

At least with metal I can remove it, strip it, weld it, repaint it, and make it look new again with a little elbow grease.

 

[Thomas]

Just about all the newer tractor have good share of plastic showing and pricy also.
Tire chains hear that,added cost for spacers,last thing you want getting good size stick caught in tire chain than hitting feender $$$$'s OUCH!!!
Far as cleaning just can't beat plastic or less rusting.

 

[dieselcrawler]

All the plastic makes me glad I got one of the last good ones... my 3005 has steel fenders, hood, grill... and the next bigger tractor I'll be getting isn't likely to be less than 15 to 20 years old when I get it in a few years.

 

[Gary Fowler]

There is a bit of plastic on my 2009 Kubota B26 tractor. Hood and fenders are all steel but the canopy top is plastic. My LS has plastic fenders but the hood is steel as is the roof of the cab.

 

[CincyFlyer]

The outer rear fenders, "mud flaps/tail lights", headlight surrounds, instrument panel and lower panel on my Mahindra 2540 (TYM?) are all plastic; some are complex shapes that couldn't be formed in metal. Hood, engine side panels, main parts of the fenders, all steel.
The two mud flaps in the back have both broken, mostly because they are in an awesomely handy place to put a hand when getting on the backhoe, and also because the QH nicks 'em when it's all the way up. IOW, not the sturdiest things. I'll replace them with metal bits that are a bit less shapely, and perhaps go to LED lights at the same time.
But still, less plastic overall, percentage-wise, than you'd find in, say, a Bentley. Certainly nothing that worries me.

 

[LD1]

I have no preference.

Alot of the plastic cracking, depends on just what the plastic is.

And painted plastic fades no more than painted metal.

Metal rusts and dents. Plastic "can" crack. Downsides to both. I have a Kubota with a metal hood, metal fenders, plastic grill, plastic handles, plastic steering wheel.

Look at all the plastic on cars and trucks. Under the hood, inner fender wells, freaking door and tailgate handles, bed liners, plastic bed sides and dually Flair's, bumper covers on cars, etc. Heck, I drive a plastic Saturn SL1.

Pros and cons to both, I don't let it be a factor in any of my decisions though.

Would be curious to glimpse 30-40 years into the future though. And do a comparison of how many plastic fenders are cracked vs how many metal ones rusted out. I'm betting it's a wash.

 

[Big Barn]

My telehandler is mostly plastic. Two if not three of the fenders have sizeable cracks.

Terry

 

[Tractorable]

My '52 8N is 65 years old, all metal, and has no cracks or rust.

Well OK, it has a little rust, but I could fix it if I wanted to...

 

[LD1]

My telehandler is mostly plastic. Two if not three of the fenders have sizeable cracks. View attachment 518414

Terry

And the alternative had they been metal fenders?

Perhaps they would still look like new? Or perhaps whatever cause the cracks would have dented a fender bad enough to chew the h3ll out of a tire before you realized it?

 

[Big Barn]

And the alternative had they been metal fenders?

Perhaps they would still look like new? Or perhaps whatever cause the cracks would have dented a fender bad enough to chew the h3ll out of a tire before you realized it?

No argument here. Just sayin.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Modern plastics have been around for over 70 years.
I've gotten over it!

 

[Texasmark]

My 2007 is metal except for the top of the cab and rear fenders which are fiberglass, with jell coat and woven roving just like a quality boat, hand layup and all; about ⅜" thick. The 2016 is all metal.

 

[Sprinklerman]

My plastic fenders have started to rust out already

 

[conkli48]

My kioti is steel hood, steel fender, steel floor. Only plastic is the grill. The smaller cs has some plastic on them, But ive always figured, that plastic looks nice. But time will scratch it to ****, and crack its just how it goes. Steel will rust out and get dents. But when you look at old tractors like the allis chalmers d15 we do hay with. The rust adds a nice patina and really why do you see so many "redone" old tractors and cars. Because with steel its easy to sandblast and paint to look new. PLastic could be replaced but time will tell on how it holds up. I am fine with plastic if it is something that your only going to use for a few years like a lawn mower. (but heck my husqavarna has a metal hood and fenders so whats that tell ya). But if you are going to use equipment hard and keep it for long term. then its a big deal. With steel even if you destroyed a fender, there would be a way to patch it and weld it back together, just not possible with plastic. Your average joe plastic is fine and wont normally be a problem. But to be honest a manufacturer that touts its plastic hood as a benefit, is just trying to cover the fact that they cuts production costs but still charge like its all stamped steel. Cough* john Deere* cough. Which like i said most occasions its fine, but for me. If i have a choice I will go steel every time. But i am the type of guy who goes for a fabricated deck over a stamped deck as well.
*

