Trains vs trucks...

[85_Ranger4x4]

Tractors are rated in drawbar horsepower. See that link above--they don't mention torque. Meaningless.

Usually guys go off of PTO HP not drawbar.

Nebraska weights things weird and makes the "drawbar rating" hard to relate to in real life.

PTO hp is universal, it doesn't matter what options you have if you need more traction you can add weight. And it is much easier to measure, we have guys say set it to X and we drag out the dyno and make it happen. It is a better baseline, every 7800 John Deere has the same engine, not every 7800 has the same tire/weight/loader configuration.

And PTO is a higher number and sounds better when you are talking to the neighbors.

 

[Truckedup]

My old Kubota B7100 Diesel compact tractor is rated at 13 PTO HP...In 4 wheel drive compound low it can pull a surprising amount of weight if traction is not an issue...Gearing is everything with IC engines...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My old Kubota B7100 Diesel compact tractor is rated at 13 PTO HP...In 4 wheel drive compound low it can pull a surprising amount of weight if traction is not an issue...Gearing is everything with IC engines...

Gearing, tires, weight/balance, hitch height... all big variables for pulling.

My two main tractors are kind of lightweight and use a draft sensing hitch to add weight from the implement being used as needed. There is no way to measure that...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My old Kubota B7100 Diesel compact tractor is rated at 13 PTO HP...In 4 wheel drive compound low it can pull a surprising amount of weight if traction is not an issue...Gearing is everything with IC engines...

You can do alot with a little.

My old farmall cub is rated at 10 PTO HP (ok, 9.8) but i know for a fact itll drag a 4000lb LTD II with 2 locked brakes. This is what makes many small tractors (atleast older ones) so dangerous, they will pull WAYYYYY more then they are capable of stopping/controling.

Torque isnt meaningless, yes, torque can be exerted at 0 RPM, ill give you that, but if you dont have the torque to spin past 0rpm then no work is going to get done.

The ISX 15 in my peterbilt makes ~500hp and right around 2000ftlbs.

A 2018 Vette makes around 500hp and around 500ftlbs.

Assuming the same gearing (in this case, a 13speed eaton with 3.55 rears) that vette engine, is not even going to come close to moving 80000lb gross. This is where torque comes into play.

Yes, you could give it 35 gears and a 20:1 rear axle ratio, but infront of those gears, the cummins will still out pull it.

Its like having a contest between a world class strongman and an accountant to see who can break a rusted lug nut loose, given a much bigger bar could the accountant do it? Of course, but given the same size bar the strongman is going to win, everytime.