Buying Advice Advice NEEDED!!

[bfbill650i]

I know, I know! Many people have asked what to buy etc. My case MAY be different or not!

I'll begin with what I THINK I need.( some I know!) Open platform, since my garage doors are only 7', and I like the unobstructed view and or I just like open platform. A FEL (loader) is a must! 4wd with a FEL is preferable, and I will be yarding firewood in some pretty nasty spots! A snowblower and a "bush hog" are implements I WILL be using!! Either a shuttle ,powershuttle or a hst (hydro) are my trannys of choice....traditional gear tranny with "creeper" is OK too (just worried I'll be shoving the clutch a lot when blowing) Around 30 hp I THINK will be good. Or should I just purchase a tractor over 60 hp at the PTO and save the tax? I also would like something that DOESN'T scream CHEAP! New or slightly used I'm not picky! Looking at a budget of 15-20 grand (cheaper is always good! But I will pay for quality!)

I MIGHT , MIGHT not only do my drive in winter (155' x 20') I may do a few to help pay fuel and in summer do a bit of "bush hoggin' " for a few people.(not gonna start a business or anything).............................................I am not a total NEWB I did grow up on a farm. Although "Pop" only had a 2wd international harvester that was as delicate as I don't know what!

Please suggest a tractor or tractors!!?!

 

[nybirdman]

The snow blower is "not" going to be fun on an open station.You may want to consider a plow instead if you are stuck on the open station.
HST are easiest to use and sell down the road.Pick your brand;lots of good tractors in the 30-60 HP range.

 

[bfbill650i]

The snow blower is "not" going to be fun on an open station.You may want to consider a plow instead if you are stuck on the open station.
HST are easiest to use and sell down the road.Pick your brand;lots of good tractors in the 30-60 HP range.

The openstation and the snow-blower combo is, TO ME, a better option than plowing.(limited space)

 

[paulfun9]

If you go with a gear tranny of any sort make sure it has a good selection of gears for when running that snow blower. I also use an open station tractor for snow blowing and don't have a problem with snow blowing back at me. Getting covered in snow by the blower happens to everyone once then you learn real quick to pay attention, adjust the shoot and go with the wind not against it.

How much property Are you going to be running the tractor on and how big of a blower do you think you want, are there any lift requirements for the FEL? This will be the biggest determining factor in how big or small of a tractor you will be looking at.

 

[oosik]

I had a 3-point snow blower on my previous open station tractor and you will VERY QUICKLY learn to "go with the wind". Otherwise, the only problem is the stiff neck & shoulders that will develop when using this unit and going in reverse for hours on end. It had a gear tranny and it posed no problems when using the blower.

I don't need a rear mount blower with the new larger tractor. The rear blade will easily clear the berms that develop along the driveway.

If you will be clearing snow in tight places - then the blower is the way to go.

 

[Egon]

Your needs seem clearly defined. The sixty HP may be a substantial cost increase to that of smaller tractor. Your bankroll determines that. HST would suit your needs very well. The colour may depend on ergonomics and price.

Happy shopping time.��

 

[Ed of all trades]

I often tell people here don't look for a tractor look for a dealer. Find a dealer that other people are happy with, not just one that smiles when he sees your thick wallet. There are crooks out there and others that just don't care.
find a good dealer and then look for a tractor. Ed

 

[KevT]

I often tell people here don't look for a tractor look for a dealer. Find a dealer that other people are happy with, not just one that smiles when he sees your thick wallet. There are crooks out there and others that just don't care.
find a good dealer and then look for a tractor. Ed

Amen!!!

 

[MESSMAKER]

Lots of good choices in the 30hp range. Probably should go with a hydro. Works better for snow,loader and even bushog work. Budget for a 60hp model seems too low to me. I suspect that it will cost nearly 30k for that set up.

 

[GManBart]

Otherwise, the only problem is the stiff neck & shoulders that will develop when using this unit and going in reverse for hours on end.

In Canada and other places where they get a lot of snow, inverted, or pull-type, snow throwers are very popular....no need for going in reverse.

 

[varmint]

For all the gear you want at your budget ($15,000 USD), I would start looking for a used tractor. HST allows easy direction changes, constant PTO speed while varying the travel speed, and if you appreciate quality, look a Kubota or Kioti (but, there are a magnitude more Kubotas out there than Kiotis- just look at Tractorhouse's listings) and good luck. If you are hoping for the tractor, bushhog and blower for $15,000, super good luck! Oh- go for R-4 tires for nasty work areas. Might need chains, for snow/ice.

 

[GManBart]

Around 30 hp I THINK will be good. Or should I just purchase a tractor over 60 hp at the PTO and save the tax? I also would like something that DOESN'T scream CHEAP! New or slightly used I'm not picky! Looking at a budget of 15-20 grand (cheaper is always good! But I will pay for quality!)

