^^^^^ lightweight build is a problem with all new tractors, even 50+ hp. In many situations a letter series Jd or Farmall will out perform a newer, higher hp, 4wd. The old tractors made huge torque at very low rpm, add the weight of build, and they are unstoppable. We used them to pull wagons with 500 gallons of maple sap before pipelines brought the sap down to a collection tank. Working from December to April the trails would go from packed snow to knee deep mud. Getting stuck was pretty rare.
Down here, a heavy tractor will get you stuck. When it rains in the sandy part of the country, and becomes soaked and saturated, the sand is now "quick sand" for lack of a better description.
In the black gumbo part of the area, heavier gets stuck faster as well.
Some guys down here I know add weight to their tractors by filling the tires with water, or getting their tires foam filled. Both add LOTS of weight.
Different part of the country that I don't understand. Here we fill tires with fluid that don't freeze, hang weights and chain up 4 months out of the year. Small light tractors can't put HP to the ground, lift anything and slide around or spin
There's a trade off on weight. A heavier tractor with slimmer, heavy lugged ag tires will definitely put more HP on the ground, especially when using ground engaging equipment. Same tractor is much more likely to get stuck when bushhogging in wetter areas like the banks of ponds or fence lines in low places (especially if the ground is uneven putting more weight on one side) than a lighter tractor with wider industrial tires. Lighter tractor is much easier to get out if it does get stuck as well.
Another trade off is with the lighter compact tractors that have a hydrostatic transmission vs a manual transmission. A bit of PTO HP is lost with the hydrostatic, but the trade off may be worth it depending on the type of work it's going to be used for.
I spent several weeks sowing down pasture this fall and using 3 different tractors. Heavy with a geared transmission used in long straight stretches are the clear winner for heavy lifting or ground engagement. Tight corners, uneven/wet ground, lots of maneuvering, the lighter hydrostostatics are so much easier.
