anyone have opinions on Branson Tractors?

[Tx Jim]

Branson is built in South Korea!! Same as JD. Mahindra is actually a China built tractor..

According to Tratordata.com some JD models are built in
Manufacturer: John Deere
Factory: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Manufacturer: Mahindra
Factory: Maharashtra, India

 

[coobie]

Branson is built in South Korea!! Same as JD. Mahindra is actually a China built tractor.. But with good quality..and probably some others...Not sure on the JD though, just heard that through the grape vine..

All this time I thought Mahindra was built in India?

 

[droptop]

Mahindra is an Indian company.

Some of their models are made by Mahindra in India, some are made by TYM in South Korea, and some are made by Mitsubishi in Japan.

 

[pete-mi]

The only Mahindra I knew of made in China was the 2525 that they had for a short time. It was based on the Lenar tractor. From what I was told they had a lot of problems with them even after doing a lot of improvements to start with so they dropped the model.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

Mahindra is an Indian company.

Some of their models are made by Mahindra in India, some are made by TYM in South Korea, and some are made by Mitsubishi in Japan.

The new Mahindra eMax is using a Daedong (Kioti) engine.

 

[acrozier]

Right, until the plastic falls off, the same John deer's your putting down are still working after 50 years and don't fall apart.

I know this is way after the fact of this argument....but everyone here realizes that the small (Compact) JD, NH and Case tractors are NOT made in America....Don't they?!?! Compact JDs are Yanmars, New Holland is a Korean tractor (same as LS). Case is also foreign I believe. I think they are fundamentally LS tractors as well. The parent company of Branson, Kukje, is a heavy agricultural equipment company who has MADE tractors for the JD European market. I think they make some of the stateside models for them as well.

So the US vs. them is somewhat silly. There pretty much is no US tractor anymore. The #1 tractor seller in the world is now Mahindra...of India! Who, by the way...made some of the most popular IH tractors back in the 60's. Many of Mahindra's tractors are actually TYM's (Korea).

One company that is coming on strong is Kioti...again a Korean tractor.

Here is an interesting fact that I'm finding as I'm doing my research though. The tractors that are made to be sold under the JD, NH or Case name by these foreign manufacturers seem to have lighter duty chassis/frames and less lift capacity than the tractors these companies market under their own name. If seems that the US companies are focused on hobby farmers for their compacts. But others have realized that most people don't really need a 50-60hp tractor...but do need a tractor that can lift a fair deal.

That is the market I am in. I don't need a large HP tractor...but I do need relatively high lift capacity on many occasions. First new tractor was a Mahindra. Awesome tractor that served me well. I just bought 40 HP Branson. Lift capacity is equal to what most would describe as a utility tractor...not a compact.

Dealer is half the distance of a JD, NH or Case dealer. Dealer was really interested in what I needed....not touting how wonderful their green machine was.

JD has a great network, but run into the same customs issues as the others since many parts are coming from overseas. Probably a little more in stock and on hand. But my tractor is not my lively hood. If I had to have my tractor EVERY day. I would possibly consider a JD. But more likely a Mahindra. But since I can wait a few days for parts if necessary....Branson made since. Much cheaper for a more heavy duty full featured tractor than a JD, NH or Case.

My 2 cents.

 

[cford36]

Also the 50 year old JD's that he is talking about are not the JD of today. I have a JD and it has plenty of plastic on it like everyone else. I didn't look back to see what that was in reply to, but still doesn't change what I said. You also didn't have the options you have today back then. Just as good options in my opinion also.

 

[duke7595]

Every J.D. tractor I own from the 820 compact to a 4020 is at least 50 years old, with the exception of a 1050 compact and a 2240. The last 2 mentioned have some
plastic, especially the 2240 nose cone which is actually fiber glass and usually missing or cracked on most of these models.
In my opinion older J.D. tractors are a far cry better than what is offered today, there are no on board computers to fry and if maintained, will do the work as well or better than the new ones. I'm predigest I must confess to old John Deere tractors and probably sound like a old sore head stuck in the past. however, that's
how I feel about the matter.

 

[forestcreature1]

side trivia - the cab on my 3046r is made in Germany.

 

[forestcreature1]

Agreed. That's why I only have the old ones, and they are a nice hobby. It's a good feeling to take one, and bring it back to the way it looked new.

Sorry to differ with you - but unless it is steam powered - it ain't old.

 

[duke7595]

Agreed, "old" not ancient, even I draw a line in this respect, steam has it beat.

 

[eagle628]

I know this is way after the fact of this argument....but everyone here realizes that the small (Compact) JD, NH and Case tractors are NOT made in America....Don't they?!?! Compact JDs are Yanmars, New Holland is a Korean tractor (same as LS). Case is also foreign I believe. I think they are fundamentally LS tractors as well. The parent company of Branson, Kukje, is a heavy agricultural equipment company who has MADE tractors for the JD European market. I think they make some of the stateside models for them as well.

