Help! First tractor - Deere vs Kubota vs New Holland

[EdC]

Jay
Hope you get well soon, I am amazed you have enough energy to type; double pneumonia really takes it out of you.

 

[Metropolis_488]

So I drove to EFC today after work to check out some tractors.
Buck was very cool and helpful. I some areas I am more confused and in others I now have a better understanding.

I think Buck has me convinced that the Iseki TA263F is the tractor for me; however, I am still considering the TC30. If I put $3k down on either tractor, and finance the rest, due to New Hollands great financing deals right now, I could be driving a new tractor for only $40 a month more...hmmmm

 

[RoyJackson]

So I drove to EFC today after work to check out some tractors.
Buck was very cool and helpful. I some areas I am more confused and in others I now have a better understanding.

I think Buck has me convinced that the Iseki TA263F is the tractor for me; however, I am still considering the TC30. If I put $3k down on either tractor, and finance the rest, due to New Hollands great financing deals right now, I could be driving a new tractor for only $40 a month more...hmmmm

Would that leave adequate funds for the implements you need?
The TC-30 would have better resale value down the road. And, it's highly unlikely New Holland will be going out of business.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[Turbys_1700]

So I drove to EFC today after work to check out some tractors.
Buck was very cool and helpful. I some areas I am more confused and in others I now have a better understanding.

I think Buck has me convinced that the Iseki TA263F is the tractor for me; however, I am still considering the TC30. If I put $3k down on either tractor, and finance the rest, due to New Hollands great financing deals right now, I could be driving a new tractor for only $40 a month more...hmmmm

I'm sure that Buck if a fine dealer and will support you but personally, given those financial facts, I would go with the TC30.

On a side note, I owned A Yanmar YM 1700 for 14 years. Parts are not an issue but, in 14 years of service, I didn't need any. Yanmar makes great tractors. If they are good enough for John Deere, they are good enough for me!!! I'm a BIG FAN OF YANMARS.

Now I will say this. That for the same size of tractor, my 1720 NH is better at ground engaging work than my old Yanmar. For the most part, Shibuars ( I never could spell that word) are heavier than their Yanmar counterparts in the same HP class. That makes them better for ground engaging work but harder on mowing. That's why I liked my little Yanmar so much. Lots of power in a lightweight package.

Good luck in your decision and let us know what you got.

 

[Metropolis_488]

So, I decided on the TC30.
Simple, powerful tractor with a great price ($11,750 w/o loader).
I'll add the loader next spring and just do work with the mower and box blade for now.

Thanks to everyone for all the great advise!

 

[GA WTDeer]

Nice!!! Wear it out!!!!!Clay

 

[Z-Michigan]

Congrats! I think you will be very happy with it.

 

[jbrumberg]

Metropolis 488:

Congratulations on your anticipated tractor ! Use it safely and well. Jay

 

[Harold_J]

Metropolis:

Good luck with your upcoming purchase and vineyard venture.

Will you be running a sprayer in the vineyard or are you planning on some type of organic farming where a sprayer wouldn't be used? (I guess even some organic methods involve spraying of approved materials like sulphur and oils).

If at some point you are going to be running an airblast sprayer in a mature 30 acre vineyard I would just check to be sure your anticipated purchase can handle it power and weight wise and is narrow enough to fit between mature vines. You mentioned going to narrower row spacing which seems to be the trend in vineyards so just double check dimensions.

If cost were no object the New Holland dealer probably gave the best advice about choosing a specialized vineyard/orchard model, powerful but narrow enough for the job. 30 acres will be a significant sized vineyard and when it needs spraying it will all have to be done in a very timely manner. But sometimes because of $$ concerns a compromise must be made. Good luck again.

 

[Metropolis_488]

Metropolis:

Good luck with your upcoming purchase and vineyard venture.

Will you be running a sprayer in the vineyard or are you planning on some type of organic farming where a sprayer wouldn't be used? (I guess even some organic methods involve spraying of approved materials like sulphur and oils).

If at some point you are going to be running an airblast sprayer in a mature 30 acre vineyard I would just check to be sure your anticipated purchase can handle it power and weight wise and is narrow enough to fit between mature vines. You mentioned going to narrower row spacing which seems to be the trend in vineyards so just double check dimensions.

If cost were no object the New Holland dealer probably gave the best advice about choosing a specialized vineyard/orchard model, powerful but narrow enough for the job. 30 acres will be a significant sized vineyard and when it needs spraying it will all have to be done in a very timely manner. But sometimes because of $$ concerns a compromise must be made. Good luck again.

This is something that confuses the heck out of me. Buck at EFC was telling me that he puts air blast sprayers on 17 hp yanmar tractors with no problem. 150 gallon pull type and either 50 or 100 gallon three-point. Then the new holland dealer tells me that's impossible. As I was at the dealer, there was an orchard owner saying he pulls a 300 gallon air blast sprayer with no problem with a TC29A!!

I figure worst case scenario, I just get a smaller sprayer and have to make more trips. Maybe by the time I get to planting 30 acres of vineyard I will have enough cash to buy a TN70F...