50 HP Cab Considerations

Cougsfan · Aug 29, 2016

I am looking at buying a 50 HP tractor with FEL and cab. I would probably be happy with a Mahindra 3550, Branson 5220, Kiota NX5010, or LS XR4150C. I understand these are all good tractors.
One thing I do is a lot of spraying with a McCormick 3 point weed sprayer. The controls are on the front of the sprayer, and currently with my open cockpit 25 hp Yanmar (which is too small for this 200 gallon sprayer) I just reach back from the seat to turn each quadrant of the sprayer on and off. The controller location is adjustable somewhat.
My question is this: Do the back windows on all of these cabs open up so I could access the sprayer controls? If not, I will have to abandon the enclosed cab idea.

NC419N · Aug 29, 2016

It does on the Kioti :thumbsup:

kromc5 · Aug 29, 2016

The back windows do open the 3550, ls and kioti, the LS would be my least favorite as the cab is very small. I have seen incredible pricing on the branson lately but I did not go and look at them. My original plan was to get a 3550 but I found a great deal on the NX. I have a small sprayer and I purchased a switch from the auto parts and ran it to the cab so I could turn it on and off from the cab.

blb078 · Aug 29, 2016

I've been on the mahindra, kioti, and LS, along with a few others. Not sure why kromc5 said the cab was small as it seemed just fine to me. However the nx6010 is a slightly larger tractor than the 4100 series LS. As for windows they all open one thing I liked about the LS is that it had 2 shocks holding the window, the Kioti only has 1, don't remember on Mahindra. They all 3 only open up just enough to reach back and down out of them but you can't put your arm straight out as they don't open up enough. The Massey Ferguson 1700 series however opens up all the way along w/the side windows on it also opening up all the way, where as the others all just open up fractionally. So if you are wanting complete access out the back(or side) then the MF will be the way to go. It's a very nice tractor. A little more than the Kioti, LS, and Branson but I did like the 1749 I looked at. Also not sure if weight is something you are looking at but the Mahindra 3540 and 3550 cab have over 1000lbs more weight than the others mentioned, some of the Mahindras are also made by TYM so that might be another option to look at.

Cougsfan · Aug 30, 2016

Got quotes back for the Mahindra, LS and Branson already. Boy, the comparable Mahindra was exactly $10k higher! That is unfortunate because Mahindra is the only dealer that is local, and I would have prefered to spend my money in our community. But I can't see the Mahindra as anywhere close to being worth the 25% in extra cost. That is roughly $10/lb for that extra weight. Filling the tires with beet juice on the others to gain weight will be a lot cheaper. Still waiting on Kioti

JerryK · Aug 30, 2016

The Mahindra 2555 55hp [TYM tractor with Mahindra engine] turbo is comparable to the other tractors you were looking at. The 35 series [Mahindra tractor with Mahindra engine] is a class bigger in heft, more of a ' utility ' tractor in both girth and tire size. The 35 series cab is nicer inside than the 25, but the 25 is not shabby....

Cougsfan · Aug 30, 2016

Thanks Jerry. You are right. I was looking at the tractor the dealer told me was comparable. There are so many models it easy to get confused. I will call them back. It is kind of unfortunate, none of these dealers for any of the brands I am interested in have any of these models in stock, so other than spec sheets, I have to buy somewhat blind.

JerryK · Aug 30, 2016

Cougsfan said:
Thanks Jerry. You are right. I was looking at the tractor the dealer told me was comparable. There are so many models it easy to get confused. I will call them back. It is kind of unfortunate, none of these dealers for any of the brands I am interested in have any of these models in stock, so other than spec sheets, I have to buy somewhat blind.

Yup, the 5035 has 35" tall 14" wide front R4 tires, with 19.5L-24's on the back... HST is 5400 pounds minus the FEL and backhoe. It usually ... 'no needum chains' ... in the winter and rides over rather than pushes stuff out in the woods. Our local Mahindra dealer has the same stock problem. They had just about every model in the spring, but seldom have more that three or four cab'd tractors on the lot lately. He says they are selling them, but them must all be ordered directly from the assembly depot. Fly over here and I will let you look at my new 2555 HST cab, I have it all tore apart in the barn adding stuff/wiring getting it ready for winter.

Cougsfan · Aug 30, 2016

The 2555 brings Mahindra down to $6K above the competition. If they wanted to compete price wise, they would have to drop down to a 38 hp unit. The dealer told me that the Mahindra is a much better quality unit than the Chinese and Indian made units of Kioti, LS and Branson (????) So much for buying local.

JerryK · Aug 30, 2016

Cougsfan said:
The 2555 brings Mahindra down to $6K above the competition. If they wanted to compete price wise, they would have to drop down to a 38 hp unit. The dealer told me that the Mahindra is a much better quality unit than the Chinese and Indian made units of Kioti, LS and Branson (????) So much for buying local.

That's what they learn in dealer school....

MtnViewRanch · Aug 30, 2016

Cougsfan said:
The 2555 brings Mahindra down to $6K above the competition. If they wanted to compete price wise, they would have to drop down to a 38 hp unit. The dealer told me that the Mahindra is a much better quality unit than the Chinese and Indian made units of Kioti, LS and Branson (????) So much for buying local.

