Compact Tractor Comparisons

[Denlow]

Beginning my search for a new compact tractor. I have little to know experience with tractors. I have a 6 foot shredder that I want to use my new tractor and will want a front end loader.
Thoughts on brand and size???

 

[dodge man]

To run a 6 footer you probably want at least a 30 horsepower if not 40. Just my opinion there are the “big two” in compact tractors. Kubota and John Deere. The build good ones and have a strong dealer network and support. They also cost the most. There are lots of other makers also that build good tractors, lots of choices.

 

[RjCorazza]

I agree that 30 pto hp is a good starting point for a 6' brush hog. There will be operators with less hp and lighter conditions running 6' mowers, or operators in tall / heavy brush running perhaps a little slower. Lots of options.
Not unlike snowblowing, there are conditions that will bring even a much larger tractor to its knees with a 6' mower.

 

[Torvy]

Just my opinion...it really depends on how much you like to throw money around, how comfortable you are doing your own wrenching, and what sort of dealerships are within an hour or so of you.

John Deere and Kubota are both significantly higher priced that similarly equipped/capable tractors from LS, Kioti, TYM, or Mahindra. They are also more expensive than Massey, McCormick, New Holland, CaseIH, or Bobcat. (Note: most NH, CIH and Bobcat in that size are made by LS or Kioti. Rural King are also much less expensive than JD or Kubota (made by TYM, but supported by RK). Yanmar makes a great machine, but will approach JD and Kubota in price.

Every manufacturer makes good equipment. Specs will vary, but the significance depends on how you use your tractor. Every manufacturer also will have units that fail.

With a 6' rotary cutter, you are looking at likely a "2nd level" frame size with 25 to 30+ HP coming off of the PTO.

Think about what other tasks you will do with it? How many acres of land will you cut? How dense is the vegetation you are cutting?

 

[KennyG]

Don't rule any brand in or out without visiting the dealer. Promotions come and go and may significantly change the price. Also, some dealers are more aggressive on discounts than others.

 

[AntiqueIron]

Beginning my search for a new compact tractor. I have little to know experience with tractors. I have a 6 foot shredder that I want to use my new tractor and will want a front end loader.
Thoughts on brand and size???

Dealer support is crucial for buying equipment- don’t buy something you need to drive an hour & 1/2 to get parts for.

All tractors will break down. All tractors will need work. I’d worry more about ease of service and maintenance than any claims of reliability personally.

HP wise, I find 7-8 hp/foot of width is a good metric for brush hogs. For a 6 foot this would 40-50 horsepower at the PTO ideal. Figure PTO power being 85% of engine power, 50-60 engine horsepower.

I like being on the high side of horsepower compared to the 5hp/ft metric for two reasons:

-You have “reserve” power- if you get into some thick stuff, you aren’t working the tractor as hard. The cooling system is less taxed, which in a dusty environment can really be a blessing.

-It’s like how they say “go one size bigger than you think you need” regarding barns. Someday, odds are you’ll probably want another implement needing more HP than ya got, and you wish you had a bigger tractor.

A subcompact with a 4 foot brush hog is a good match, but underpowered for a 50 acre plot.

A 5/6 series with 12’ batwing is a good fit but WAY too much tractor for 10 acres.

I’d size implements to the ideal tractor, and size that to your acreage- but that’s my opinion and it’s worth what ya paid for it

 

[airbiscuit]

Beginning my search ... I have a 6 foot shredder that I want to use my new tractor and will want a front end loader.
Thoughts on brand and size???

That's like saying you have a 2" trailer hitch, and you need to buy a truck to fit that.

• How many acres?
• Wooded or open?
• Hilly or flat?
• What tasks wil you be doing with a tractor?

You list your current tractor as an International. What model?

This info will help inform this journey.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

For a slasher/shredder/brush hog/rotary
cutter general rule of thumb is 5 PTO HP per foot of cut ... But that's just a general rule ... If you have fields that are already cut twice a year, and you want to continue with that you "could" get by with less than that ... But if you have a heavy stand of 1.5"+ saplings ... You probably gonna be happier with more HP (what's your shredder rated for?) ... I'm running a 5' rotary cutter behind a SCUT with only 19.6 HP, but cutter is rated for 75 HP ... But, I cut every month!

I prefer a brand that has a good supply chain support ... I personally only have experience and own Massey Ferguson, John Deere, and Kubota ... Which I'm happy with ... Good dealerships are important, as with a new tractor and any little problem that crops up, how quickly, and competent they are would be a big deal to me, and will the corporate brand hassle the dealer with denying warranty claims? ... Are they a little shop under a carport, that just started selling tractors as a side line last year? I'd not bother stopping to even look ...

 

[HamishMacCheap]

I once used a 6' Bush Hog Squealer behind a Kubota L3200 (31 or so HP, less at the PTO) and found that at times, it would struggle in heavy vegetation. Not saplings but thick, tall grass. By struggling, I mean that on some occasions, I had to make a half cut rather than a full cut or the tractor would bog down and cut off. I eventually sold the Bush Hog to a neighbor who has a 47 HP Kubota and sold the tractor to fund a newer tractor.

Now, I am using a 5' John Deere rotary cutter behind a Kubota L3302 and have no difficulty in the same vegetation. I don't think there is significant difference in the horsepower of the L3200 and the L3302, rather, I think the rotary cutter is more appropriately sized for a tractor with horsepower in the low 30's range.

I would suggest that if you wish to use a 6' rotary cutter, I would look for a tractor in the upper 30 HP range at a minimum or even better, a tractor in the low to mid 40 HP range.

As stated above, choose your dealer carefully. The more common brands such as John Deere, Kubota, Massey, etc. will probably have better parts support than anything chinese.

Good luck in your quest.

 

[Paystar]

Don't rule any brand in or out without visiting the dealer. Promotions come and go and may significantly change the price. Also, some dealers are more aggressive on discounts than others.

So true. And pricing seems to be regional.
My dealer is a combined John Deere/Kubota dealer and sells some pretty high volume. Some years Kubota is cheaper, some years Deere is cheaper.

All I can say is I've been happy with Kubota. My 2013 B series has needed NOTHING except the loader joystick weld cracked, and the battery and tires have been replaced. That's it. Soon it needs a new cutting edge welded on bucket, it's just about gone.