Comparison Tractor sizing and comparison and choices...Help me identify potential candidates!

[MechanicalGuy]

I haven't had an issue with moving dirt with my LA805 and 72" bucket

View attachment 611399

He says it's the tractors rear that wants to pick up on him. LA1050.

 

[BRMyers]

He says it's the tractors rear that wants to pick up on him. LA1050.

I have my tires loaded with beet juice and currently use the 72" rotary mower for counter weight, so hasn't been an issue. Once mowing season is over, will most likely use a carry all (if I get one by then) as my counter weight.

 

[Diggin It]

I don't see the right choice on the list yet:

XR Series | LS Tractor

 

[jeff9366]

He says it's the tractors rear that wants to pick up on him. LA1050.

Yes. Three Point Hitch counterbalance holds down the rear end. As Three Point Hitch counterbalance is cantilevered behind the rear axle it is more effective pound for pound than ballast in the form of liquid filled rear tires.

Compact tractors ALWAYS require Three Point Hitch counterbalance for maximum FEL lifts.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Nor do I.




It is WEIGHT not size which defines a tractors capability. Compact tractors ALWAYS require Three Point Hitch counterbalance for maximum FEL lifts.

Oh okay. Thanks for the replies.

 

[IndyIan]

I'd go NX Kioti size, as I like the size and weight of my tractor. I'm on 100 hilly acres and it works good with Ag tires and the rims set out wide. You can yank cars out of snowbanks, run a 7' heavy box blade. The NX does have cruise as well.
Do all the Kubota's you are looking at have split brakes on the opposite side of the of the HST pedals? Some didn't/don't. When things get really gnarly and your pointed down hill and you've got one front tire trying to drag you into the ditch, or your sideways on a greasy hill just above the woods, being able to split the brakes and use them easily can get you out of a jam.
Also this size of tractor can handle smaller farm implements and unload a pallet of most things on level ground atleast. I've even run my buddies 5' round baler but I run out of hp when the bale gets over 4'. Probably a NX6010 would do a full bale. I'd only go to a narrower/lighter tractor if you are going to be in the woods alot hobby logging or just want to use an existing set of ATV trails. It takes alot of work to widen out my ATV trails to 8' to get the tractor through with the box blade on.

 

[Carl_NH]

So I test rode some of these this week. Initial impressions below.

DK4710SE: fell sized very well. Felt like it might be a little small for ground engaging work, but felt perfect size for grapple work in some of the areas that aren't wide open on our property.

L4701: felt as big as I'd feel comfortable using for all multitasking on our property.

MX5200: felt like a huge beast. Felt like it was too big and too much machine for the grapple work I want to do, but felt like it would be perfect for heavy ground engagement work.

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated still. Now I'm thinking I'd be happiest with an all around smaller machine like a DK4710SE.

Glad you found two machines that "fit and feel right" for a guy 6'8 that's good. The only thing is listen to the experienced advice of others here and get a cab!

You only go around one time, and yes you can upgrade in x years but I strongly suggest getting the cab tractor now - the cab adds about $5K and will make the time you spend on the tractor more enjoyable in the heat/dust etc. I can deal with the cold, but I don't do much on my tractor when its over 85* in NH.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Let's look at the mx5200 amd the dk4710se and compare how much work each could do from a land raking/harrowing/dirt & gravel moving/grapple raking/scraping perspective. Basically shaping the landscape of three spots on the property, 3 or 4 acres per spot, total of 12ish acres, not including roads that need attention. The mx has 200lbs, nearly 3.3" more wheelbase, 10hp more, and 7" wider, with bigger front and rear tires than the dk. That equates to a whole lot more ability to work, doesn't it? The difference would be very noticeable right? Am I understanding this correctly?

The dk shows 2gpm better hyd capacity but 10hp less at the pto.

 

[jeff9366]

"Shaping landscape" is ground engagement work where the weight of the tractor is most important factor.

MX weighs 3,800 pounds bare.

By the time you add a Loader, fill the tires with liquid, add fuel and lubricants MX will have an operating weight of around 5,800 pounds.

200/5,800 = 3.4% = negligible difference.

Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, a significant tractor capability increase requires a bare tractor weight increase of 50%. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!


VIDEO: So you want to TRADE UP for a new Tractor? - TMT - YouTube


Tractor power take off is mechanical all the way. No hydraulic interaction.

PTO powered implements are used in many ways.

The two compact tractor applications which require a lot of PTO power are:
Snowblowers
1a) HP determines width which can be powered.
1b) HP determines distance snow can be thrown.

Rotary Cutters (AKA Bush Hog)
2a) Heavy RCs, (1,000 pounds) which can cut saplings, require more HP than light (400 pound) RCs engineered to cut grass only.
2b) Wide RCs require more power to turn at 540 PTO RPM.

 

[ericm979]

Tractor width can vary a lot depending on the type of tires and how they are adjusted (for width adjustable wheels). Sometimes the width cited is with the narrowest tires and wheel adjustment . You may need to measure actual tractors. Wider is more stable. If you have tight places to get the tractor in you can try to model the tractor width using a piece of pipe. Don't forget that the outer front tire takes a wider path in turns.

Hydraulic GPM would make a difference if you're running a hydraulic implement. But most hydraulic implements require skid steer levels of flow which is quite a bit more than CUTs. People do run 3pt log splitters and loader mounted post hole diggers off tractor hydraulics but some of the splitters are slow and the PHDs need to be sized to run on a tractor's flow, which limits their power. For people who aren't running a hydraulic implement, just cylinders, GPM does not matter much.