5 of the Most Useful Tractor Attachments & Implements

Tractors and loaders perform a lot of useful tasks on a farm. From leveling soil to lifting bales of hay, you can equip whatever tractor model you choose with a number of implements and attachments to accomplish the job at hand. But which attachment tools will allow you to get the most out of your loader? Find out below which implements we recommend.

Common Tractor Hitch Implements

If you’ve ever purchased a subcompact or compact tractor for your land, you’ve undoubtedly encountered 3-point hitch systems that can outfit your tractor with an implement or attachment for lighter workloads. CAT-3 and CAT-4 implements are reserved for larger, utility tractors between 80-225 horsepower that can handle generally heavier tasks.

CAT-0 Loader Implements

CAT-0 implements are the smallest hitch types for tractors and are typically reserved for very small, garden-tending tractors with basic, three-point hitches. Category 0 systems are much smaller and aren’t typically fitted for standard equipment.

CAT-1 & CAT-2 Implements

Category 1 systems are a very standard hitch type that you often see on tractors less than 50 horsepower. Many compact tractors will have sturdy enough lift arms to support CAT-1 implements. As you get into more utility tractors, or tractors above 50 horsepower, the hitch implement tends to be Category 2 or 3. CAT-2 implements have different, larger link pins and lift arm pins. Additionally, the spacing between the arms increases by 32 inches.

CAT-3 & CAT-4 Implements

Link pins for CAT-3 and 4 systems increase substantially from the three previous categories. The larger specs of the top link pin and lift arm pins allow Category 3 and 4 systems to hook up to heavy-duty implements like large mowers, grapples, and rototillers. Typically, Category 3 systems are meant for tractors between 80 and 225 horsepower while Category 4 hitches equip more industrial-size tractors ranging from 180 to 400 horsepower.

5 Useful Types of Tractor Implements for Everything from Compact to Industrial Machines

Whether you’re working with a 300 horsepower John Deere or a small garden tractor, the implements you choose can make your machine more suited to the task at hand—whatever that task may be. We’ll break down 4 of the most useful tractor attachments

Loaders

A loader attachment is a front-end implement for farm and construction equipment. Loaders are typically used for material handling from gravel to hay. When adhered to a skid steer, they make a very versatile piece of equipment for site development and when added to a tractor they can make farm machinery much more dynamic for heavy-duty farm work.

Why are loader attachments useful? Loader attachments are considered one of the best tractor implements due to their versatility. They can be used to add forks, spears, buckets, scrapes, and grapples to handle a number of tasks from creating debris piles or clearing fields of snow when inclement weather hits. This makes loaders one of the most common tractor attachments.

Mowers

Mowers are another useful attachment for tractors. Many mowers are mid-mount and attach to the belly of a tractor or rear-mount, allowing the implement to be dragged behind the machine.

Why are mowers useful? Mower attachments are useful because they can be used to maintain turf for cosmetic purposes or cut unkempt grass in a pasture or along a road’s edge. Be advised though that there are different types of tractor implements for different mowing applications. Grooming mowers are better suited for keeping a field or lawn tidy while rotary cutters can handle bigger tasks like cutting back pasture and field grass.

Pallet Forks

Like a front-end loader, pallet forks are another highly versatile attachment for a tractor. This attachment is typically a front-end attachment that transforms any tractor into essentially a high-powered forklift, able to lift hay, miscellaneous large items, and, of course, pallets.

Why are pallet forks useful? If you don’t encounter pallets in your daily tasks, you may still want to consider a pallet fork for your tractor. Pallet forks tend to be one of the most affordable attachments for farm equipment and they can be modified with bolt-on hooks to create a “poor-man’s grapple”, according to Equipment Radar.

Rotary Tiller

Tilling soil is a common task on farms and in gardens and this makes a rotary tiller, or rototiller, one of the best tractor implements for industrial and compact machines. The only thing to consider when purchasing a tiller is the direction in which the blades spin. Most models will offer forward tilling, but if you’re looking for an attachment that can handle reverse tilling, you may have to do some research.

Why are rotary tillers useful? Again, a rotary tiller’s primary application is to till topsoil and create fine, clod-free seedbed. Unlike a pallet fork which can be modified to create a grappler, there are few tractor attachments as effective for tilling as a rotary tiller.

Blades

There are many different types of blade attachments for tractors that serve a variety of purposes. For instance, a box blade is a three-sided rectangular piece of equipment with front and rear scraping blades that break up and shape soil. Rear blades, on the other hand, consist of just a blade and lack the teeth found in a box blade.

Why are blades useful? Blade attachments can also provide a versatile set of applications. Box blades are perfect for shaping and moving soil, they’re also great for grading and smoothing. Rear blades don’t have as versatile a set of uses, but they are very handy for digging ditches and removing snow.

Whatever your tractor or equipment attachment needs may be, Fastline can help you find a dealer or seller in your area with the perfect implement for your fleet. Find out more at Fastline and find the equipment you need, fast.