I need to up my equipment game this spring. Thought I would see if posting could help.
30 degree hills of East TN makes picking usable equipment at an acceptable price more of a challenge. Yes, 30 degree not percent. I measured.
The best way to shop for tractors is to determine your tasks first, then determine how much bare tractor weight you need to SAFELY accomplish as many of your tasks as possible. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites.
Hillside work demands more tractor weight than flat land work. Heavier tractors have greater wheel spread making them more stable. Heavier tractors have larger wheels and tires better able to bridge holes and ruts without the tractor rolling over. Larger wheels and tires provide a much smoother ride over rough ground. Heavier tractors have greater inertia to resist rollovers when moving heavy loads in the FEL, the most hazardous of routine tractor tasks, especially hazardous on slopes.
For most tasks greater tractor chassis weight is far more important than tractor horsepower. This tractor fundamental is difficult for people new to tractors to comprehend.
Shop your weight range within tractor brands. Budget will eliminate some choices. Collect a dealer brochure for each tractor model in your weight range.
Tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight are offered in one configuration. Most, such as the high volume kubota standard L series, are prosaically equipped to hit competitive price points. Others, such as the Yanmar YT235 and Kubota
B2650/
B3350 series, are splendidly adorned.
Most tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight are used in residential applications on one to five fairly flat acres. These "residential tractors" fit in a typical garage.
Tractors over 3,000 pounds bare weight are generally offered in a utilitarian configuration and a deluxe configuration, on a common chassis. Deluxe kit enhances productivity and operating comfort ~~~ but you have to pay. Many are too tall to fit in a typical garage, even with ROPS folded down.
I like to spreadsheet tractor and implement specs, often a revealing exercise. I have a column for cost per pound.
It takes a 50% increase in tractor weight before you notice a significant tractor capability increase. It takes a 100% increase in tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!
Selling a used tractor is easy. Selling multiple light implements in order to buy heavier, wider, implements for a heavier tractor is a pain and often a big hit in depreciation. ((Ask me how I know.)) Many who buy too light tractors buy too light implements.
A quality dealer, reasonably close, is a priority for me; less so for others, well experienced with tractors, who do their own maintenance. For most new to tractors a quality dealer, reasonably close, available for coaching, is essential. My kubota dealer is six miles away.
Horsepower is a primary consideration only operating PTO powered implements.
BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.
For REALLY steep slopes tractors with four equal size wheels are more stable than tractors with small front wheels and large back wheels. US Brands: Power Trac, Ventrac, Steiner. While these tractors are more stable, you lose pulling power as a result. These are low volume brands. They may seem somewhat expensive on first look.
To make traditional tractors, those with small front wheels and large rear wheels, more stable on hillsides here are five recommendations:
1) Have dealer spread the variable rear wheels as wide as possible. R1/ag tires can be spread wider than R4/industrial tires. (With this option you lose the ability to pull a turning plow.)
2) Consider the addition of $300 spacers to the rear wheels. (With this option you lose the ability to pull a turning plow.)
3) Fill the rear tires 3/4 with liquid. This lowers the center-of-gravity of the tractor.
4) Opt for 4-WD. Tractors only have brakes on the rear wheels. Four-wheel drive gives you a semblance of four wheel braking on slopes. With 2-WD you can have virtually NO BRAKING ABILITY in some downhill situations.
5) Consider bulbous, low pressure, tractor radial tires.
Tell us the tasks you wish to accomplish and indicate which tasks will be on flat ground and which on hillsides. Respondents will give you their opinions are how much bare tractor weight is appropriate. How many acres will you work?
MORE:
tractors on hillsides - Google Search
