Buying Advice What is the smallest machine with a front category-1 3-point hitch and PTO

[Industrial Toys]

I thought they all had front hitch and PTO? And it seems some models are articulated, some not. We had an Ontario Dealer a while back. Not sure if that fizzled out.

 

[woolyAcres]

Mine has hitch and PTO on the rear. If you turn the operators station around that's all the sudden the front. Tire tread may or may not be pointed in the direction you want but the operator is facing the implement without having to turn around.

There's an additional kit for mine that would allow one to install a second set of 3PT lift arms on the other end of the tractor. There may be PTO options for that as well, in effect giving you 3PT and PTO on both ends of the tractor. I don't see the need for that since when I want to mow I just turn the seat around and drive forward (toward the flail mower) when I want to pull a hay wagon I turn the operator station back to 'normal' and pull it like you would on a standard tractor. Flipping the operators stations takes about 15 seconds.

I should have pointed out that it's a HST with a treadle pedal so one simply pushes down on the end of the pedal closer to the 'front' to go forward. Couldn't be simpler. Wife and kids are also more than comfortable operating it and it's extremely stable; it's wide and low and has an articulation between the 2 halves that keeps all 4 wheels on the ground, I've never had a wheel come of the ground. Granted it's got no loader so stability isn't pretty much static and doesn't vary.

 

[Sid Post]

The Mercedes tractor I used in Germany was simply awesome! Power wise, I think it was in the 55hp~65hp range and was articulated with spring suspension. For transport on the road it would do ~40KM/hr and was a dream to use in the pasture with a a front mower or hay rake on back.

The main difference between there and here is the lack of a loader. On that dairy they used square bales so no loader and all by hand for hay storage. Sure was hot in the hay barn during Summer.

I'm not sure I would want to totally give up my loader but, over there things were generally setup to run off PTO so loader lifts weren't an issue.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

Didn't someone used to make a UTV with Front and rear 3 pt? I'm sure there used to be one, but not sure if it's still made.

 

[aczlan]

Didn't someone used to make a UTV with Front and rear 3 pt? I'm sure there used to be one, but not sure if it's still made.

Bobcat makes a UTV with a loader on the front and a three-point on the back. not sure if anybody has one with a three-point on the front.

Aaron Z

 

[mikester]

@60047

I own an Antonio Carraro TTR4400 which is reversible. This is a 38HP 4WD machine with reversible operators station. What is 'behind' you has only to do with which way you orient the seat. It's an amazing machine. They are hard to find but when I was shopping a few years ago there was a dealer/importer in SW PA. Not cheap, but also not much competition in the NA market and not another machine here that can do what it does.

The PTO is standard 540. The only issue with PTO mounted implements, like a brush cutter/flail mower is that they will need to be mountable either front or back. Many flail mowers today offer this. I've got a 5' Del Merino flail and it's an amazing pair. It's very easy to see what you're about to mow because you're not pushing stuff down/over with the tractor, having it drag along the belly of the machine where it can tear stuff off. You do need to be aware of stubble created by the mower when mowing 1-2" trees, but my flail mower more or less explodes that stuff so there's nothing pokey left.

Here's a link to the new version of the model I have.
Universal Tractor TTR 44 HST | Antonio Carraro

Down side is that these machines aren't suited for a loader. That's a big deal if you've only got one tractor.

Really slick machines, the only thing that worries me is trying to get parts and service out of Italy. Heaven help you if you break down in August and they tell you "Mañana". I'me speaking from experience dealing with Italian industrial machinery.

How has service been for you?

 

[Mat4644]

I wouldn't want to deal with the dust from a rototiller, front mowers and some other attachments . Not everyone wants the expense or inconvenience of a cab. There are already front skid steer ground attachments for some items.

A cab Kubota with front flail mower would be nice only if you have very large areas.

Looking at this photo who would buy such a beast?

 

[ptsg]

I wouldn't want to deal with the dust from a rototiller, front mowers and some other attachments . Not everyone wants the expense or inconvenience of a cab. There are already front skid steer ground attachments for some items.

A cab Kubota with front flail mower would be nice only if you have very large areas.

Looking at this photo who would buy such a beast?

View attachment 667074

Usually municipalities use those types of equipment. Very common in countries like Netherlands, Germany and a few more, where they invest a lot in keeping everything nice and neat.

 

[woolyAcres]

How has service been for you?

Machine hasn't needed much; normal filters, etc. The only other item I've had to replace was a lift-arm turnbuckle that was just so stuck I couldn't get it to move, even with heat. I placed that order with the US importer and had it within the week. They were great about the ordering process; they keep a good selection of standard stuff in stock and get deliveries regularly from Italy. If what you need isn't in stock it will be included in their next 'big' order. If that were to happen I suppose there could be some delays but I've had no trouble whatsoever ordering things and next to no trouble with the machine itself.

 

[woolyAcres]

I wouldn't want to deal with the dust from a rototiller, front mowers and some other attachments .
View attachment 667074

That's the beauty of the Carraro, it's reversible so if you want to pull a rototiller (which I've done with mine) just rotate the seat so that it faces away from the 3PT and operate it as a 'normal' tractor. I also use the rototiller on our 45HP New Holland, but there are times and places where the Carraro is better because it floats better and causes fewer ruts because it's lighter.

It's a similar story with brush hogging. We have a 5' Woods brush hog that I can pull behind the Carraro if I want to operate with the implement behind me. If I want to cut along fence lines where some offset is needed, visibility is important, or anywhere that is steep, I use our 5' flail mower on the Carraro. The flail mower is setup to operate 'on the front'. That implement can be setup to operate in either direction. It's setup to be operated on the front. I've never tried to alter that; it would involve moving the 3-PT mount to the other side of the machine and attaching the PTO shaft to the other side of the gear box. It's designed for this but I only run this on the Carraro so don't see any reason to change it.