Small new economy tractor?

SodBuster87 · Oct 28, 2018

So I have been binge watching old tractor advertising and promotional films. What amases me is the real world power of the old tractors. Looking at the small 10(ish) Horse power tractors.

I know this has been adressed many times before but its depressing that no manufacturer makes a "large" garden tractor. Now I realize a direct copy of a old tractor would be a hard sell. But why do the small tractors seem to be decked out with more bells and whistles then the "big" tractors. Is there no longer a market for a garden tractor in the old school sense of the word? For example a 20hp, 2wd, gear transmission, open station. There is no shortage of tractors like this from the 70s-80s. But why not any new ones?

Sod Buster

Brendon-KS · Oct 28, 2018

It always comes down to the fact that manufacturers will build a product that they can sell in
enough quantity and at a high enough profit margin to justify a business case. The simple answer
to your question is that there would be little to no profit in developing and marketing a tractor
like you describe because there aren't enough people lined up to buy such a thing. Due to the low
volumes the profit for each unit sold would need to be relatively high which would push the cost
into the range of high volume 4WD hydrostat tractors. At this point the perspective customer
figures he might as well buy the higher-spec model since it isn't that much more money. The
manufacturers know this will happen at a great enough frequency that they might as well not waste
the money even designing the low-spec tractor.

rrlund · Oct 28, 2018

Deere 3x and Massey 15xx series tractors come to mind for fitting the bill.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 28, 2018

I wanted a small garden tractor. Put an ad on craigslist.
Bought an older JD275 with a 30 inch tiller, 48 inch mower. It
has a single cylinder 17 hp kawasaki engine, hydrostat. I
thought it would be underpowered, but it isn't. Both engine and
tractor are in good shape for their age. Had to do a little
work on mower deck.

I too wish they would make a new gas tractor, 35-45 hp, with a
cab. Don't think they ever will.

Exploring ways to make what I want.

jm. · Oct 28, 2018

It started back in the 80s , Kubota would insist that we stock a cheap 2 wheel drive gear tractor. At that time the L 2350. Order one in on 6 months terms and afet terms ran out end up paying interest on it. Customers would look and go right on over to the 4 wheel drive with better features. Now as the other poster says what the market wants just no market. Think of it like this straight shift three speed cheve pickup with no air or radio. Do not see many of those sitting on the lot either.

larry@stinescorner · Oct 28, 2018

I was going to say that too,,,,lol,,I had a 1979 chevy,,three speed on the column,,straight 6,,stepside 8 ft bed.A great truck! It had the stepside,,I Had a toolbox where the whole lid opened up.Step on the stepside,,and reach in the box for any tool etc. Easy to work on the truck,,and the tailgate?A simple set of chains with hooks,,never failed me,,and I did lots and lots of work with that truck.The newer chevy tailgate with rods inside failed within 1 year.Now,,they even made the little Colorado big and tall and fancy,,no more simple trucks available.

Dean · Oct 28, 2018

Bingo, Brendon.

The market just is not there.

Dean

Geo-TH,In · Oct 28, 2018

Larry,
You can still buy WORK TRUCKS. In 2007 I bought a new GMC work truck. No carpet, no great sound system, no power windows, no door locks, no 4 doors, no extended cabs, no backup camera, 2 wheel drive. Does have curse and AC. Just a 8 ft bed to hold a piece of plywood and close the tailgate.

DoubleR · Oct 28, 2018

I just brought a used 1988 L2350 Kubota a couple of months ago to add to my Kubota collection. Four wheel drive with ag tires. I've been real happy with it. Hooked it up to my grinder mixer the other day and ground a batch of feed. Its allot more than a small garden tractor.

Rex Simpkins · Oct 28, 2018

Yeah but why are they so damn tall no one can reach anything in the back without a boat hook. I had 1960's Chevy trucks stepside 8 footbeds easy to use 6 cylinder bulletproof easy to get in and out of. Now I have a 2015 Ford F250 2 wheel drive good truck once you get in but it's just 2 hi off the ground to be useful so I use that for towing and use the old 1990 Ford F150 6 cylinder for getting around everyday

Traditional Farmer · Oct 28, 2018

When there are really good old garden tractors (real garden tractors not lawn mowers) for sale at less than $1000 and not selling I can't see how a new one would sell.People now want
3pt,hydro,loader,PS,4WD judging from what I see when I ride down the road.

