Help! First tractor - Deere vs Kubota vs New Holland

[RoyJackson]

RoyJackson:

I am starting to live the quote I got consistently during my 15 years of geriatric work: "You do not age gracefully nor well." . One reason I have been so prolific on TBN this week is that I am on employer-ordered medical leave as my "walking pneumonia" evolved to a good case of "double pneumonia with complications" and I am bored. I am showing sufficient symptoms to make tractor work unsafe, so I am stuck indoors and go out and play . Jay

Get well soon, Jay!

 

[Metropolis_488]

Thanks everyone for all the useful and varied information.

What I would like to know is, has anyone actually owned a gray-market tractor?
IF so, what was your experience?

EFC (he's a TBN memeber) has a gray-market tractor dealership close by. He sells all his tractors with a three year bumper to bumper warranty. He states that he has all the parts I would need (or can get them quickly) and has been in business for 8 years or so (if he was selling junk or couldn't support the tractors, I doubt he would have lasted that long).

There is really only a New Holland dealer and a dealer that sells both Deere and Kubota near me (a Mahindra dealer is about 45 miles away) so a Massey is really not an option.

So I am leaning towards the TC30 because:
1) I can get the best deal on the NH over the Kubota and Deere
2) I can't afford a used utility tractor such as a TN70 (about $24,000 used)
3) I need the small footprint to fit between vine rows
4) I think that I have been convinced that I can do all the work I need to with a 30 hp tractor, it will just take longer than with a 70 hp tractor.
5) With the hillside aspect of my land, I think that I need 4WD. (Some people suggested 2WD was all I would need).

I am still considering the gray-market, but would like to speak to guys that Buck (EFC) has sold tractors to before making a decision. The new TC30 w/loader is $15k. This is basically my upper limit of available budget for a tractor. If I go gray-market, I can get a 30 hp tractor (Yanmar) with FEL for around $7k. That leaves plenty of money left over for implements.

 

[VABlue]

Have you posted any questions on (or looked through) the Yanmar forum? If you're seriously considering one of those, you absolutely should converse with the guys over there. Nobody knows more about Yanmar's than the guys who own them...

 

[Mech]

I had a Yanmar 1610D for 3 months and now own a JD 790, which is just a John Deere Yanmar. I think Yanmar makes great tractors and many of the gray market tractors are really easy to get parts for. The 1610D was as easy to get parts for as the John Deere. However, if the dealer you buy from isn't close then you need to expect to have to spin wrenches. Remember that most of these tractors are 30 years old and very greatly on how well they were maintained and on actual hours. If you have a good and close Yanmar dealer then I think you should certainly consider it.

 

[Metropolis_488]

Hi Mech,
Yeah, EFC is a dealer that specializes in gray-market Yanmar tractors. You are basically echoing what he told me - the Yanmar parts are easy to get.
EFC has a truck that he sends out and will do repairs in my field if I can't get the tractor to him.

Seriously considering the gray-market yanmar...

 

[Mech]

If I had that kind of dealer I would still have the 1610D and about $8000 in my pocket. However, I'm happy, JD did do a 3 year no interest loan and has a great blade for the FEL for moving snow. Also 790 is bigger and stronger than the 1610D which was a little small for my use.

 

[Z-Michigan]

So I am leaning towards the TC30 because:
1) I can get the best deal on the NH over the Kubota and Deere
2) I can't afford a used utility tractor such as a TN70 (about $24,000 used)
3) I need the small footprint to fit between vine rows
4) I think that I have been convinced that I can do all the work I need to with a 30 hp tractor, it will just take longer than with a 70 hp tractor.
5) With the hillside aspect of my land, I think that I need 4WD. (Some people suggested 2WD was all I would need).

That all sounds very sensible to me. I agree with FWJ on the general status of 4wd as nice rather than essential, but if I had slopes I would probably view it as essential. I also think you will be better off with something TC30-sized even if you could afford a utility. If you later need a utility, chances are strong you will need two tractors, not just a single utility.

I have looked at the TC30 several times at the local NH dealer and it looks good to me.

As for gray market, definitely read up on the separate gray market forums here. I never considered gray market and don't know anything about them. It sounds like EFC provides good service. Only thing I would really be careful about is to make sure that the cost of the gray market tractor, relative to its age and features, is still significantly less than just buying a used domestic tractor of the same age and features.

 

[MikePA]

What I would like to know is, has anyone actually owned a gray-market tractor? IF so, what was your experience?

You should post this question in the Grey Market forum. Lots of people there who own gray market tractors.

 

[scott_vt]

Get well soon, Jay!

Afternoon Jay,
Double pneumonia doesnt sound too good, definitely get well soon so you can get back on the tractor !

BTW The honey do list is growing for " The one who must be obeyed " !

 

[jbrumberg]

Roy & Scotty :

I appreciate your best wishes ! Thanks- Jay