I'm pretty sure that your dealer has no idea what he is talking about or I simply don't understand what you just said.

Kioti, LS and Branson are all built in Korea as is the TYM built 2500 series Mahindra tractors.

So everything that you have listed out in this post, ALL come from Korea.

Good luck with your search & final decision, they are all nice machines IMO. :thumbsup:

TSO · Aug 30, 2016

Out of the tractors you listed, I'd choose the Kioti. But I'd personally recommend Massey over the ones you've mentioned.

DK35vince · Aug 30, 2016

Cougsfan said:
The 2555 brings Mahindra down to $6K above the competition. If they wanted to compete price wise, they would have to drop down to a 38 hp unit. The dealer told me that the Mahindra is a much better quality unit than the Chinese and Indian made units of Kioti, LS and Branson (????) So much for buying local.

Shows how much your dealer knows.
Kioti, LS and Branson are made in South Korea

Cougsfan · Sep 5, 2016

I went with the Branson 4720CH. The big driver was the price. It was considerably less than the other units. The dealer sold me a 6' Woods rotary mower and a Woods box blade, and with tax, the total still came in less than 2 of the other bare tractors I was considering.
The dealer has been around a while, sells MF and LG tractors besides. He wasn't high pressure and was very honest about discussing tractor choices. He didn't run the competition down, in fact said nothing but good things about them. He wasn't particularly trying to sell me a Branson, he was more so just trying to satisfy my needs. He has a good, seemingly competent shop.
Obviously, I don't know what the other tractors are like in detail, but the Branson sure hasn't disappointed me. The Branson is incredibly NICE compared to what I have been using, The cab is roomier than I expected (The back window opens up fully, my original concern). Their are niceties all over the tractor that the others probably have, but I have never had. I am quite content with my choice.

jenkinsph · Sep 5, 2016

Cougsfan said:
I went with the Branson 4720CH. The big driver was the price. It was considerably less than the other units. The dealer sold me a 6' Woods rotary mower and a Woods box blade, and with tax, the total still came in less than 2 of the other bare tractors I was considering.
The dealer has been around a while, sells MF and LG tractors besides. He wasn't high pressure and was very honest about discussing tractor choices. He didn't run the competition down, in fact said nothing but good things about them. He wasn't particularly trying to sell me a Branson, he was more so just trying to satisfy my needs. He has a good, seemingly competent shop.
Obviously, I don't know what the other tractors are like in detail, but the Branson sure hasn't disappointed me. The Branson is incredibly NICE compared to what I have been using, The cab is roomier than I expected (The back window opens up fully, my original concern). Their are niceties all over the tractor that the others probably have, but I have never had. I am quite content with my choice.

Looks like a nice tractor. What size tires did you get?

Cougsfan · Sep 6, 2016

jenkinsph said:
Looks like a nice tractor. What size tires did you get?

After going back and forth a lot in my mind, and asking the opinion of you guys in another thread, I ended up going with the R-4's (9.6X16 front, 420/70X24 rear). It was a harder decision than the tractor itself. What I learned is that the Industrial tire is definitely better in nearly every situation, except pulling a heavy load in mud. In snow it is debatable which is better. The dealer told me in his opinion industrial tires work as well as ag tires in dry snow, ag tires are definitely better in wet snow, but chains go and stay on easier on Industrial tires, and that the chain/R-4 combination is the all around best bet in ice and snow. Based on all that subjectivity, I decided industrial tires were probably the best fit for me.

jenkinsph · Sep 6, 2016

I think the R4 tires were a good choice, at least I felt the standard R1 tires were too small. That is why I asked what you picked out.

Cougsfan · Sep 7, 2016

You know, I have only seen the tractor with Industrial tires on it. According to the interweb, a 420/70/24 tire is 46.4 inches in diameter. The ag tires are 12.4 X 28. I originally assumed that would be 12.4 +12.4+28 = 52.8" diameter. But I found that the 12.4 is the tire width, not height. I can't find a listing for the height, so I don't know the height difference.
The front tire choices are 9.5x16 (AG20), 10x16.5 (IND20). I don't know the exact diameter of those tires either, but based on the similar number standards for each, the Industrial tire is obviously bigger. The front and the rear have to be in harmony in relative diameter because of 4wd, so you are right, there is a considerable size difference!
Never realized that. Not sure if that is a big deal besides looks. Wonder if they alter the ground speed indicator with the various size tires?

blb078 · Sep 7, 2016

What was the price and options you got with it?

paulfun9 · Sep 7, 2016

Cougsfan said:
The 2555 brings Mahindra down to $6K above the competition. If they wanted to compete price wise, they would have to drop down to a 38 hp unit. The dealer told me that the Mahindra is a much better quality unit than the Chinese and Indian made units of Kioti, LS and Branson (????) So much for buying local.

What that dealer didn't tell you is that the engine in the Mahindra is made in India and many of their tractors are made in India as well.

I always find it amusing when a sales person has no clue what they are talking about and just spouts off at the mouth in hopes of getting a sale. Its probably best you chose to go with a different dealership. Good luck with the Branson they seem like a well built tractor.

I wonder why I see so many folks with very high quotes on Mahindra tractors lately? I really didn't find anything about them that leads me to think they are any better built, or will last any longer than the next brand.