What is the heaviest model wheel horse?

[Donavon 20]

Just curious what is the heaviest for a future project.

 

[8ntruck 7,068]

I'd guess it is one of the D series.  Those were sort of a precursor to the current mini tractors.

[c-series don 8,808]

The D-250 I’d say. 

[Rick3478 429]

22 minutes ago, c-series don said:

The D-250 I’d say. 

 

That was my first thought, but then I wondered what about the 520 aircraft tug?

[kpinnc 12,339]

My response to the question may ruffle feathers, but it's not my intention to offend. I'm also not a purist, but this is how my tiny brain works. 

 

The heaviest were (unless the senior owners can give bigger numbers) the DXI series, at just over 1100lbs. The GT-14 follows at nearly 900lbs.The D-250 was a rebadged German manufactured Gutbrod.

 

And... the D series machines were completely different from the traditional line of tractors that began with the RJ and ended with the last run of Classics in 2007. That entire line of tractors are similar from the ground up, and more of an evolution of a core design.

 

So- while D series tractors wore the name, at best they were offshoots that were intended to penetrate a different market while leveraging the WH reputation. The D-160, 180, and 200 were released after Wheel Horse sold to AMC. How much design work of them originating from Wheel Horse is not clearly defined. The transmission was about the only thing they had in common with other tractors of the period. The XI series machines are excellent tractors, while also almost 100 percent Toro creations. New Holland also sold rebadged XI models.

 

Almost no implement made for D series would work with the classic line. The same was true for the GT-14 and many XI series.

 

So MY "way too long" answer would be the heaviest Wheel Horse was the GT-14 at over 900lbs, then the C-195 at 740lbs, followed by the 520-H (also heavily influenced by Toro) at around 650lbs. Toro designed the later model 60 inch deck as well, so I can't include that if going by my own exclusions. If so, it would be an additional 300lbs. Maybe if the two stage snowblower was attached?

Edited September 29, 2023 by kpinnc

[ebinmaine 68,136]

Along the lines of thinking about a heavy Wheelhorse my first question is, 

For what?

What project?

What purpose?

 

ANY Wheelhorse can be made Heavy.  

Add steel. Add fluid. 

It's very easy to make a 70s C Series tip the scales at over 1000 lbs before any implements are installed.  

 

[ri702bill 8,472]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

It's very easy to make a 70s C Series tip the scales at over 1000 lbs before any implements are installed.  

Is that with or without The Bear....???  

[ebinmaine 68,136]

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

Is that with or without The Bear....???  

No Bears included. 

Add 260+. 

 

🤪

[BairleaFarm 340]

10 hours ago, c-series don said:

The D-250 I’d say. 

 

Wasnt the D250 not really a Wheel Horse but a GT made my renault that was branded Wheel horse?

[953 nut 55,700]

Take a GT-14, add a  front end loader with weight box, a York rake, WW93 wheel weights and liquid filled tires and you are up to about 1,800 pounds without the operator. Have @ebinmaine gat in the seat and you are over a ton of Wheel Horse fun.    

Edited September 29, 2023 by 953 nut

[Rick3478 429]

7 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 The D-160, 180, and 200 were released after Wheel Horse sold to AMC.

 

Speaking of AMC, wasn't there a WH branded Jeep?  Where did I see that?  Maybe it was just a one-off paint job for advertising.  My brain sometimes regurgitates useless information, too.

 

[kpinnc 12,339]

5 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

ANY Wheelhorse can be made Heavy.  

Add steel. Add fluid. 

 

Add ME! 

 

Yes you can nearly double the weight of these machines. Weights, fluids, heavy implements. 

 

That's what I was concerned with my earlier post- often times reported weights come from a machine with an implement attached, rather than what I would call a "dry weight" with nothing added.

[Lee1977 6,766]

Then there are the electric battery powered tractors. Originally design and built by GE, Elec Trak E20 the largest having 3.5 electric motor ( equivalent to 14, later model clamed 16 gas HP ) 36 volts  85 amps with 6 -6 volt batters

850 lbs.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Lee1977

[Thor27 773]

Got me curious, so looked up some of the bigger horse weights on tractordata. 

 

D-250  1160#

523dxi. 1150#

D-200.  1025#

C-185.   894#

GT-14.   875#

E-141.    825#

C-195.    740#

[evanloock 221]

As the D-series were based off the 18-Automatic introduced in 1973, I would say they are a Wheel Horse design.  As with every other new design I am sure it was on the engineer's drawing board a year or more before the production 18-Automatic was offered for sale.  The D-250 is definitely not a "true" Wheel Horse.  RS-83/Senior flyer states that it weighed 810 pounds without ballast in the tires.

Edited September 30, 2023 by evanloock

[19richie66 17,522]

The heaviest Wheelhorse ever made was the one that won’t start that you have to push by yourself so you can get to something in the back of the shed.  

[Donavon 20]

On 9/29/2023 at 4:37 AM, ebinmaine said:

Along the lines of thinking about a heavy Wheelhorse my first question is, 

For what?

What project?

What purpose?

 

ANY Wheelhorse can be made Heavy.  

Add steel. Add fluid. 

It's very easy to make a 70s C Series tip the scales at over 1000 lbs before any implements are installed.  

 

I'm wanting to make a custom wheel horse tandem axle tilt bed

[ebinmaine 68,136]

33 minutes ago, Donavon said:

I'm wanting to make a custom wheel horse tandem axle tilt bed

 

THAT would be neat.  

 

If you're not looking for any particular shape or model,

 

IMHO...

 

Your best bet would be something quite common with great parts availability that isn't yet to the collectible stage. 

The 300, 400 series are plentiful and just as rugged as any other past models.  

 

[19richie66 17,522]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

THAT would be neat.  

 

If you're not looking for any particular shape or model,

 

IMHO...

 

Your best bet would be something quite common with great parts availability that isn't yet to the collectible stage. 

The 300, 400 series are plentiful and just as rugged as any other past models.  

 

Agreed. I would stay away from a D series if you plan to stretch it any without doing a serious drivetrain change. Don’t ask me how I know.   
 

Edited October 1, 2023 by 19richie66

[pfrederi 17,848]

 

D 200 are not very nimble to start with... longer wheelbase will only make it worse....

[kpinnc 12,339]

10 hours ago, 19richie66 said:

The heaviest Wheelhorse ever made was the one that won’t start that you have to push by yourself so you can get to something in the back of the shed. 

 

Don't forget the one with a flat tire when you have no way to pump it up! 

[Donavon 20]

I am planning to stretch it, the biggest thing I would possibly haul on it would be my Dixie chopper