Flip-flopping on tractor choices: it's a tough decision!

[BoneDigger]

I got a chance to see the New Holland Workmaster 35 today and test it out. It's literally brand new with only 50 hours. Not a scratch on it. If all goes well, I'll own it by this weekend.

 

[WVH1977]

Good deal. You will enjoy doing your chores a whole lot more now on your hunting property.

 

[BoneDigger]

I was able to talk them down to $14,500 with a basically new rough cut 5ft brush hog and a box blade. I think this will work just fine for my needs.

On a side note, this is a shuttle shift tractor. As fate would have it, I was also able to check out an identical tractor with hydro and didn't like the hydro much at all. It was very jerky and I just didn't like it. Plus, it was $2,000 more and had more hours and no attachments.

 

[tcreeley]

I was able to talk them down to $14,500 with a basically new rough cut 5ft brush hog and a box blade. I think this will work just fine for my needs.

On a side note, this is a shuttle shift tractor. As fate would have it, I was also able to check out an identical tractor with hydro and didn't like the hydro much at all. It was very jerky and I just didn't like it. Plus, it was $2,000 more and had more hours and no attachments.

Great tractor, brush hog, box blade, shuttle shift - and great price. You lucked out and did well!

 

[BoneDigger]

The Workmaster has been purchased and is now home with me. Pics to come soon.

 

[Texasmark]

The one in Terrell is Four Brothers. They also have a store in Royse City. I have had work done there and they are OK. Most of the time I order my parts from Messick's and get them shipped to me.

I bought my Ferris 61" IS700Z from them first of the year at the Royce City store. Great price, great machine. Had a lot of stock of various mfgrs. on the lot. Lots to choose from. Bo is the salesman and very knowledgeable and courteous. Kind of guy you like dealing with.

 

[BoneDigger]

Here she is!

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

I started with a Farmall Super A (25 hp) which was a basic setup tractor made primarily for cultivating truck farming type operations....vegetables, best I can remember. My biggest tractor was a 1979 JD 4230 100 hp 2wd diesel with cab. I had a rainbow of fillers over the years, maybe 20 all total. My current lineup is visible and they are here for a reason.

I downsized and retired (sort-a) in 2007 and bought the 6530. Tractor data . com tells you what it has and I bought it for those reasons. I kept the Fords, which I have had for well over 15 years as they are there when you need an extra tractor when haying, or doing an odd job around the farm when everything else is tied up.

I started in gas and will not go back, period. Diesels are superior and it is obviously a superior engine as witnessed by all the newer tractors available: diesel, 4wd, usually a mounted loader in the offering from the factory.....if they didn't sell something else would surely be offered that did.

Every tractor/mfgr. has their good and bad points and they are driven a lot of times by the owner. One owner may have a style of usage that puts pressure on a weak point in a design whereby another person wouldn't meaning that one person is happy with his/hers and another not. You also have the family tree involvement where "my great grandaddy drove a Model T and Ford is what is going to be in my driveway" syndrome.

What works in your soil, topography, climate, usage and all is unique to you. You can't expect responses from folks in other situations to fit your needs exactly.

It's a crap shoot. Take your best shot and be happy with your decision. If not, sell it and move on. No big deal. Happens every day.

Good luck.

I'm also in East Texas and have seen dealers come and go in my area. Kubota and Deere have a well earned reputation that should be considered when looking around. Mahindra is also a good brand. I went with Century because I felt it was as good as the others, but $4,000 cheaper. Over the years, I've struggled with getting parts, dealers closing down and finding some silly things that should never have been done when building it like a plastic hydraulic tank for the power steering. I've replaced it with a metal one.

Go with 4 wheel drive. You will still get stuck, but you will have more days that you can work with all the rain we get, then just sitting around waiting for it to dry out enough to run a 2 wheel drive tractor. Be careful of anything with a lot of hours on it. Small tractors are mostly weekend use and rarely get 100 hours a year on them. The more hours on a tractor, the more time you will spend wrenching on it.

My next tractor is going to be at least 80hp, 4x4 with a cab so I can pull a 15 foot batwing. Currently I'm battling bugs, the heat or the cold with my 35 hp tractor and 6 foot bush hog. Some days it's just too hot and humid to go out and spend a couple hours sweating, so I put it off until it cools off. I'm mowing at night more and more too. My favorite place to day dream and keep up on pricing is J & K Sales, Ltd

Texas -- well said!!!

Eddie -- with age comes the need for comfort. Not saying your old but I am and when I sit on a tractor any more I want the comfort of a car or truck. Heat, AC, bug and dust free. I to wish I had a bigger tractor and bush hog. I have 22 acres and if you want some shade you either have to build it or go else where. I do a lot of bush hogging, mostly light stuff, try and not let it get to tall or thick and only have a 7 footer. Been looking at the BW12 by woods and one by rhino. They say a 35 horse tractor can pull them. I am leaning towards the woods all though the rhino is a little heavier built it seems. I would be tickled to have either so I could spend more time on the porch drinking coffee.

 

[WM75Guy]

Nice find. Now get it dirty.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Nice looking machine. Hope it serves you well.