Flip-flopping on tractor choices: it's a tough decision!

[EddieWalker]

I thought Kelly Tractor was Mahindra now. Guess they could be doing both. They wanted me to do some remodel work for them, but I don't do commercial jobs and declined. The one in Terrell is the one I'm thinking of on 20.

 

[BoneDigger]

Yes, Kelly Tractor sells both.

 

[WM75Guy]

The one in Terrell is Four Brothers. They also have a store in Royse City. I have had work done there and they are OK. Most of the time I order my parts from Messick's and get them shipped to me.

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

Have you thought about buying a cheap first tractor maybe in the 5k range and seeing what you actually want in a tractor? You can always trade the 5k tractor in on a new one. Just a thought.

 

[WVH1977]

Do you have a place to store the tractor on the 60 acres you have? What kind of trailer do you have for towing it? How far away is your hunting property from your house? Just some other things to consider in making your purchase. I normally would not recommend a small tractor for a 60 acre property. However, you don't want a heavier duty truck and are not trying to spend a pile of money so have you thought about a sub-compact tractor? For a little more than 15,000 you could buy a new or a year old new sub-compact with a loader, tiller and bush hog. It will be easier to tow and have a smaller footprint for storing. It should be able to handle 5 acres of mowing, 2 acres of food plots and occasional maintenance around the property. It will also get into tighter places in the woods. I have been wanting to get a small sub-compact for the properties I hunt to do similar things you are wanting to do. I get tired of hauling my bigger tractor around to do small food plots and bush hogging roads and trails. I priced one out a year ago with those attachments and it came out to 17,000.

 

[BoneDigger]

I have one of those metal carport deals for the tractor to sttay under on the property. My house is maybe 20 miles away.

I think there is a dealer in Athens and/or ********* as well, but not sure.

 

[BoneDigger]

I have considered a smaller or cheaper tractor. The problem with cheaper is that most are either worn out, are 4x2, or have no loader. I definately need 4x4 in this sandy soil, and a bucket, though maybe only used occassionally, would be needed.

Honestly, up until now I have used my Ranger 500 for mowing with a tow behind brush hog, and a Mad Dog disc. I rented a backhoe when I needed it. But, it's put undue stress on my Ranger and my roads really need some work. I just had my land thinned (timber) and I'm getting erosion areas now.

 

[WM75Guy]

There is not a NH dealer in Athens any longer. Athens Tractor was a NH dealer until NH switched to LS. There is one in *********.

 

[Texasmark]

Dealer location is no biggie for me. Get a parts list, call the distributor, use your credit/debit card, UPS the results. I tore out my right cab door one day doing a mowing favor for a neighbor. I called the Plainview, TX. distribution point which is also a dealership and in 3 days I had a tempered glass right door in my hands.....had 7 in stock.

I have a NH dealer 25 miles away in a busy metroplex for my Ford parts. Don't feel like doing the drive. Same thing.

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't think it really matters about how close a dealer is to get parts with everything being online. I do think it makes a HUGE difference when needing to talk to somebody for advice on what to do to fix it. I've never brought any of my tractors in to the different dealerships in my area, but I am on a first name basis with some of the guys who work there and rely on their knowledge to fix my tractors. A good example is the New Holland Construction dealer sells a rebuild kit for my backhoe cylinders that costs $110 and includes parts for at least a dozen different cylinders. You only use 5 or six seals and through away over two dozen that come in the kit that don't go to your cylinder. Then for some cylinders, they require a new piston that also costs another hundred bucks. There is nothing wrong with my piston, just a couple seals that are worn out. The parts guy told me that they send their cylinders to be rebuilt at a specialty shop just down the road from them. I had no idea such a place existed. He sells the exact seals that I need for $7. But for $100, he will rebuild it for me in a day or two and I just have to drop it off there. Another example, when the mechanical fuel pump went out on my Century tractor, the dealer told me it was something like $150 for a new one. I never priced them online, so maybe there is a better deal out there, but he said to go to Napa auto parts and get a Mr Gasket Diesel electric fuel pump and use that instead. It will last a lot longer and cost a lot less. Things like that are why it's good to have a local dealership close by.