Seeing Big Things From Small Tractors
The Latest in Sub-Compact and Compact Tractors
Tractors, and their immediate relatives, have played a large part in shaping the modern world. Their history can be traced back to the early to mid 1800s with the first machines being steam-powered plows. And though they may always be most closely connected to agriculture, tractors have been found to be of great use in other fields, pun intended, including landscaping and construction.
The classic models are often referred to as utility tractors, and some younger cousins that show a close family resemblance are called, among other names, tractor loaders, backhoe loaders and wheel loaders. The following spec rundown will look at all these varieties, and because landscape professionals tend to opt for, and manufacturers tend to target the industry with, the compact models of those varieties, that is where the focus is here.
But first, a couple of notes. "Compact" tractor loaders, backhoe loaders and wheel loaders are much larger than compact utility tractors so a direct comparison is not practical. On the smaller side, sub-compact utility tractors, again because of their value to the industry, are also included in this rundown.
As for what distinguishes a sub-compact model from a compact one, Kubota, which states to have created the sub-compact market category in 2000, places the dividing line after a model that weighs 1,570 pounds. However TYM lists a 3,108-pound model as a sub-compact (though we have it in the compact category here).
One of the biggest advantages of traditional tractors is that they tend to have rear power take-off systems or PTOs that can provide rotary power to attachments that may
be stationary or pulled. And to make utility tractors better suited for the landscape industry, different tires are
usually available.
A common configuration for tractors used in landscaping is to be outfitted with a front loader, which are an add-on most of the time but integral to wheel loaders, tractor loaders and backhoe loaders, so when pricing the utility tractors, we included a front loader in the price.
Also, on the pricing found here: LC/DBM arrived at the numbers through the manufacturers, and when not available, by researching online equipment sales sites, dealer price lists and other sources. Actual prices may vary of course depending on numerous circumstances so caution should be exercised when comparing these numbers.
And where multiple loader specs were listed for a given model, the largest figure was used - where multiple weights were listed, the smallest was.
