First time buyer 35-50 hp and implements

[jsconner1]

I have about 10 acres and am planting it out in Christmas trees. I have gotten by for my first few years borrowing my dad's D19, which is more than I need, but available. I finally am in a position to get my own equipment, and am looking for all the advice I can get.

My anticipated use is 50-100 hours a year split between mowing, running a 4'-5' rototiller, pulling my single seat transplanter, and some FEL work spreading gravel, mulch, etc.

The rototiller and transplanter are only used about 2 days a year when I plant the trees.

So, like I said, I don't anticipate heavy use of this tractor, but I also don't have time to be fixing something that breaks regularly as my day job keeps me pretty busy.

JD has the only dealership in the immediate area, but I have Kubota, MF, New Holland, and IH all within an hour.

I have looked at the rural king tractors, and they certainly seem to be the least expensive. I can get the 37 hp model with FEL, tiller, and rotary cutter for about 30k which is a little less than a similar Kubota L series with just the FEL prices at 33k and way less than the 45k prices I'm getting for comparable JD tractor with no implements.

I know least expensive isn't always the best buy, but it is tempting to go with rural king. That being said I'm leaning towards Kubota as their 0% financing is attractive. I could buy it outright, but I'm also getting ready to build a house, so using someone's else's money is a plus.

Thoughts?

 

[jeff9366]

What is a D19? A Caterpillar crawler?

Have you owned or operated a Three Point Hitch equipped tractor in the past?
Are you aware of how unstable TPH tractors are?

Is your land FLAT or will you operate on sloping ground?

Do you feel qualified to do your own tractor service? (RE: Rural King)





My anticipated use is 50-100 hours a year.

This is the operating hour range when emission control equipment may be cranky. If you can find a good 2012 or older used tractor with 35-50 horsepower it will predate emission control requirements. (DPF = diesel particulate filter + paraphernalia.)


Here are 20 tractors listed on eBay within 100 miles of Muncie, closest tractor first:

Tractor -Overhaul -Radiator in Business & Industrial for sale | eBay

www.ebay.com

 

[jeff9366]

Brand? Models to look at or avoid? Buy new or used?

The design of the Three Point Hitch tractor has been marketed in the USA since 1939 -- 83 years in 2022.

The basic design is generic.

Kubota and Deere have most of the market through 6,000 pound bare weight tractors. But this Kubota/Deere predominance is regional.

The up and coming compact tractor brands are Korean: Kioti, LS and Branson. There are other Korean brands. You have to critically assess dealer stability while shopping minor brands.

Korean manufacturing labor is paid 50% of what Deere pays its union work force. Japanese manufacturing labor is paid 70% of what Deere pays its union work force. Labor costs strongly influence tractor prices.



We have the following brands within an hour of us.

• Kubota
• LS
• TYM
• KIOTI
• Massey Ferguson
• John Deere

I know that a lot depends on the dealer and their willingness to help, but should I stay away from any of these brands?

Start with the nearest dealer and work out.

Transporting a tractor for service is expensive and inconvenient, whether you trailer it or the dealer trailers it.


CREDIT: 'FELIXEDO'

"It has been touched on a couple of times, but not directly as a buying factor.

Every major make has a machine that will do the job(s) you want. Check out your nearby dealers, and go with one you have confidence in.

A great machine with no support nearby is a hassle to repair and maintain.

And a good machine can't make a lousy dealer into a good dealer."

 

[LD1]

A d19 is a 60 year old ag tractor. 70-80hp and almost 7000#

 

[jeff9366]

Is your ten acres FLAT or will you operate on sloping ground?

Do you feel qualified to do your own tractor service? (RE: Rural King/TYM)

 

[LD1]

I have about 10 acres and am planting it out in Christmas trees. I have gotten by for my first few years borrowing my dad's D19, which is more than I need, but available. I finally am in a position to get my own equipment, and am looking for all the advice I can get.

My anticipated use is 50-100 hours a year split between mowing, running a 4'-5' rototiller, pulling my single seat transplanter, and some FEL work spreading gravel, mulch, etc.

The rototiller and transplanter are only used about 2 days a year when I plant the trees.

So, like I said, I don't anticipate heavy use of this tractor, but I also don't have time to be fixing something that breaks regularly as my day job keeps me pretty busy.

JD has the only dealership in the immediate area, but I have Kubota, MF, New Holland, and IH all within an hour.

I have looked at the rural king tractors, and they certainly seem to be the least expensive. I can get the 37 hp model with FEL, tiller, and rotary cutter for about 30k which is a little less than a similar Kubota L series with just the FEL prices at 33k and way less than the 45k prices I'm getting for comparable JD tractor with no implements.

I know least expensive isn't always the best buy, but it is tempting to go with rural king. That being said I'm leaning towards Kubota as their 0% financing is attractive. I could buy it outright, but I'm also getting ready to build a house, so using someone's else's money is a plus.

Thoughts?

I find it hard to believe a $45k deere and a $33k kubota are similar models.

I am betting one is either bigger frame......or a deluxe vs economy version of a tractor.

Kubota and deere both make deluxe and economy models. So you have to make sure you compare apples to apples. Obviously the more bells and whistles, the more the machine costs.

But I would start by asking how big of a mower you plan on using? Do you want a belly mower (limits the options in the size you are looking at). Or if a 3PH mower.....how big? The tractor has to be both physically large enough to handle/lift the mower....as well as have the HP to use it.

But NONE of the stuff you mention leads me to believe you need a ton of HP. A 25HP machine will run a 4-5' tiller just fine. They will also be fine with a 5' or even 6' mower

Staying @25hp or less stays under the emissions garbage. But under 25HP spans a broad range of tractors. From Small SCUT's like the deere 1-series or kubota BX.....all the way up to the size you are looking at. Like a Kubota L2501 or the deere 3025. Both of those last two are physically larger tractors......they just tune down the engine (or use a smaller engine) to stay under the emissions regulations of being over 25hp.

 

[domains]

Is your ten acres FLAT or will you operate on sloping ground?

Do you feel qualified to do your own tractor service? (RE: Rural King/TYM)

You are a noob trying to act like a pro

 

[2manyrocks]

My thought is 1) kubota sells a lot of tractors with their inhouse finance program and 2) parts availability determines whether you can continue to use your tractor years from now when something breaks.

There is a thread here on Kubota financing worth reading.

One of the recurring problems over the years has been tractor brands that had low prices to begin with, but dealer support was thin. Then the dealer and parts support went away because there wasn't enough margin to sustain the dealers and then the owners were left with orphan tractors with little to no parts availability.

 

[big bubba]

if you are going commercial, weight & power are your friends. i'd be looking at around 60+ hp. more stable too. MX or M series K would be the range i'd be looking at.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Before Id consider an RK unit, look at TYM, since TYM is the manufacturer of the RK unit. Also, TYM offers a non ECM engine option which is probably a good option to choose. RK does not offer this.