Montana Limited, help me decide...

[Arky217]

I am seriously considering pulling the trigger on a Montana Limited (rebadged Farmtrac), model 545DTC, 4WD, geared trans, with a 5345 loader.

I'm retired and just have SS income. The tractor funding, therefore, has to come out of my retirement savings so I've been looking mostly at used tractors.

I have been looking several months now and because I have been having a hard time finding a used tractor that appears to be in fairly decent shape, I've also been considering new tractors.

The best value in a used tractor I've found that I think would meet my needs is a 2006 Kubota L4400, gear, with loader, 450 hrs. for $14000.

The lowest price I've been able to find for a similar new tractor with features equivalent or better than the Kubota has been about $18000.

Then I came upon the Montana 545DTC.
I have found a new one with a loader for $16500.
It appears quite a bit bigger, weighs about 1500# more, and looks much stouter than a Kubota L4400 and has more features, such as 1 remote, skid steer QA bucket, nearly twice the loader lift capacity, direct injection engine.

The way I figure it, for just $2500 more, this model Montana would beat the used Kubota L4400 even if the Montana didn't have a warranty.

At my age, I'm not even considering resale value, but the biggest question in my mind about the Montana is the availability of parts in the future.

There is one feature that I wish the Montana had, and that is a shuttle shift.

What do you Montana owners think of the 545DTC, and does this appear to be a good price ?
Also, what do you think about the availability of parts in the future ?

Thanks,
Arky

 

[shakin]

if you can do it i would. these ls built tractors seem to be built really robustly. that model is not shuttle? how does this compare to a grand l 4440 hp. remember the l4400 is the biggest 44 hp model in the bota lineup you will need to look at the grand l series i believe the grands always have a 30 or 40 after the hp size. not trying to steer you away from montana because i own one and highly recommend them but you need to compare apples to apples.

 

[Arky217]

Apples to apples; well when you consider a NEW Kubota L4400 gear with loader sells for $22000 plus, I would not even want to price one of the Grand L's, but I have a feeling that the equivalent hp Grand L would be twice the price of the Montana.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

if you can do it i would. these ls built tractors seem to be built really robustly. that model is not shuttle? how does this compare to a grand l 4440 hp. remember the l4400 is the biggest 44 hp model in the bota lineup you will need to look at the grand l series i believe the grands always have a 30 or 40 after the hp size. not trying to steer you away from montana because i own one and highly recommend them but you need to compare apples to apples.

If it is a re-badged Farmtrac isnt that model an Indian made tractor and not an LS made tractor? Not knocking it just curious. I own an LS made Farmtrac made in South Korea and have been pleased with it, just no warranty and no local dealers left after the great ft fiasco, fortunately for me I have'nt needed either one. I hope some of you guys do buy one and maybe we can finally find out the straight on the warranty and who makes what good and who does'nt, you hear a lot of stories on here and every one of them seem to be a little different depending on who you talk to, some good info in some of them probably and some of them are in some sorta code that I don't understand. Good luck and let us know what you figure out.

 

[Tim C.]

545 is Escorts machine. Not LS. Purchase from Farmtrac dealer if possible. There is a Pre Delivery Inspection that is more of a factory rework. This needs to be done by someone who knows the tractor. There really is something to be said for dealer set up and servicing.

Never, ever, take a tractor straight off the transport regardless of make and model. Warranty Administrators can tell you which dealer does the Pre Delivery work. Huge reduction is claim rates and happier customers.

Tim

 

[chh]

Sounds more like a used price than a new price for that tractor. As you noted it is quite a bit more tractor than the Kubota. Does it still have the Ford(on which is it based) style shifting where first and reverse are in line? One of my MF's is like that and though it isn't a true shuttle it can be nearly as fast, you just have to reach down to do it(and you have to come to a full stop).

There are enough Escort made Longs and Farmtracs out there that there is bound to be an independent parts source(if you can get the farmtrac guys to quit griping long enough to mention it and I think there is at least one mentioned in the farmtrac thread), in addition to whatever the agreement Montana has to provide parts support for the ones they are selling.

If the Montana rep is at the Customer appreciation day that I PM'd you about I will ask him for more details on the parts/warranty agreements.

 

[case1570]

I to would try to buy the tractor from a former farmtrac dealer. These guys have more knowledge of these tractors and have the private dealer network to work from. Don't know where they will be with pricing but it is sure worth a call. Let us know what state you are in and you may get some calls with a good solid deal.
Case

 

[Arky217]

This 545DTC is from a Montana dealer and he says the warranty he gives is 3 years 'bumper to bumper'.

And the dealer says the engine is made by Escort; what country is that and is that ok, not so good, or does it matter ?

The transmission is a 'constant mesh', main shifter is 4 fwd, 1 rev, the other shifter is low/high range, and yes the reverse is straight down from 2 gear; is that sort of like a shuttle ?

Thanks,
Arky

 

[chh]

Escort tractors is out of India. It is the old Ford design(and I believe they made some for Ford). That is the old standard style trans. It is not like a shuttle, but my wife is pretty adept at making our MF 4243 act like one. Try it out. Since it is a straight manual the tractor would have to come to a full stop to shift it. Some tractors are better at that than others, but in no way do I mean to tell you it is a true shuttle trans.

Good luck with it all.

 

[kevanos]

Escort is Indian, and is the company that owned Farmtrac N.A., and build Farmtrac tractors still in India and Poland. It is based off an old Ford design, as Escort did build Ford tractors at one time.

If you buy through an old Farmtrac dealer who is not a Montana dealer, you will not get a warranty. Buying through Montana, (which bought Farmtrac N.A.'s assets), you will get the warranty and service. If you can find a Montana dealer that used to be a Farmtrac dealer, that would be your best bet.

Good tractors, good reliability. Escorts was just not good at customer service or finances.