How long to decide on which tractor to buy?

[Tractorable]

I’ve been researching tractors for several years now while continuing to use my 1952 Ford 8N. Just waiting until the financial stars align.

 

[RandyinTN]

I researched for about 12 months. Read a lot, compared specs and prices, and went and saw on the final 4 brands I was considering.
IMO sitting on the tractor was the most important thing I did before deciding.

 

[YLee Kioti]

About two months of lurking here.
Lots of reading. Sat in a red one the other orange on and never looked at the green one.
The guy clearing out some of the huisache had a 90hp kubota because it had the FEL stick along his right side. Then recommended I look at the Kioti.

More lurking and a test drive. Of the three, this one was a good comfortable fit. At 5'6" even the red one was cramped for me, and stretching out my lil arms for the FEL had a mental picture of hours of work with arm out there.

All in all about three months.

So drive them sit in them picture yourself in what you plan on doing and do you think you'll be comfortable for that long duration?
Lots of questions unless your in a hurry, take your time

When you get your machine home then you can let that wide grin show those pearly whites.....course must use the mandatory haruuumph when wife is around as these are serious machine for our business don'tcha know.....lol....

 

[oosik]

Another very strong reason for my going to Kubota when I upgraded. The dealer gave me the EXACT same amount trade in value as I had paid for the Ford, brand new, twenty seven years previously. Not a bad deal - plus he gave an excellent price on a brand new 2009 Kubota M6040.

Then I will let it slip - the Ford and Kubota dealer are one and the same organization. Somewhere along in the 27 years he changed over to Kubota.

 

[standup616]

For tons of reasons Ive changed my mind a dozen times over last year. Buy new or someone elses neglected problems. What I must do now, what I am going to do or think I might I like to do later on our 65 partially wooded formerly logged acres. Right now just cutting 20 or so acres, trail building and maintenance, got to get some rain water diverted and collected. Already having a 20 year old Kubota L35 tractor loader backhoe thats really not a ground engaging pto powerhouse and struggling with a 5 ft cutter so similar tractors similar horsepower is out. Im 52, retiring from the fire dept in a few years to probably go work somewhere else full time like hardware or tire shop..no uniforms, ambulances, fire trucks or hazmat gear anymore so without 24 hour shifts less daylight at home. My son is 5, wife will be 48, my son wants to help and tag along so a cab tractor makes sense for many many reasons. With a cab and alot more horsepower I can get bigger cutter, go faster, cleaner in more comfort, maybe wife will jump in and definitely son(when hes older he operates solo), I still do the dirty on my L35 and WE get done in hours not just ME for days... Safety and horsepower are what I need and as Ive found by using 100 percent of tractor, 90 percent of the time is slow and painful to both me and machine

 

[Agvg]

Suppose you want the same size 90hp? Moste people here run microtractors

 

[Rumgone01]

Hi Agvg.
Thanks to you and all the previous responders. I am looking at increasing to 120-140 HP. I am time poor so I need to complete more jobs in less hours. Every metre wider in a seeder mean more chance of getting my pasture sown at the right time. I farm about 240 Ha (app 600 acres)

 

[LouNY]

Rumgone01,
no idea where your at or what's available in your area, CaseIH has been my go to, to start with as far as comparing, then Ford New Holland, that said the new Zetors look good the price and availability and projected future part suppliers are the main deciders.
Thought I would add this the new computerized one's that are not farmer repairable are the biggest drawback of any make or model to me at this time,