Buying Advice First Tractor purchase advice

[CobaltSky]

I visited Adam in Calhan. Thanks, Adam for showing me your tractor! I have done quite a bit of looking around. Decided I do need a cab here, and probably a decent factory cab.

I think I have my needs and preferences narrowed down to Mahindra 1538 HST cab, MF1736 HST cab, and either LS XR3135HC OR XR4140HC. Of these, the only close dealership is the Mahindra.

LS seems unbeatable on features, standard options for price. Of those 2 LS's I am leaning toward the extra 5HP and the full 6' FEL for an extra $2k.

Probably going for FEL only financed at purchase, unfortunately. But I plan to pick up elsewhere: Caroni TM series flail mower, pallet forks, 6' grader/scraper (land plane), rear blade, top-n-tilt.

I think I only have one good option to purchase the flail, but looking for good value options / sources for the other implements if I go with LS, since the dealer seems to be limited to sourcing from beavervalleysupply.

 

[dickfoster]

I've had a 1538 Shuttle TLB for a couple of weeks now. So far I'm happy with it. If the dealership is good you shouldn't have any trouble with a Mahindra. Just make sure that the dealer will stand behind the product no matter what brand you buy.

 

[airbiscuit]

LS seems unbeatable on features, standard options for price. Of those 2 LS's I am leaning toward the extra 5HP and the full 6' FEL for an extra $2k.

It's more than just a 5hp difference. The extra weight and larger tires make a huge difference in traction and performance!

I think you are settling in on a good plan. No Kioti dealers nearby?

 

[jeff9366]

Have you decided a turbocharged engine is advisable for your >7,000' altitude?

 

[dickfoster]

Did you decide a turbocharged engine is necessary for your >7,000' altitude?

He is at nearly 7,000 ft. so a turbo would help maintain power, especially on a hot, muggy, summer's day.

 

[CobaltSky]

He is at nearly 7,000 ft. so a turbo would help maintain power, especially on a hot, muggy, summer's day.

Yes I'm just over 7000ft. The Massey and the LSs are turbos. Mahindra and Kubota takes a hit on that, no turbos under 55hp.

And while it gets hot in the sun here, muggy is not a term ever applied to our area

 

[paulfun9]

Correct. Now I think the OP said he works from home, so this may not be a problem for him, but I have to get to work most every day. If we get a foot plus of snow it doesn't help beans if I clear the driveway and the road is still snowed in. I'm still not going anywhere. So clearing the driveway is great, but sometimes the capability needs too exist so he can clear the road if needed. That said, he shouldn't make the road his primary concern.

Also, 800ft of drive is still a lot. If he gets say, 12-18" of snow (which isn't unreasonable for his area), and then it drifts overnight with the wind, a SCUT isn't going to do squat. Even most CUTs will struggle with that. IMO a SCUT is WAY to small. SCUTs have their place, this isn't it.

This is something many don't take into consideration. Yes I could get threw my driveway after a storm with a small machine BUT what about tomorrow or the next day or even tonight when I get back from where ever I had to go. A small machine takes a lot more time to get it clear and after the wind blows it shut again it takes an other chunk of time. I have had to clear more than 4 times for the same storm due to drifting and with a small machine that can quickly become a long tiresome and cold process.
I also see that one poster thinks we only need to be prepared for 80% of our needs but I strongly disagree with this as the slight increase in cost compared to the added cost of renting or paying someone else to cover that remaining 20% becomes way more than the extra spent for the right machine in the beginning very quickly. I know this for fact as I get calls when we get that odd storm and am the one collecting the money to clear people out who already have small tractors that wont handle it.
I also see the potential for disaster with not having enough machine for the odd thing. My wife pushed her way threw a bad storm to get home one winter night and somehow she made it right to the garage door with her jeep. Problem was she blew something under the hood and it caught on fire. Now the jeep is burning right next to the house with the wind blowing the flames guess where? and the fire truck couldn't even make it from the main road in let alone up the hill and down our private road to get to the last 1/4 mile of uphill threw the drifts. Having the equipment to handle the storm was essential in saving the house that night as I was not only able to pull the jeep out into the field without plowing where it could burn without hurting anything but I was able to open up the road right out to the highway and get the fire truck in here faster than the township could direct a plow truck out here. Now imagine if it was this or a medical emergency and you had chose to only cover 80% of your possible needs how important would that money saved be then and how important would that extra time wasted overworking the small tractor to clear what clearly should and would be handled better by that 35 to45 HP machine be.

 

[dickfoster]

This is something many don't take into consideration. Yes I could get threw my driveway after a storm with a small machine BUT what about tomorrow or the next day or even tonight when I get back from where ever I had to go. A small machine takes a lot more time to get it clear and after the wind blows it shut again it takes an other chunk of time. I have had to clear more than 4 times for the same storm due to drifting and with a small machine that can quickly become a long tiresome and cold process.
I also see that one poster thinks we only need to be prepared for 80% of our needs but I strongly disagree with this as the slight increase in cost compared to the added cost of renting or paying someone else to cover that remaining 20% becomes way more than the extra spent for the right machine in the beginning very quickly. I know this for fact as I get calls when we get that odd storm and am the one collecting the money to clear people out who already have small tractors that wont handle it.
I also see the potential for disaster with not having enough machine for the odd thing. My wife pushed her way threw a bad storm to get home one winter night and somehow she made it right to the garage door with her jeep. Problem was she blew something under the hood and it caught on fire. Now the jeep is burning right next to the house with the wind blowing the flames guess where? and the fire truck couldn't even make it from the main road in let alone up the hill and down our private road to get to the last 1/4 mile of uphill threw the drifts. Having the equipment to handle the storm was essential in saving the house that night as I was not only able to pull the jeep out into the field without plowing where it could burn without hurting anything but I was able to open up the road right out to the highway and get the fire truck in here faster than the township could direct a plow truck out here. Now imagine if it was this or a medical emergency and you had chose to only cover 80% of your possible needs how important would that money saved be then and how important would that extra time wasted overworking the small tractor to clear what clearly should and would be handled better by that 35 to45 HP machine be.

He does have the acreage for a larger machine. I have a 38 and only have 5 acres. Maybe larger than what I really need but maybe too small for what he needs.

 

[CobaltSky]

I think you are settling in on a good plan. No Kioti dealers nearby?

Kioti dealer is "up the pass" in Lake George. I haven't made it there yet. Been meaning to, but I seldom head into the mountains that direction.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like cabs on Kioti start at 45hp?

 

[GoldenCityMuse]

This thread resonates with me.

My first post, but I am in the mountains of W New Mexico, very similar terraign to CobaltSky.

Am looking seriously hard at the Yanmar LX4900 TL HST. Which is the turbo diesel. Only thing is, no cab. But it is a bit milder here, & will probably get an aftermarket.

I really think he should go with the larger HP unit. My thoughts are I want my tractor to be able to handle 99% of jobs, not just the 95%. If CobaltSky is as rural as myself, it does not work to go into town & rent the bigger tractor when needed. And let me tell you, that high elevation REALLY KILLS the power of any IC engine, especially naturally aspirated ones.

Just a few thoughts from me living 20+ years at 7600' altitude in West NM.