Best tractor list

[Keith_B]

It's silly to think that one would have to "bend over" to reach the 3 pt valve.

KB

KB, I tried out that model of tractor when I was shopping, and one does not have to bend over to reach the 3 pt valve, to raise and lower the 3PH. If you look at the pic it shows the 3PH valve lever is just below the edge of the seat when in the down position. The seat will lower as weight is put on it decreasing the distance. I've driven about every major brand of tractor there is and found it to be neither more nor less comfortable to operate the 3PH on this tractor than on all of the other brands.

What I have found is that each and every brand of tractors on the market has a following, and the reason is that each of the tractors has its strengths and weaknesses. When the individual buyer makes a purchase these strenghts and weaknesses are applied to the buyer's own unique circumstances, and a purchase decision is made. The unique circumstances that each buyer brings to the table makes a best tractor list impossible to compile. For example, I tried out many CUTs in the 40 HP range and found that a number of them would slide on the gravel in a midrange gear when I applied to the brakes. Since our farm has a lot of hills and slopes it wouldn't be good for me to select a model that wasn't heavy enough to maintain traction when stopping on a hill. On the flipside, someone concerned with leaving tracks in their yard would prefer the lighter weight those machines offered.

The one thing I discovered that surprised me the most is the number of quality machines that are on the market today.

 

[Soundguy]

On a lighter note...Hey Bob.. if that is the HD bucket.. I sure would hate to see the light duty one!!!.. Looks like those implements made for lawnmowers.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[Dargo]

The one thing I discovered that surprised me the most is the number of quality machines that are on the market today.

I realize that I have only been using tractors for about 30 years, but I'm quite shocked at some of the junk now offered. It seems that any group of investors can put up a few bucks and get a hodge podge of parts put together and call it a tractor. Some of the minor tractor manufacturers are only too happy to slap together their 2nds and private label them off as another brand rather than scrap the bad parts.

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

 

[Soundguy]

Keith.. I think I see what Bob was talking about. At least in the pics, it appears to me that the 3pt control is even witht he front of the seat.. or is a tad forward of it... Now.. On ..well... every tractor I've ever driven, the 3pt lift quadrant was even witht he back of the seat.. and perhaps slightly lower...

Now add to this that Bob may have long legs.. meaning he has pushed the seat back for leg room. What this has done, since the 3pt controll is at the FRONT of the seat, is made it so that the long legged driver has to lean forward to pusht he 3pt controll all the way down, unless they have extra long arms... With the 3pt control at the rear of the seat.. there would have been no issues... the controll would still be withing 'arm distance' of the operator... perhaps right alongside of him.. but certaintly not forward of him..


Soundguy

KB, I tried out that model of tractor when I was shopping, and one does not have to bend over to reach the 3 pt valve, to raise and lower the 3PH. If you look at the pic it shows the 3PH valve lever is just below the edge of the seat when in the down position. The seat will lower as weight is put on it decreasing the distance. I've driven about every major brand of tractor there is and found it to be neither more nor less comfortable to operate the 3PH on this tractor than on all of the other brands.

What I have found is that each and every brand of tractors on the market has a following, and the reason is that each of the tractors has its strengths and weaknesses. When the individual buyer makes a purchase these strenghts and weaknesses are applied to the buyer's own unique circumstances, and a purchase decision is made. The unique circumstances that each buyer brings to the table makes a best tractor list impossible to compile. For example, I tried out many CUTs in the 40 HP range and found that a number of them would slide on the gravel in a midrange gear when I applied to the brakes. Since our farm has a lot of hills and slopes it wouldn't be good for me to select a model that wasn't heavy enough to maintain traction when stopping on a hill. On the flipside, someone concerned with leaving tracks in their yard would prefer the lighter weight those machines offered.

The one thing I discovered that surprised me the most is the number of quality machines that are on the market today.

 

[Soundguy]

Maybee he meant 'lack' of quality machines??

Soundguy

 

[Keith_B]

Soundguy, When I tried out the tractor I scooted the seat all the way back, as I like to maximize the legroom, still no problems with needing to bend forward. I've driven tractors where the 3PH control was farther forward, and farther rearward. I'm not very tall, so a taller person who in turn would have a longer reach would not have to bend forward to operate the 3PH lever.

The control for the remotes, is another story. For the life of me I cannot figure out why so many companies make the access to the controls for their remote valves so unhandy to access.

 

[GeneD14]

Keith.. I think I see what Bob was talking about. At least in the pics, it appears to me that the 3pt control is even witht he front of the seat.. or is a tad forward of it... Now.. On ..well... every tractor I've ever driven, the 3pt lift quadrant was even witht he back of the seat.. and perhaps slightly lower...

Now add to this that Bob may have long legs.. meaning he has pushed the seat back for leg room. What this has done, since the 3pt controll is at the FRONT of the seat, is made it so that the long legged driver has to lean forward to pusht he 3pt controll all the way down, unless they have extra long arms... With the 3pt control at the rear of the seat.. there would have been no issues... the controll would still be withing 'arm distance' of the operator... perhaps right alongside of him.. but certaintly not forward of him..


