Need opinions on future tractor purchase.

[bigcut]

I will have to research and see if I have any dealers close by. Have not looked at Branson as I have not heard much about them.

Josh, On this forum, if you find the brand: Century & Branson, there is a post I made asking Branson Owners why they picked Branson over other competitors. They responded with details but a summary would be 3 things:
Price
Quality
Features
The manufacturer of Branson's is Kukje, another S. Korean company. Some years back they bought Cummins Diesel engine company and equip their tractors with them. Their rear axle is "cast iron". Well, I'll let you read the threads if you have the interest.
Good Luck
John

 

[4570Man]

You can’t determine the quality or strength of an axel by looking at it but if a bigger one makes you feel better than whatever. I’m not saying the bigger one isn’t better but it’s wrong to automatically assume it is. Example. 5/16 grade 70 chain is rated for more than 1/2 grade 30 chain.

 

[prof fate]

And yes, when YOU buy anything, it's because it meets YOUR needs - that could be features, price and quality (however you determine that). Is more features better? Of course not - or every car would come loaded to the hilt. So price is then a factor - but if so there would be no BMW or Mercedes or Roll Royce.

And while there may be 'best selling' cars (or tractors) there are millions sold that are not in the Top 10, and often you hear a lament for something that is dropped from production..Jeep Pickup being one.

There is no 'best' - there is only 'best for you' - and that is best only at the time you get it perhaps.

I had a mini van and with small kids it was best for my needs at the time. Now? While I loved the practicality of it it's not 'the best' for me now.

And product specs are weird...my silverado could tow more than the minivan, had more hp, less mPG, but LOWER load capacity! My son's taurus wagon is bigger and heavier and more power than my subaru but it's got less than half the tow rating. But it seats 3 more people..if that is important to you then you have to trade off to get it.

When I bought my first new vehicle I wanted a toyota pickup - the dealer messed about for 5 days trying to get financing. No go. Went to chevy..in 5 hours I drove home in a new truck. LOTS of variables in a purchase.

 

[majorwager]

Bigcut,

Hey fellow, slow down a second. Kukje did NOT purchase Cummins. They did solicit and were awarded the rights to produce limited Cummins Engines for an undisclosed cost. That is a HUGE distinction. Same as CAT, allowed a S Korean firm to produce, NOT Own, Perkins diesel engines.

In today's economic world, Davey does NOT purchase Goliath. Revisiting information from your post # 71.

 

[rScotty]

RScotty,

As you survey the field today, is it your feeling that only Kubota builds a tractor that would meet your needs TODAY ? Believe much has improved since 2008. Do you disagree? Do you keep abreast of current offerings?

Hello major. Lets see... current offerings... No, I don't keep up as much as I once did. I do try to stop by the various tractor shops in our area now and again just because tractors have always been a hobby and interest. And I've got a couple of bookshelves of various tractor manuals and such, being one of those guys who actually enjoys reading such things.

Twenty five years ago I'd say I was pretty up to date on the industry offerings. Today I'm falling behind.

There are a lot of brands on the market...that's not surprising when you think about it. If you enjoy manufacturing and social history, you'll find that tractors are one of the first things that a country begins to make for itself when it begins the move from an agriculturally based society into a manufacturing based society. Tractors are easy to design, low speed, use simple parts, and only a few brands pursue any type of R&D or international patent protection. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that that tractors are also one of the first things that developing countries begin to export.

If their export is successful, they will then be in a position to compete with dealerships, service, and a parts pipeline. Some will succeed & others not.

But that's a digressment... You asked if only Kubota builds a tractor that meets my needs today. Unfortunately the answer is, "Yes, only Kubota."
But that's because I have a special need for a dedicated compact TLB, and only Kubota builds one. I wish there were more models on the market.
Deere once made a nice little compact TLB - the model 110 TLB, but only for 12 years, but then stopped producing them in 2012. Although the 110 was cute, tough, popular and mostly domestically manufactured, some parts for the JD110 TLB are now getting hard to find. Kubota seems more committed to their TLB line.

