Green, Yellow, Red, Blue, Orange, Oi!

JayC · Oct 4, 2001

I'm having a heck of a time. In one of the previous posts posted by Hook, a member (forgot his name) mentions a Tractoritis bug. Well, to say the least, I have it! When ever I get a bug of some sort, whether it be a cold or flu, it usually hits twice as hard on me. And I sure feel the tractoritis bug. When I first joined TBN I was slightly interested in tractors. Now, I am VERY interested in them. Now, I have a dilemma. Which tractor is most recommended. I have been reading the forums inside and out. By the colors above, I mean for Yellow= Cub Cadet, Green= John Deere, Red= Case, Blue= New Holland, Orange= Kubota. All the colors are pretty obvious but though I'd include them anyway. What does everyone here think about each color. I am quite partial for Cub Cadet, but I was at John Deere's website earlier today and could get more tractor for the buck. Cub's 7360SS (36HP, Shuttle Shift, 4x4) is about $18727 (MSRP). I am interested in the JD 4600, which has 43HP, runs about the same as the 7360SS. I'm not too familar with models by Red, Orange, or Blue, but I am aware of the different features and model specs. Case seems to look strikingly similar to NH. Anyone else notice? They also seem quite close in performance too. I'm also not that familiar with Kubota models, but do recall that their B series aren't that great from other forums. I also remember that they aren't that comfortable. I know tractors are for work, but I don't want to feel it when I get off. BTW, for each tractor I would look at a front-end loader, backhoe, rear mount 72" mower, and possibly a back blade. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.

TWINKLE_TOES · Oct 4, 2001

B series aren't that great from other forums

Whoa, right in the heart for about 1/2 the members of this board. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I also remember that they aren't that comfortable.

That's just glennmac. He is a big softy, the rest of us have real tough rear ends.

I'm not too familar with models by Red, Orange, or Blue

Invest in Muhammad's book, (the link at the top of the page). I think you are one of the folks that he wrote it for.

Good luck, looking at tractors is a fun way to spend time and $$$$.

Al

Bird · Oct 5, 2001

You need to visit a Kubota dealer and look at some of the tractors and/or specs. There aren't any B series Kubotas in the hp range you're talking about. Look at the L or Grand L series./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

TerryinMD · Oct 5, 2001

Mention color - well, you just opened Pandora's Box.

It sounds like you have a good idea as to what you need in a tractor. Start to visit the dealers and get their quotes and look at the models. This way you can begin to narrow your choice down to your particular needs. Also, you begin to get a comfort level with the dealer. Once you have the brand/models that meet your needs, start your bargaining. IMHO, a dealer really won't pay much attention to you until he feels like your ready to make a commitment.

Good luck,
Terry

bpence · Oct 5, 2001

If you plan on buying new, go spend some time at the various "color" dealerships and sit on, drive, operate the various tractors that fit into your range. Then go home, read the brochures, look at stuff on-line, and then go back to all the dealerships and do all of the test driving & operating again. You need to find a tractor that fits you, feels right, handles the way you like, etc. Buy the color that best suits YOU.

Bob Pence

CVHoss · Oct 5, 2001

I recently purchased a JD 4400 HST tractor. When getting ready to buy, I was looking at only two brands, JD and Kubota. Prices and features for comparable models and features were about the same and while I was leaning towards the Kubota, one difference resulted in the purchase of the JD. While I have little experience with compacts, I spent most of my youth working on farms and the first 5 years of my married life as an equipment operator (backhoe) for a public works dept. (water dept). In those experiences, I have run into countless situations where using the wheel brakes on the tractor was necessary or desirable. Situations such as working in mud where one wheel would lose traction and a tap of the brake for that wheel would allow the other to pull you out but, primarily when using the loader. Running any distance with the loader down, such as pushing snow, clearing brush, etc. will either require you to remove any down pressure from the bucket so that steering can be done with the front wheels or use the wheel brakes to steer the tractor while applying pressure with the loader bucket to accomplish it's task more efficiently. Applying the wheel brakes on a Kubota HST tractor is virtually impossible unless you have the cruise control engaged as they place the individual brakes on the same side as the HST control peddle. This one item moved me to the purchase of the JD tractor. If a lot of your work will require the use of down pressure on the front bucket while moving forward more than a few feet, you should evaluate this "design flaw" (in my opinion) as to how it will affect your use.

Hoss

JATO_RaT · Oct 5, 2001

Hoss, differential braking is used much less today. Back in the old days it was used becasue most everything was 2 WD. I only use differential braking anymore for experimental reasons, not because I need it. I would not be using this as an argument anymore for decision buying unless it is something you would really use which I believe for most of us is very few. Rat...

dmccarty · Oct 5, 2001

Thou Who Be Bitten By The TractorItisBug,

Follow the prescriptions that are being given by those of us who already have the sickness. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif They are giving good advice.

When you are at the dealer, how neat is the place. Is the shop clean or is it a mess. How do the employees look. These may sound trivial but they are details. I saw one dealer whose shop looked, litterally like a junk yard. I don't think they had cleaned out the shop or the show room since they built the place many a decade ago. There was no way in heck I would want him working on my tractor much less setting it up. Most of the dealers had fairly neat dealerships but a couple did not. One in particular I swear you could eat off the floor.

The dealer I bought from had a very neat dealership. The parts department helped me out when I was trying to get a nontractor related part. They are just good people. Not perfect but they aren't there to rip me off either.....

The dealer is a big part of you purchase.

Good Luck and GO GREEN! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Dan McCarty

CVHoss · Oct 5, 2001

Howdy Rat,
As I said, you have to evaluate how it will affect your own use. Knowing what my primary uses were going to be right up front, I felt it was very important. With 5+ acres of very dense briars, brush and small saplings to clear, I knew a lot of my work was going to be skimming with the front loader bucket. Also will be used to clear snow this winter from the parking lot of one of my business locations. While 4 wheel drive is great, it doesn't help much if the work you're doing requires enough down force on the loader bucket that the front wheel contact with the ground isn't enough to steer the tractor. I do feel that Kubota's placement of the controls pedals is a design flaw. If they're going to make them useless, don't bother putting them on the tractor at all. The idea that you have to set the cruise control to use them is, at the best, a disadvantage and, at the worst, dangerous.

Hoss