Asking B2601 owners about traction...

[old and tired]

Friend has 100 acres but "usable land" hardly none. His main use would be to fix up his steep gravel driveway. I would guess that R1/ag tires are a must for traction. The tractor is pretty light, how well does a B2602 (or possibly B2301) do with traction?

Worried that he needs to step up to a L2501 but the heavier tractor comes with a heavy price tag... Trying to see if a "B" can handle the task of pulling a land plan (maybe 4 footer) up hill?? Any insight welcomed....

 

[oldballs]

I'd be looking at something around 40 HP, if it were me. And the 100 acres is just waiting for some project that needs something larger than 26 HP.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[oldnslo]

My 2400H would be similar size to a Kubota B26**. I have R1 tires, rears filled with rim guard and the limiting factor is traction. I suspect could pull 4 ft land plane but that will barely cover the tire tracks. I use 5 ft box blade and roll gravel over the top but my property is flat.

 

[Smokeydog]

Had friends that bought property off the Cherohala Skyway (The Dragon). Had a cabin built and new to tractoring. First bought a used B20 on my recommendation then in a few years upgraded to a new B26. Maintain long steep driveway, sometimes forest road access and many building projects etc. Big difference in capabilities and price between B26 and B2601. Meets their time and DIY needs.

We also use a B26, ballasted, wheel extensions, and love the little rascal on our hillside farm. Prefer the R4 tires as it is our lawn, orchard, and berry patch mower.

Use M59 for most driveway maintenance. The B26 could do it but the bigger tractor can do it much 8-10X faster. Can dress the 1/2 mile driveway with 6’ land plane in 30 minutes. Take a half day+ with B26.

Hard enough trying to figure out the best equipment options for yourself. For someone else it is always a hard guess.

 

[old and tired]

I'd be looking at something around 40 HP, if it were me. And the 100 acres is just waiting for some project that needs something larger than 26 HP.

Cheers,
Mike

Their trails are just wide enough for ATV. Right now they weedwacking their trails, looking for an excuse to buy a tractor!!! Land is pretty steep otherwise.

 

[old and tired]

My 2400H would be similar size to a Kubota B26**. I have R1 tires, rears filled with rim guard and the limiting factor is traction. I suspect could pull 4 ft land plane but that will barely cover the tire tracks. I use 5 ft box blade and roll gravel over the top but my property is flat.

Have you tried loading up the front bucket to get more traction? Wonder if that would help, or is the added weight more detrimental??

I recommended he look at L2501 but that's just out of his price range and that would be a very tight fit on the trails.

Was going to start another thread but....WTH. Anyone run turf tires WITH chains on for better traction? or does nothing beat R1/Ag for traction?

 

[ptsg]

Have you tried loading up the front bucket to get more traction? Wonder if that would help, or is the added weight more detrimental??

I recommended he look at L2501 but that's just out of his price range and that would be a very tight fit on the trails.

Was going to start another thread but....WTH. Anyone run turf tires WITH chains on for better traction? or does nothing beat R1/Ag for traction?

About the only thing that beats R1 tires, are R1 Radial tires. A lot wider and will run at very low pressures so it provides a lot of traction and also rides a lot better.

These pictures are a great example of the differences. R1 Radials on the left tires and R1 bias on the right tires.

 

[newbury]

Anyone run turf tires WITH chains on for better traction? or does nothing beat R1/Ag for traction?

Did that for a few times w/ my B7610 when we had about 20" of snow on top of frozen rain in Northern Va. We'd get a storm come through, lay down about half an inch of ice, next storm almost immediately there after would pile the snow on top. Worked well.

 

[old and tired]

Did that for a few times w/ my B7610 when we had about 20" of snow on top of frozen rain in Northern Va. We'd get a storm come through, lay down about half an inch of ice, next storm almost immediately there after would pile the snow on top. Worked well.

I know it works well with snow... but wondered if someone tried it with gravel. I guess too many factors, main one being if it's loose gravel or packed down. Theirs were on the loose gravel side.

My guess is you need more weight per foot print to get traction. Turf tire spreads out that weight over a larger area so it's less pounds per given area and would not be good in this case...

 

[oldnslo]

Chains will potentially dig into gravel more than R1 but I believe would slide easier on rock than rubber tires would.
Hard packed gravel turf might be similar to R1 but loose gravel R1 wins.

Yes adding weight in loader helps especially going up hill. Being old school I still believe front tires should do less than 25% of pulling so only load front when really slippery or potential of lofting the front end.

 

[Smokeydog]

Grooved the R4 tires to gain traction helped on our hillside. Also helped in what little snow we get. Gravels get stuck in groove act like studs. Need edges for snow.

Mowing requires differential lock in a few places. Hillside work the differential lock gets used often.

 

[IndyIan]

At a certain slope angle, almost no tractor will be able to do much ground engagement work going up the hill with an implement sized for flat land. Maybe a 4' land plane isn't much of a load to pull? I don't know, I've never used one? I can pull a pretty full 7' box blade up the 10% grade on part of my driveway but not with it taking a cut out at the same time. Normally I always try to use my hills to my advantage and do more work pulling downhill than up.
Also for a dry or loose gravel driveway, big softly inflated turf tires might work better than narrower r1's? Especially if the rears are loaded. In dirt or clay or mud, R1's perform the best

 

[old and tired]

He could work the gravel downhill then if there is a pile at the bottom, scoop it up and carry it back up hill, packing the roadway as you drive to the top. I use the differential lock to get out of sticky situations and will show him how to use it...

I will definitely recommend the rear tires to be loaded with rimguard.... does any know if you can have a front end loader and a weight bracket on the front of a B2601? I was able to "Build Your Own" at the Kubota website. It allowed to add it but not sure there is room for both the FEL and extra weight bar at the same time??? (not sure if I could add some to my L2800, either)

Thanks for all the comments, I will show him this thread... and let him make his own choice. I told him to talk to a couple of dealers about what they recommend!!