Farmtrac

[RollingsFarms]

I bought a new Farmtrac 535 last August. I looked at the 435, because I wanted to get the most tractor for the money. I decided that in the long run I wouldn't be satisfied without the power steering. I have about 140 hours on it now, and have been well pleased. I am an old farmer, and I am very comfortable with the 40 year old technology found on the Farmtracs. "You get what you pay for" is a good thing to keep in mind, but I decided that I did not really want to pay for all the things that make tractors appeal to people who have never farmed or used a tractor very much. I paid 11K for the 535, but it had been on the lot for a while, and the dealer had not sold a tractor in several weeks.

The 535 is, in my opinion, the nearest thing to the old 3000 Fords and 135 Fergusons we farmed with in the 60's and 70's. It is a basic, no frills, economical to purchase and operate, small utility tractor. It is perfectly suited for a small, say 20 acres, farm. I wouldn't be afraid to draw my 535 and the old 600 Ford on a 100 acre farm, especially if I could hire a good operator for about a month in the Spring.

I went back and got the FEL this spring, and I have been very pleasantly surprised how the tractor handles it. One thing I have discovered is that I don't have to mash the pedal that locks the differential; it automatically engages when a wheel starts to slip. My loader is for convenience and occasional use, not for loading lime all day or trying to dig a pond, etc.

I think the 535 is the biggest bang for the buck in an economical utility tractor for a small acreage. I have put some tough hours on mine, and have been well pleased.

did you consider the 5103 model from John Deere? from what i've learned, they are also a basic, no frills, reliable, very reasonable priced utility tractor. i belive they are 50hp as well as gear driven and made out of metal(fenders) instead of plastic. from your post i think i understand that you got your tractor AND loader for around $11k?

 

[redlevel]

No. Just the tractor for $11,000. I decided to add the loader later.

The fenders on the FT are metal. How much does the JD you are speaking of cost? I bought the FT because I am very familar with all the Ford/NH style controls, including the draft control, dual stage clutch, etc. The dealer/shop where I bought my tractor uses Ford/NH shop manuals for the hydraulics, etc. I believe the engine in the 535 isn't one of the old Ford designs, but is specific to that model. When you move up to the 545, the engines are bolt-ins for Fords, or so they tell me. Farmtrac advertises on their website that they make bolt-in replacement engines for certain models of Ford/NH tractors.

 

[RollingsFarms]

No. Just the tractor for $11,000. I decided to add the loader later.

The fenders on the FT are metal. How much does the JD you are speaking of cost? I bought the FT because I am very familar with all the Ford/NH style controls, including the draft control, dual stage clutch, etc. The dealer/shop where I bought my tractor uses Ford/NH shop manuals for the hydraulics, etc. I believe the engine in the 535 isn't one of the old Ford designs, but is specific to that model. When you move up to the 545, the engines are bolt-ins for Fords, or so they tell me. Farmtrac advertises on their website that they make bolt-in replacement engines for certain models of Ford/NH tractors.

wow that sounds like a pretty good deal for a 35hp tractor! i like the old ford's myself, although ive never owned or driven one. the JD 5103 price varies really, depends on the region where you purchase it. i've seen them go for 12,000 up to 15,999. id say the average price would be around 13,500. they are basically set up as your typical "back in the day ag utility" tractor. ive been to a Farmtrac dealer before. there is only one near me, hes about 35mins away. his dealership is small and in the middle of nowhere. his house and the dealership thats next door, are all you see for about 6 miles besides feilds. he was very helpful, but i wanted to be sure that the brand i decided to buy was going to still be in business for the next 30 years. i am planning on going back to him and buying most of my implements that i dont purchase with the tractor. hes got an outstanding selection, and said he could order and brand i needed and give me a good price, along with delivering it to my house for an extra $30.

 

[BTDT]

Northern sells NORTAC not Farmtrac.

wrangler, your right. Went back by today on the way in to work and took some pics.