 

[crazyal]

My log splitter had plastic fenders. Not sure who thought that was a good idea but they are gone now. Had the steel ones on for a couple years now and the paint is showing a few scars and a dent but they aren't cracked to high heaven like the plastic ones. I don't mind plastic on my Deere mower because it spends most it's time in the garage and never sees work that could damage it. But, on a tractor that I use in the woods to skid logs, sorry but no thank you.

 

[Weedy Fields]

My old JD (2003 4610) has plastic hood and cowls. There are cracks in the cowl. But its easy to fix with a fiberglas repair kit. It also has steel floor piece, they were rusted to the point there was flakes of rust falling off. I cleaned it up and repainted it.

Nothing lasts forever, I really don't care, its just a tractor, a tool if you will, its not like its something that I plan on keeping till I die and handing down to my kids.

 

[arrow]

I'm thinking the plastic is a lot cheaper to produce but the prices on these tractors remain the same. The plastic everything on the the JD c.u.t.s is what turned me off totally to replacing my then 28 yr old 750 with one. Those fenders did get dented but it was an easy fix with a dolly, a hammer and some spray paint while the fender remained right on the tractor. Not so with the current Mahindra I have when I had to fix the broken plastic fender shroud that went from red to pink in two years.

I do suppose it's how one uses their machine but Old path and myself drag these things in the woods and the newer JD stuff did nothing to inspire confidence.

 

[Oldpath05]

Yea, it's funny how some manufacturers advertise plastic hoods and fenders as a positive selling point. They say that metal dents and rusts, but everybody knows that in 20 years that plastic is gonna be cracked and faded.

At least with metal I can remove it, strip it, weld it, repaint it, and make it look new again with a little elbow grease.

Exactly my thoughts.

My telehandler is mostly plastic. Two if not three of the fenders have sizeable cracks. View attachment 518414

Terry

That crack really shows up, I can see from my house, but good news it's those plastic fenders that keep the pop rivet people employed.

My '52 8N is 65 years old, all metal, and has no cracks or rust.

Well OK, it has a little rust, but I could fix it if I wanted to...

Your right, just knowing that old rusty metal can be easily buffed up and painted is all that counts. 65, that's almost a Kodak moment.

My plastic fenders have started to rust out already

Good one :thumbsup:

My log splitter had plastic fenders. Not sure who thought that was a good idea but they are gone now. Had the steel ones on for a couple years now and the paint is showing a few scars and a dent but they aren't cracked to high heaven like the plastic ones. I don't mind plastic on my Deere mower because it spends most it's time in the garage and never sees work that could damage it. But, on a tractor that I use in the woods to skid logs, sorry but no thank you.

Plastic fenders on a splitter probably was a good idea on paper. My splitter is 30 years old and on one fender, bolt holes are broken, just tack weld a washer on it and some paint, like new.

 

[Oldpath05]

I'm thinking the plastic is a lot cheaper to produce but the prices on these tractors remain the same. The plastic everything on the the JD c.u.t.s is what turned me off totally to replacing my then 28 yr old 750 with one. Those fenders did get dented but it was an easy fix with a dolly, a hammer and some spray paint while the fender remained right on the tractor. Not so with the current Mahindra I have when I had to fix the broken plastic fender shroud that went from red to pink in two years.

I do suppose it's how one uses their machine but Old path and myself drag these things in the woods and the newer JD stuff did nothing to inspire confidence.

I have a dent on my hood from standing on it and setting the fuel can up there, it can be easy to fix. My fenders are still ship shape, even after a few chain slaps. Getting my yearly firewood out by taking my tractor in the woods is where all that can happen will happen.