Narrow choice down, Can I get too much Tractor?

[CJ6]

I have never heard anyone say I went too big, but that seems to be my question.

I purchased a 75ac, rolling topography very wooded, all hardwoods. The plan is to use for family recreation. I will install a few small greenfields, a campgrund area, small shooting range, eventually a cabin and likely a pond site or two. I will also put in a road or two to access cabin and other areas.

I have narrowed my choices and they are all in the 40hp range but the one that has the better specs as far as lift capacity, breakout force, weight and backhoe dig force is large than the other three options. I don't want to regret getting something so large it is a hassle to use. I would appreciate your opinions.

Here are my current choices: I plan on getting the FEL and BH so that will increase the weight and length above what I listed.

Mahindra 4540: weight 5192, length 128, width 82, lift capacity 3527, breakout 5978, dig force 3670
Mahindra 2540: weight 3285, length 119, width 59, lift capacity 2646, breakout 3430, dig force 3080
Mahindra 1538: weight 3627, length 127, width 89, lift capacity 2646,breakout 2650, dig force 2900
Kubota L3901: weight 2778, length 107, width 55, lift capacity 1985, breakout 2463, dig force 3871

 

[C4Ranch]

IMO, only time you go to big is if it's no longer able to menuver where you need it. Only u can answer this.

Plus bigger u go the more expensive implements.

 

[AxleHub]

I have never heard anyone say I went too big, but that seems to be my question.

I purchased a 75ac, rolling topography very wooded, all hardwoods. The plan is to use for family recreation. I will install a few small greenfields, a campgrund area, small shooting range, eventually a cabin and likely a pond site or two. I will also put in a road or two to access cabin and other areas.

I have narrowed my choices and they are all in the 40hp range but the one that has the better specs as far as lift capacity, breakout force, weight and backhoe dig force is large than the other three options. I don't want to regret getting something so large it is a hassle to use. I would appreciate your opinions.

Here are my current choices: I plan on getting the FEL and BH so that will increase the weight and length above what I listed.

Mahindra 4540: weight 5192, length 128, width 82, lift capacity 3527, breakout 5978, dig force 3670
Mahindra 2540: weight 3285, length 119, width 59, lift capacity 2646, breakout 3430, dig force 3080
Mahindra 1538: weight 3627, length 127, width 89, lift capacity 2646,breakout 2650, dig force 2900
Kubota L3901: weight 2778, length 107, width 55, lift capacity 1985, breakout 2463, dig force 3871

I was a bit surprised at your list. I saw now Massey product . . no Yanmar . . etc..

But yes, you can get too big just as you can get too small. The first two issues I'd consider would be:

1. If your slopes have any sidehill or steep angles a taller tractor would not have a good center of gravity. While you want ground clearance . . You also want good hill stability if you have hills.

2. Some on your list are 30 inches wider than others. That would mean you'd need substatially wider trails, clearance, etc.. width is an advantage out in the open . . but in more confined locations like woods . . Not only do you need bigger trails/roads . . but manuevering and turning are also issues.

Just issues to consider.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, but you are going to be mostly doing dirtwork in the open spaces it sounds like. Big heavy powerful tractor is your friend. There is a wide range in the tractors you listed from the smallest to the largest. My tractor is somewhere in the middle of your range, but I can tell you that going from a Kubot B7500 a small lightweight tractor to my Kioti DK35se is a world of difference in lift, pull, push ability's. And I only have about 7 acres.. You have 75 and a lot of dirtwork to do.. I would tend toward the bigger ones. Of course working around cramped spaces the smaller tractors can be an asset. Of course you can push over bigger trees with the big 'uns if they get in your way.

 

[C4Ranch]

Oh, and you may have to consider transportability, if that applies to you. Right sized truck and trailer.

 

[CJ6]

They are all basically the same height, 90-94".

You are right, I do need to consider other models. Like most newbies, I fall into the most common name trap.

I do have sidehills/slopes. Since I do a lot of jeeping, my reference on sidehill stability is a function of weight and stance width. That reference would tend to lean towards the heavier and wider model. That of course losses maneuverability. My short and narow CJ5 is more prone to rollover than my rockcrawler which is much longer, wider and heavier.

You second point is the crux of my concern.

That being said, for moving dirt, making roads, digging, etc. The longer, wider, heavier model also has the most breakout and dig force.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think any 40-45 HP tractor is going to be too big for a 75 acre tract of land and even a utility 50-70 HP might be useful for a period of time moving larger objects but you need to evaluate your projects and time that you can allot to them. Larger tractor = less time to complete your project. TOO LARGE is only when it gets too big for you to transport or maneuver around your property. If these are not an issue the size doesn't matter.

So in saying that, I don't think you will get too big for any project as long as you stay within the CUT tractors and don't get into UTILITY size. Utility sized get wider but also much taller and heavier. I bought a Utility 70HP and it rarely gets used now that I have my little B26 TLB. Don't get me wrong, I used the big tractor a lot (put about 100 hours on it the first year) when I first got it, moved huge rocks that I couldn't budge with my TLB, pulled stumps and trees, moved huge loads of dirt, dug a pond with the FEL just to name a few of the projects but now my needs have changed and the larger tractor mostly just sets in the shed. I still use it to till the garden, bush hog, disk, etc. since I never remove the backhoe from my Kubota. I usually find a need for it (the TLB) at least once a week so in 4 years it has never been off. I do like the fact that I have two tractors and the large one IS available if needed. Just yesterday I found a storm damaged tree that is leaning into other trees that I need to take down, but the Kubota isn't big enough for the job, So big blue will get to move out of the shed for a brief 10 minute job.

 

[AxleHub]

I do have sidehills/slopes. Since I do a lot of jeeping, my reference on sidehill stability is a function of weight and stance width. That reference would tend to lean towards the heavier and wider model. That of course losses maneuverability. My short and narow CJ5 is more prone to rollover than my rockcrawler which is much longer, wider and heavier.

Weight and width of tractor is not always a good comvo for sidehills and steeo slopes. Big tractors have their weight higher than smaller tractors and a higher cenrer of gravity is a more tippy situation on hills.

Also your cj5 is not a good center of gravity. It is too high and too light and narrow. Comparing it to your rock crawler isn't logical because your cj5's primary advantage is being nimble . A far better vehicle on hills/slopes is a volkswagon beetle (old one or new one). Irs biggest weakness is ground clearance . . but it will stick to the hill long after the cj5 is in the ditch or ravine.

 

[CJ6]

Good points, thanks.

The 4540 is considered a utility tractor. That is also a god point about transport. That would be some concern with the heavier tractor. I could swing it occasionally but I don't have a truck that could transport without borrowing something. Then again, it comes back to the same question; do I under buy for a little bit on inconvenience in transportation.

The other models are category 1, the 4540 is category 1 and 2. I am not experienced enough to know much about that. Is that important?

Also, we are still talking about the same price for any of the other options.

I am going to go look today at them all and get some perspective. I just don't want to be working and thinking I should have gotten the bigger one and on the other hand I don't want to be working and saying I wish this thing was smaller. Urg!

 

[k0ua]

The large Mahindra will take CAT 1 and CAT 2 implements. The 3pt hitch specs vary by size of tractor and implement that they will accept and work with. It is a broad range. CAT 1 implements are the most popular size, but when you get around 45 to 50 horsepower, and the associated frame sizes that go with that, you start seeing models that accept both CAT 1 and CAT 2 sized implements. Of course as tractors get bigger, you start seeing CAT 3 and CAT 4