Compact tractor suggestions?

[NYcbm]

I lurk this place pretty often, lots of info.

I joined to hopefully get some insight.

I am a residential contractor, exterior work. I do a lot of small tear outs, base prep, and need to move material often (crushed stone, sand etc.).

I need a new tractor for home use, and want to get something that I could also use for work when needed. I rent the equipment I need, but sometimes all I really need is a material mover for half a day, and it would save some hassle to just have my own machine parked there.

I currently have a B7100 that is a workhorse, but it's just not large enough for most things I need even though it puts up a **** of a fight.

I went and looked at the Mahindra 1526 in person, and it seems like about the perfect size (same machine as the 3016 from the best I can find). I would probably try to find a used 3016 HST with lower hours on it first, but what other tractors should I be looking at with similar size and lift capcities?

The Kubota L3200-3800 looks very close, although it seems like lift capacity is lower. I'm not opposed to more HP in the same size machine either, it's just really hard trying to sift through model numbers when shopping around. The ability to possibly add a purpose built backhoe (not a 3 point generic one) at some point would also be nice.

I'm really not brand specific though, anything about that size that has decent parts availability would work, used with low hours would be my first bet since it's a substantial savings usually, or at least comes with extra stuff.

I can't really swing a newer skidsteer right now, and if I could, it would still leave me without a tractor at home, so I'm pretty stuck on a tractor with a good strong loader.

Thanks for any help.

 

[marchanna]

There’s lots of good tractors out there, and I think you’ll find as you browse forums, that dealer support is one of the most important factors. You never know when something is going to go wrong with a new tractor, regardless of the brand, and you want to make sure that the dealer has your back and make sure you’re taken care of.

That being said, I have a Kioti DS4110 TLB, and I’m quite pleased with it. Plenty of lift capacity on the loader, almost twice that of the Kubota L3900. I can heave it into a mound of earth and scoop up almost two yards at a time. I moved about 50 tons of earth and gravel around my property with it last year, and I would say it’s perfectly sized for that sort of work.

The backhoe is definitely a must if you’re doing any excavating and acts as a good ballast for loader work.

 

[NYcbm]

Kioti is on my radar too, there is a dealer maybe 45 minutes away I want to check out.

For my needs though probably the CK10 series is as big as I could go. I would love to have the loader ability of the larger machines, but I need to try to balance it with maneuverability.

For instance, yesterday I did base prep on a smaller pole barn, I was able to back my dump trailer straight in the door (tight) and dump out what I needed, but being able to just fold down the rops and do it with a loader would have saved a bunch of hassle, and bigger machines rapidly take up that much needed space in a lot of cases.

 

[marchanna]

The CKs are nice but they are a much lighter duty tractor, so there is that trade-off. To give you some reference, my DS is 72” wide, which makes it quite easy to get into some tight spaces, and with it is 2wd and applying just the left or right brake, I can pivot the tractor on one wheel.

 

[ericm979]

Kubota tends to rate their loader capacity a ways out from the loader pins while most other rate at the loader pins. That makes Kubota's loader numbers look lower. If you're picking up a bucket of dirt the CG of that bucket is not at the pins, it's a couple feet out.

 

[DK35vince]

Kubota tends to rate their loader capacity a ways out from the loader pins while most other rate at the loader pins. That makes Kubota's loader numbers look lower. If you're picking up a bucket of dirt the CG of that bucket is not at the pins, it's a couple feet out.

I think Kubota does it both ways.
At the pins and xx mm out from the pins.
You need to compare the lift capacities from the same location.

 

[oldballs]

Seems to me that one has to decide what the most likely weight range is to be lifted and go from there. One time I was asked to bring my Kubota B2620 to move some bricks. When I got there the pallets were already loaded with bricks that weighed way more than my tractor could even budge. Also having the ability to drop the bucket and install a pallet fork without much fuss could be an issue.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[NYcbm]

Seems to me that one has to decide what the most likely weight range is to be lifted and go from there. One time I was asked to bring my Kubota B2620 to move some bricks. When I got there the pallets were already loaded with bricks that weighed way more than my tractor could even budge. Also having the ability to drop the bucket and install a pallet fork without much fuss could be an issue.
Cheers,
Mike

For regular use it would be mostly just loose material like stone, soil and sand, as well as pallets that weigh about 1000 lbs and bundles of lumber.

For much less often use it might be rebar, which can be broken into half bundles easy enough.

Pallets of bricks and blocks I usually have dropped right where they are needed when they are delivered, so it would be very rare to have to move one or load it on a trailer, if it could just be skidded out of the way by pushing it that would be fine.

It would also have to load and unload small stuff from my truck (sub 500 lbs), do the garden work, and clear snow, which I'm sure just about anything can handle.

I still think something like the 3016 would fall right in the middle of that handy range that would still be small enough to fit everywhere it is needed. I looked at a Mahindra 4010 (much more tractor) but it's just too big to be useful in tighter spots.

A quick attach bucket would be a must have feature, and possibly being able to add aux lines to the front would be useful.

 

[oldballs]

Pallets that weigh about 1000 lbs are on the edge of limit for my Kubota B2650. That size tractor might be just enough to meet your needs. Adding hydraulics to the front for a possible grapple might be a good move too. So,,,,,,small enough and large enough is the question. Good Luck.
You'd probably need about an 18-20 ft trailer to match it....considering a FEL and a rear attachment.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[jeff9366]

Yesterday I did base prep on a small pole barn. I was able to back my dump trailer straight in the door (tight) and dump out what I needed, but being able to just fold down the rops and do it with a loader would have saved a bunch of hassle. Bigger machines rapidly take up that much needed space in a lot of cases.

Once tractors go over 3,000 pound bare tractor weight, the FOLDED ROPS is usually taller than 84". This dimension is seldom included in tractor specs, so measure each model at the dealer.




The optimal way to shop for tractors is to list your tasks first, then determine bare tractor weight you need to SAFELY accomplish your tasks. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models.

Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range. I spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.

Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in residential applications on one to five fairly flat acres. These "residential tractors" fit in a typical garage.