For what its worth, most of Deere's compacts are still assembled in the US. Augusta, Georgia, specifically. The 2s and the 3005 are Yanmar rebadges I think, and maybe the 3Es. But the rest are still American. Well, mostly American I guess. More than the others.

Also all of the lawn equipment is still US made. X series garden tractors in Wisconsin, D lawn tractors in Kentucky, and zero turns in North Carolina.

 

[arlen4720]

For what its worth, most of Deere's compacts are still assembled in the US. Augusta, Georgia, specifically. The 2s and the 3005 are Yanmar rebadges I think, and maybe the 3Es. But the rest are still American. Well, mostly American I guess. More than the others.

Also all of the lawn equipment is still US made. X series garden tractors in Wisconsin, D lawn tractors in Kentucky, and zero turns in North Carolina.

The JD 3E's are US made. I think the 3005 is discontinued. That leaves just the 2 series made by Yanmar.
When people say that there are no american made tractors anymore, I wonder what they are talking about??? I think many people on this forum think the world revolves around compact tractors.
John Deere builds many, many tractors in the US....the whole tractor. They cast the engine blocks, build the trannies and everything in between.
They of course also have factories in India, Germany, Mexico, and who knows where else.
As far as the CUT's, there are many US parts, Mexican parts, Japanese parts, and Chinese parts on them. They are as American made as a CUT gets.

 

[arlen4720]

The parent company of Branson, Kukje, is a heavy agricultural equipment company who has MADE tractors for the JD European market. I think they make some of the stateside models for them as well.

I would love to hear more about this

 

[acrozier]

As I stated....the small tractors....sub 100hp.
Honestly not much is fully american made these days.

As far as the argument that JD CUTs are assembled in the US. Well the same is true for Kubota, Kioti, Mahindra, LS, Branson...etc.

I don't think ANY of the JD lawn tractors are american. I know my neighbors JD riding mower is not.

I think folks would be suprised how much of even the large tractors.

I believe in the best value for my money. Out of all the vehicles I own only one is an american company....but the rest are assembled and employ tons of americans in their plants.

 

[acrozier]

I would love to hear more about this

Do some hunting on the web for Kukje John Deere.
Kukje enter into a deal with Cummins several years ago to build engines for them.

Many don't realize S. Korea is big in building heavy equipment and is a major ship builder.

 

[arlen4720]

As I stated....the small tractors....sub 100hp.
Honestly not much is fully american made these days.

As far as the argument that JD CUTs are assembled in the US. Well the same is true for Kubota, Kioti, Mahindra, LS, Branson...etc.

I don't think ANY of the JD lawn tractors are american. I know my neighbors JD riding mower is not.

I think folks would be suprised how much of even the large tractors.

I believe in the best value for my money. Out of all the vehicles I own only one is an american company....but the rest are assembled and employ tons of americans in their plants.

I guess it's hard to debate when your just throwing random opinions out ant trying to disguise them as facts.
I have 2 JD Mowers, 1 made in WI and 1 made in NC

 

[acrozier]

I guess it's hard to debate when your just throwing random opinions out ant trying to disguise them as facts.
I have 2 JD Mowers, 1 made in WI and 1 made in NC

Keep drinking the green koolaid. Not sure what "opinion" I stated as fact. I said, I "think" the lawn mowers are made overseas. As I stated. A good portion of my neighbor's is. It was assembled in the US. To me that is different than "Made in the USA". His has the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard Engine. That is a Japanese manufactured engine. Or at least it was a one time.

I have no doubt your mowers where assembled in the US.

My Branson tractor has a "cummins" engine in it. In reality, when I did my homework before I bought the tractor, I found that the cummins engine is really made in South Korea by Kukje and marketed under the Cummins name.

 

[eagle628]

I would love to hear more about this

It doesn't seem likely. Deere is actually pretty good about disclosing location of manufacture on their website. 5Ds and 5Es are made in India. The larger 5Es are made in Georgia, as are the 5Ms. 6Ds are made in Mexico. 6Ms and 6Rs are made in Germany. The larger 6Rs, and the 7, 8 and 9s are all made in Iowa.

 

[acrozier]

It doesn't seem likely. Deere is actually pretty good about disclosing location of manufacture on their website. 5Ds and 5Es are made in India. The larger 5Es are made in Georgia, as are the 5Ms. 6Ds are made in Mexico. 6Ms and 6Rs are made in Germany. The larger 6Rs, and the 7, 8 and 9s are all made in Iowa.

I've never been able to find that information on their website. Could you provide a link?
A couple of dealers I've had the pleasure of talking to didn't even realize some of the CUTs they were sellling were green painted YANMARS.

Kukje had an agreement with John Deere starting back in the 80's. Similar to the agreement IH had with Mahindra dating back to the 60's.
It was my understanding Kukje manufactured a couple of JD models for the Asian market. Maybe they are just acting as distributors for JD tractors now.