Yes, one of the main factors that placed limits (well reasonable limits) of the tractors on my list is the location of the nearest dealership. The second was talks with neighbors around town and their experiences with each manufacturer and the local (nearest) dealers.
I have been looking more towards the implements that the tractor will be using, the specs that each implement requires as far as gph, speed, etc as my main concentration (outside of the cab, which I have decided is not an option, that for my case is a need but a need I acknowledge will come with a rather hefty cost).
Grapple implement. I do not know how that managed to slip through the cracks within my postings, it was always on my mind as a have to get attachment. Not a single neighbor in town I talked with failed to list that as a must have.
I have not completely excluded the Kubota tractors, it was 4th on my list and for posting purposes I limited it to just the top three. Not many, actually only 3 of the neighbors around town own or ever owned any Kubota tractors and two of them did not have good things to say about the quality. I do realize after researching via the internet that they seem to be in the minority, so i'm just left to believe at this point that the lemons that every company makes or slips through quality assurance occasionally must have ended up with them. I will be taking the time to go over to the dealer and do an in-person visit before I reach a final decision.
The Deere's did not make it onto my list due to the negative experiences I was virtually always told about by the neighbors about the local dealer and the next closest dealer would add hours in driving time each way, so I almost excluded that line based on the logistics (but I will still take a couple of hours and go there so I can form my own in person and for myself impression based on such a visit).
We have a large family and a huge extended family. It will be a very slow and methodical integration over a period of years. Some will start sooner than others and some will do more than others. We will not be jumping into full time farming with two feet from atop of a mountainous ocean cliff. We will gradually learn over that lengthy time period but still be lucky enough to have a safety net that we know many other would not have.
Our long term goal is to gain the knowledge of how to, so that if ever needed, we would be able to be self sufficient should such a need ever arise out of necessity. By no means would or is this going to be an operation for commercial or money making venture. I hope that made as much sense in words as it did inside my head.