Soundguy

Having the 3 pt control near the lower front of the seat is a big dis-advantage in my opinion.
Most of the time when I am using the 3 point control to hook up an implement, lower the brush hog into the grass, or lower any other implement I am turned around looking back at the implement. If the lever is along side the seat: good. If the lever were in front or down low: bad

 

[Bob_Skurka]

What amazes me is that rather than pointing out other bits of good design or bad design found on tractors so that a thread about BEST TRACTORS can stay on topic, it seems like there is a lot of arguement over a simple observation about the (opinion) of the poor placement of the 3pt lever or the discussion of what constitutes a fact or an opinion. It would be nice to stay on topic rather than to pick apart posts and attempt to be contrary to the obvious.

.

Gene obviously understands how to use a tractor, as is illustated in his observation:

Most of the time when I am using the 3 point control to hook up an implement, lower the brush hog into the grass, or lower any other implement I am turned around looking back at the implement. If the lever is along side the seat: good. If the lever were in front or down low: bad

While some may feel they are be able to operate it under all conditions, GeneD14 and Soundguy certainly understand the observation and GeneD14 obviously understands why it is a poor (opinion) placement.

So to get onto the topic of BEST, let's consider the placement of the "cruise control" on some of the newer John Deere tractors. It is on the right fender and can be actuated with your thumb while your hand is on the 3pt lever. You don't have to take you eyes off the path of travel to find it, you can feel it. I have a dash mounted cruise control on one tractor and it is behind the steering wheel requiring a reach around, its a traditional location and not a bad one, but not as nice as the JD location. On another I have a mechanical cruise control and it is the worst of all I have seen.

if that is the HD bucket.. I sure would hate to see the light duty one!!!.. Looks like those implements made for lawnmowers.. etc..

That is my point, when you see a bad feature or design it is pretty obvious. That bucket is on what is supposed to be on a H.D. tractor based on what the sales guy told me. The top lip is a simple fold. It is completely unreinforced along the top. Compare that to some of the other brands buckets that have heavy wall square or round tubes welded full length for top rigidity. The bottom edge (not shown in the photos) was a simple cutting edge, but there was very little on the bottom to prevent wear through, compare that to the buckets that have several full depth wear/skid strips welded from the cutting edge to the back of the bucket.

 

[Keith_B]

I realize that I have only been using tractors for about 30 years, but I'm quite shocked at some of the junk now offered. It seems that any group of investors can put up a few bucks and get a hodge podge of parts put together and call it a tractor. Some of the minor tractor manufacturers are only too happy to slap together their 2nds and private label them off as another brand rather than scrap the bad parts.

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

Dargo, you only have a few years on me in the tractor usage, but there are a lot of quality machines out there, more than there were in the recent past. Mergers took away a number of the major brands that once dotted the landscape, but other companies have emerged in the last decade plus in this country that were not here previously.

My brother-in-law, who has been working tractors for around 45 years, just loves my Mahindra, and was really impressed with its capabilities, operation, etc.

A local dealer, who has been in business for decades, started carrying the McCormick brand. These machines, which are a recent import to the U.S., are a quality tractor, and are competing well with the major brands in my area.

Long tractors used to have a very bad rep, today under the Farmtrac badge the company is marketing some solid machines. The people that own them are pleased with the tractors, which are based on the old Fords.

Kioti tractors are high in quality and buyers are pleased with their purchases.

In addition to these new guys on the block we are seeing far more models to select from among the companies with a more established US presence. We are seeing many companies come up with value priced versions in order to compete in the market. It hasn't been that long since there weren't any real model variances within a brand, only differences established by options.

In regards to longevity Kubota is still a new guy on the block, as they haven't been in the U.S. for that long when compared to Deere, Case/NH, & Massey. As Kubota and the auto industry have show us it doesn't take as long to establish a US market as one would think.

There are also some people/groups who are importing machines from China, slapping a label on them and selling them as their own. These are not manufacturers, but importers. These tractors have a bad rep, and from all appearances it is at the very least somewhat deserved.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I realize that I have only been using tractors for about 30 years, but I'm quite shocked at some of the junk now offered. It seems that any group of investors can put up a few bucks and get a hodge podge of parts put together and call it a tractor. Some of the minor tractor manufacturers are only too happy to slap together their 2nds and private label them off as another brand rather than scrap the bad parts.

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

Looks like we both share the same opinion on this issue.

I've owned tractors of my own for over 35 years. Before that, I grew up on dads. Most of what I'm familiar with have been what everyone refers to now as an "AG tractor" Before Compacts, they were just simply "tractors". Back then, junk just didn't sell. Since MOST tractors were sold to farmers who depended on them for a livelyhood, the market was for quality, longevity, and ease of operation.

Compact tractors are relative newcomers. They are ALMOST a different species. From all I've seen, they are still in the teething stage. (Even the best of them) It's not fair to compare them to farm tractors of the 1930's and 40's, but todays compacts will seem very crude in a few years. My personal opinion is, you're just begining to see compacts of a quality to match their high price. (And ONLY from a few brands)

And then there's those "bargain basement tractors". I'd take an old tractor from the 1930's over some of them. Obviously, today you can sell about anything if the price is low enough. To me, these things aren't even tractors. Just because it smells like a rose, it isn't always a rose.

Last winter, I started looking at buying a new compact. Something in the 40 to 45 HP range. For the price I'd had to pay, I didn't see much that was worth what I went through to earn that money. What I saw, IS better than what I saw just a few years back.

As the "AG tractor" evolved, the also-rans fell off the edge of the earth. I'd bet the ranch that'll happen with some of these 3rd world bargain brands in due time.

The cream always rises to the top.