anyone have opinions on Branson Tractors?

[tman1020]

I would just like to add that where something is assembled and where its parts content comes from is important to me. I do believe that I am in the minority and I'm not saying that I don't buy foreign. Just that I do try. I know that when it comes to compact tractors most of them (majority of parts content and major assembly)do come from outside US. However some have more US content and assembly than others. I take this into consideration when I shop for anything. US does not always come out on top but it definitely weights on my decision.

 

[acrozier]

You don't "think" ANY of the JD lawn tractors are American made? And you "know" your neighbor's JD riding mower is not? Please explain to me where JD Lawn Tractors and "Riding Mowers" are built, please?

P.S. I know where all of them are made, so please do your homework before replying

His has the Vanguard engine. That is not a US made engine. I think you are considering "assembled in the US" the same as "made in the US". I do not.

 

[acrozier]

I would just like to add that where something is assembled and where its parts content comes from is important to me. I do believe that I am in the minority and I'm not saying that I don't buy foreign. Just that I do try. I know that when it comes to compact tractors most of them (majority of parts content and major assembly)do come from outside US. However some have more US content and assembly than others. I take this into consideration when I shop for anything. US does not always come out on top but it definitely weights on my decision.

I'm not a "Buy American" type. I buy what I feel is the best value for my dollar. I stated tht early on. Sorry if that offends people. But ultimately I believe foreign competition only forces US companies to improve their product. When the US item gives me the best bang for my buck...I'll buy it in a heartbeat. If the best value is a foreign product, that is OK too. Ultimately my tractor was sold and serviced by a local establishment. So it really doesn't bother me where it was made.

 

[acrozier]

You need to do some more/better research. The Case and NH machines that are made by LS have the same engine, frame, axles, etc regardless of whether they're blue with NH stickers, blue with LS stickers, or Red with Case stickers.

The versions with blue paint and LS stickers do have a more powerful loader than the Case or NH versions.

The other machines (compact tractors) made for CNH come from Shibaura, and you can't buy those directly, so it's an entirely different scenario.

Your Branson can lift 2,200lbs to 103.8" at the pins....not even close to what a Utility machine is normally capable of, and there are 40hp compact tractors that can lift a fair amount more. For example, Kioti's DK40SE or NX4510 can lift 2,761lbs to 108.3"....that's a big jump in capability to lift 561lbs more weight an extra 4". Short version...the Kioti loader is at least 25% more powerful, but it's still not a Utility tractor loader. Jump up to Kiot's RX series (Utility) and you add another 600lbs of lift (3,384lbs) but it will lift that an extra two feet higher. That's a major jump in capability...more than twice what your Branson can do to the same height.

Look at a Deere 5045E (smaller Utility machine) and the FEL capacity is 3,133lbs to 122"....again, a huge jump from 2,200lbs to 103.8"....well over a 50% increase.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your Branson, but it doesn't remotely compare to a Utility size tractor when you're talking about FEL use. The other thing is that there is more to it than just lift capacity...you have to be able to use it safely, and the Utility machines will have an advantage there as well.

I will stand by my comment. As I looked at the various CUT models in my price range ( an important comment I left out in my previous post) had loader capacities around 1500lbs. Some less, some more...particularly in the 35 - 40 range. While the 2200# capacity of my loader is less than a bunch of the utility tractors, it seemed more comparable than the #1500 that I was seeing. My heaviest load is #1200-#1300 lbs. I wanted a little leeway, so #2200 was good for me. I was actually originally looking at a 35hp tractor. The Branson 3520R has the same loader as the 4020R that I bought. I only bought the 4020R since the dealer had a better deal on it and it was a Tier 3 motor. I did NOT want a tier 4! As I looked at tractors. The Branson, Mahindra and Kioti tractors where much beefier and more capable than what I saw from the JD, NH & Farmall CUTs. That was the point of my post.

