Branson dealers?

[Torvy]

I am trying to cast a wide net in terms of buying a tractor, but one of my deal breakers is distance to a dealership. My cutoff is about 60 miles (or an hour by car). According to Branson's dealer locator, the nearest dealer is about 100 miles away.

Here's the tricky part for me...Branson has an assembly facility in Tyler, TX. Tyler is only about 40 miles from our place. How does it make sense for them to have an assembly facility in Tyler, but no dealership?

Anyone know any inside info on the backstory here?

 

[Panik]

Here's the tricky part for me...Branson has an assembly facility in Tyler, TX. Tyler is only about 40 miles from our place. How does it make sense for them to have an assembly facility in Tyler, but no dealership?

Wish I could help with that question.... I'm proximate to Branson's U.S. headquarters and up until about 3 years ago we didn't have a Branson dealer within a 2hr drive.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

No dealer in my state.

Can't help you there.

 

[Torvy]

You would think maybe a 'factory outlet store' or something. Oh well, I guess that is one less brand to research.

 

[K5lwq]

We have one of the best Branson dealers in the nation just outside of Greenville in Caddo Mills on I-30. In fact, I find them to be better than all the other tractor dealers in East Texas. Their service manager is the one that has provided all the Branson manuals for us on TBN and helps anyone that asks.

 

[Torvy]

We have one of the best Branson dealers in the nation just outside of Greenville in Caddo Mills on I-30. In fact, I find them to be better than all the other tractor dealers in East Texas. Their service manager is the one that has provided all the Branson manuals for us on TBN and helps anyone that asks.

That one is 90 miles from our place. About the same distance to one in Carthage. I drive right by the Caddo Mills store every time we go out to our land from the Metroplex. I'm just not sure I want to deal with that drive every time I need something.

 

[K5lwq]

When you live in East Texas driving is just a part of life. My 2017 F150 has 208,000 miles on it now.

 

[ning]

My dealer is exactly 100mi from my home.
I've been there once, 4 years ago, but more recently sent a friend up...

 

[Torvy]

When you live in East Texas driving is just a part of life. My 2017 F150 has 208,000 miles on it now.

I'm a home body. I'll head into Longview or Tyler to buy something every week or two, but I've done enough driving. 2 hours in DFW traffic every day. 20k hard traffic miles every year. It took years off of my life. I understand what you are saying. The small town (3-4000) where I grew up was 45 miles from the nearest bigger town and 3 hours from anything one would call a city. In Winter, driving anywhere came with added risk. Some people regularly drove into the city, just not my thing. If I am driving a long way, it had better be to see relatives or explore America.

Kubota dealer is 7 miles away, JD is 12. 7 more options less than 50 from me.

Based on your recommendation, I added Branson to my spreadsheet. Prices are hard to compare because they seem to like to bundle.

 

[K5lwq]

You can stop by the Caddo Mill location on one of your trips to the land. They will be glad to quote what you want. Or just call and talk to Leon. He is the owner.

But if distance is a concern, Kubota is a very good tractor and the closest dealer.

 

[Oldnbusted]

We have one of the best Branson dealers in the nation just outside of Greenville in Caddo Mills on I-30. In fact, I find them to be better than all the other tractor dealers in East Texas. Their service manager is the one that has provided all the Branson manuals for us on TBN and helps anyone that asks.

I drove from east of Little Rock to get my tractor at Big Tex.

 

[K5lwq]

I drove from east of Little Rock to get my tractor at Big Tex.

Well worth the trip I am sure! They are good folks.

 

[Torvy]

I couldn't find anything on the 5835R on that dealer's website. It is on the upper limit of what I would buy, He has a 3520 listed, bit not as part of a package. That would be the low end for me.

I could use most of the types of implements in his packages, but I am particular about what I get. I would most likely just get tractor and FEL. Any insight on his store brand implements?

 

[K5lwq]

I already have most of the implements I need so have not paid much attention. They are a Bad Boy mower dealer but don't know if they sell their implements. I know they had some Titan stuff.

 

[advancedplumbingservice@h]

I just bought a new Branson 48hp. Hydro stat. Pedals seem a little stiff. Is there any adjustment for this?

 

[Torvy]

I don't know about that, per se, but in my experience, new units are often a little stiff until you break them on a little.

 

[advancedplumbingservice@h]

I don't know about that, per se, but in my experience, new units are often a little stiff until you break them on a little.

I thought that. I have a friend that bought about the same model at the same time and his is much easier.

 

[K5lwq]

I thought that. I have a friend that bought about the same model at the same time and his is much easier.

Is yours the 15 or 20 series?

 

[kantuckid]

You can be a homebody and still chase the best deal? There are no fast foods, red lights, very few business's, jobs of most any kind except a school system, quarry, logging and the like here. But, when I need something I go fetch it. My tractor came from MO-private sale (~ 475k one way-cost me less than $200 for the trailer rental and two tanks of pu truck gas and a BK Whopper) but several dealers in TN had me sold if they'd had stock and delivered 3+ hours to my door. Walmarts a 50+k RT for us in any direction. But we live here in safety and peace among the forest critters who try to eat all our goodies.
I wont post my deals on the world wide web but suffice to say it was a huge savings over a new one at the best price!
The UPS & FedEx guys bring stuff every few days and if we liked (which we don't) Krogers delivers grub to the nearby county library parking lot. E TX is far more populated than E KY from my travels but no matter, I go where it makes sense to buy big ticket items. The Branson dealer nearest me is about 1.5 hours down I-75 near the entrance to Cumberland Falls SP almost to the TN border. It's not Ford or GM, it's Branson, so don't expect curb service?
I see these wont go to town people all my life. In KS where I from, distances are less troubling if hauling livestock, cash crops things that makes you money. The factory where I worked in KS workers formed companies & owned vans and even old buses to get to work cheaply.
My nearest neighbor can barely walk due to a bad knee. Told me he's quitting his main hobby as a serious big time gardener because of that knee. As he told me I googled two VG orthopedic docs within 30 minutes of him but he won't bite when it's his own body, lifestyle and pain? Beats me. If I hadn't had my hips replaced, I'd for certain be in a wheelchair-instead I'm working on the farm, traveling much farther than some people will go for a tractor! to ride mountain bikes in the Smoky mtns with my grandkids. Choices, choices...
My latest shoulder cortisone shop was in a PITA doctor location-3+ hour RT-> but damned if I'm not back to lifting and such.
Range out some and enjoy life huh?

 

[kantuckid]

Stiff pedals:
spray with some serious lube magic like a powdered lube product such as a moly-kote product (slicker than graphite!) or similar-something in a carrier fluid or grease that will sick in the sweet spot on the pedal linkage joints.