Most people know what a traditional tractor looks like, but may not appreciate the vast range of work they can do. Stand alone tractors have always been used in agriculture, mainly for ploughing fields, planting and harvesting crops, as well as being able to transport people and materials.
Tractors use numerous different implements, enabling them to be incredibly versatile machines. Over time, they have outgrown themselves into other types of machines as well that can be used in all types of industrial and construction work.
Tractors have evolved from gasoline based internal combustion engines to electric autonomous vehicles that use modern technology to plot and carry out increasingly complicated tasks.
Tractors can be very expensive. Aside from the purchase price, there are numerous other costs involved concerning servicing, maintenance, parts, transportation etc.
When buying a tractor, either new or used, it is worth using the same principles as if someone was buying a car or any other type of vehicle. There are numerous models to choose from, and the range of tractors available can be quite daunting.
It is important to first of all identify the type of work that the tractor is needed for, the type of land the tractor will be used on and what attachments will be needed in order to carry out the work. It is important also to factor in the cost and availability of parts, this can be a significant factor in its long-term usage.
Below are listed some of the main tractor manufacturers with links to with more detailed information about the different types of tractor and industrial machines that they produce.
John Deere
Tractors Parts Skid Steer Excavator / Mini Excavator Financial
Snowblower. Gator Lawn and Garden Zero Turn Mowers Engines
Kubota Mahindra Massey Ferguson New Holland Yanmar
Case Ford Bobcat Caterpillar Mitsubishi
Snow Blowers
Being able to clear snow quickly and safely is a hugely important job for many people. SnowBblowers have been developed over years as by far the most efficient way of doing this.
They either come as stand-alone machines, similar to walk behind lawnmowers, or they come as very specific attachments which can be fitted to a range of tractors, both garden tractors and farm tractors, which turned the tractor into a snow plow.
Stand alone snowblowers are normally classed as either single stage or two stage snowblowers. The single stage snowblower uses an auger which collects the snow and ejects it straight out of the machine.
A two stage snow blower uses an auger to collect the snow, but then has an impeller which rejects the snow much faster and further than a single stage can. There are also some three stage snow blowers available, which are useful for clearing large amounts of snow.
Snow blowers can either be gasoline based or electric, and great care should be taken when clearing any snow or debris out from under the machine. Even when the machine is off, the auger can still turn for a significant amount of time afterwards.
No one should ever put their hand or foot or any other part of the body near the auger, whether the snow blower is on or not. Always use a stick or a metal rod or something similar to clear any debris from the underside of the machine.
Attachments can be bought which will turn a garden tractor or a farm tractor into a most effective snow blower. These type of attachments are normally used when there is a significant amount of snow to be cleared.
The tractor is effectively turned into a snow plow, and can clear large amounts of snow in a very safe and sustained manner.
Listed below are the main manufacturers of stand-alone snowblowers, tractor manufacturers and makers of specific snow blower attachments, withlinks to more specific information available on each one.
Toro Troy-Bilt Briggs and Stratton Ariens Honda John Deere Kubota
Cub Cadet MTD Craftsman Husqvarna Ego
Generators
Generators are backup power supplies, and are normally either portable or what is known as standby. Standby generators are normally fixed systems, and can be found in a variety of buildings and offices, hospitals, fire stations etc.
They essentially kicking automatically when for some reason there is a power failure and take over what are often life saving functions.
Portable generators are relatively small in size, in order to be able to be carried around. They are indispensable for quite literally millions of people who need to have some type of backup system that they can use in the event of a power failure.
This may be because of a power outage on their grid, bad weather conditions, difficulty of obtaining electricity any other way and are sometimes needed at an additional power source on construction sites and other industrial areas.
Portable generators are normally powered by propane, gasoline or diesel. Great care should be taken when using them to make sure there is adequate ventilation in the environment within which they are being used.
There are aslo some solar powered generators available, which can be very reliable but are obviously dependent on weather conditions.
In addition, when buying a portable generator, consideration should be given to its noise level. When generators are being used, the noise can be quite oppressive, and this can be a factor should be considered prior to purchase.
Listed below are the main manufacturers of portable generators, with links to more detailed information.
Generac Honda Westinghouse Briggs and Stratton Sportsman
Duromax Wen Dewalt Champion Firman Ford