Tractor Shopping Observations

[big bubba]

but isn't that what the top manufacturers (and worthy dealerships) set them apart from strictly fly by night transactions? how many times have i heard "it's all about support at local dealership level"?

 

[crazyal]

I see it as mfgs are offering what people want. If the market for a heavy barebones tractor was great they would be offered. The simple fact is steel cost money, more steel more money. Secondly that steel needs to be shipped here, more weight more shipping costs. Finally the great thing about a lighter tractor is you can add weight as needed, you can't remove it. I think that mfgs have spent plenty of time and effort to make tractors lighter yet just as strong (or stronger) than in the past when they would just make things thicker.

HST is just what the market is asking for. My neighbor has a gear MX5000. He was using it to skid logs and clean up some of the skidder trails. Watching him work the clutch and grind gears was painful. After a minute on my HST tractor he said that'll be the last gear tractor he buys. A few people may migrate the other direction but the bulk opt for ease of use. Plus for anyone who has a wife or child who is not experienced HST is a safe option.

As for cost, I'm not sure that a tractor could be built that meets federal requirements (safety/ emissions/ etc.) that much cheaper.

 

[danceswithdirt]

I'm one of those who certainly bought more than was needed. I only needed a loader but the dealer said they had to build a tractor around it.

 

[powerpace]

Manufacturers make their living by making and selling what people want. That is not necessarily the same as what they need. A good salesman will ask the right questions to fit the customer with right tractor.
I grew up with tractors. All made to pull something heavy across the ground or through the ground. All the tractors were heavy but still needed weights added on occasion. Filled tires with Calcium Chloride, suitcase weights and tire weights front and back. You could take it off for lighter duty. Some tractors were built for light duty (Allis Chalmers G, small row cultivator) but you could only use it for single use.
Most CUT equipment will never be used in a constant use situation. Intermittent usage tractors with options for added implements is the norm in the homeowner market.
In my opinion if you don't need a FEL all you have is a lawn maintenance tractor.
I have a HST because of hip and joint problems. All day operation. The last geared tractor I had was a nightmare. I could only operate it for about two hours at a time then wait two days before I was able to get back on.
There is a reason most big construction equipment is HST.

 

[catskinner]

If any manufacturer offered a pickup truck that was:

good heavy truck
an engine with some grunt
no carpet
no power locks or windows
sheet metal thick enough that it doesn't bend when you lean on it
a manual transmission with a granny gear
a rear end made for pulling not for gas mileage
*that cost less than I paid for my first house* (and I'm not that old)

I would be at the dealership first thing in the morning to buy one
and I would gladly pay extra for the heater and am/fm radio

I bought this one last year, runs great. You'll need a time machine to buy new though.:laughing:

 

[strum456]

I ran into the same issues. I had a Ford 861 gas, no loader and wanted a 4x4 tractor with a loader.

The big 3's were not what I wanted at all after looking at them. I ended up going Chinese with a Jinma 284. Glad I did. Tractor and loader on this 28HP beast weighed 3,800# and with weights on the front, wheel weights, (both are standard), and filling the rear tires it now weighs 5,600# and can really do some work. It will flat out pull my 861 which is gas and 48 HP any day of the week and twice on Sundays with its 28HP.

Another little fact about Chinese tractors is they rate them at a 12 hour average HP, not peak like the others. My tractor out of the box turned 31 HP on the PTO peak out of its 28 HP engine. I venture to guess its more near 35 peak HP.

Its basically built like the tractors were 50 years ago. I tell people its like buying a brand new 45 year old tractor.


Oh yea, and it has real tires, R1's. All the others push the R4's so hard but my experience with them using others machines left me disappointed.

I could not live without a loader thought. I would say I spend 60% of my time doing loader work, 30% mowing, and the other 10% pushing snow and grading.

Chris

I am surprised at this comparison. I am not doubting you tractor, as I have no experience with Jinmas. However, my 861, 841, and 960 would eat a New Holland TC45 alive. The power does not even come close. The new holland being 4x4 does way better with loader work, but thats about it. It does not pull a plow or disc as well. The R4 tires probably have something to do with this, but it does have 4x4 and the others dont.

 

[TripleR]

I bought this one last year, runs great. You'll need a time machine to buy new though.:laughing:

My brother and his son buy and fix those things up for fun and even sell a few. They go around the country side buying anything from a carcass to functioning truck depending on the price and fix them up. They have put them back close to stock as well as a couple for local car shows; seems to be a demand for them.

 

[strum456]

My brother and his son buy and fix those things up for fun and even sell a few. They go around the country side buying anything from a carcass to functioning truck depending on the price and fix them up. They have put them back close to stock as well as a couple for local car shows; seems to be a demand for them.

My only road legal truck is a 1977 ford f-150 4x4 with heavy duty suspension for hauling. I did a frame off restoration on it in 2006, but I put a bed liner in it and a really heavy trailer hitch for all of my hauling needs. I occationally haul my 345d Ford NH industrial tractor with it (4x4 with cab and loader). Try doing that with a new f-150 :laughing:

My plan is to adapt a cummins or similar engine into it eventually, as well as a steering and brake upgrade. I love old trucks!

 

[TripleR]

My only road legal truck is a 1977 ford f-150 4x4 with heavy duty suspension for hauling. I did a frame off restoration on it in 2006, but I put a bed liner in it and a really heavy trailer hitch for all of my hauling needs. I occationally haul my 345d Ford NH industrial tractor with it (4x4 with cab and loader). Try doing that with a new f-150 :laughing:

My plan is to adapt a cummins or similar engine into it eventually, as well as a steering and brake upgrade. I love old trucks!

Sounds like a really nice old truck. Both my brothers and their sons are mechanics though only one did it for a living for a while and their "fun weekends" would often involve switching engines from one truck to another. One grand son lost interest in his new 454 truck when he had to pay for his gas and my brother swapped him a small block for it as my brother doesn't put many miles on it. They love those old trucks too.

The "mechanic gene" jumped right over me.:laughing:

 

[veresjwv]

I agree with everything you just said except for #3.
My first tractor had no loader and I got by OK.
My next tractor purchase I wanted a loader. What a differance. It made my tractor so much more handy I would never go without one ever again.[/QUOTE]

OLD SCHOOL? I started on my first tractor...ford jubilee (spelling) I loved that tractor as you said we did many things with it with out the loader but when my Dad had a loader installed it improved it's worth many times over. The chores that go a long with farming are improved dramatically with a loader. I wouldn't even consider looking at a tractor with out a loader option. Now that a lot of loaders are detachable even better.
operating that old ford was not an easy task, hitting a pile and coming up with a full bucket of whatever had to be a planned attack. You were not just the oerator, you had to be part of the tractor. Know that I am a senior citizen, the HST beets the H### out of gearing and clutching, ease of operation make othe rmanual tasks easier, you don't have to work at operating the tractor. My L3400 4wd hst out performs and more then fits my purpose and out performs all the old 8n's around here. AND it has power steering! just my two cents worth.:thumbsup: