Comparison Tym vs Branson vs ?

[jrbarnard]

Hi guys, have not posted in a while.

We have been busy.. heh.. bought 2 acres and are planning to build a house. Now, we also own 330 acres of hunting land. Here is what I am curious about:

1 - I really do not need a high end tractor. Let's be honest, so long as I do not say this to my wife.. lol..., I WANT a high end.. but I can get by with a smaller one.

2 - I need to be able to mow, but getting just a mower, to me, would be a waste. I have seen Kubotas that look like riding mowers but with buckets on them and a friend even has one and he states it is almost too small for his place (same size place).

So, I am trying to justify and also pick something that is more useful and I have seen a lot of interesting package deals with Branson as well as TYM. The prices are close, but here is what I was looking at possibly getting, and then why I was curious:

I need a brush hog and a bucket. I would LIKE a backhoe, but that is all based on price per month (financed). a Box blade on the back would be nice.

Many of the Branson packages I see come with augers, box blades, brush hogs, trailers, etc..

I was interested in the Branson 2400... but I heard TYM makes a good tractor also, but did not see any packages with all the same implements and the price is like 2k more for the same "hp" models.

Is there a good difference between the two? Cheap is not my goal, but a good deal is.

Are there other makes you might suggest in the same price range?

I know I will not be able to do near as much with the lower models, but if I can do food plots at the deer stands and roads etc, and cut the grass at my house...I am better off than naught.

And no, not looking at this year. I have to get the house built first THEN the workshop to store it in.. heh

Thanks guys!

Russ

 

[larryjhall]

I own a Branson 3510I. I own 20 acres. I do a lot of Forestry work and Farm construction and maintenance (moving Dirt. rocks. stumps and tree trunks and brush equipment and digging trenches and various holes. I have a back-hoe with a thumb, a loader, box blade Hydraulic-grapple, pallet forks and drum lifter and post-hole digger. I do not mow grass with it. I wish I had bought the Hydro-static version however. The clutch is strong and will most likely irritate your nee just like it does mine after several hours of use. Other than that, the Branson is a tough, strong, heavy duty beast. It out performs all the tractors (Kubota. Deere. TYM, Mahindra...) in its class around my East-Texas Forestry friends. Only problem I have run into is the Dealer Network is getting slim for Branson. I recommend the Branson for my actual experience for price and performance weight, hydraulics and power over any other Tractor in its class. I have been around other tractors at the same time doing the same things. My Brother and cousins that borrow it all the time, say the same thing as I. Having said that I really like the tractor. I have had no problems with it but it is getting old now and , because of the Dealer problem I think if I replace it I would spend more money on a larger New-Holland, Bob-Cat, Case IH, or something like that. For your 2 acres you would be a very happy man with a Branson.

 

[jeff9366]

The two Korean tractor brands with expanding market share in the U.S.A. are Kioti and LS. Kioti and LS make all their own stuff. Branson and TYM are South/Central regional brands plus a few in California. If you are a pioneer type person willing to accept above average parts and resale risk, in exchange for a lower price, Branson and TYM are fine.


In terms of sizing a new tractor for two acres:

Almost all 16-hp to 35-hp tractors sold in the USA are equipped with a FEL (Loader), HST transmission, 4-WD and Industrial (R4) tires; all "options" even though pretty much standard packages that will be on tractors you look at.

Tractors sold with 25-hp or smaller engines (in the USA) have relatively simple emissions controls referred to as Tier III emission controls.

Tractors sold with >25-hp engines require more complex, more costly EPA mandated emissions controls referred to as Tier IV emission controls. This is ALL brands of tractors. Tier IV is "new" in the last two years.

I think you will be fine with a 25-hp tractor. If you want something with more horsepower you may as well go to 35-hp because the factory addition Tier IV emission controls is costly, and not value efficient until you get to 35-hp. I believe new tractor sales in the 26-hp to 30-hp segment are thin at present.

All Kubota sub-compact BX models are <25-hp, so are Tier III

Slightly larger Kubota 'B' models fall on both side of the 25-hp divide.

One larger, heavier Kubota model, the L2501, a compact, rather than subcompact model, has a 25-hp engine and, therefore, is Tier III.


I recommend a Kubota B2320 (Tier III) or a Kubota L2501 (Tier III)

Kubota BX tractors are great lawn/turf mowing machines. Normally they use a Mid-Mount Mower (MMM) which is under the body of the tractor and comes in 54" and 60" widths. Great mowers but a little small for other tasks.

Some tractor owners prefer to mow turf with a 3-Point Hitch mounted Finish Mower towed behind the tractor. This would be my choice.

Kubota B2320 is a tad larger than a BX, which makes it easier to mount implements on the Three Point Hitch. A B2320 is about the same weight as similarly equipped BX.

L2501 is larger yet, and about 1,200 pounds heavier than the B2320. I think you need a Kubota L2501.

For dealing with shrubs, small trees and light grading, I recommend a $330 Ratchet Rake bucket attachment. These are sold by the T-B-N store, which has more information. Delivery by convenient FedEx. (STORE button at top of this page.)

Ratchet Rake on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=RATCHET+RAKE

Kubota L2501 Web Page: Compact Tractors | L2501 | Kubota Tractor Corporation

I have to get the house built first THEN the workshop to store the tractor in.

Tractors have neither VINs nor titles. Tractors are prime targets for thieves. Build your tractor storage first or bring in a CONNEX container to lock up your tractor within, then build your house. Otherwise your new tractor may go to Mexico in short order. Stolen tractors are very, very, seldom recovered.


I have owned one John Deere tractor and two Kubota tractors, never a Korean tractor. I have shopped the Kioti and LS brands and been favorably impressed.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Check with your Mahindra dealer. The Max series is just what you're looking for. It has a lot of sales and a real good reputation. Well made, dependable machines.

 

[jeff9366]

Just for fun, here is a LINK to eBay for tractors for sale within 200 miles of Round Rock/Austin, nearest tractors first:

Industrial Tractor | eBay

Same for Tractor-Loader-Backhoes:

-truck in Backhoe Loaders | eBay

 

[jeff9366]

We own 330 acres of hunting land.

I know I will not be able to do near as much with the lower models, but if I can do food plots at the deer stands and roads etc, and cut the grass at my house...I am better off than naught.

There are many ways to prepare food plots, like any other ground contact enterprise.

The most common implements used, and the way I do it, are a Disc Harrow to chop up sod prior to seeding and use of a Cultipacker to press in seed and reduce probability of erosion.

The minimum size of Disc Harrow which is effective has 18" diameter pans, spaced 9" apart. A heavier Disc Harrow with 20" diameter pans, spaced 9" apart is better. You cannot pull 18" nor 20" pan diameter Disc Harrow with a 25-hp tractor. You need a 35-hp (+) tractor with ample weight.

Cultipackers, which ride on top of the ground, do not require a powerful/heavy tractor unless hill work is involved.

There are a number of clover based NO TILL food plot seed mixes available. The forage only comes up 4" to 5" so yields are much less than other seed mixes which commonly grow up 36". With 330 acres NO TILL seed mixes may be your ticket.

 

[jrbarnard]

All great input, tyvm. Sorry to respond slow, I had a busy day yesterday.

Question for you all. What is the smallest tractor you can get that has a cab? I keep getting told that having a cab will protect me from bees if I am working at the ranch (they get pretty bad out there) as well as allow me to use it in all sorts of weather (usually 100-ish most times of the year) and it is only like 4k more for a cab... albeit I think TYM has a 354hst that is the smallest a cab will go on, but there was not a huge difference in price.

I know talking about a Branson 2400 vs a T354 HST just ratcheted up the price like.. what, 8k? (which I do not think I would want to do... but since I would finance it.. is that really a huge 'per month' cost that, if I can afford.. might be worth the expense to get more work per month out of it?

Just trying to factor and think about all options here.

And, again, thanks for all the great input.

Jeff - Great info there. I will make sure to look at all of those options and check out the Kubota place down the road from my new house. TYVM.

Russ

 

[EddieWalker]

What dealers are close to where you live? How long have them been dealers? I've noticed that with some brands, the dealers pop up and disappear almost yearly. While I think all the brands listed are fine and good bargains for your money, I would go with the dealer who has been there long term. There isn't any real difference between any of the different brands out there. People are going to recommend what they bought because they are proud of their tractor without any experience or first hand knowledge of any other brand. Others will bad mouth a particular brand because the dealer they bought it from didn't do what they wanted, or should have done. Every brand will have a few problems regardless of what you paid for it. A good dealer with a good support infrastructure from that brand is the most important thing to consider.

 

[oldnslo]

Are you looking at Mid mount mowers or 3 PH rear finish mowers. On the Branson 2400 & 2800 the Mid mount really reduces your ground clearance.

Like Eddie says: Dealers are just as importatnt as the brand. All brands make good & bad, tractors depending on your requirements and perspective.

 

[rgr33]

I think it might be a good idea to at least check out a more established brand that is used but low hours. You could get some nice upgrades, cab, Hst,maybe an implement thrown in for a lot less money than new. My neighbor just bought a sweet Kubota L 3200 with 155 hours on it, looks like a brand new unit to me. He is a thrifty guy and waited for a good deal to come along. Sound like you're not in a big hurry, so enjoy the hunt.