Dumb question about tractors

[pengyou]

Most of the experience I have with driving a tractor is a large lawn tractor with the mower underneath. I was really impressed with the ability to maneuver it. Now, as I contemplate buying my own piece of land and a small tractor for tilling, grading, etc. I was wondering why tractors don't put rototillers under the tractor, in the same place as the lawnmower is on the lawn tractor that I used to ride. If it could be raised hydraulically, it would make tilling land very easy, and would not require the broad swaths of land on either side of the field to make turns. I know that it would require higher ground clearance...would make attaching the accessory a little more difficult...on the plus side, the whole weight of the tractor would be on whatever accessory was installed under the tractor...any other issues?

[Muleman]

I think you already pointed out the reason why. A lawn mower is a fairly cheap piece of equipment. When I spend $2000.00 for a lawn mower I have no issue with the fact it only cuts grass. When I spend $20,000.00 on a tractor it has to do much more to earn its keep. Therefore, it has to be very versatile and able to use many different attachments. It has long been established that the 3 point hitch is the easiest and safest way to do this. This is why there are no belly tillers. I cannot image the difficulty in trying to attach implements beneath my tractor such as this.

[rambler]

Man that would be awkward and difficult to mount and un mount. A tiller is what, 2 feet tall, and goes in the ground maybe 6 inches, and needs to be a foot high when driving around, so you are looking at 3.5 or more feet of belly room. That makes the tractor too high to be good for other jobs.

How do you get the tiller in between the front and rear wheels of the tractor? Too high to drive over, need wheels and a way to roll it in, bolt it on, take wheels off. Lot of extra expense, lot of extra time.

Just overall cumbersome.

Then every tractor will be different, can only use the expensive manufacturers tiller, the hook up and the pto setup is different for each model. Specialty parts.

Can hook or unhook from the rear 3pt and pto in 5 minutes, and use your tractor for so etching else.

Once you get used to it the universal 3pt and pto setup is a good thing, much more versitle and useful and quicker and easier.

As well, I don't really understand the wasted land on the ends comment? You couldn't turn with a tiller down in the ground very well, they don't want side pressure, so would end up the same either way, big sweeping turns, or pick it up, turn sharp, and put it back down.

You till your area, then till over the ends to finish up, and all is good?

Might be one of those things that looks good on paper, but in the real world, you'd only buy such a thing once and the realize the negatives of it.

Back in the 50s Allos Chalmers made the model G tractor, and currently one USA company makes a similar tractor, with the engine in back, and room in between the rear and front wheels for implements, much as you describe. I can't remember the name of the USA company, think they are in Indiana or near?

They are in demand for specialty farms like nurseries, so yes it can be a handy deal, but in general for most people it is an awkward setup. But if you only did tilling, nothing else, I suppose it could work well with those specialty tractors. So not a dumb idea, but you would end up with a dedicated tiller machine, not a real tractor that does many things.

Paul

[geo in mi]

The rear wheels would make tracks in the freshly tilled soil, among the other issues of mounting it.

The Tuff-Bilt, a rear engine drive tractor (like the Allis "G") is made in Alabama. It has a mid-mount and a rear-mount 3 point hitch, and the rear one can be used with an aftermarket rototiller. Needs a weight pack on the front, though. The Tuff-Bilt has a mid mount disc plow and cultivators, a disc harrow, and a lawnmower. Pretty neat rig.

http://www.tuff-bilt.com/

geo

[simi-steading]

I was about to point out.. your nice tilled garden would have huge tire ruts from the back wheels in it... but I got beat to the punch.. .

Also, as noted, if you've ever tried to get a belly mower under a tractor, you'd understand why there's not more implements that mount under the tractor..

[Darren]

I have a 37 hp with a belly mower. At the time I bought the tractor that was the largest from the maker available with a mid pto. The mower is a to get on and off. It takes seven pins to attach it. The first time it took a couple of hours. Not having a level spot makes it tougher not to mention the weight (500 lbs) and the need to jack at least on side of the front up. When I talked to Kubota about how long it took, their comment was they never thought someone would want to do that frequently.

A mid mount is great for a single task machine. For a tractor used with lots of other implements it's a huge PITA.

[sammyd]

Back when tractors were new there was a lot of experimenting with mounting tillage equipment under the tractor.
Plows were the most prevalent but that idea quickly fell by the wayside for the reasons mentioned above.
I'll stick with a 3 pt hitch tiller.

[Muleman]

I am familiar with the old Allis tractors and the old farmalls, but had never seen the Tuff-Bilt tractors. Those are pretty neat. I cannot see I would ever buy one as the price is similar to a normal diesel tractor in that size range, but a neat concept non-the less. If money were no object I would get one, just to tinker with, but I do not see that day coming.
Just as a side note. My first summer out of high school many years ago, I worked for a retired Air Force Colonel. He had 4 or 5 small tractors (40 hp or so). He said it was just too much trouble changing the implements all the time, so he bought a tractor for each implement he had. He was a smart old man who had done well for himself and loved to tinker in his 2 acre garden. He also had about every piece of tiller equipment troy built made, as well in several sizes. Nice working for him, you always had just what you needed.

[RonM]

I have a 950 John Deere with 3PH that will accommodate any equipment that I need , disc, plows, cultivators, mower, blade, rake, rotary hoe, etc. and it hooks up pretty easily as I do it by myself..My JD is 31 HP.. I also have a 318 JD lawn mower with a 50 inch mower deck that is designed for one job only...mowing the lawn.....

[Conhntr]

I agree 3 point is the way to go though easy to find equiptment and ive found you can buy used then resell and not cost you a thing for things that wont be used much.