Need advice on buying best value on small loader/backhoe

[jwilliams]

Hi All,

My family has a farm in the southeast US. Something less than 100 acres. Family members bought a 3025 John Deere with loader/backhoe but it simply is not big enough (in horsepower) to do the work we need.

We were thinking something in the range of 40 to 50 hp, good quality but plain jane, nothing fancy. John Deere seems a bit expensive for their 4044 and their 5055E. My uncle said in no uncertain terms to stay away from Mahindra after his personal experience.

Anyone had any experience with Rural King 37 hp? How about other brands? We would very much appreciate any recommendations and guidance.

 

[Rdrcr]

I'd suggest taking a look at Branson Tractors.

Mike

 

[Torvy]

Rural King is a store brand re-badged TYM. TYM and Branson are very good feature to value brands. (TYM owns Branson, but they are separately built, for now).

LS and Kioti also make good value tractors.

Check out dealers around you in person. Quality dealers and value brands are a good mix.

 

[hornett22]

Used Case 580

 

[mikester]

Hire a guy is the least capital intensive way, no repairs, no maintenance, and you can write off 100% on this years tax return.

If you "need" an AG tractor TLB then you don't really NEED a TLB. Penny wise is pound foolish in this case.

 

[dodge man]

People on this forum tend to recommend the brand they own. That brand is the best, it’s the best value, best parts availability etc. I’d talk to local people, look at as many as you can, sit on them, operate them and decide on your own. Probably the best advice you can get is the features you want and must have implements. A better idea of you uses for the tractor would help.

 

[jwilliams]

Rural King is a store brand re-badged TYM. TYM and Branson are very good feature to value brands. (TYM owns Branson, but they are separately built, for now).

LS and Kioti also make good value tractors.

Check out dealers around you in person. Quality dealers and value brands are a good mix.

It appears that Rural King has Yanmar motors and advertise advertise "2-year full-machine warranty and an industry leading 8-year powertrain warranty". The Branson may have a Cummins designed Kukje. I've read one older post where sourcing engine parts were a problem but Branson now has a headquarters in Georgia not far from me. Also, I have a dealer close by. So maybe there won't be a problem finding parts?

I'll have to look over LS and Kioti .....

 

[jwilliams]

People on this forum tend to recommend the brand they own. That brand is the best, it’s the best value, best parts availability etc. I’d talk to local people, look at as many as you can, sit on them, operate them and decide on your own. Probably the best advice you can get is the features you want and must have implements. I better idea of you uses for the tractor would help.

Got it. Currently we have a 1963 Massey 35 with most farm implements. Runs great. Have a 25 hp John Deere loader/backhoe that simply does not have enough power. It's gotta go.

For the backhoe/loader we want now, we are trenching in security cables and power to many parts of the farm. We had 2 incursions of bad guys in a month not long ago. We also have a meth cooker/dealer that lives north of the farm who is a constant problem. He also appears to have connections in local law enforcement.

We will be building 10 or more septic drain fields for an RV park at one end of the farm. Need to move the genny around with pallet fork attachment. There are always things that need to be done .....

 

[jwilliams]

Used Case 580

I trained on a Case 580 about a hundred years ago in heavy equipment class. Incredible machine.

 

[Torvy]

It appears that Rural King has Yanmar motors and advertise advertise "2-year full-machine warranty and an industry leading 8-year powertrain warranty". The Branson may have a Cummins designed Kukje. I've read one older post where sourcing engine parts were a problem but Branson now has a headquarters in Georgia not far from me. Also, I have a dealer close by. So maybe there won't be a problem finding parts?

I'll have to look over LS and Kioti .....

The TYM units have either a Yanmar, Deutz or a Kukje engine. For instance, the T574 has the Kukje, the T554 has a Yanmar (this is the RK55). Kukje was the parent company of Branson. TYM bought Kukje some years ago and has slowly been merging the Branson and TYM tractor brands. The T754 (RK75) uses the Deutz.

 

[Carl_NH]

You can find a decent full sized TLB - JD 310, Case 580, CAT 416/420 with 2-3000 hours for $40-50K range - this is a much better buy and will do everything you need then you can resell it for similar $ or keep it.

Or you can get a more experienced JD/Case/CAT full sized TLB with 4000+ hours for $25-35K if you are patient and know what to look for in these older machines, they will work a long time if properly maintained.

 

[Carl_NH]

I trained on a Case 580 about a hundred years ago in heavy equipment class. Incredible machine.

