Double Barrel Day: Joined TBN and Bought 2310TLB

81Wolfpack · Apr 5, 2008

I've been researching all the forums for a compact tractor to use on my turkey farm. I bushhog/drag roads/move shavings/wash turkey houses with a couple of MF 135's. I really need something small (actually low profile) to till the shavings while the birds are in the house (small birds, I brood from age 1 day to ~ 6 weeks). The house is pole type construction and I have 2 lines of brooders, 2 feed lines, and 4 water lines hanging down in a 50' width. Turning radius and low tractor height were a necessity. So was a real need for a front end loader (FEL as I have learned the shorthand) to work on erosion areas around the houses and roads, and put clay back into the houses. A backhoe (sorry, BH) was not needed but could be used for several "projects". Cleaning out old ditches, improving water runoff here and there.

Looked at all the usual suspects:Kubotas, Mahindra, JD, NH, and even TKM(?). Kubota dealer was very personable, let me drive and operate 18/23/7800 series. Offered to let me take one home for the weekend. I like the Kubota but I really had to rev it up to operate the hydraulics. It also had a loud exhaust, if I spend 2 hours in a house tilling I want to be able to hear when I finish. Lots of plastic, which has good and bad points. Good warranty and the dealer would match the 0/60 financing of MF. It was my second chioce.

Mahindra had nothing in stock in the size I needed, but had some TKM's available in scratch/dent sale. 23 horse with FEL for 10,500, the 27 horse with FEL for 11,500. Drove them both and everything felt fine but I was just unsure about repairs/parts/resale. Plus they were both a little taller than the MF (or felt taller) and I really need clearance. The Mahindra's looked nice in the brochure, the 15 series, but I could tell by the price quoted on in stock tractors they would be higher comparably equiped to the MF. There was a 27 horse TKM with FEL and BH but it was a sub frame mount BH and looked really difficult to remove/attach. Price for that was 17,900.

NH dealer had nothing on the lot and did nothing to convince me he wanted to make a sale. JD I like but I'm not a green maniac, nice tractors if you can afford them.

I kept going back to the MF and the salesman probably knew he had me. New 2310 with 1 hour on it, (1/2 that hour was mine) that finally went for 16,100 with 0/60. Put down enough to get the payments down to a nice round 250 month (wife's request, why?, I don't know) Signed the papers at 5:00 yesterday. It will be prepped and delivered Wednesday morning. I know a couple of the guys at MF and feel thay will take good care of the prep and maintenence. I'll be getting a Howse 48 inch tiller (reversible and can be offset) for 1100 Monday. Tilling by tractor will commence Thursday A.M.

Anyhow, wanted to thank all those 2300/2310 owners here for there post that helped make my decision. Lots of praise for the tractor and lots of good advice.

One question did pop into my head. How many of you added extended warranties? I can get 5 years (2 plus added 3) for 4-500. I have 60 days to decide. Ounce of prevention?

David (81Wolfpack)

EMS503 · Apr 5, 2008

You will be happy with the 2310 for working in the Turkey houses. I have the 2300 and use it in and around my pullet houses with out any problems, it also runs my sprayer unit for clean out time and I have no problem manuvering in the houses with this. I purchased mine used and did not get the extended warranty. No major problems with the exception of one operator error, which was costly

.

Good luck and keep us posted.

ray66v · Apr 5, 2008

Welcome, extended warranties are a gamble, and deck is stacked in favor of the seller. They are not offered as a public service, they offer them because they make money on them. More people buy them than use them. This means if you buy one, you will likely loose money on the deal. There are always people who will tell you to buy it, because they, or someone they know, bought one an made out on the deal. And that could happen. The odds are it won't.

archerynut · Apr 7, 2008

Congrats on the new tractor, I don't think that you will regert it.

irvingj · Apr 8, 2008

Yes, welcome to the "red club." Bought mine back in Feb, already has reduced snowblower time by 1/2 to 1/3 of what it used to take with a 2' walk-behind (long driveway). Can't wait to see what it will accomplish in the summer. Also agree that the lower RPM is nice; one of the reasons for the choice. Didn't buy extended warranty, as I do most repairs/maintenance myself on all vehicles... $100 spent on factory service manual will most likely pay for itself the first time it's used.

mcnitt · Apr 8, 2008

Congratulations on the new purchase. I wanted red, but didn't have a dealer close enough. Bought orange instead.

Axeman · Apr 9, 2008

ray66v said:
Welcome, extended warranties are a gamble, and deck is stacked in favor of the seller. They are not offered as a public service, they offer them because they make money on them. More people buy them than use them. This means if you buy one, you will likely loose money on the deal. There are always people who will tell you to buy it, because they, or someone they know, bought one an made out on the deal. And that could happen. The odds are it won't.

I agree. I have bought a few extended warranties over the years on appliances, cars, etc. and they usually run their course without ever having been used. All money wasted so I don't do that any longer. More often than not, soemthing goes wrong with the product a week after the warranty runs out.