ericm979
Super Member
The engine and PTO HP ratings are always different. The PTO one is always lower, but the percentage varies between models. The difference shows the power losses between the engine and the PTO. Don't get hung up about which kind of tractor has the least power loss. Buy one with enough PTO HP to do what you need, along with the other features you need in a tractor.
Implement power recommendations are always PTO HP.
Some implement power recommendations are conservative (high) but sometimes they are laughably low. For example the manufacturer of the PTO chipper I bought says it needs a minimum of 18 HP. It's the one implement I have that needs the most power. My tractor puts out 32 hp at the PTO and to run anything larger than 4" through the chipper requires me to slow the adjustable chipper feed to the minimum. I watched some videos of people with minimum sized tractors running these and they can only chip small stuff.
Implement power recommendations are always PTO HP.
Some implement power recommendations are conservative (high) but sometimes they are laughably low. For example the manufacturer of the PTO chipper I bought says it needs a minimum of 18 HP. It's the one implement I have that needs the most power. My tractor puts out 32 hp at the PTO and to run anything larger than 4" through the chipper requires me to slow the adjustable chipper feed to the minimum. I watched some videos of people with minimum sized tractors running these and they can only chip small stuff.