Adirondack case guy · Oct 28, 2018

You can not buy a simple 2wd standard cab PU with bench seat and standard trans either.
Loren

Pitch · Oct 28, 2018

An "adequate" garden tractor could not be sold for less than 10,000. I added another 6 to that got a four wheel drive hydrostatic with both a center and rear PTO,three point hitch loader and mid mount mower.

oldtanker · Oct 28, 2018

For a company to make and sell something there has to be enough of a market to be profitable. And the compact utility coupled with the rising cost of building a real garden tractor just made it to where they ain't profitable.

One of the big killers with something like that or for that matter the plain jane work truck is the buyers are cheap skates. They don't want to pay for all the bells and whistles to start with then they operate/drive it to death all the while bragging to anyone who will listen about how long they been running said truck/tractor. Meanwhile while they are bragging it up the company stops making said item because it isn't selling. Then Mr bragger finally has to replace that tractor or truck and can't find what they want........go figure :lol: :lol:

Rick

Crazy Horse · Oct 28, 2018

Well, probably for the same reason that nobody is making rotary dial phones anymore, even the old mobile
flip phones are hard to find. Same thing for black and white TV's without remotes. Bottom line is what
several below have said, you couldn't sell enough of them to make marketing them worthwhile financially.
The bottom line is dollars I guess.

buickanddeere · Oct 28, 2018

Because manufactures have to build what sells or they go bankrupt.

buickanddeere · Oct 28, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:57:03 10/28/18) I wanted a small garden tractor. Put an ad on craigslist.
Bought an older JD275 with a 30 inch tiller, 48 inch mower. It
has a single cylinder 17 hp kawasaki engine, hydrostat. I
thought it would be underpowered, but it isn't. Both engine and
tractor are in good shape for their age. Had to do a little
work on mower deck.

I too wish they would make a new gas tractor, 35-45 hp, with a
cab. Don't think they ever will.

Exploring ways to make what I want.

If Tier V and Tier VI emissions ever have to be followed . Or if all diesels under 100HP have to meet the same specs as over 100HP Tier IV engines . Manufactures will be forced to use engines that burn lighter cleaner burning fuels . Such as gasoline , propane or natural gas.

buickanddeere · Oct 28, 2018

(quoted from post at 09:15:40 10/28/18) Yeah but why are they so damn tall no one can reach anything in the back without a boat hook. I had 1960's Chevy trucks stepside 8 footbeds easy to use 6 cylinder bulletproof easy to get in and out of. Now I have a 2015 Ford F250 2 wheel drive good truck once you get in but it's just 2 hi off the ground to be useful so I use that for towing and use the old 1990 Ford F150 6 cylinder for getting around everyday

Because people are taller now than all the short little twerts born iandnraised prior to the prosperity of the 50’s and later s.

ss55 · Oct 28, 2018

Some of the lawn and garden tractor market have been replaced by more specialized machines: zero turn mowers; skid steer loaders; etc. There are still plenty of comparably inexpensive no-frills lawn tractors for sale at big box hardware stores, farm and fleet stores, Sears, etc. Does Craftsman still sell lawn and garden tractors?

sotxbill · Oct 28, 2018

(quoted from post at 08:34:39 10/28/18) You can not buy a simple 2wd standard cab PU with bench seat and standard trans either.
Loren

Hard to get a shoulder restraint on the middle person so you probably will have a hard time finding a bench seat in any car or truck anymore. They have to meet the passenger crash protection requirements. And for some reason, the crash dummies dont like the middle of the front seat.

DoubleO7 · Oct 28, 2018

(quoted from post at 11:14:52 10/28/18)
Because people are taller now than all the short little twerts born iandnraised prior to the prosperity of the 50’s and later s.

That is some funny stuff right there.

Dean · Oct 28, 2018

Bingo, BandD.

Been predicting this for awhile but stay tuned as there is recently newfound prospect that sanity may be returning to DC.

Dean

Geo-TH,In · Oct 28, 2018

REX,
Why do you think I bought a 2007 GMC? It was the last year for the classic lowrider body style. I'll do whatever it takes to keep it on the road.

Bob · Oct 28, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:52:53 10/28/18) Larry,
You can still buy WORK TRUCKS. In 2007 I bought a new GMC work truck. No carpet, no great sound system, no power windows, no door locks, no 4 doors, no extended cabs, no backup camera, 2 wheel drive. Does have curse and AC. Just a 8 ft bed to hold a piece of plywood and close the tailgate.

"Does have curse and AC."

George,

Do you remember what the sticker price was on the CURSE, I've had several vehicles with one of those, never DID know what that option costs when you buy 'em new, tho???

Small new economy tractor?

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