~50~60Hp compact cabbed tractor with a good loader and lots of stability?

[WM75Guy]

I like my NH Workmaster 75 HP. It comes in a 55 HP/40 HP PTO and a 65 HP/50 HP PTO model. Same cab, chassis, and loader. It weighs 6,800# without the loader. The 555LU loader is rated at 3,153# at max lift height of 131" (10.9'). The AC keeps the cab cold in the East Texas heat.

Workmaster™ 55, 65 and 76 HP Utility Tractors | New Holland

Workmaster™ 55, 65 and 76 HP utility tractors are tough, practical workhorses that provide unmatched comfort, simplicity and visibility.

agriculture.newholland.com

 

[jeff9366]

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.

• post hole digger
• bush hog (AKA rotary cutter) so at least 35Hp PTO as a hard minimum
• heavy loader work
• big round bale movements (not stacking)
  buckets of wet soil
  Skid Steer pallet forks with moderately heavy loads like pallets of range cubes or half pallets of concrete

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.

Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, a significant tractor capability increase requires a bare tractor weight increase of 50%. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!

Kubota L4600​

2011 - 2014 Standard L Series Compact Utility tractor

Kubota L4600 Weight
2WD gear :	3,109 lbs 1410 kg
4WD gear :	3,186 lbs 1445 kg
4WD hydro :	3,197 lbs 1450 kg

Dimensions
2WD Wheelbase:	72.8 inches 184 cm
4WD Wheelbase:	72.6 inches 184 cm
2WD Length:	122.8 inches 311 cm
4WD Length:	117.9 inches 299 cm
Width:	62.4 inches 158 cm
Height:	91.7 inches 232 cm
Ground clearance:	15.2 inches

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

You need a 5,000 to 6,000 pound bare weight tractor. These are the heaviest tractors in the compact tractor category. Engine will generate 60 to 100 horsepower. This weight tractor will rut wet ground.

Width will be 72" to 84" in standard configuration. Almost all will have adjustable rear wheel/tire widths.

A cab will add 700 pounds to bare tractor weight. Cab air conditioning will absorb approximately 5-horsepower on hot days.

 

[jeff9366]

I ended up with a Massey 5711D! A lot more tractor and significantly cheaper too!

Massey Ferguson 5711​

2017 - 5700 Series Utility tractor

Dimensions
Wheelbase	95.7 inches 243 cm
Width	70.7 inches* 179 cm
ROPS Weight	9195 lbs 4170 kg
Cab Weight	10011 lbs 4540 kg

 

[Williy]

If you have a Deutz dealer near you check out the 5080D 75 hp

5D Keyline - Deutz-Fahr America

deutz-fahramerica.com

willy

 

[Torvy]

Congrats on your pick. Which dealer did you use?

 

[RSR]

As rScotty mentioned, rear wheel spacing will do wonders for increased stability. Unfortunately, a lot of new tractors have limited adjustments available in rear wheel spacing.

An easy solution is wheel spacers. BroTek (Bro-Tek) makes wheel spacers for just about every new tractor make/model. I confirmed with LS corporate that adding them does not violate any warranty.

I added 2" rear spacers to my LS when I bought it new. I bought them myself and the dealer installed them for free when assembling the tractor as it's not really any extra work putting them on at the time of assembly.

One thing to be careful of when going this route is it may push your rear wheel spacing just enough that you need to size up implements by an extra foot. This is what kept me from putting on 3", or 4" spacers. I would have had to buy an extra foot wider in all of the implement sizes. With the 2" spacers my implements "just" cover my tracks.

 

[redman135]

To the OP, look at dual wheels. The difference in stability is amazing compared to single rear wheels. Also use a quick release style of dual wheel attatchment(don't fill with ballast either).
Always keep the loader DOWN LOW when travelling. It is amazing how many people travel with the loader up high where it can destabalise the tractor and cause a roll - over.
Good luck in your hunt.

 

[Cycledude]

TYM would be a very good choice, they probably have more lift capacity than any other 50-60 horsepower tractors, and superior hydraulic pump capacity .

 

[Sid Post]

As mentioned by TracorTYme, adjustable rear wheel width is important. For hilly terrain, the wider the better.

Both are wider than my L-4600 which was an initial starting point. Weights are also higher which is good for stability, especially with loader work.

What I learned shopping for my 5711D Massey, is that a spec sheet only gives you part of the story.

 

[Sid Post]

Dang, with a 5711 why do you care about a 50hp tractor's loader capacity

Around buildings, in corrals, around trees, etc. all make a smaller tractor useful and a good complement to a big one.

Plus, if I need to take it somewhere, a smaller tractor is a whole lot easier to load up and travel with when I don't need a ~10K pound tractor with a ~4K pound lift capacity.

Lastly, some places are not good for a tractor that heavy where you may crush water and sewer lines, or generally destroy someone's yard with heavier ruts.