General Guidelines for Tractor Weight Based on Engine Horsepower

The total tractor weight needed to efficiently deliver power through the wheels to the ground for field draft applications depends on travel speed. The table shows recommended weight per engine horsepower for four draft speed ranges.

Travel speeds

Wheel slip should normally be in the range of 8 – 12% for optimum efficiency of power delivery at these field speeds. Wheel slip may briefly rise above this range when the tractor encounters a higher draft area in the field, but it should not remain there continuously.

IMPORTANT: To extend power train life, the tractor should never be operated with continuous full-power loads at speeds below 6.6 km/h (4.1 mph). Ground speed may drop below that level in hard-pull situations, but it must recover to higher levels during normal operation. This applies to tractors with all types of transmission. For tractors equipped with IVT™/AutoPowr™ transmissions operating in automatic mode, the engine will not labor in high draft situations, but minimum ground speed guidelines must still be followed.

NOTE: Radar is recommended to continually monitor wheel slip. Checking wheel slip manually is possible but will only show slip in one area of the field.