Why a TLB instead of a tractor? Well, my primary use for a tractor is for chores, building, projects, and woodlot in rough terrain with lots of rocks and slopes. I don't do any agricultural work. So for me the best choice is the purpose built TLB configuration. Since nobody else but Kubota builds a dedicated TLB, and Kubota only builds a couple of models - it's pretty easy to keep up on those tractors. BTW, I do have the optional 3pt hitch on mine.
rScotty

 

[DK35vince]

Overkill and a waste of money.

I spend about 3k for a mower/tractor device, lasts 10-15 years. So in a lifetime I'll need 3, $9k, maybe 4 perhaps - 12k. I sell 3 (and die with the last one in the shed) for $300-400 each, so thousands less than yours

All depends on what you need to mow. I still have teh push mower bought used in 1981 for $40 that I used at a house I rented.

Certainly not overkill for my uses.
I mow 8 acres every week.
I bought this mower for its mowing speed/cutting my mowing time (mows my 8 acres in around 2 hours)
Expecting 20-25 years from it. Built heavy duty
I average 60 hours per year. 25 years is 1500 hours
A maintained commercial grade zero turn should do that no problem.

 

[4570Man]

Overkill and a waste of money.

I spend about 3k for a mower/tractor device, lasts 10-15 years. So in a lifetime I'll need 3, $9k, maybe 4 perhaps - 12k. I sell 3 (and die with the last one in the shed) for $300-400 each, so thousands less than yours

All depends on what you need to mow. I still have teh push mower bought used in 1981 for $40 that I used at a house I rented.

This cut takes a little less than 10 minuets ( that’s timed and not a guess) on my commercial ZTR. How long would it take with your mower? And 3k will buy a pretty nice used mower. Have you spent much time in the seat of a commercial ZTR? I’ve cut the second picture in 25 minutes but it usually takes 30.

 

[majorwager]

MMM is mid mount mower. An option (with center pto also) on the kioti - but on the bigger units that setup can run $2500 plus..I can get a new zero turn for about that and not be hassled with deck on/deck off. My kubota had a drive over deck, but no loader - so moving the 250lb deck when off the machine was a PITA, and as it aged the alignment of pins and such wasn't as sweet as when it was new. And I'm not as young as I once was...this bending/stooping/crawling around under a tractor sucks. And it had to come off for any rear PTO work...

So the new tractor I skipped any MMM. Figured if I needed to mow I'd get a 3 point finish mower used/cheap or a zero turn.

=======================================================================
Believe the point fatalist was trying to make, is that a NEW $2500 zero turn will do EVERYTHING a mower needs to accomplish. In subsequent posts he stated that folks that spend more are foolish, since they do not receive any more value for their money.

My response was simple. I have no experience w/ ZT's But folks are NOT morons and if the going rate for a quality residential ZT is $6K and some spend $12K +, there has to be a difference in quality and especially performance ???

 

[Diggin It]

Believe the point fatalist was trying to make, is that a NEW $2500 zero turn will do EVERYTHING a mower needs to accomplish. In subsequent posts he stated that folks that spend more are foolish, since they do not receive any more value for their money.

My response was simple. I have no experience w/ ZT's But folks are NOT morons and if the going rate for a quality residential ZT is $6K and some spend $12K +, there has to be a difference in quality and especially performance ???

I buy a couple of pair of $10 jeans, wear them for most everything I do and they last 3-4 years. Other people spend $100 or more for a pair of 'designer name' jeans and wear them once or twice in that same 3-4 years. People value money and 'brand' differently, but is there really a quality difference?

 

[DK35vince]

=======================================================================
Believe the point fatalist was trying to make, is that a NEW $2500 zero turn will do EVERYTHING a mower needs to accomplish. In subsequent posts he stated that folks that spend more are foolish, since they do not receive any more value for their money.

My response was simple. I have no experience w/ ZT's But folks are NOT morons and if the going rate for a quality residential ZT is $6K and some spend $12K +, there has to be a difference in quality and especially performance ???

Yes there is a HUGE difference in build quality and performance commercial vs low end residential zero turns.