TC33 - vs- TC30

[lupo]

Hello Gentlemen. I am interested in your advise regarding these two machines. I am currently considering one or the other. I have 10 acres in Grant, Florida, a small farm. Will be doing brush cutting, and hauling mostly. I understand that the TC33 has more FEL lift capacity, and more bells and whistles. I am wondering if the differences warrant the increased price ? What do you think ?

Thank you very much.

 

[Ryno1]

I think either one is a good choice. I have the TC30 but was considering the TC33. The 33 has some nice items but to me they weren't worth the extra money. I wanted a work tractor and choice to use the extra to buy equipment. Haven't regretted the choice yet. Seeya

 

[meledward23]

I bought the TC-30 over the 33. I have a TC55da which probably has similar creature comfortst that the 33 has over the 30...

Such as a completely useless toolbox on the 55da, doesnt seem so useless compared to the no toolbox on the TC30.

Both are good on the buttocks...

The DA has acup holder, the 30 doesnt...

So far those are the biggest things I have noticed. But I DID NOT buy the TC30 for myself. I bought it for my farm hand. I have very limited seat time on the 30 and plenty on the 55da. I must say though for why I bought it I like the 30 fine. It is a good workhorse tractor. he bells and whistles that it does not have include basically a better more comfortable user control center.

Oh yeah, I might add, that the biggest difference and probably the most important. Look at the 3ph closely. The 30 is very not user friendly compared to my 55da. Not sure if the 33 is like the 55 but I presume it is. The sway bars on the 30 are a pain to adjust, and no extendable arms... Hmph, glad we only change implements on the 30 about once a month.

 

[ptfarmermd]

Lupo,

Here is my opinion, and only my opinion, on the TC30 vs. the TC33. My opinions are based on my observations, research, and tire kicking when I went to buy a tractor last year. I looked at both of these models, but bought a TC35 instead. I have 70 acres of land to farm, so I wanted a little more tractor.

The TC30 is the economy, no-frills tractor in the boomer line. It is a good, solidly made tractor, from my observations and from what others on this wonderful forum have to say. The TC33 is more styled with some bells and whistles. Are the bells and whistles important for you? Only you can decide that.

The TC30 for me was cramped when I sat on it. I am 6'1" and overweight, so my legs hit the sides and dash frequently when sitting on the seat. It was also inconvenient to get on and off of the tractor because of the transmission splitting the operator's area. The TC33's operator platform is open and you do not have to straddle the transmission when on the seat.

The TC30 has a fixed ROPS, and standard 3 point hitch lift arms. The TC33 tractors I looked at had the foldable ROPS and the deluxe 3 point hitch lift arms. How often will you need to get into tight places where the fixed ROPS will be a hinderance and a folding ROPS would allow you to go? How many times will you be hooking up implements to the 3PH?

In my opinion, if you will be doing some light to medium work now and then, then the TC30 with compatible loader will do it for you. It may take you a little longer using the TC30 than the TC33, but you can get it done. If you want to get it done a little quicker, have more loader lift capability, more lift capacity on the 3PH, a operator's area which is more comfortable when using the tractor for long periods, and you have the money to spend, then buy the TC33 with a compatible loader.

My final words of advise are what everyone else on the forum will tell you. Look both of them over closely, compare features and capabilities, and test drive each of them. Judge for yourself which one will fulfill your needs because you know best.

 

[DavidA]

I owned a TC-30 for two years. It is a no frills workhorse. I would highly recomend it. I recently traded it for a TC-33DA. The reasons for trading were: I am now 62 years old and my left knee could not take using the clutch on the gear driven TC-30. My back is a bit kinky and the seat did not have enough springs or shock absorption after several hours of seat time per day. My TC-33DA is HST and my knee no longer bothers me. The seat seems to just "float" and is quite springy and absorbs shocks quite well. The TC-33DA is much easier to change implements with the deluxe 3 pt hitch/telescoping arms etc. I ordered a loader on the
TC-33DA (14LA) and it will lift anything that I have asked it to
lift. By and large, I am very satisfied with my TC-33DA and would recommend it to anyone, especially the over 50 crowd.

 

[hazmat]

The suspension seat on the TC33 is priceless... I have a TC18 (fixed seat). Dad has a TC40DA - suspension seat. My 30 year old behind much prefers the suspesnsion seat. The adjustable three point makes hooking up heavy implements a breeze. I have to muscle my stuff around to hook it up - good thing the implemetns are smaller.


If you are looking at the TC33DA, a TC40DA isn't a huge cost upper - you get some big improvements in capacities. - stronger FEL, handles a 6' cutter easier etc. Dad runs his TC40 on 30 acres - 10 cleared, 20 wooded it seems well matched. Food for thought.

Be sure to get the quick disconnect on the loader bucket - if you ever get forks or a grapple, you will be happy.

Happy shopping.