Best compact tractor for around 15K

twducz1 · Sep 9, 2008

My father and I are looking to start a landscaping buissness. We want a tractor around 20HP and Don't want to spend much more than 15k. What is the best quality tractor for this price?
Thanks,
Ty

wallace · Sep 9, 2008

Kioti CK20

schmism · Sep 9, 2008

your going to need to be a bit more specific.

with or without finish mower (mmm or rfm)
with our without loader
with our without backhoe
with our without a boxblade/rearblade/landscape rake

you wanting to spend 15K total with implements or not?

a tractor without implements is severely hamstrung

TC24

whatever flavor, my suggestion would be a class 1 CUT. not a SCUT <cough> riding lawnmower <cough>

asylum575 · Sep 9, 2008

schmism said:
whatever flavor, my suggestion would be a class 1 CUT. not a SCUT <cough> riding lawnmower <cough>

Ouch,

Be careful, us BX owners like to think we have a tractor. I don't know, I get alot done with my TLB

ScottFarm · Sep 9, 2008

Take a look at a Montana. I own a 57 hp with FEL and cab and love mine. If you go to the site below they have lots of different brands you can kinda compare prices.

2007 MONTANA 2740 Less than 40 HP For Sale At TractorHouse.com

Used Tractors at TractorHouse.com: John Deere Tractors, used farm tractors and farm equipment, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Caterpillar.

From what I can tell there are a lot of good tractors to choose from. Find a reliable local dealer and go try different ones out. What sold me on the Montana is the 4 cylinder Mitshibishi diesel in my model compared to the 3 cylinder in most other brands.

Good Luck

tractorjackleg · Sep 9, 2008

ScottFarm said:
What sold me on the Montana is the 4 cylinder Mitshibishi diesel in my model compared to the 3 cylinder in most other brands.

Why is the 4 cylinder any better? The most praise I've ever heard on tractor engines is for the 3 cylinder Perkins. Does it have more torque or something?

coobie · Sep 9, 2008

wallace said:
Kioti CK20

++2 Kioti.coobie

wkpoor · Sep 9, 2008

Buy used and your money will go way farther in whatever you buy. There are many good gently used tractors on the market for sale. Probably get more than double what you could buy new.

ScottFarm · Sep 9, 2008

tractorjackleg said:
Why is the 4 cylinder any better? The most praise I've ever heard on tractor engines is for the 3 cylinder Perkins. Does it have more torque or something?

My last tractor was a 3 cylinder perkins and i loved that tractor and the perkins engine. It was quiet and a work horse. However, for me the only dealers I have close are Deere, Kubota and a little farther away was the Montana. I just didn't like how much clatter the 3 cylinder Deere have. I have a neighbor who has one and so far no problems, but even he admits he likes the 4 cylinder mitshibishi better than his. What finalized my decision was I could get the Montana with a cab in same hp as the Kubota with just rops. I also liked how the Montana was heavier than the Kubota. I've had the Montana for about a year now and I like it better than the Deere and Case and other tractors i've previously owned or used.

When I priced tractors it seemed like used were almost as high as new. The market may have changed! Are you a first time tractor owner? If so i'd go new if you can afford it. Get the good financing rates and the 3 year warranty of a new one.

I've heard good things about Kioti, Montan, Mahindra and Branson tractors. Also McCormick is using the same company to make some of their tractors that makes the Montana.

I recommend go try all of them out in your price range that are close to you and then do research on where they are made and go to the different sites on here and learn as much as you can.

Good Luck, Happy Tractor Hunting.

Dmace · Sep 9, 2008

Your not going to beat a Kioti CK20 in terms of strength, design, capabilities and warranty for that price range. Being a business owner, you should know that the Kioti 4-yr warranty is for ALL USES of the tractor, unlike the other orange tractor that cuts your warranty in half for commercial users.

Happy shopping!

PA hayseed · Sep 9, 2008

wallace said:
Kioti CK20

How's that for almost immediate feedback! 5 minutes later and a solid pick. I am partial to the Kioti lineup myself, having said that, I really wish my first tractor would have been one of those CK's and not the CC I used to own. I had to use one at my dealer's lot to return an attachment rental. I was surprised how that little tractor could pull that tiller out of my truck so easily, heck, the tiller was almost as big as that tractor. Trust Rick, take a look at that CK before you render your final decision.

flusher · Sep 10, 2008

twducz1 said:
My father and I are looking to start a landscaping buissness. We want a tractor around 20HP and Don't want to spend much more than 15k. What is the best quality tractor for this price?
Thanks,
Ty

Many landscapers use Kubota B-series tractors in the 20hp range since they are small, nimble and strong enough for the job.

I bought a new Kubota B7510HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto, 4WD) with the LA302 FEL (4-ft bucket) for $12,600 in May05. A great little tractor.

MessickFarmEqu · Sep 10, 2008

If your concerned about a smooth running engine, you'll be hard pressed to beat a Kubota B2320. Easily well under 15k. The engine in this tractor has a shorter stroke than some others making it run more smoothly. Its the smoothest of all the B-series tractors in my experience.

LBrown59 · Sep 10, 2008

MessickFarmEqu said:
If your concerned about a smooth running engine, you'll be hard pressed to beat a Kubota B2320. Easily well under 15k. The engine in this tractor has a shorter stroke than some others making it run more smoothly. Its the smoothest of all the B-series tractors in my experience.

MY BX23 is smooth.
Smooth and quiet.

GreenWannabe · Sep 10, 2008

You need to visit local dealers, sit on different trctors and try them out, see which ones fit you. While you are about it, evaluate each dealer, parts and service as well as sales, and make sure the dealer will fit your needs too. Make more than one visit to the ones you like, and listen to them as well as to the group here for their advice. Make sure that what you are hearing makes sense to you.

Good luck with your shopping.

JMER817 · Sep 11, 2008

What do you plan on using for attachments? If you are going to be seroius about the landscpaping business you will want to get a "harley rake" The 6' model I had took every bit of the 32hp I had.

flusher · Sep 11, 2008

JMER817 said:
What do you plan on using for attachments? If you are going to be seroius about the landscpaping business you will want to get a "harley rake" The 6' model I had took every bit of the 32hp I had.

Good point. I forgot about the Harley rake, which to a landscaper is, I suppose, like a hammer to a carpenter.

Harley makes the TM-4 rake (4 ft wide) for SCUTs in the 15-22 hp range.

woodlandfarms · Sep 11, 2008

TYM...

But really, it is so much less about the tractor and so much more about the dealer...

You might want to ask yourself which dealer is going to get you back to work, as quick as possible. That may mean night time repairs, loaner tractors, whatever... Tractors can an will break.

And after seeing a lot of these IMO the TYM brand is really great, but that is partly because there is a killer dealer in our hood.

MessickFarmEqu · Sep 11, 2008

If your running a harley rake I'd consider a Kubota B2920 for the PTO HP. You'll be needing a bit more power than your average person on this board. Its still in your price range and you'll be much more productive. Its still on that small chasis your looking for but has the engine power of a larger machine.