Compact utility tractors

[sunfish]

The title of this thread is Compact Utility Tractors. Not sure at what size the compact stops...:msp_smile:

We also have a older L3750DT Kubota that's close to 30 years old, 1300lb heavier than the L3800DT and much larger. It's logged many board feet, mowed many acres and many hours of loader work. it is very capable! But I have not used it much since getting the smaller tractor a couple years ago. BTW we have 400 acres here, mostly wooded, white, black, red oak and walnut...

 

[steved]

My father has a mid-sized White/Isuzu, 37HP, 4x4, about 5k pounds...it works for him, I personally think its too big. Those saying bigger is better, that can go either way. We hauled hundreds of cords of wood off 13 acres over the years (not to mention what my grandfather hauled off his 45 acres) with nothing more than (slightly modified) lawn and garden tractors. By modified, we are talking ag tires and chains at most. We very rarely had any trouble, and and cause very little impact where we were cutting. To fit his medium sized tractor required extensive cutting of the same roads we hauled out of for years with smaller equipment. Not to mention he has the roads so tore up they are hard to even walk on now. The only benefit of the larger tractor is the hydraulic lift/bucket...

As for the mower, my father bought a used Woods 3-point that does a nice job...if you think mowing your yard with a farm tractor is appropriate, it would give you the nicest cut.

If I had the land, I'd have a gator/ranger UTV and corresponding trailer...but I don't cut all that much.

 

[deerehunter]

I have a 2320 deere that has been used for loading/unloading logs with forks on the loader for several years now and it has served me well. It lifts way more than it should (with the right ballast). I also have a drive over 62 inch deck that I mow with that can be removed in probably less than a minute. I would recommend these tractors to anyone. After I bought mine two of my close friends bought 2320s and one is on his 3rd one due to having a large farming operation and being able to trade without adding much money each time is one of the perks of buying a lot of larger equipment.View attachment 315573View attachment 315574

 

[flashhole]

Really stubbly little antlers on those MI deer! Can't even see em.

 

[deerehunter]

Already cut them off and ate em by the time the pics were taken. I suppose in NY you eat the backstraps first.

 

[7sleeper]

I know for some of you guys this is only a branch but don't underestimate a small 12 hp tractor for getting trees out of the forest.

[video=youtube;9bViYRJEeS8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bViYRJEeS8[/video]

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[GeeVee]

I know for some of you guys this is only a branch but don't underestimate a small 12 hp tractor for getting trees out of the forest.

[video=youtube;9bViYRJEeS8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bViYRJEeS8[/video]

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Want that....

 

[KodiakKen]

Hey Jhoff. PM me and let me know where you are and the new place..I have a Kubota 3200 with loader and 60" belly mower. Let's play. I have trailer..couple bucks for gas..I will let you play until your heart's content..I love mine. I am in Holland ohio. you will be amazed at the fuel consumption. very little. great toy.

 

[c5rulz]

You want 4WD.

Be aware that SCUT have low ground clearance and some have vulnerable plastic fans and hydro filters. They need to be fitted with a skid plate if they are going to be used in the woods. A stick the size of a pencil will take the plastic fan out.

 

[Alan Smith]

I like this one it is the right size for me it is a L3400

 

[kodiak]

I'm surprised that no one suggested to be sure to take into account the location and quality of the nearest dealer for whatever brand you are considering.

 

[Alan Smith]

Dealer is 60 miles from my house

 

[Jules083]

I used to watch these threads with envy, wanting my own CUT. I'd been hauling wood with an old Farmall M, cutting grass with an old JD riding mower, and farming with a newer 5520 that I didn't want to take in the woods. It's Dad's tractor, he didn't want it in the woods so it didn't go in the woods.

Anyways, a year ago I bought a 2720. Decided on new after looking at a few used ones, they seemed to hold their value good enough that new made sense.

So now that I have a 2720, I haul wood with.... an old Farmall M. There's no comparison between a 'real' tractor and a CUT IMO. I got the 2720 stuck with a load once, in a spot where it really should not have gotten stuck. The girlfriend was with me, so I went up and grabbed the M. Hooked the M to the John Deere, left the loaded trailer attached, and dragged the whole assembly out while she steered. Told her to just leave it in neutral and steer/work the brakes.

After that the little one is on permanant yard duty. On a perfect dry summer day it still gets worked out of the yard, but that's it. I might have hauled wood twice since then with it. Once for sure, can't remember a second time for sure but I probably did.

I think that if I were to load the rear tires, add weights, and add chains, it would probably do the work. To me that's asking to break something, as you are drastically increasing the traction capability without increasing strength.

For my $10-$15K, I'd buy a real tractor and a lawnmower to go with it. Find an older John Deere 2240 or so, about 10 grand for a good one, and it'll last you a very very long time. Heck even a Farmall M for 1500-2500 will do a crapload of work if you don't need good hydro's or a live PTO.

 

[7sleeper]

Loaded tires do not endanger frame strength and are generally recommended for SCUT/CUT machines. What is already on the floor will not weigh on the frame.

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[cantoo]

Kubota L35 with homemade cab, I had the forks on didn't bother with the grapple for one little tree, maybe 12" across. Wife said she was tired of picking up dead branches off the lawn, I told she only had to do it one more time for this one. She was not impressed.

 

[blackdogon57]

I'm surprised that no one suggested to be sure to take into account the location and quality of the nearest dealer for whatever brand you are considering.

Dealers tend to be very expensive for service work. I have had my JD 3320 for 8 years and have put over 2300 hours on it. It has been back to the dealer twice. These machines are very easy to maintain and don't often need dealer support.

 

[bowtechmadman]

I have to show this thread to my wife. She doesn't understand why I need a bigger tractor for 20 acres. She just keeps saying that 1600 Ford seems to be doing just fine even without power steering, or 4wd hell doesn't even have hydrostatic trans. I definitely get tractor envy when running my bro-in laws new 45hp JD with all the bells and whistles.
For what it's worth you might consider an older 2wd tractor...they definitely will make you become a better operator, then get all the attachments you want with the money saved on initial tractor purchase. Good set of tire chains and my 2wd 23hp Ford will get around pretty well in the snow. Granted it takes more work!

 

[Steve NW WI]

Loaded tires do not endanger frame strength and are generally recommended for SCUT/CUT machines. What is already on the floor will not weigh on the frame.

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Frame, no, unless the weight is to offset overloading the front loader. It does stress the driveline, brakes, and everything else. It takes more power to turn more weight, and more force to stop it as well. It's an option, but not without drawbacks. IMO I'd rather have a weight box on the back that's removable when not needed on a compact.

That said, my belief is that if you need a tractor, buy a tractor. I giggle a lot at what some people spend $20,000 on when a used but not used up farm tractor is well under half that. I understand they fill a niche for some people, but a lot of them expect more out of them than they should. A 574IH with weedburner exhaust will fit in a suburban garage stall, too.

 

[doug4k]

I have a New Holland TC 29 (29 hp gear drive weighted turf tires) 4 wheel drive diesel. bought it new with loader. does all I need on ten acres and long drive. no repairs just maintenance for 10 years. used for snowplowing the drive,moving dirt,gravel,pulling logs from woods,brushhogging. all 5 ft implements and uses very little fuel. check the lift specs on the 3 pt hitch and the total weight of tractor for comparing how well they are built. mow the yard with a zrt50 its much faster.

 

[labdad]

It don't take much to make me happy, my old JD 750 still is going strong and does what ever I ask of it. Mowing, food plots, dragging logs around, plowing the garden or what ever.