Short vs Long Wheelbase Tractors.

Bill VA · May 29, 2017

Was out an about this morning and went by a couple of tractor dealers to gawk...

Seems like long wheelbase tractors are a thing of the past. I'm thinking on our hills, I'd like a longer wheelbase for up and down stability and just for ride comfort. I gather the 7000 series JD's are long wheelbase and 6000 and 5000 series are short wheel base - in 80 hp and up.

We're the 80ish hp JD 20, 30, 40, 50 and 55 series all long wheelbase?

Just speaking of JD above, but looked at a couple of MF and NH tractors and they were high hp and very stubby short wheelbase.

Any reason NOT to own a long wheelbase tractor?

Just curious.

Thanks,
Bill

wisbaker · May 29, 2017

Long wheelbase means a larger turning radius, some operations with small or irregular shaped fields need the tighter turning radius

ss55 · May 29, 2017

Utility tractors commonly have shorter wheelbase that field tractors because utility tractors need to be more compact and maneuverable. You might want to compare specifications for actual wheelbase and turning radius of the different models. It could be that the wheel base of some large field tractors is the same or longer than older field tractors, but the wheelbase looks shorter because the size of the rest of the tractor is much larger.

JD Seller · May 29, 2017

The vast majority of the tractors today are designed for MFWD. So Even if you only buy a 2wd tractor the frame design is based for MFWD. Then add in the fact that 30 inch rows require a narrow tractor that still has as short of turning radius as possible. This leaves you with shorter wheel based tractors.

Another thing is the tire size in these same tractors. They have much larger diameter tires. This makes the wheel base appear much shorter than it would with smaller ties. Heck 70 HP tractors today come with 38 inch tires.

Adirondack case guy · May 29, 2017

Part of the difference that you referred to is due to the length of a 4cyl. engine, verses a 6cyl engine.
Years back, manufacturers offered different front axle configurations for 2wd tractors. I don't know of any that do today. As you know most modern day tractors are equipped with MFD, and again wheel base is affected by the length of the engine.
Loren

Fred2 · May 29, 2017

There was a time when we mounted implements between the front wheels and rear wheels it was called midmounted. Such implements was corn pickers, cotton strippers, row crop cultivators planters, and sickle mowers they all required long wheelbase tractors. We have non of those today, anything that is mounted on a tractor today is either front, or rear mounted.

Tx Jim · May 29, 2017

(quoted from post at 11:06:37 05/29/17)
We're the 80ish hp JD 20, 30, 40, 50 and 55 series all long wheelbase?Bill

Yes the JD 10,20,30,40,50 & 55 series rowcrop tractors with 80 & up HP had 6 cyl engines which meant longer,smoother riding wheelbase

rustred · May 29, 2017

i do know that short wheel base is rough riding. i had a 930 case and a massey 97. that case was so rough riding while the massey was like a cadillac in the field. just my experience . so i dont think the new tractors would be any different.

Geo-TH,In · May 29, 2017

Bill,
I've observed the shorter wheelbase tractors are narrower, which IMHO, makes them easier to roll over on a hill side.

My old 1950 farmall C is rated around 20 hp. Today's compact tractors are half the size and are in the same hp range.

The advantage my old tractor has a very smooth ride. When I mowing it, I a greater distance from the mower's blades, get less dirt, dust and pollen stirred up my the mower.
Geo.

VicS · May 29, 2017

Just came in from mowing alfalfa. Used a JD mo-co 9' I believe with a 4320 JD compact. It is extremely short wheel base. But will cut square corners. Has a airride seat. But you are right longer would ride better. But it is extremely quick using the loader.

stonerock · May 29, 2017

back in the 70's B.I.L.farm, we would fight over who was going to work ground [4020,14' disc and spring tooth] then he got more ground and a D-21 AC with 18' disc, nobody wanted to drive it that short wheel base would beat you to death, sold it that fall and got a 4520 jd

Texasmark1 · May 29, 2017

I think the seemingly popular large wheel 4wd newer tractors seem stubby due to the large front wheels; do to me and I don't know the specs. My 4010 , 20, and 4230 row crops were all 2wd and long WB. Made for a smooth ride with that smooth running 6 cyl but took awhile to get all that turned around if in a row crop mode on small acreage. Course I realize a 4wd pulls itself around a corner and a 2wd needs brakes to do it if it happens at all.

Eldon (WA) · May 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 18:23:59 05/29/17) I think the seemingly popular large wheel 4wd newer tractors seem stubby due to the large front wheels; do to me and I don't know the specs. My 4010 , 20, and 4230 row crops were all 2wd and long WB. Made for a smooth ride with that smooth running 6 cyl but took awhile to get all that turned around if in a row crop mode on small acreage. Course I realize a 4wd pulls itself around a corner and a 2wd needs brakes to do it if it happens at all.

Have a 2wd Deere 6100D (99 hp) that is the same wheelbase as my 75 hp Allis. It would feel smaller if it didn't take twice as many turns of the steering wheel as the AC to turn around. Other than that, and the fact that I needed spacers to get the rears out to 8' for brush hogging, it is not a bad tractor. It only takes twice the fuel as the AC, but I never run out of power and the air and cab is great on these hot dusty days. That orange guy in the back ground paid for this tractor....

Tx Jim · May 31, 2017

(quoted from post at 23:20:17 05/30/17)

Have a 2wd Deere 6100D (99 hp) that is the same wheelbase as my 75 hp Allis. It only takes twice the fuel as the AC, but I never run out of power and the air and cab is great on these hot dusty days.

May I ask what model your AC tractor is that requires 1/2 the GPH of fuel as the JD?

According to Nebraska test AC 180(65 PTO HP) uses 4.2 GPH @ pto speed & JD 6100D(89 pto hp) uses 5.1 GPH

Eldon (WA) · May 31, 2017

(quoted from post at 03:37:29 05/31/17)

(quoted from post at 23:20:17 05/30/17)

Have a 2wd Deere 6100D (99 hp) that is the same wheelbase as my 75 hp Allis. It only takes twice the fuel as the AC, but I never run out of power and the air and cab is great on these hot dusty days.

Click to expand...

May I ask what model your AC tractor is that requires 1/2 the GPH of fuel as the JD?

According to Nebraska test AC 180(65 PTO HP) uses 4.2 GPH @ pto speed & JD 6100D(89 pto hp) uses 5.1 GPH

Mine Allis is a 175D with a newer Perkins 4.248 rated at 75hp. They have simple hydraulics, simple power director transmission and weigh about a ton less than the Deere. Of course it has no cab or air...which helps, but I have to really work it hard to use a 20 gallon tank of fuel in a 10 hour day. The Perkins runs under 1700 rpm at 540 pto, the Deere is at 2100...

Short vs Long Wheelbase Tractors.

Bill VA

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wisbaker

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ss55

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JD Seller

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Adirondack case guy

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Fred2

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Tx Jim

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rustred

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Geo-TH,In

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VicS

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stonerock

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Texasmark1

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Eldon (WA)

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Tx Jim

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Eldon (WA)

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