The Perfect Machine

[RonL]

I know that it has been discussed before but I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what would be the best machine to maintain my property once it is built. I've looked at tractors with 3PH, skid steers, Power-tracs, Toolcat, and a number of other options. Each has strong points and weak points. Some attachments work better out front and being powered by hydraulics. Some work best behind the machine being powered by the PTO. I'm thinking that the perfect machine for me would be a powerful AWD tractor with cab, rear 3PH, and front quick attach with HIGH OUTPUT hydraulics. The reason that I emphasize high output is that there are machines that have quick attach front ends but they have relatively weak hydraulic output as compared to a skid steer. My thoughts are that you could have a shift lever that powered either the rear PTO or a high output pump for the front end. Since the emphasis is on the PTO outputs I think a hydro drive would be best. ( Please, no flames ). You would have the standard output hydraulic pump that would run all the time and the high output that would run when it is needed.
JCB makes a series of compact backhoe-loaders ( the 210-212 series ) that is heavy duty and powerful. The 212, I believe, has the heavy duty loader and a 3PH on the back. The machine has a 240 or 268 CI diesel that puts out around 80 HP. It has a tourque converter and a very heavy duty loader. If you equipped this machine with a hydro tranny, quick attach front end and an auxillary high output pump, it would be the ideal machine to me. And, it can be had with a cab.
Thoughts anyone?

RonL

 

[thcri]

The perfect machine would be 3 or 4 tractors and a wife that loved you for having them.


murph

 

[Henro]

Ron,

I assume you are wanting a tractor to use on your 12 acre property...

I'm not sure why you need HIGH OUTPUT hydraulics. Do you have a special use in mind?

Sometimes we tend to get idealistic, for lack of a better word, than practical when thinking about a tractor purchase...at least I know I did.

You can get a lot done with a normal tractor. I suggest something like the new Kubota B3030 with cab, or maybe the larger L3830, or even the L5030. Color doesn't matter though...

You could spend a lot of money to get the ideal tractor, but don't forget the practical rule that you get 80% of the utility from the first 20% that you spend. If I did not get that right, let's just call it "henro's rule" ... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Also remember if you go too big and hefty, you will probably end up buying something smaller to cut the grass with... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[frank_f15]

there is no 1 perfect tractor, that is why a lot of folks have a few different tractors. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> The perfect machine would be 3 or 4 tractors and a wife that loved you for having them.
</font>

Currently I have 4 and a wife who loves me DESPITE the fact that I have them. . . and she's doesn't even blink anymore when I look at antiques to restore as long as I sell them when I'm done playing with them!

And as for the IDEAL machine, I think it depends on the situation. My little slope tractor is also an ideal mower, but not ideal when pulling trees in the woods! My CUTs are great for running the tiller or lifting heavy things, but they can't work my slopes . . .

 

[RonL]

Henro

One of the implements that I think functions better on the front is a snowblower. Skid steers with a front mounted snowblower do an awesome job. I think that mounting a brush hog on the front makes more sense. I also think that hydraulic PHDs are more efficient. If you jam a hydraulic PHD you can reverse it to unjam it. Rototillers work better on the back in my opinion.
I'm just thinking that it would give you more options if you could use 3PH attachments on the back and skid steer attachments on the front. It would give more utility to your utility tractor.

RonL

 

[kybota]

I think the perfect tractor would incorporate a track option that installed in less than 5 minutes. Of course, it doesn't exist.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

RonL, given your response to Henro, I would strongly suggest you look at Power Trac tractors. If not them, then perhaps Ventrac or Steiner. All utilize front mount implements. Power Trac uses hydraulics to power the implements. Ventrac and Steiner often use a belt to power implements but some are powered with hydraulics.

 

[CajunRider]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
The perfect machine would be 3 or 4 tractors and a wife that loved you for having them.
murph )</font>
And the most imperfect machine would be one you don't own cuz you have 3 or 4 wives that had loved you and now just love your alimony.

 

[Darren]

I think one of the contenders for a perfect machine would be one of the older Unimogs. They have front, mid and rear pto's. The mid usually runs a hydraulic pump. They had 6 cyl. 80 hp. Mercedes diesels, 20x8 speed transmissions and would go almost anywhere. Some had three point hitches and a quick attach front hitch for accessories. Backhoes and loaders were accessories. 4WD and the locking diffs could be operated on the fly.

They weigh about 7,000 lbs. and have the same footprint as a large CUT. Road speed was about 45mph. Low-low-low was 36 ft/min.

 

[RedRocker]

This is pretty cool, but kinda pricy.
http://www.tructor.com/.

 

[kybota]

That Tructor is very cool. Never heard of them before. Rear visibility (for seeing your implements) looks to be non-existent though! And where's the track option?

 

[JimMorrissey]

Ron,

Check out the new L39s. It might be of interest to you.

http://www.aldermans.com/Kubota/kubota_NewL39.html

 

[RonL]

Jim

Thanks for the heads up. The problem with regular tractors that have skid steer quick attaches on the front are they are ok for non powered attachments but there is not enough hydraulic HP to power a skid steer hydraulic attachment. There are skid steers that have 40 HP of hydraulic flow available. You can run a substantial snowblower with that kind of power. I still think that having an auxillary pump that can be shifted between it and the rear PTO is the way to go. There was another thread on which someone was planning on connecting a 3PH hydraulic pump and reservoir in the rear of the tractor to power a front mounted snowblower. I'm thinking along the same lines but built in. You could have an open center hydraulic secondary pump but you would still be getting parasitic losses when it is not used. And, it would be unnecessary wear and tear. A shift with rear PTO, Neutral, and Front Hydraulics would be the way to go.
Having several machines for different tasks is good if you have work to keep them busy. Having one machine to maintain with a number of attachments is probably more sensible for someone who intends to maintain their own property. Under those circumstances I don't think you would wear out a tractor in your lifetime.

RonL

 

[Phred]

I am not sure I completely agree with the idea that you actually get 40 hp of hydraulics from a skidsteer with a 40 hp engine. This assumes that you are not moving at all. I generally need to apply down pressure with the loader and sometimes manuver a bit to get the bit to drill in and make the hole straight.

Recently I was using a mustang skisteer with a PHD. Drilling in 9" diameter holes 4' deep was a strugle since I almost stalled the engine several times. In soft dirt, no problem, but a few rocks and its slows you down quite a bit.

A TN series tractor from NH can be had with as much as 16+ gpm of flow in only a 62 hp machine. All that and you can still run a mower or a box blade or a baler.

To me a mower on a skidsteer would be the pits since it would seem that you would be right in the dust stream of the mower as you drive along.

Don't get me wrong.....for moving a pile of dirt or running a PHD a skidsteer is far better IMHO than a tractor.
But if you can only have one.....get the tractor.


Fred

 

[RonL]

Fred

That's the point. Both in one machine.
The machines that put out 40 HP of hydraulic power are machines that run in the 75 to 80 HP range.

RonL