Heavy Duty Compact Tractor

[yooperdave]

I have seen lots of pictures of damaged compact tractors and associated loader parts - mostly due to overstress / overloading. Who makes a commercial grade heavy duty loader tractor - regardless of price? I have always liked Kubota for a stout piece of equipment. Any others? TIA Yooper Dave

 

[dusty3030]

Kubota TLB’s - commercial grade heavy duty

B26

L47

M62

 

[Hay Dude]

I have seen lots of pictures of damaged compact tractors and associated loader parts - mostly due to overstress / overloading. Who makes a commercial grade heavy duty loader tractor - regardless of price? I have always liked Kubota for a stout piece of equipment. Any others? TIA Yooper Dave

Forget about brands. Find tractors with loaders and look at their weight.
The heavier the tractor, usually the heavier-duty the tractor.
Other things to look for are the GPM of the pump and the size/construction of the wheels/tires.

More GPM is usually going to result in stronger hydraulics and better lifting capacity.
Larger wheels & tires usually result in greater load capacity. Better yet, find cast center rear wheels.
I would also avoid tractors with aluminum pumps, PTO’s and other housings. Look for cast iron instead.

You know who makes a real heavy duty loader tractor? Ever see those Case or Ford loader tractors without the backhoe? Some people call them a “skip loader”.

 

[kneedeep]

Mahindra

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Who makes a commercial grade heavy duty loader tractor - regardless of price? I have always liked Kubota for a stout piece of equipment. Any others?

You want something HD, forget all the compacts and buy a "farm" tractor. Farm tractors are MUCH heavier duty than the compacts and will take more abuse/heavy work.

I now have, and have had several others of both, no comparison when it comes to HD.

SR

 

[yooperdave]

Who makes a commercial grade heavy duty loader tractor - regardless of price? I have always liked Kubota for a stout piece of equipment. Any others?

You want something HD, forget all the compacts and buy a "farm" tractor. Farm tractors are MUCH heavier duty than the compacts and will take more abuse/heavy work.

I now have, and have had several others of both, no comparison when it comes to HD.

SR

I was thinking of the yellow commercial loader tractors, but they get big in a hurry.

 

[arto98607]

Who makes a commercial grade heavy duty loader tractor - regardless of price? I have always liked Kubota for a stout piece of equipment. Any others?

You want something HD, forget all the compacts and buy a "farm" tractor. Farm tractors are MUCH heavier duty than the compacts and will take more abuse/heavy work.

I now have, and have had several others of both, no comparison when it comes to HD.

SR

I agree!
What would be the smallest "farm tractor" in your opinion?

I bought about 900 hour used 86 Ford 1310 for $6000 about 26 years ago and we have used it for all kinds of projects around the property but I don't consider it to be a farm tractor, however it's been excellent for my needs and served us very well.

It's more heavy duty than current models are.

So far spare parts have been available for what little I have needed.

 

[big bubba]

to me, a "heavy duty compact tractor" seems almost a contradiction of terms. in the Kubota line, believe "farm" is considered a "utility" M series tractor that is considerably larger & heavier than a compact.

seems to me that an excessively heavy loader FEL can be a safety liability on a compact unless rears are loaded & with ballast in back. but also could be tippy on a slope.

i do agree w/ Hay Dude that this subject is all about tractor weight.
correct me, think that on Kubota FELS the model number closely equates to the kilogram limit of the FEL 24" from pins.

in general, this being primarily a Sub/Compact forum, i notice many instances where operators push their smaller machines over the limit on tasks jeopardizing safety & machine.

having said hat, i'm not acquainted with the Compact market & the OP could very well find something that fits the bill. these are just my general thoughts on safe Compact use. regards
OP: good luck in your search.

 

[ptsg]

About the only compact I know that could sustain some serious loader work is probably the Fiat 35-66. Arguably one of the best compact tractors ever made.

One of the best things about this tractor is that it has planetary final drives on both front and rear axles. This axle design can handle some serious abuse.

I don't think these ever made to US though.

On the other hand, if the OP is looking for an heavy duty tractor just because of loader work, might as well just get a machine that was actually built to be a loader.

Those smaller articulated wheel loaders, like those Avant, Giant, MultiOne and other makes, are designed and built to be a loader. Can handle all the abuse you can put on those. Offer faster and smooth hydraulics with a lot more reach using the telescoping boom.

