When buying any piece of equipment for your acreage, you want to make sure it’ll be a machine you can rely on for a long time. Buying from a proven brand known for reliability is one way to secure long-lasting performance, but you also want model specs that are rated for the work you do. Making sure your compact utility tractor (CUT) will hold up under your workload for the long run will be an important consideration when determining which CUT is right for your acreage.
Factor #1: Lifting Capacity
When it comes to your CUT’s lifting capacity, you want to consider both horsepower and wear and tear. If you get the minimal horsepower required to get the job done, your equipment may have a shorter shelf life. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting a machine that will do all the heavy lifting you need and then some, otherwise you may be looking at getting a new machine sooner than you’d like.
It can be a good idea to consider roughly how much weight you intend to lift with your machine on a daily basis. For example, if you’ll be using your machine to lift concrete mix bags or cement blocks, you can estimate their weight and how many you’ll be moving with your machine. If you’re moving 10 bags of concrete and 20 blocks, that’ll come in around 1000 lbs. You can do the same with hay bales and any other material.
Just as you want to make sure your CUT has the horsepower to handle the heavy lifting, you’ll want to make sure your attachments have the durability to hold up their end of the deal. An attachment that bends or warps after frequent use will end up costing you more in the long run than one with the strength to keep form.
Factor #2: Hitch Options
When weighing your hitch options, you’ll need to consider the size of the implements you’ll be working with. Hitches are classified in five categories numbered zero to four, with four being rated for the largest attachments and zero for the smallest ones.
If you’ve got a sizeable acreage with a heavy workload requiring large implements, you’ll want a hitch that will hold up. Otherwise, you can get away with a smaller hitch, depending on your acreage size, workload, and attachment needs.
Factor #3: Price
Of course, a big factor for most is the price. What machine can I afford? The good news is that with both Brandt and John Deere finance options, cashback deals, and Multi-Use Accounts (MUA), machines that might otherwise seem out of your price range can be made to fit into your budget.
If you open an MUA, it functions like a credit account where you can add equipment to your account without having to pay today.
And with Brandt Finance, our team takes the time to understand your needs, so we can get you the equipment you need without breaking the bank. We can deliver creative financing solutions, so you can feel confident in your purchasing decisions.
Get a CUT You Can Depend on
With John Deere CUTs, you can be sure you’re getting a reliable machine, especially when you match the right model with the work you need it for. While a heavy workload may mean spending a bit more on a CUT, it will save you more in the long term by minimizing repairs and giving you a machine you can depend on far into the future. Plus, our finance team can get creative to find a deal that will work with you to make it easier to get the machine you need.
That concludes our CUT buyer’s blog series—thanks for reading and reach out to your Brandt Ag representative if you have any further questions about which CUT you should buy!
Owning an acreage involves a lot of hard work, often taking up large chunks of weekends and evenings to keep up with the maintenance and tasks required. For this reason, having equipment that’s easy to operate is valuable for your acreage for more than mere convenience. If you have to fight with your equipment to get