New to LS Tractors

ahoglen · May 18, 2011

Well,

I have been lurking here for a while and have finally decided to buy a tractor.

The reason I'm buying a tractor is that we jsut closed on a house with about 12 acres and 8 of that is heavy brush and trees that needs to be cleared.

Our end goal is to have a small farm with some livestock for personal enjoyment and gardens to get us closer to getting off the grid.

I shopped around the local dealers and on the internet. I was first convinced I was going to get a reman Yanmar or Mitsu simply because of the cost. After doing my homework and actually talking to some folks I work with that used to re-sell these tractors I decided to go after something a little newer. I didn't like the fact that a lot of people mis-represent these as completely rebuilt tractors. So, I figured it was a gamble that I wasn't willing to take right now.

I shopped all the local dealers and I found:

-The Kioti dealer has very odd hours and showed little to no interest in talking to someone who was going to buy a tractor in less than a week. I even went as far as leaving my phone number so they could call me back with a firm price. They never called.

-The Mahindra dealer could do nothing to come off the MSRP and was fairly rude about it. He told me to come back when I was ready to buy something.

-John Deere is expensive and Kubota is still high compared to LS.

-LS. One of the main reasons I ended up at this "No Name" Tractor is because of the dealer. His pitch is that he is there 7 days a week and will never leave you without a running machine. He only does work on equipment he sells and does not have a que of machines ahead of your if there is a problem. It was this attitude that really got me looking at these blue machines.

Anyways, I started looking into these and LS' history. It is pretty interesting. After reading up (lurking around here and other tractor forums) and talking to people that own these tractors I decided that LS might be a good fit. The capacioties for these tractors are a lot higher than the same price ranges of their competition and the fit and finish is pretty high up there.

I also like the fact that a foreign company has expressed interest in building American Plants and making new American jobs in my home state of NC. That makes me feel good. Well, that and a 5 year warranty.

What I ended up with was this:

-LS R3039
-6' Big Bee rotary cutter
-6' King Cutter Box Blade
-PTO Auger with a 24" bit (got some trees to plant)
-18' double axle trailer with binders.

I got this all for under $20k, which I think was a pretty good deal. What say ye tractorbynet?

Anyways, pictures to come later when I get her home and get all moved into the new abode.

(oh and thanks for all the info I've been given access to here on TBN!)

boomer632 · May 18, 2011

I would say you did pretty good. I just bought an R4041 EZ w/ loader for 20K out the door.

I looked around like you did. What sold me was that this tractor comes standard with

rear work light
telescopic draw bar
telescopic lift arms
2 sets rear remotes
independent and manual PTO
safety flashers
turn signals
tilt steering wheel
7-pin Rear electrical connector

Most of these features are options on the orange and green tractors. Furthermore- take a look at the front and rear axles on LS. They are of heavier cast iron- not the "pot metal" cast axles you see on other brands. Also look at the beefy loader mount. Much heavier than most others. The lift capacity on the loader and 3 pt is higher on LS than most. The hydraulic GPM rate is higher than most. I could go on and on...
Bottom line.. its the best bang for your buck. Oh.. and did I mention the 5 year warranty? Enough said.

kpbeddin · May 18, 2011

Congratulations Alan; glad to hear everything worked out on your new tractor, and I concur with you that you got a great deal from a great dealer.
As I and a few others have learned, be sure to check and re-torque wheel and FEL frame bolts often, especially when new. Otherwise, be safe and have fun with the new machine.

ahoglen · May 18, 2011

boomer,
That FEL loader subframe is one of the first things I saw that was different than comparable other brands. It also seems like it will pay off in the long run when you look at capacities. I have read in a lot of the other subforums here that the quality of LS is lacking compared to a green or orange machine, but I don't see it, but I have havent gotten to spend any time on mine either (I pick it up Fri Morning).

Keith,
I think it was your posts I read about the shearing of the FEL bolts after they got loose. I will check on them periodically.

Once again I'm pretty happy, stoked if you will, about the whole thing. I have a lot of work to get done in the next few months so I can get the gardens going in the spring and comfy in the new house, especially considering how little free time away from work I have had of late.

Oh and I'm making lots of new "friends" as people learn about the tractor... it usually goes something like, "You know I've got this thing in my yard I'd like to get done, when you get a chance......"

Gary Fowler · May 20, 2011

I think I would load up my tractor and what ever I could get on the trailer and go back by that Mahindra and Kioti dealer and tell them I'm ready to buy. Lure them outside and then let them look at what you bought.
I hate a cocky salesman. My wife had the same situation at a Sears store with a salesman that acted as though he didnt think my wife was worth his time to show major appliances. She is Hispanic and the salesman didnt want to waste his time with someone who obviously couldnt afford the appliances she was looking at. She did tell the store manager that she would not buy anything from that store as long as the sales person was there. We went to a small Sears store nearby where the salesman really appreciated the $6000 sale that he made. We were buying the whole house appliances for our new home, so I am sure his commission was good on that one.
I had a Kubota salesman that never returned my phone calls and didnt take time to make me a price even after 2 personal visits.

I have no memory · May 23, 2011

I have an LS dealer that has said he'd come to my place to look at my CUV for trade many times and hasn't. I've stopped by his dealership at least 4-5 times and given him my phone number twice. When I was looking at the P series he called me at least once a week but now can't find the time to call. I think you find what kind of dealer you have when something breaks or you want to trade something in. I like the guy but I'm not reaching out for him anymore.

BTW - I like the R3039. I think it's a sweet spot in the lineup. If you got it with a hydro I think you did very well.

Sublifer · May 25, 2011

Welcome to the community. All of us here think you made a great choice. Even more so since it sounds like you found a great dealer. Good dealers aren't brand specific but I'm glad you found one with LS. The R3039 sounds like a great choice for you. It ought to be plenty of tractor for you.

As an aside, is anyone else disappointed with that rear worklight? Might just be mine... But the light seems like a cheap "us too" effort and I don't care for the switch location either... But at least the wiring is done if I ever want to do a nicer light. The light is really about my only complaint as to the fit and finish of my R4047.

ahoglen · May 25, 2011

Sublifer said:
Welcome to the community. All of us here think you made a great choice. Even more so since it sounds like you found a great dealer. Good dealers aren't brand specific but I'm glad you found one with LS. The R3039 sounds like a great choice for you. It ought to be plenty of tractor for you.

As an aside, is anyone else disappointed with that rear worklight? Might just be mine... But the light seems like a cheap "us too" effort and I don't care for the switch location either... But at least the wiring is done if I ever want to do a nicer light. The light is really about my only complaint as to the fit and finish of my R4047.

I assume by your username you are a bubblehead???

Anyways I haven't had the tractor out at night yet so I haven't tried using the light. I think there are a few LED pannel lights that would work much nicer than the stock one. I just don't see a need for anything different right now.

Sublifer · May 26, 2011

Bubblehead = submariner? Wasn't sure... But no, silly story about making the name from subway (sandwiches) and lifesavers candy. Needed a chat handle way back when and that's what I came up with from the things in front of me.

I don't use my tractor at night either. I only mentioned that light because it is the only thing that looks and feels cheap on the tractor... In response to the fit & finish of LS tractors.