 

[Cacinok]

rollingsfarms, i'd venture a guess that farmtrac will be around for a long time.

here's a little history of long/farmtrac from tractordata and escort group respectively. from what i understand, ford pulled out of india and escort group bought all the rights and manufacturing facilities. escort seems to be a well run company. but as was mentioned earlier there are a number of posts regarding the farmtracs in the "other brands" section of tbn.

Long Manufacturing built its first tractor in 1948. The company, however, soon stopped building their own and began importing tractors from Uzina Tractorul Brasov (UTB) and some Landinis. Long filed for bankruptcy in 1985, but returned by 1987 after a reorganization. In 1998, Long Agribusiness was purchased by the Escort Group of India. The Long name was dropped in favor of the Farmtrac brand.

In 1960, Escorts set up the strategic Agri Machinery Group (AMG) to venture into tractors.
In 1965, we rolled out our first batch of tractors under the brand name of Escort.
In 1969 a separate company, Escorts Tractors Ltd., was established with equity participation of Ford Motor Co., Basildon, UK for the manufacture of Ford agricultural tractors in India.
In the year 1996 Escorts Tractors Ltd. formally merged with the parent company, Escorts Ltd.
Since inception, we have manufactured over 1 million tractors.

 

[schiker]

Farmtrac 's appear to be making headway here in SC. I see a few more dealers here and there driving around. All small dealers or as a second line of tractors to another brand. I have very briefly looked at them and they appear to be pretty good. Never driven or operated one though.

OK so what makes it a gray market tractor? Sounds like its being manufactured by a reputable company and should be around for a while. Is it market share or what that determines if a tractor brand gets its own forum?

I think of gray market tractors as tractors being assembled and labeled different ways for different markets. I don't THINK thats the case with Farmtrac?????

 

[GreenWannabe]

Grey market tractors are built and originally sold in markets outside the US, then imported outside of the manufacturer's network. They will often have decals in Japanese, and they are not supported by the manufacturer's US arm or dealer organization.

Farmtrac tractors are manfactured by or for Escorts of India, which owns Farmtrac (formerly Long Agribusiness). I believe final assembly of some of them occurs in their North Carolina facility, which also produces their loaders, as I recall.

 

[redlevel]

The Farmtrac Exhibit at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA has grown from just a little tent with one tractor and a local dealer representing them to a large, well decorated and well staffed exhibit to rival some of the larger, more well known manufacturers. I think there were probably at least ten tractors on display last fall, and a bunch of displays of attachments for the tractors. I had already bought my 535, but there were plenty of knowledgable people there to talk to prospective buyers. There are probably at least 6 or 8 dealers in Georgia. There are two dealers within 30 miles of my home, both carrying FT as their leading brand.

As I said in an earlier post, I paid $11K for my 535. The dealer priced a new 435 (without power steering) at $9500. I was sorely tempted, but at 58, with one real bad shoulder, I knew I would never be pleased without ps. In my opinion, these two tractors are the best bargains on the smaller ag utility market today. If they will run from 4000 to 6000 hours before needing any serious overhauls, that will certainly be the case. I don't see any reason why they won't.

I think the original poster said his dealer priced a 435 at $11000. I would think the dealer had a little wiggle room there. I am not making up the story about the prices I was offered eight or nine months ago.

 

[dbear]

The Farmtrac Exhibit at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA has grown from just a little tent with one tractor and a local dealer representing them to a large, well decorated and well staffed exhibit to rival some of the larger, more well known manufacturers.

Saw the same thing happen here. Last farm show I went to, FarmTrac exhibit was larger than Kubota (only brought 4 tractors and nothing bigger than a CUT), and was at least as large as the NH and CIH displays. JD was the biggest, but they brought along their largest combine, haybine, and chopper.

 

[Cop in Overalls]

I did alot of research when i bought my new tractor, all brands new and used. With there Frenzy promotion, Farmtrac came out on top. After paying for 4 years a 360DTC (39hp)w/ quick tatch FEL 12 speed shuttle shift, 4wd, 2 rear outlets, folding ROPS. skid steer bucket will cast me 16,100. It was a price i could not pass up and the dealer has been great.