Pick a make and model. Full spec sheet, owner videos, and similar tractors on one page.
Find a model →Pit up to four models against each other. Engine, hydraulics, hitch, weight, warranty.
Open comparison →Written guides on choosing tractors, hydraulics, PTO, hitches, and maintenance.
Read articles →Part of a multi-episode spring farm cleanup series, this video shows a two-day brush and tree removal job using a John Deere 2038R with an Art Iligan grapple, a Case 580 backhoe, and Stihl chainsaws working together. It briefly compares the 270B vs 260B backhoe and 1-series vs 2-series tractor capabilities, touches on grapple build quality, and offers tips on throttle use for compact tractors. Best for owners curious about multi-machine workflow on a real property project.
An owner-operator channel focused on compact tractors, framed around family farm projects rather than professional instruction or dealership promotion.
Either could remove the trees, but the 2038R's grapple is better for carrying trees to the fire, so each machine is used for what it does best.
It is made of 3/8 inch, 400 steel. It is not the lightest grapple overall, but the lightest the presenter has seen for a 3/8 inch grapple.
Yes, the presenter says the 270B is a good bit stronger than the 260B, saving a minute or two pulling out a small tree in this job.
They try to be too gentle, which gets nothing done, and they have trouble using enough throttle since small machines need more throttle than large ones for hydraulics.