Does mine fit the definition of a Utility tractor....no...it is a CUT. But much like my little 35hp Mahindra. People seemed surprised at what that little tractor could do. Heck, I was surprised when it was demonstrated to me. That is why I bought the darn thing.

I seemed to have started a ruckus on here. The point of all my posts....we are a global economy. If a Korean or Japanese company makes a great tractor and successfully sells them in the US, that will employ Americans through distributorships, parts suppliers and mechanics. No tractor that I know of is 100% American. If your shopping for a tractor, give an honest look at the "foreign" tractors. Read the forums, see what the people that actually own the tractors have to say. Talk to the dealers that sell MORE than one brand if possible. If you MUST by what you consider to be an American tractor because it has a higher percentage of American parts, good for you and go ahead.

Many of the foreign tractors are great values. They are pushing to expand market share in the US. I will use my Mahindra as an example. I went from a Ford 8N, to a small JD. I then decided it was time for a new tractor. Mahindra was really making a push in the US. I compared tractors. I found that Mahindra manufactured tractors for IH for many many years. That was a plus in my book. I talked to others that had their Mahindra's a few years and finally pulled the trigger on one. Saved several thousand and never looked back. Tractor never given me a second of trouble in 10-yrs. I wanted to upgrade to shuttle shift and an FEL. Looked around. Talked to owners and a couple of dealers out of state that sold Mahindra and Branson. Winner this time was Branson. Dealer I bought from also sold Kioti. I came close to buying a Kioti 4510. Dealer was confident I would be happy with either one. But ultimately the features and ergonomics on the Branson were more to my liking. It might have been a bad decision. Only time will tell. But my personal experience has been that foreign goods these days are pretty good quality once they get marketed in the US.

I really understand the buy American thing. I remember having the discussion with my Mom when she was looking for a new car. I dug around and found that at the time, the Honda and Toyota that was comparable to the US car she was looking at actually had a higher US component percentage. She bought the Toyota and loved it. The US car was a Cadillac, that so happened to really be an Opal with different sheet metal. The freaking dealer had no idea it was really an Opal. The Toyota was cheaper and in her words "felt nicer". A few years later. I was doing the same comparison. This time the US car had the higher US component percentage and was the better buy. But now she realizes that just because it has a US company name on it...it may or may not really be US.
Heck, I even bought a brand spanking new Dodge Ram in 1997. I got it home, opened the door and found it was assembled in Mexico City.

 

[GManBart]

I will stand by my comment. As I looked at the various CUT models in my price range ( an important comment I left out in my previous post) had loader capacities around 1500lbs. Some less, some more...particularly in the 35 - 40 range. While the 2200# capacity of my loader is less than a bunch of the utility tractors, it seemed more comparable than the #1500 that I was seeing. My heaviest load is #1200-#1300 lbs. I wanted a little leeway, so #2200 was good for me. I was actually originally looking at a 35hp tractor. The Branson 3520R has the same loader as the 4020R that I bought. I only bought the 4020R since the dealer had a better deal on it and it was a Tier 3 motor.

First you said that Case and NH machines made by LS were built lighter than their LS badged counterparts....not true.

Then you said your Branson had an FEL capacity that was closer to what most folks would describe as a Utility tractor....totally wrong. It doesn't even have as much capacity as other popular machines that are the same size/weight....which makes the comment even more silly.

If you want to stand by factually incorrect statements I guess it doesn't really matter much.

As I looked at tractors. The Branson, Mahindra and Kioti tractors where much beefier and more capable than what I saw from the JD, NH & Farmall CUTs. That was the point of my post.

Comparing tractors by price, rather than by size/weight and power makes for a pretty poor comparison. If you compare machines of equal size and weight from those same companies, they're going to be about as "beefy" and capable as one another. They won't cost the same, but that's an entirely different topic.

 

[acrozier]

First you said that Case and NH machines made by LS were built lighter than their LS badged counterparts....not true.

