Big or small what does it all?

[frank_f15]

just to restate what some other have said, i think you need to move up to a higher end CUT 25 to 30 hp , more power and better clearance. JMHO

 

[Egon]

Chuck, the B7100 relies on Armstrong power steering. That is one reason I would like the B7800.

One can add power steering as some have done but being a procrastinator it will never happen for me.

Gotta keep them muscles in shape!

 

[IslandTractor]

Big or small is a recurring theme on TBN. I think it is fair to say that either could work and it is largely a question of how much time do you want to spend doing the chores. The stump removal task essentially requires a backhoe. If that is a major part of the work it would be worth owning one otherwise it might be better to rent and put the rest of the budget into a bigger tractor. Or, you could buy a TLB used.

Given the max budget quoted there is only one TLB that fits (new) which would be a SCUT like the BX24. I think that would be really pushing it for that machine however.

For the indicated budget you would have a good selection of fine sub 30hp machines to choose from including the Kubota B7800, Kioti CK25/30 and equivalent offerings from Mahindra, JD etc.

For about 10% more than the upper limit of the desired budget you can get into some much more powerful tractor/FEL combos including the Kubota L (not the grand) and Kioti DK line.

I agree that a grapple will be extremely useful for the type of work listed.

Photo shows a set up that would cost about 20% more than indicated budget but would do the work two or three times as fast as a 30hp CUT with just a FEL bucket with toothbar.

 

[john_bud]

My opinion - for what little it's worth - is that the only reasons to buy a smaller tractor is that a larger one won't fit, can't be afforded or is too heavy. Those are plenty good reasons. Larger tractors pretty much need a 2 car garage sized space of their own to protect them and their attachments from the weather. A SCUT can often be stored in the space of a car with all of it's attachments (or under an overhang on the edge of the garage).

In many ways, LBrown59, summed it up. Their ain't no single tractor that does it all. Buy what fits your body, your chores, your available time, your storage space and your budget. Then learn to use it to the best of it's ability. Lot's of folks here are able to do more that I would have thought with a tractor that is way "too small". Just takes longer, as they say. If you have the time, that's OK.

(I'd still buy the bigger one)

jb

 

[jbrumberg]

I have no argument with any of the previous posts. I just want to add that I manage the same 12.5 A's with my TC29DA (29/23+ HP) as I did with my old Ford 1100
(13/11 HP). I now have larger size attachments and I can do the same tasks much more quickly, but as others have stated larger attachments cost more. I do miss my old Ford when I am in my woods as it was pretty manuverable (did have some ground clearance challenges on occassion). Tractor and dealer "feel" should also be part of the equation when getting a tractor. Good Luck- Jay

 

[scott_vt]

Big or small is a recurring theme on TBN. I think it is fair to say that either could work and it is largely a question of how much time do you want to spend doing the chores.

Afternoon Ed & Jay,
Both you guys have gone from smaller tractors to larger tractors with more HP, you are both uniquely qualified to make valid comparisons from one end of the spectrum to the other IMO ! You both stress the same point, more HP means quicker essentially, which pretty much wraps it up in a nutshell IMHO !

 

[ChuckinNH]

Some things, like breaking BIG rocks into small enough pieces for a small tractor to pick up take a little more time than we might like, and sometimes it isn't especially quality time.

 

[davitk]

There is no such tractor.

ah, yes, from the horse's mouth. At last.

 

[CurlyDave]

I neglected to mention that I already have a lawnmower, so the subcompact will not be doing any mowing work if I buy it. Also didn't mention that my soil is soft and that I intend to use the loader with toothabr to do alot of digging.

No matter what brand of tractor you get, I would highly recommend a hydrostatic transmission.

My neighbor had (up until 2 months ago) a manual transmission tractor. He used to do a lot of haying, and it was fine for that. Then he moved and started using the tractor and FEL for earthmoving and landscaping tasks, only in his own yard. 2 years ago he needed a lot of transmission work and a new clutch. A year ago, another new clutch, and yet another one 3 months ago.

Just because a tractor and FEL can dig and move dirt it doesn't mean it was designed for those tasks.

 

[jbrumberg]

"No matter what brand of tractor you get, I would highly recommend a hydrostatic transmission.

Just because a tractor and FEL can dig and move dirt it doesn't mean it was designed for those tasks."

Definitely get a toothbar ! Having had both a gear driven and HST driven tractor I tend to agree especially if one is doing a lot of FEL work, and tractors are not bulldozers. There are many, many posts here at TBN about the relative merits of gear vs HST. Transmission choice is an individual choice based on perceived needs at the time of tractor acquisition. Jay

 

[Soundguy]

I don't think you can find a tractor that can do it all.. big or small.. or at least do it all the same.

A small tractor is easier on the ground.. easier to feed and store, and maintain and work on... easier to trailer..For big tasks.. it takes longer.. sometimes alot longer. For a few tasks.. it may be simply too small to do the job.. or to do it safely.. ( like moving large objects ). Conversly.. a large tractor handles the big jobs fine.. and does the medium jobs pretty fast. It's downside is that for small jobs.. it may be too ungainly or unmaneuverable to get in and do the work.. IE.. i wouldn't want to be driving my NH 7610s and batwing mower next to my house... I'd rather do that with one of my SCUT .. or at most.. a CUT sized tractor... If my scut hits the house.. it will chip the stucco... if the NH 7610s hits the house.. I forsee having to replace some concrete blocks! Add to that larger tractors are more difficult to trailer, and store, and work on. A 3/8 socket set may be fine for a SCUT.. but a UT or AG tractor may need a 3/4" drive set!. Feeding is another issue... My large tractors take 3 gallons of engine oil, and 12-13 g of UTF fluid. That's kind of expensive.. compair that to 3-5 qts engine oil.. and perhaps ? 1-5 gallons of UTF fluid on a SCUT or CUT tractor.. everything is a trade off.

Smaller tractors use smaller implements.. larger tractors need larger implements.. so those are hidden costs. A 4' mower deck can be had in the 600$ range.. a 10' mower deck is up in the 3000$ range!

Size your tractor need for 80% of your continously planned work.. the other 20 % odd jobs.. can usually be better handled by hireing out work. IE special needs like backhoe.. or landclearing.. IE Don't buy a 35K$ 50hp tractor for a 1-time job of digging a septic ditch and clearing your 1-2ac lot, when all you need is a scut or at most a CUT to maintain it after the hard work is done..

soundguy

 

[LBrown59]

a large tractor handles the big jobs fine.. and does the medium jobs pretty fast.
*It's downside is that for small jobs.. it may be too ungainly or unmaneuverable to get in and do the work..

soundguy

*No sense buying a Mack truck to go to the grocery store for a loaf of bread.
== L B ==

 

[Egon]

Uhh -- How big may the Loaf be??

 

[LBrown59]

Uhh -- How big may the Loaf be??

16 Oz.
I'd need somethin bigger for a 20 Oz. loaf don't ya think?

 

[Brokermike]

Well the decision has been made I bought a Massey GC2310 TLB. It's the largest SCUT that I sat on, and had tons more power than any of the others. My big fear with a heavier tractor is that while it would be great to finish clearing my land, when things are built and manicured it would tear the heck out of everything. For the $10,000 difference between what I really wanted and what I bought I figured I can rent the heck out of an excavator for a weekend.

Not to mention I bought it from a local dealer that I had a great expereience with. Plus they are a large Cat rental place which will come in handy when I need to rent that excavator.

For accessories I started out with a rear blade and a toothbar. We'll see how things progress from there

 

[Egon]

Good show

 

[LBrown59]

Uhh -- How big may the Loaf be??

I just got back from gong to the grocery store for a loaf of bread.
Only got a 16 ounce loaf cause all I had to haul it home with was my little Dodge D50 import pick up.
Had to leave the 20 ounce loaf on the shelf as I didn't have one of these to haul it home in.

=====

 

[LBrown59]

I bought a Massey GC2310 TLB.

Way to go. Good for you. Great.

 

[jbrumberg]

Well the decision has been made I bought a Massey GC2310 TLB. For the $10,000 difference between what I really wanted and what I bought I figured I can rent the heck out of an excavator for a weekend.

Not to mention I bought it from a local dealer that I had a great expereience with. Plus they are a large Cat rental place which will come in handy when I need to rent that excavator.

For accessories I started out with a rear blade and a toothbar. We'll see how things progress from there

Brokermike:

Congratulations on your new tractor ! Use it safely and well . With all the money you saved you will be able to buy a lot of attachments; we can help you spend your hard earned money on those . For starters you will need a box blade/scraper, tiller, rotary cutter, finish mower, landscape rake, post hole digger, etc. I could go on

You are also maintaining a good relationship with a local dealer who has equipment rentals- great and good for you !

Send pictures- we like pictures. I have more pictures of my tractor and attachments than I do have pictures of my wife. I do not recommend that though . Jay

 

[Brokermike]

Yeah tractors are funny creatures. The girlfriend thought she'd see a ring before I saw a tractor. Well I have a tractor and she was still there when I got home saturday so I think we're good!