Escorts Steeltrac vs Captain 280 DX
Comparing the Escorts Steeltrac and the Captain 280 DX — the Captain 280 DX carries 10 HP more, and the Escorts Steeltrac is about ₹2.08 lakh cheaper ex-showroom. The specifications below are from the manufacturers; the section under them explains what those differences mean on an actual farm.
Which one should you buy?
Both of these are sold into the same segment, so the choice comes down to a handful of real differences rather than one being better than the other outright.
Price
The Escorts Steeltrac is roughly ₹2.08 lakh cheaper ex-showroom — about 46% less than the Captain 280 DX. On road that gap widens slightly, because RTO tax and insurance are calculated on the higher figure. Whether the Captain 280 DX earns that back depends entirely on the points below; if it does not, the cheaper machine is the better buy.
Lifting capacity
The Captain 280 DX lifts 150 kg more (Escorts Steeltrac: 450 Kg, Captain 280 DX: 600 KG). This decides which mounted implements the tractor can actually carry, and it is where cheaper models usually cut corners. Check it against the heaviest implement you own — loaded weight, not the dry weight in the brochure.
Engine
The Captain 280 DX runs 2 cylinders against the Escorts Steeltrac's 1. More cylinders generally means smoother running and less vibration over a long day, at the cost of a little more fuel and slightly dearer servicing. Fewer cylinders is simpler to maintain, which matters if your nearest workshop is far.
Gearbox
Escorts Steeltrac: 15.4 HP. Captain 280 DX: 8 Forward + 2 Reverse. Count the low-range speeds rather than the total — puddling and rotavating need slow ground speed at working engine revs, and a box with too few low gears forces a compromise between the two.
Other differences
They also differ on brakes (Dry disc brake vs Oil Immersed Brakes), steering (Manual Steering vs Power Steering). None of these decide the purchase on their own, but oil-immersed brakes and power steering are worth paying for if you spend long days on the machine.
The short answer
Neither leads outright — each is ahead on something the other is not, so the right answer depends on which of the points below describes your farm.
- Heavy mounted implements: the Captain 280 DX, which has the hydraulics to carry them.
- Tightest budget, or if none of the above apply to you: the Escorts Steeltrac. Paying for capability you never use is the most common and most expensive mistake at this size.
Before you decide
- Prices here are ex-showroom. Add roughly 7–10% for RTO registration and insurance, and get the on-road figure in writing from the dealer, itemised.
- Visit more than one dealer for each brand. Exchange value and finance terms vary between showrooms by more than the price gap between these two machines.
- Ask how far the nearest workshop is for each brand. A tractor that is down for a week in season costs more than the difference between these two.
- Drive both with an implement attached, not empty. An unloaded tractor tells you very little.
Specifications compared
| Specification | Escorts Steeltrac | Captain 280 DX |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹2.44 - ₹2.73 Lakh* | ₹4.52 - ₹5.01 Lakh* |
| Engine | ||
| HP | 18 | 28 HP |
| Cylinders | 1 | 2 |
| Displacement (CC) | 895 CC | 1290 CC |
| Engine RPM | 2300 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Air Filter | Oil Bath | — |
| Cooling System | Coolant cooled | Water Cooled |
| Torque | 220 NM | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission Type | Synchromesh | Synchromesh |
| Clutch | Single clutch | NA |
| Gearbox | 15.4 HP | 8 Forward + 2 Reverse |
| Forward Speed | 25 kmph | 27.6 kmph |
| Reverse Speed | 4.53 kmph | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake Type | Dry disc brake | Oil Immersed Brakes |
| PTO | ||
| PTO Type | MRPTO | — |
| PTO RPM | 540 | 540 @ 2408 |
| PTO Power (HP) | 15.4 HP | NA |
| Hydraulics | ||
| Lifting Capacity (Kg) | 450 Kg | 600 KG |
| 3 Point Linkage | — | ADDC |
| Steering | ||
| Steering Type | Manual Steering | Power Steering |
| Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Total Weight (Kg) | 910 KG | 1000 KG |
| Wheelbase (MM) | 1524 MM | 1550 MM |
| Overall Length (MM) | 2530 MM | 2720 MM |
| Overall Width (MM) | 1040 MM | 1220 MM |
| Ground Clearance (MM) | 300 MM | 20 litre |
| Turning Radius | 2550 MM | — |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 18 litre | — |
| Wheels & Tyres | ||
| Wheel Drive | 2 WD | 2 WD |
| Front Tyre | 5.20 X 14 | 5.00 X 15 |
| Rear Tyre | 8.00 X 18 | 9.50 X 24 |
| Other | ||
| Warranty | 2000 Hour or 2 Year | NA |
| Accessories | Tool, Toplink, Canopy, Hook, Bumper, Drawbar | — |
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