Let’s say, for example, that you have two tractors advertised with the same horsepower, but one has higher torque: That one has an engine that runs slower to create the same amount of turning action, thereby using less energy to do the same amount of work. Torque is the measure of twist that an engine can apply to the driving wheels, or the PTO. Another way to think of it is that one horse could typically pull a 3,300-pound wagon a distance of 10 feet in one minute a 10-hp lawn tractor can apply 330,000 foot-pounds of power per minute. The rule of thumb for pricing on these tractors is that they will start at about $300 per hp, but can jump to over $600 per hp ($13,500 to $66,000) depending on the brand and features the tractor comes equipped with.īecause horses provided power for pulling loaded wagons and plows long before engines were invented, early tractor manufacturers rated their products on the ability to do work that was comparable to a horse’s work 1 horsepower was approximately equivalent to the power exerted by one horse pulling something mathematically equal to 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. The smaller-sized units readily handle a small square baler, and the top-end models can easily operate a round baler or big square baler. On larger commercial farms, they can even do many of the jobs that don’t require big power, like raking hay or hauling round bales to feeders. Like compact tractors, most new models are offered with diesel engines, and four-wheel drive is a readily available option.įor farms up to about 160 acres, these are the workhorse tractors that can get most jobs done. They all have a three-point hitch, PTO and horsepower in the 45 to 110 range. These heavy-duty units are generally designed for commercial-scale farms. The price range runs between $8,000 and $35,000. They’re faster than their lawn and garden counterparts, and they can do more work: All models come with a three-point hitch and PTO, so they can operate a wide range of implements. Most models of subcompact and compact tractors are available in diesel and offer four-wheel drive (making them good buys when operating on hills or plowing snow). Compacts, also called estate tractors, are versatile and, at the top-end, might be appropriate for baling hay with a small square baler on small acreage. They can accommodate all kinds of implements and have a two-speed transmission. They are intended for the consumer market and are designed with comfort, ease of operation and low maintenance in mind and to act as a bridge between the lawn and garden tractors and compact tractors. The subcompacts are a relatively new product introduced by Kubota in the late 1990s, and are now offered by several other companies. These tractors are heavier duty than their lawn and garden counterparts, with engine horsepower ratings ranging from 15 to 50. The price range is anywhere from $1,500 to $14,000, depending on the brand, size and capability of the machine, with the higher-end models offering zero-clearance turn capability. They can also tow light loads and might be suitable for operating small ground-driven implements, but few have a three-point hitch or power take-off (PTO) needed for larger machines. They are suitable for mowing grass on 1 to 2 acres. They are relatively slow, and most use gasoline, though a few offer diesel engines. These are light-duty tractors that range from about 10 to 25 hp. It’s time to start shopping for a tractor.īefore heading out to your local dealership, it’s a good idea to know your basic options and which would best suit your farm. Let’s face it, for most of us there comes a time when increasing age and increasing chores conspire: We want a piece of machinery that will help us pull, push, dig, cut and just keep up with the myriad work our farm requires. And bumping down a gravel driveway that is as rutted as an old washboard gets tiring. Moving tons of compost to the garden one bag at a time loses its appeal. Wheel-barrowing and spreading manure by hand becomes onerous. Mowing 3 acres of lawn takes too long on a regular riding mower.
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