If your $15-20K budget is just for the tractor, you can probably exclude anything bigger than about 40-45hp if you want to look at new or slightly used. Slightly used machines hold most of their value very well. I bought a tractor for $21,500, put 215 hours on it in 15 months, and sold it for $19,250...so not a huge difference.

Any of the big brands make good machines these days, and the only good way for you to pick is to get some seat time in as many as possible to figure out what you like, and don't like. Something that annoys me might not bother you at all, and vice-versa, so it really just depends on the individual, and you don't want to buy a machine with a basic characteristic that bothers you (seating position, control placement, etc) since you're probably going to keep it for a long time.

What brands are within a reasonable driving distance from you? Right now the brands that seem to offer the most bang for your buck are Kioti, LS, TYM and probably Yanmar (good quality, but not a lot of dealers it seems). I wouldn't bother with CaseIH/New Holland since they're outsourcing machines in this size, and you can normally buy them from the actual manufacturer for thousands less.

That leaves you with Mahindra, Massey Ferguson, Kubota and Deere as the more expensive brands, with Deere usually being the most expensive. Some of the Masseys and Mahindras in this size are outsourced, but from good companies. You generally can't buy the Massey equivalent from the manufacturer here in the U.S. and I doubt in Canada. I think there is some crossover in the Mahindra line where you can buy the equivalent from TYM, but that may have changed with the newer series machines. Mahindra also has had some of their line made by Mitsubishi, but that's another one you can't normally buy from directly. I don't have a big issue with outsourcing if a company is honest about it, but I'd give an edge to a company that makes their own machine, because they have more control over how long they support it with parts.

 

[bfbill650i]

If your $15-20K budget is just for the tractor, you can probably exclude anything bigger than about 40-45hp if you want to look at new or slightly used. Slightly used machines hold most of their value very well. I bought a tractor for $21,500, put 215 hours on it in 15 months, and sold it for $19,250...so not a huge difference.

Any of the big brands make good machines these days, and the only good way for you to pick is to get some seat time in as many as possible to figure out what you like, and don't like. Something that annoys me might not bother you at all, and vice-versa, so it really just depends on the individual, and you don't want to buy a machine with a basic characteristic that bothers you (seating position, control placement, etc) since you're probably going to keep it for a long time.

What brands are within a reasonable driving distance from you? Right now the brands that seem to offer the most bang for your buck are Kioti, LS, TYM and probably Yanmar (good quality, but not a lot of dealers it seems). I wouldn't bother with CaseIH/New Holland since they're outsourcing machines in this size, and you can normally buy them from the actual manufacturer for thousands less.

That leaves you with Mahindra, Massey Ferguson, Kubota and Deere as the more expensive brands, with Deere usually being the most expensive. Some of the Masseys and Mahindras in this size are outsourced, but from good companies. You generally can't buy the Massey equivalent from the manufacturer here in the U.S. and I doubt in Canada. I think there is some crossover in the Mahindra line where you can buy the equivalent from TYM, but that may have changed with the newer series machines. Mahindra also has had some of their line made by Mitsubishi, but that's another one you can't normally buy from directly. I don't have a big issue with outsourcing if a company is honest about it, but I'd give an edge to a company that makes their own machine, because they have more control over how long they support it with parts.

Thanks! This is the type of advise I was thinking of! Again THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bfbill650i]

If you go with a gear tranny of any sort make sure it has a good selection of gears for when running that snow blower. I also use an open station tractor for snow blowing and don't have a problem with snow blowing back at me. Getting covered in snow by the blower happens to everyone once then you learn real quick to pay attention, adjust the shoot and go with the wind not against it.

How much property Are you going to be running the tractor on and how big of a blower do you think you want, are there any lift requirements for the FEL? This will be the biggest determining factor in how big or small of a tractor you will be looking at.

The tractor will be used on my land and my step-dad's, about 38 square acres. my main purpose for the FEL is clearing snow so I'll need some style of quick attach for the regular bucket and the snow pusher/bucket. And after you have one you'll always "find" work for it! It's always handy to have!!I would LIKE a 96" side chute 6 bladed fan 30some inch impeller ,hydraulically operated commercial top chute and defector (flapper??) But I guess I'll settle for a 60" or so no side chute although I want to have the chute hydraulically controlled, it doesn't have to be commercial grade.

I DO appreciate quality but I find Kubota not to be what they once were,.......I find them to be pricey for what you get, that doesn't mean I won't have one just makes for a better sales job to be needed! I find myself looking at the LS's site the only problem for me is NO dealer around, will have to drive atleast 5 hours to test one out.

Talking about dealer proximity the only dealer close is Kubota and they know it! So their prices are just STUPID not to mention the sales guy has little tractor knowledge. Next closest is Yanmar, he still has 2012s(cub cadet twin) in stock and STILL wants full MSRP! Then 3 hours away is massey agco and their pricing is MSRP+ not to mention the sales staff have the attitude "If we don't sell to you we'll try the next guy." New Holland is just down from massey the sales guys are asses so I wouldn't buy an oil filter from them let alone a tractor! So internet and phone calls for me!!