Dealer charge for loading tires

[Bronco82]

Good job finding the fine print in there and the exaggerated costs that some people may overlook and just write the cheque.

I did mine with plumbing antifreeze a number of years where we sometimes see -40 in the winter and no issues as of yet for a heck of a lot cheaper.

 

[arrow]

The alternative is just to use the tires as they come. Most 4wd tractors have great traction without loading the tires. They ride nicer, and can always be loaded later if wanted. But Unloading loaded tires is more of a problem.

And then there are flats and slow leaks....fixing a nail puncture in an unloaded tractor tire is a no-brainer. Most tractor tires come mounted as tubeless, so insert sticky plug, air up, and the fix is permanent.

A leak in a loaded tire is a whole other ball game.

I cannot fully agree with the assertion of "most 4wd tractors have great traction w/o loading". This is only to an extent.
Smaller subs and cuts with industrials or turfs have rather miserable traction without tire ballast.
Adding a cab and or backhoe provides significant tractor ballast.
Larger tractors with appreciable weight do well for the homeowner w/o tire ballast but even these benefit from loading.

Adding tire ballast alters a 4wd tractor into a different tractive machine more often than not.

 

[Smokeydog]

Different parts of country probably vary.

Local Kubota dealer in East Tennessee adds methanol rear ballast to any tractor with a loader.

They added ballast to my used B26 rears for $36. In hill county ballast improves balance and traction.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

My dealer charged a nominal fee to load the rear tires--I think it was about $400. The salesman said he would not see a tractor with a loader unless it had loaded tires, a backhoe or a ballast box. It was the best of the options from my perspective.

 

[Soloz2]

I would ask the dealer exactly what is included in the setup and fill tires line. My dealer had a line of about $1200 when I purchased my B2601 last month and it included all the things they did including paying their guys time to set up, go over, deliver, install the 3rd function kit, etc. I wanted R14 tires and the wait on R14s had no ETA so they bought another entire B2601 without loader from another dealer and swapped the tires out for me so I’m sure their overhead was just as much if not more than what they actually charged. I know they make money from the sale as well, but the dealer has to make money so they can pay all their guys a decent wage. Honestly, when I first saw it I was dubious, but talking to the dealer I got it and had no problem paying.

 

[CE2]

the tires in my tractor have beet juice in them right from the factory. I have the quick mount backhoe that I don’t leave on the tractor because I use mostly 3 point attachments. So I really need the loaded tires. Had a hole in on of the tires and had a construction tire company come out to fix It. The cost was $200 to fix the tire and fill the tire back up. The tire service truck had a tank of beet juice and be able to suck out and replace the beet juice in the tire.

 

[walnutman]

The alternative is just to use the tires as they come. Most 4wd tractors have great traction without loading the tires. They ride nicer, and can always be loaded later if wanted. But Unloading loaded tires is more of a problem.

And then there are flats and slow leaks....fixing a nail puncture in an unloaded tractor tire is a no-brainer. Most tractor tires come mounted as tubeless, so insert sticky plug, air up, and the fix is permanent.

A leak in a loaded tire is a whole other ball game.

Not so much about traction. Front end weight when you load the bucket with wet dirt or stone can cause the rear to go up in the air.

 

[redmt]

That is excessive for filling tires. When I bought mine, I asked the dealer to fill mine as part of the deal (no extra cost). If the dealer won’t back out that charge, then decline tire ballast and take your tractor to a truck and equipment tire shop. They will fill tires for a lot less.

 

[redmt]

I have never used anything but water. Straight water. Buy a fill valve from Amazon Jungle and do it yourself. You will save $1990.00.

 

[ptsg]

My dealer filled my rear tires for free. I didn't even ask nor I had even thought about that at the time since I didn't have the loader nor plans to build it yet. They knew I was going to work a lot on the hills so they just did it. I'm glad they did.

So far I only had one puncture on the rear tires. It wasn't a big deal at all. Took the entire wheel out, loaded on the truck. Drove 5 miles to the tire shop. €10 and 15 minutes later, I was ready to go with a patch on the tube and the tire filled with straight water again. Nice and easy.

Could I use wheel weights instead? Sure. Am I going to pay the crazy prices they ask for them when I have pretty much a alternative? No way!