Buying Advice Disappearing Tractor Brands

[Bill Williams]

I am a new member and am familiar with the big brand names.I am trying to find a reasonable deal on a used tractor and I see some posts that make me think Montana and Branson would not be wise to buy now. I want to be able to buy repair parts when I need them and not have weeks between breakdowns when the machine sits. The tractor will be in Western NC . Can anyone shed some light on the tractor business as it stands now that would protect me from making a bad decision.:confused2:

 

[crbr]

I am a new member and am familiar with the big brand names.I am trying to find a reasonable deal on a used tractor and I see some posts that make me think Montana and Branson would not be wise to buy now. I want to be able to buy repair parts when I need them and not have weeks between breakdowns when the machine sits. The tractor will be in Western NC . Can anyone shed some light on the tractor business as it stands now that would protect me from making a bad decision.:confused2:

This entire forum is all about the tractor business as such. Just read a lot. Buy a known and established brand, pay cash, change the fluids on schedule, and enjoy.

 

[8404]

Just to be safe stick with ORange, green, blue. and red tractors. the reason for the red is that Mihindra seems to be here to stay and may be bigger brand than John deere soon.

 

[TripleR]

I personally won't buy anything but one of the top brands for the reasons you mentioned. I believe parts will be available for them long after the lesser known brands are long gone. I am sure some of them are good tractors for the right person, I am just not that person.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

the reason for the red is that Mihindra seems to be here to stay and may be bigger brand than John deere soon.

Think it already is...:thumbsup:

 

[art]

Tractor retailers will always be there! The company that builds them or the relationship between the builder and retailer will change'

Look at deere and Yanmar that got together in 1977 and nearly gone today. Some relationships haven't gone that long!

 

[Bill Williams]

Thanks for the information. I think you reinforced my belief about this and will stick to the colors . Once I figure this out I will post a picture

 

[Don87]

Thanks for the information. I think you reinforced my belief about this and will stick to the colors . Once I figure this out I will post a picture

I bought the 'red' one because it fit myself and my wife. But it is biult in Brazil? or Mars?..........LOL

Dunno what the future holds, just keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Don87]

.....

 

[milkman636]

Just to be safe stick with ORange, green, blue. and red tractors. the reason for the red is that Mihindra seems to be here to stay and may be bigger brand than John deere soon.

Mahindra must be a regional phenomenon. Dealers in my area with red tractors are selling either Massey and Case. There is also one dealer about 50 miles away that sells red Branson tractors. I don't know where a single Mahindra dealer is located. I really doubt they come anywhere close to Deere in volume.

Deere still dominates in the ag tractor market, and Kubota is the dominant CUT maker that I see in my travels. I'd say New Holland is probably #2 in ag, and Deere and NH would be a toss up for #2 behind Kubota in the CUT market locally.

 

[JoeinTX]

Don't doubt the Mahindras. They are a force. Amazingly so. I've not seen a tractor company market, spend money, develop a support base, and commit to so many obligations as they have done. They've gone the mile.

They have dealers locally here. My next new rig if I ever have one will be a 25 series.

 

[Kaizer Peas]

You mentioned Branson as a brand to avoid but they've been building farm machinery since 1968 and build big John Deeres for the Asian market. They are also the biggest brand in Korea ahead of Kioti. They use Cummins designed engines and I really like mine. It's a real well build heavy tractor I'm convinced they're here to stay, but it's your money.

I had a John Deere that I thought was way overpriced and very low tech compared to the Branson, not to mention the price difference.

You'd think the only tractors made were Kubota, John Deere and New Holland.
I think there's more to it than that.

 

[Bill Williams]

I did not want to offend anybody with my post or look for endorsements from people about which brand they like the best- I just wanted to see if anyone had current info about who is in trouble and who can't supply parts any more. Already I have learned that there is also a gray market too so the tractor business is a very colorful industry. :laughing:

 

[Loren49]

I'm not disagreeing because I don't know but where did you get the information that Branson outsells Daedong (Kioti) in Korea.

Also I believe that the compact New Hollands are made in Korea by LS Cable.

Loren

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

In 2009 Mahindra sold more tractor units arround the world, than any other tractor company. Yes here in the US Mahindra has a long way to go, but they are a very tenacious bunch, and I wouldn't under estimate them.

I think that the biggest risk would be with a company that only rebadges tractors and manufactures none.

 

[IH3444]

My 1971 International Harvester 3444 TLB is based on a Mahindra tractor, with a British Perkins diesel engine, the BD154-4, and with the FEL built in South Korea. Only the model 3141 backhoe was manufactured here in the states. A global collabration back in 1971.

 

[Loren49]

LAWALLSTRACTOR - could you post the source of that information - I'm interested in the rankings.

I did find this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahindra_Tractors
Mahindra India
Mahindra Tractors is number one in sales in India - the largest tractor market in the world.[8] and it has been the market leader since 1983.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...l-leader-Pawan-Goenka/articleshow/6459090.cms
Its wholly-owned subsidiary — Mahindra USA (MUSA) — has three assembly plants in Texas, Georgia and California that make compact and utility tractors for the local market. The company also operates two joint-venture facilities in China.

“We are on course as per our plan to get the requisite volumes and increase our market share in the world. Tractors are like time-machines for us and should be our first segment to make us true global leaders ,” said Mr Goenka.

Clearly a solid company.


Loren

 

[Boeing]

Bill, I did the same search last summer. I found lots of "rebuilt" Yanmars and Mitsubushi's at great prices. I found worn out Deere's at high prices. I went on the "net" and looked for dealers near my Virginia property. NO Yanmars, (I know Deere uses Yanmar engines) The ONLY Mitsubushi dealer was 250 miles away. Then I started looking at N.Holland...foreign engines and expensive, I noticed that FLORIDA STATE was buying Kubota's......hmmmmm:shocked:..So I started looking at them.....Dealers EVERYWHERE and prices moderate. Good luck... LOOK FOR NEARBY DEALERS.:thumbsup:

 

[wny770]

Here's food for thought. If you ever go to trade, would a brand name be worth more?

 

[milkman636]

Farm Equipment Manufacturers Set to Bounce Back - Seeking Alpha

Here is another related link.

I must admit to being a little surprised about Mahindras volume, especially since I have never seen a Mahindra dealer. This article appears to indicate that they are not yet on top of the heap.