I was a mechanic at a Case dealer and worked on many 580's in the late 70's - great machines - so you know what the full size TLB can do, what's the reservation on getting an experienced machine?

 

[sd455dan]

You can find a decent full sized TLB - JD 310, Case 580, CAT 416/420 with 2-3000 hours for $40-50K range - this is a much better buy and will do everything you need then you can resell it for similar $ or keep it.

Or you can get a more experienced JD/Case/CAT full sized TLB with 4000+ hours for $25-35K if you are patient and know what to look for in these older machines, they will work a long time if properly maintained.

Or you can get a very very experienced machine for 8 k like I did.

She sure is Old, Ugly, and been beat on, welded on but imo the Ford 550 has already paid for itself, and still amazed just How strong of digger the hoe is.
I almost bought an add on hoe for a new ish JD 50 hp tractor, and adapted it. Really Glad I didn't

If the OP does not need 4x4 I think really decent TLBs can be had for 16-25 K

 

[jwilliams]

The TYM units have either a Yanmar, Deutz or a Kukje engine. For instance, the T574 has the Kukje, the T554 has a Yanmar (this is the RK55). Kukje was the parent company of Branson. TYM bought Kukje some years ago and has slowly been merging the Branson and TYM tractor brands. The T754 (RK75) uses the Deutz.

Who made the 37 hp?

 

[jwilliams]

I was a mechanic at a Case dealer and worked on many 580's in the late 70's - great machines - so you know what the full size TLB can do, what's the reservation on getting an experienced machine?

If I knew how to buy quality used iron, I'd do it in a minute. You could not offer the family enough money to buy the '63 Massey 35 (Perkins diesel). But, we can't afford to buy a very expensive machine and then have unexpected major megabuck repairs.

To be honest, I'd much prefer the full sized machines we used in heavy equipment operator school. The difference between those machines and these tiny things is ....... But the cost of the good stuff ........ astronomical. :-(

 

[jwilliams]

Or you can get a very very experienced machine for 8 k like I did.

She sure is Old, Ugly, and been beat on, welded on but imo the Ford 550 has already paid for itself, and still amazed just How strong of digger the hoe is.
I almost bought an add on hoe for a new ish JD 50 hp tractor, and adapted it. Really Glad I didn't

If the OP does not need 4x4 I think really decent TLBs can be had for 16-25 K

Beauty does not get the work done. I've only used 4x4 on the JD once and I don't see doing without as a major problem.

Just wish I knew how to access those seasoned deals.....

 

[Torvy]

Who made the 37 hp?

It is a TYM T394. Also has the yanmar engine.

 

[rScotty]

If I knew how to buy quality used iron, I'd do it in a minute. You could not offer the family enough money to buy the '63 Massey 35 (Perkins diesel). But, we can't afford to buy a very expensive machine and then have unexpected major megabuck repairs.

To be honest, I'd much prefer the full sized machines we used in heavy equipment operator school. The difference between those machines and these tiny things is ....... But the cost of the good stuff ........ astronomical. :-(

And that's the problem: The guys who understand how to buy quality used iron don't have to to worry about unexpected major megabuck repairs.

When looking at used machines, those guys rarely miss important warning signs. But if they do, they simply shrug and fix it themselves for the price of parts. "Major megabuck repairs" just aren't a part of their world.

If you are looking to buy for value, it's like anything else: You are more likely to find real value in tractors that cost more and give you long term use and resale than you will in tractors whose main attraction is that they cost less initially.

That goes for anything whose useful lifespan is counted in decades instead of years.

rScotty

 

[Torvy]

And that's the problem: The guys who understand how to buy quality used iron don't have to to worry about unexpected major megabuck repairs.

When looking at used machines, those guys rarely miss important warning signs. But if they do, they simply shrug and fix it themselves for the price of parts. "Major megabuck repairs" just aren't a part of their world.

If you are looking to buy for value, it's like anything else: You are more likely to find real value in tractors that cost more and give you long term use and resale than you will in tractors whose main attraction is that they cost less initially.

That goes for anything whose useful lifespan is counted in decades instead of years.

rScotty

Or at least that is the marketing ploy of brands that price high. You will get as much useful life from a Toyota as you will from a Lexus, but you pay a premium for that fancy badging. Even worse if you pay a premium for a brand like Mercedes.

Year after year, objective evidence shows that price and reliability are not directly correlated, but people continue to spew that nonsense as if it were gospel. Don't let facts get in the way of a good opinion.

MSN

 

[Williy]

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willy