Guidance On Selecting The Right Compact Tractor
The compact tractor market is growing fast in the sport turf sector, but with so many models to choose from it can be hard to decide what’s right for you. Steve Pickwell, Kubota Product Manager, Groundcare offers guidance on how to make an informed purchase.
With a greater variety of sports now growing in popularity, the need to maintain a range of surfaces, be it natural turf, artificial turf or multi-use games areas, is growing in prominence. Using a machine that can maintain different surfaces, using a range of towed or mounted implements, is of course a route to better efficiency and cost savings – rather than having to run and maintain a number of machines for each different application.
In many cases, particularly with professional sports clubs, there will likely be multiple pitches to prepare and maintain, often at different locations. Compact tractors have the advantage of being just that – compact – so can be loaded onto trailers if required, or driven from facility to facility with minimal fuss.
When deciding on purchase, the first question is to ask if it is fit for purpose in your environment and does it have the power needed for the jobs you will require it to undertake? Whilst it would be counter-productive to choose too small a tractor to help cover, say, six municipal football/rugby pitches and surrounding areas, selecting one that is too large or too powerful may be uneconomical to use on a smaller facility – and may even damage the turf, or contribute to greater soil compaction.
Another question worth pondering is, will you need to utilise a front loader? If so, ensure that a compatible one can be fitted to the tractor you choose – not all models offer that facility. Another issue is flexibility. Choose a machine that is suitable for a variety of implements, especially if you need to use it on traditional pitches and artificial surfaces. Can you fit a brush, or change to using a harrow or an aerator, perhaps?
Another consideration is its compatibility with relevant cutting decks – whether it’s general grass cutting or fine turf maintenance. If you only need to cut and maintain very small areas, then a ride-on mower may be of more use, and might make better economic sense. In most cases, as sports clubs diversify, turf professionals will likely need a machine with PTO take off at the rear, as well as mid-mounted, and in some cases front PTO.
Choosing a machine that’s designed to care for your surfaces whilst maintaining them is crucial. Ensure that the chosen model will do minimum damage to the turf, and as stated earlier, will not compact the soil or damage drainage. Another important factor is operator satisfaction. Choose a machine that your operators are happy with and one that is comfortable to use for extended periods, particularly in times of high frequency maintenance. If you can, trial a number of machines, and of course, when your choice has been made, you need to have the tractor professionally installed and handed over, so that all controls are clear and easy to use.
Choosing an established brand with excellent dealer relations is key. This has been central to Kubota’s offering for decades. We introduced the first hydrostatic transmission systems for compact tractors and diesel ride-on mowers, a feature which allows the speed of forward or reverse travel to be instantly and infinitely varied without any change in engine speed. This also has an impact on the finished product when using a powered implement, as the hydrostatic transmission ensures consistency of cut as there’s no reduction in the rotational speed of the tractor’s power take-off drive shaft.
Bi-Speed Turn is another key benefit of the Kubota offering. This system automatically speeds up a tractor’s front wheels when turning, resulting in faster, tighter turns with reduced tyre and surface scuffing. First introduced in 1990, and yet to be matched, we feel this is an important factor for sports turf maintenance and is one of numerous reasons why we continue to work with a number of leading professional clubs – Cardiff City FC and Gloucester RFC, to name just two.
The final point to stress as part of the decision making process is to make sure the aftersales service is strong. Minimising downtime is essential, so make sure that your dealer, and of course the manufacturer, have a good record of aftersales service and parts supply.
A point often overlooked – so apologies if this is obvious to many – when purchasing a machine, is its size. Does what you want work with your existing storage facilities? If you choose a ROPS tractor, you’ll need to double check that the roll bar can be folded for storage. Similarly for a cabbed machine, you’ll need to be sure that the one you go for fits in the storage shed.
Power considerations will always be high on the agenda, too. A question you need to ask first and foremost is whether there’s enough power to handle the work you want the tractor to do. As with all machines, they work best when working within their capabilities. If you’re working with a lot of acreage and use numerous implements, then you’ll need to plan for a greater horsepower, which will fulfil tasks easily without ‘stretching’ its capabilities.
Conversely, unless you’ve planned for expansion, a 60hp tractor on a single sports field may not give you best economy. In most sports turf applications, for best flexibility, you should be looking at between 26 and 58HP, but an approved dealer will be able to advise on the best choice for your particular application.
The compact market as a whole is changing rapidly, and new developments are being implemented as we speak. The wider market has experienced its fair share of ups and downs, though, most noticeably the period of recession from 2008, which had a major influence on the compact tractor market in the UK.
However, 2014 showed very encouraging signs for the industry, and indications suggest that a trend for increased horsepower tractors within the compact market (towards the bracket 30-50hp) is on the rise, with customers increasingly looking to do more tasks with a single machine, rather than running multiple fleets. With a current market of between 2000-2500 compact machines, there are definitely green shoots peeking through, in every respect.
To find out more about Kubota’s compact tractor solutions, visit Kubota.co.uk or get in touch with your local Kubota dealer to see discuss your options.