Hello & looking for a tractor on the MS Gulf Coast

[Rick in MS]

Rick,
Do yourself a favor and give Kioti a good look. I was looking a couple years ago. Looked at several brands, for the money and capabilities of the tractor the Kioti won out for me. I have not had one issue with it thus far. I realize your needs are different than mine. ( hay and farming type work)
All in all I think any brand of tractor will suit your needs but at least get the most tractor for the money. :2cents:

:thumbsup:

 

[cbth]

I'm off Wayne Lee on ccc rd. About 4 miles north. I understand not wanting to "overbuy" my opinion I would stay at least 40+hp and full size. Wish you luck.. If I can help yell out

 

[Steve1300]

I got rid of my little BX when I bought my MX. Now, I wish I had a smaller one but not as small as my old BX. There seems to be an advantage of having a tractor do something that can be done by a smaller one without removing my backhoe each time. I know it would be overkill according to some, but there is something to be said for convenience. I am considering a 2301 to replace the BX2200.

 

[Rick in MS]

So, I took off Friday and took the wife on a 200 mile road-trip to look at tractors.

We started at a Kubota dealer where we were recommended the L3301. They then let the wife drive both a HST and a gear-drive transmission. She definitely preferred the HST but said the gear-drive would not be a deal-breaker. No small Grand L's on the lot.

We then went to a Massey Ferguson/Mahindra/Kioti dealer. This dealership recommended a HP range and then took us around to show what he had on the lot. He recommended 35-45 HP and we started with the Kioti CK4010. Again, she drove both the HST and the gear-drives. HST was the preferred tranny again.

Then we moved to the Massey 1739E, gear-drive only on the lot. A nice tractor. But then he showed us a 1736 with 12x12 Power Shuttle. Even though it wasn't HST, she really liked this tractor - from the fit & finish, to the electro-hydraulic soft-start PTO, to the loader control location, to the seat. Oh, and the neutral position on the PTO to allow the shaft to be turned by hand, she liked that, too. She was very comfortable with the Power Shuttle - if not more so than the HST she was as comfortable.

We then went to a Kubota/New Holland dealer. This dealer only wanted to sell us a L3901. Whether they had one on the lot or not, I don't know, but he never offered to show a New Holland CUT.

None of the Kubota dealers we visited had a L3560 or 4060 and they really didn't seem interested in having one. They also pushed gear-drives more than HSTs.

We both liked the fit & finish of the Massey more than any of the other specific tractors we looked at.

So, apples to not quite apples, we received the following quotes:
L3301 HST, Ag tires, LA525 FEL with SSQA bucket - $22,150
L3901 HST, Ind tires, LA525 FEL with SSQA bucket - $22,575
MF 1736 Power Shuttle, Ag tires, DL125 FEL with SSQA bucket - $24,500
LS XR3037H, Ag tires, LL4102 FEL with SSQA bucket - $19,895

The Massey dealer also offered to deliver the tractor for free - a little over 100 miles one way.

 

[Tractorable]

Where's Mahindra on your list? They tend to be heavy for their size and affordable. The new Yanmar YT235 is a nice unit as well.