Then you said your Branson had an FEL capacity that was closer to what most folks would describe as a Utility tractor....totally wrong. It doesn't even have as much capacity as other popular machines that are the same size/weight....which makes the comment even more silly.

If you want to stand by factually incorrect statements I guess it doesn't really matter much.




Comparing tractors by price, rather than by size/weight and power makes for a pretty poor comparison. If you compare machines of equal size and weight from those same companies, they're going to be about as "beefy" and capable as one another. They won't cost the same, but that's an entirely different topic.

Your method of comparison seems silly to me. Compare equivalent size and weight....of course the capabilities will be nearly the same. Your not really comparing anything except maybe features and engine.

I add in price. I want the most I can get for my money. But that is just me. You compare the way you want. I will compare the way I want. How I compare works for ME. I think most people want the most people buying CUTS tractor for their money.

As far as lift capacities. I didn't find many with #3000 at the 3pt and #2000 at the FEL. Several had comparable or higher capacities on FEL. I don't recall many with the 3pt capacity. That is where I lift most of my heaviest loads....the 3pt.

 

[TSO]

Your method of comparison seems silly to me. Compare equivalent size and weight....of course the capabilities will be nearly the same. Your not really comparing anything except maybe features and engine.

I add in price. I want the most I can get for my money. But that is just me. You compare the way you want. I will compare the way I want. How I compare works for ME. I think most people want the most people buying CUTS tractor for their money.

As far as lift capacities. I didn't find many with #3000 at the 3pt and #2000 at the FEL. Several had comparable or higher capacities on FEL. I don't recall many with the 3pt capacity. That is where I lift most of my heaviest loads....the 3pt.

I don't agree ... There are many differences between the offerings from the competing brands, in regards to specific capabilities. For example, take a 40-50 HP CUT. They are all relatively close in weight, but the difference from low to high may be as much as 700lbs, which is pretty significant.

Same goes for 3pt lift... I think the Massey has the highest at 3,480# @ ball ends. I don't recall who had the lowest, but it was around 2,500#. That's a big difference.

Same also applies for the loader. The Mahindra ML155/156 is rated at over 3100# @ 115" (the best in the CUT class) ... And that is a HUGE difference from yours at 2200#. The segment average seems to be around 2500#.

Point is, apples to apples generally requires that a category be selected to define characteristics. Now, I can understand if you said "I'm going to spend $18000 ... What offers the most capacity at $18k..?" But even then, I'm not sure that the Branson wins once you factor all the specs of the $18k offerings.

 

[GManBart]

Your method of comparison seems silly to me. Compare equivalent size and weight....of course the capabilities will be nearly the same. Your not really comparing anything except maybe features and engine.

If you had compared on size and weight, you would have found many similar sized machines that offered significantly more FEL capacity, and at least as much FEL capacity.

That DS4510 (actually weighs 500lbs less than your Branson) lifts way more on the FEL and at least as much on the 3pt. They only list 2,425lbs @24" which puts it well over 3,000lbs at the balls ends....probably 3,500lbs. Your Branson 3pt lift figure is at the ball ends, which always gives a higher figure than the 24" spec most companies use. There are a lot of 40hp machines that have 24" 3pt lift figures in the 2,500lb+ range.

After reading many comparison threads over the past few years, most people seem to factor cost in after they decide on minimum capabilities required. No sense buying anything if it won't get the job done.

You're simply not comparing apples-to-apples your way, and you suggested there were differences between machines that are actually the same as a way of supporting it...much less claiming that your Branson has FEL capacity that most people would consider a utility category. That really doesn't help someone (especially a newbie) considering a Branson, or any other brand.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

At the end of the day, is everybody happy with their tractors?

'Cause that's what matters.

 

[GManBart]

At the end of the day, is everybody happy with their tractors?

'Cause that's what matters.

Say it ain't so! :laughing: