Buying Advice Help me find a tractor to manage my 40 wooded acres

2ndhalf · Feb 23, 2016

TSO said:
I'm adding one more machine into the mix - a Massey 1734e. Not sure if you have a dealer near you, but you can probably get one to fit at this price point. These Massey units are built in Japan by Iseki (Iseki has been building Massey compacts for decades). I have owned two Iseki-built Massey units and in my experience, they are right at the top for overall quality and reliability. They also come with a 5 year warranty. Worth taking a look anyhow. Here's one on ebay with a box-blade package in VA: 34 HP Package Massey Ferguson 1734 1734EHL Loader Box Blade Finance Up to 7 Yrs | eBay

Agree with TSO.. Massey is great bang for the buck.. no one will talk bad about Iseki.. I love my Massey. I didn't know you had a Massey dealer nearby.

gladehound · Feb 23, 2016

4570Man said:
Yeah, but the contest was just driving across the mud.

Yes, agree with that too. Tire with more surface area will float across the mud better.

Gary Fowler · Feb 23, 2016

AllenArmory said:
So why not much love for the 3032e? I've read reviews from owners and they're very happy with their purchase. More hp than the Kubota for less price (at least while the retail discount is going on).

The JD does weigh less, but for the same price as the Kubota I can add a box blade for ballast.

Yes, it's the "economy" version, but I'm not looking for a loaded model. Am I missing something?

Do you really want an aluminum housing on the rear of your tractor. While it MAY be as strong as cast steel (used in most tractors), I would want the weight of steel for a tractor rather than light weight of aluminum. At least one TBN member has posted about a broken aluminum rear housing on his JD.

gladehound · Feb 23, 2016

Gary Fowler said:
Do you really want an aluminum housing on the rear of your tractor. While it MAY be as strong as cast steel (used in most tractors), I would want the weight of steel for a tractor rather than light weight of aluminum. At least one TBN member has posted about a broken aluminum rear housing on his JD.

Does anyone have a draw bar tow and tongue weight rating for the JD3032E? That may give some insight into how strong that Aluminum housing is built. Does anyone know the circumstances around the broken aluminum rear housing?

AllenArmory · Feb 23, 2016

2ndhalf said:
Agree with TSO.. Massey is great bang for the buck.. no one will talk bad about Iseki.. I love my Massey. I didn't know you had a Massey dealer nearby.

I wasn't as familiar with Massey so I didn't think to even look for one. :ashamed:

Gary Fowler · Feb 23, 2016

4570Man said:
Depending on the intended us for R1 or R4. If you are doing mostly field work then get the R1s. If just doing general property maintenance then IMO R4s are better. R4s are more puncture resistant, are way easier on grass, are stiffer for loader work, and are less likely to cause ruts on soft ground. R1s have better traction, but are worse at pretty much everything else. My tractor with R4s will go in mud WAY better than my 4x4 truck.

I have R1 on my larger tractor and R4 on my Kubota. In mud covered hard surfaces(like I get when back dragging mud from my ditches), the R4 will barely pull itself. My R1 are not too terribly bad on grass if it is dry and I don't go fast into a turn and I don't see that they are less capable for carrying a load with my FEL. One thing the R4 have is more rubber on the tread so they dont wear as fast as R1 especially when working on hard surfaces. This is why they are on all TLB tractors and they are smoother traveling on hard surfaces. I can count the treads on my R1 tractor (similar to a caterpillar) as they hit the ground when I carry a fully loaded FEL bucket full of dirt.
All in all though for wood/muddy work, go with R1 and put liquid ballast in them for even more traction and stability.

AllenArmory · Feb 23, 2016

Thanks for all the feedback about the JD 3032e. It's now officially off the list.

foreman Etexas · Feb 23, 2016

varmint · Feb 23, 2016

Here're more opinions... I looked at the Deere e models before I bought our used L3400, and read some reviews, and just wasn't impressed, cheaper or not. I like R-4s for the reasons stated, mostly they give good traction, not too much tear-up on lawns, and way better protection from puncture in the woods. Smoother on hard surfaces. I am a Kubota fan, but the TYM looks promising on the spec. sheets.
Like others have said, maybe a clean used tractor could prove to be your best bet. The listings from foreman Etexas offer a lot of solid choices to consider. You shouldn't have trouble with a tractor if it is cared for and working well when you buy it, you want to be familiar with it to change your own filters and fluids, and taking your $10K and borrowing another $6-7K might just get you a lot more machine, and worth the added interest for a few years. You will be happier with more weight and power, up to a point, every time you use your tractor! And until you start getting into Grand L Kubotas (not familiar enough with the others to offer models) the features, or lack of them, are almost always very useful, once you have them, or don't! Even the Grand L's features are nice to have, although not necessary in the large part. I wouldn't have a tractor without SSQA, and rear remotes are handy, but everyone has differing, strong opinions. Your uses, both what you know you will do now, and future discoveries, will drive this adventure... but don't settle for something that doesn't feel right, or maybe "just" enough for now. I too really like the Grand L 3240... "asking" price under $18,000, and a sweet, capable tractor!

TJP89 · Feb 23, 2016

gladehound said:
Does anyone have a draw bar tow and tongue weight rating for the JD3032E? That may give some insight into how strong that Aluminum housing is built. Does anyone know the circumstances around the broken aluminum rear housing?

The fact that it can't take a BH is enough for me. Also, I have a friend who bought a 3038e at the same time I bought my Kioti. One of us went out the barn one morning to plow snow, and found engine oil all over the floor from a recall worthy engine block issue. That person wasn't me. I looked at JD, and was underwhelmed by their stats, and their prices are ridiculous. They have a lot of fancy features, but at least the smaller CUTs are lacking in actual power. My JD dealer has an attitude that if I'm not going to buy a 100K farm tractor, he's not interested in me. That's fine, I not interested in salesmen who won't even get out of their chair to talk with me. JD might be very good for big Ag equipment, but IMO, they are far behind the market in the CUT area.