More expensive than a tractor? Sure but then again, it's built to be a loader.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

What would be the smallest "farm tractor" in your opinion?

Smallest farm tractor, for instance, in the Kubota line, is the "M" series, and they (as do most others) call them "ag" tractors.

BUT even the M series Kubota's are pretty light for the HP.

SR

 

[4570Man]

Tractors in general are pretty delicate loaders. As the name implies they are loaders not dozers. A tractor doesn’t come close to the size/lift ratio a skid steer does. This mini can set 2,000 pounds on a trailer. It would take a compact tractor at the upper end of the compact spectrum to do the same job.

 

[sd455dan]

What would be the smallest "farm tractor" in your opinion?

Smallest farm tractor, for instance, in the Kubota line, is the "M" series, and they (as do most others) call them "ag" tractors.

BUT even the M series Kubota's are pretty light for the HP.

SR

Even then, Kubota uses what some would consider undersized FEL cylinder and rod diameters compared to the older mainstream names sold in the US on some of their models.

I still cannot believe Kubota stuck such small hydraulic cylinders and rod sizes on their 90 HP M series LA 1353 FEL.
Cranking up the pump pressure to 3000 PSI is not easier on the hydraulic pump or lines either.

More weight can mean thicker castings, larger axle shafts, bearing diameters, as well as larger diameter gears etc.

Think there was a recent small low hour TLB Kubota posted with a severed rear axle shaft as well. Wheel and tire still attached to the flange.

Starting to Like Older utility tractors and industrial equipment, versus some of the newest CUT's

If I needed a really strong loader for not a lot of money Yeah a yellow articulated Loader or for even less possibly a Yellow TLB with weights instead of the full size backhoe. Most are good for 4500-8000lb lift to full height

 

[big bubba]

agree even M series are light on their feet. actually i have the same model FEL you mention, however @ 2900# capacity it does the job for my utility use.
so they could improve their weight to HP ratio.

Mahindra's weight i believe has a more favorable ratio although
mechanically & engineering , the M series is hard to beat. mine has been flawless for 17 yrs with rigorous use.
feel if the OP really wants a HD FEL, he needs to step up to higher HP models or get a dedicated loader as a poster mentioned

 

[Rustyiron]

Tractors in general are pretty delicate loaders. As the name implies they are loaders not dozers. A tractor doesn’t come close to the size/lift ratio a skid steer does. This mini can set 2,000 pounds on a trailer. It would take a compact tractor at the upper end of the compact spectrum to do the same job.View attachment 4028046

I think you nailed it.
Without a doubt those compact stand ons are built well beyond anything with a similar footprint.
There's the little detail of no seat or tractor feel and they're probably double the cost.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

You can add Bobcat to the list of the mini wheel loaders ... They can have hydraulics on the front to run stuff like a skid steer, so I imagine a stump grinder would fit ...

If you really want a HEAVY DUTY BH, you gotta think "YELLOW" as in Deere, CAT, Case etc ...as in commercial/construction type equipment, but they are not usually "compact" ... But they are built for long days, all week/month long ... And a price tag to go with the work they can accomplish.

 

[4570Man]

I think you nailed it.
Without a doubt those compact stand ons are built well beyond anything with a similar footprint.
There's the little detail of no seat or tractor feel and they're probably double the cost.

We just doubled the price again but you can have a seat with ac and lift 2 tons. The one with wheels is my neighbor’s machine. It has 3200 hours and works hard on a paving crew every day. A tractor would have been broke every way you could break a tractor if it did the same work.

 

[Hay Dude]

I think the smaller wheel loaders would have the most stout loaders

 

[4570Man]

I think the smaller wheel loaders would have the most stout loaders

View attachment 4030465

View attachment 4030466

Pound per pound probably so but the stability of those sucks even more so when they’re making turns and they also suck for grading dirt.

 

[mikester]

Who makes a commercial grade heavy duty loader tractor - regardless of price?

 

[D&D]

Those smaller articulated wheel loaders, like those Avant, Giant, MultiOne and other makes, are designed and built to be a loader. Can handle all the abuse you can put on those. Offer faster and smooth hydraulics with a lot more reach using the telescoping boom.

More expensive than a tractor? Sure but then again, it's built to be a loader.

Exactly what I thought of