Tractor width

[Wanderer]

I am looking at purchasing a tractor/skid steer for general use at home. My most recent use has been with a NH TC33DA. I found the tractor very narrow and tip-happy. I like the idea of a loader because of the low center of gravity. I will not be doing agricultural work.

3 Questions:

1. Are the loader and tractor interchangeable - both do a lot of the same work?
2. Will a loader compact the ground more than a tractor of similar size?
3. Are there wider tractors?

Any other words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mikehaugen]

almost all tractors that I have seen have adjustable widths. This is accomplished by configuring the rims differently. The centers of the rims are reversible to alter how far the rear tires are from the tractor.

A skid steer is much more maneuverable in small areas, but will tear up the ground more. If you have a lot of property, tractors usually travel faster (from my experience) so you will get from point a-b faster if that is an issue. Also skid steers really beat you up while operating, although I think the newer ones may have a little smoother controls.

As far as attachments go, most things are available for both but are usually simpler and cheaper for a tractor. Most implements that have moving parts are powered by hydraulics on a skidsteer, but on a tractor use a pto. A skid steer will dig better because it is designed as more of a construction tool, whereas a tractor is designed for agricultural use.

If you plan on trailering often, skidsteers usually take up less room.

If you are planning on doing mostly loader work, I would get a skidsteer. If you are not planning on doing agricultural work, then a tractor does not have many advantages that I can think of. Though mowing I think would be better with a tractor.

 

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the reply. I did not know about the adjustable widths. I will have to look into that. I was just reading about liquid in tires as well so will have to look more into this as well.

 

[Mark Page]

Don't think adding a non-freezing fluid to a skid loader's tires would make much difference. The tires aren't big enough.
What jobs around the house were you planning on tackling? If you're planning on digging, a tractor with a back hoe would probably serve you better.
If you're planning on moving stone for you're driveway, or other loose material, a skid steer is ideal as you can see exactly what the bucket is doing.
I've had occassion to rent one and find that the small tires and short wheel base contribute to a rough ride.
I've always been amazed with the number of attachment that are available for them, maximum versatility.

 

[schmism]

I am looking at purchasing a tractor/skid steer for general use at home. My most recent use has been with a NH TC33DA. I found the tractor very narrow and tip-happy. I like the idea of a loader because of the low center of gravity. I will not be doing agricultural work.

You need to understand that a small skidsteer and a class 2 CUT arnt really in the same category. take for instance a small bobcat s100. weighs it at a base of 4100lbs with a nominal lift capacity of 1000 lbs (tiping at 2000).
it runs on 2 very closely spaced "front" tires. = lots of compaction.
the TC33 lifts about 800lbs but to do so you need another 400-600lbs on the rear. so decked out to lift max, youll weigh nearly the same. but the CUT will have larger tires, perhaps less compaction. (lots of weight on the front tires....)
the S100 is actually more narrow than the TC33 and will deal with uneven Terran even worse than the TC33.

for less ground pressure you could go tracks, but a T110 weighs in at 5200 lbs and lifts 3300lbs well outside the range of the class 2 CUT.

the skidstear will do general bucket tasks faster, but anything else the attachments are much more expensive.

for instance, if the use is general gradeing, a tracked skidsteer would be quicker.

but if you were say finish gradeing yards, a TC33 (class 2 CUT) would serve you better as the mulitpul attachments that you would use would be less expensive than the skidsteer version. pluss you can hang an attachment off the rear of the tractor and keep the FEL for tasks.

perhaps giving us some more info on the intended use might help us point out other pros/cons of various options

 

[Wanderer]

Wonderful information everyone. Thank you.

A quick list of what I can imagine doing at some point.
1. dirt/stone/boulder moving
2. downed tree moving
3. grading
4. digging trenches
5. stump removal
6. tree transplanting
7. snow removal
8. perhaps a foundation or two

 

[leonz]

Dont waste your money;

You want a small tracked excavator all this work
and you can purchase a ess costly or better lawn mower
later along with a snow blower attachment later.

Your going to find that a small tractor back hoe will be
under powered.

Even the smallest tracked excavator will do all this and more for
less money for you and you can always trade up to a bigger tractor
later as it will have more value.

 

[swick1]

Agreed. Rent a small ex for a day, then a terramite and tell is what you think.

 

[jeff9366]

Good information in replies to your original post.

TRACTORS are designed primarily to PULL. You can PUSH with a tractor but the process is only semi-satisfactory.

SKID STEERS (wheeled and tracked) are designed primarily to PUSH. PULLING with a skid steer is really not practical.

Ground compaction is a function of tire contact area and equipment weight. Most compact tractors are sold with Industrial Tires these days, which are wider and less ribbed than traditional ag tires. I drive my Kubota B3300SU, 33-hp / 1,800 pounds, with Industrial Tires, across my St. Augustine lawn in Florida regularly without ill effect.

Turf Tires have tread, no ribs, and are wider than Industrial Tires. (Available much wider.) Turf Tires, especially extra-wide Turf Tires, would make the tractor feel less tippy. However your ability to pull is reduced with Turf Tires, you need ribs on the tire rubber for traction on dirt. And you would need wider implements which normally sized as wide or wider than outside width of rear tires.

FEL ("bucket" ) something I wanted immediately. The B3300SU is a Kubota Tractor/Loader package; I use the bucket all the time; usually for lifting/transporting logs and loading dirt into a trailer. That said, it is difficult to PUSH dirt smoothly with a bucket. I own a rake and a rotary disc harrow which I use to level and with these tools I can leave a smooth finish, whether is is woodland trail maintenance or preparing a yard for grass. I used all three of these tractor tools today.

There are a multitude of bucket accessories for the work you envision. I have a Bucket Solution's Bucket Spade and a set of aluminum Debris Forks from Payne's Forks. Both are very satisfactory on my B3300SU; however I am I would not recommend them for a small/lighter Tractor-Loader.

Before you have your tractor long you are going to want to buy one or more implements, most of which are carried in the three-point hitch. (3-Pt.) Whenever I need to pick up something sufficiently heavy with the FEL to possibly make the rear wheels light I attach an implement to the 3-Pt. as ballast. For me that heavy load typically is a tree trunk chained to the bucket and the 3-Pt. rear ballast is a Wallenstein BX42 PTO-powered chipper, which weighs 425 pounds. Personally, I am not a fan of ballasted tires, front, rear or combination. Once the tires are ballasted you are always carrying the weight/compacting soil. With an implement you carry ballast only when required.

 

[Raspy]

I faced the same question and bought a NH TC29DA. Same thing as the 33 but less power.

My projects are building a new house , digging all the foundation trenches, utility trenches, septic tank and leach field with the backhoe, clearing brush and leveling the land, building all the roads around the place and fabbing up a boom to lift structural steel posts into place. It's a light duty forklift and a post hole digger. The box scraper is always on unless the backhoe is on. With a trailer hitch on the 3 point and one in the bucket I move equipment all over the place. It has spread hundreds of yards of gravel. It also works for landscaping projects.

I have a manual trans and the engine is usually running at a relaxed pace. This in itself is less fatiguing and quiet.

It has just been incredibly useful and I am so glad I made this choice.

Plus it is fun to use, easy to get on and off of and has a smooth ride.

If I had it to do over again I might get a bit bigger tractor, but a bigger one would not do some of the things this one will. Plus, I have towed this one a though the mountains quite a few times and a larger one would be heavier.