I'm going Bobcat..

[MoPops]

I don't believe MoPops is buying from a dealer as none are listed in Neelyville, I "think" someone just bought a bunch as I live in the general area and he has been running Craigslist adds on these for some time. Neelyvlle is a really small community of about 400 south of Poplar Bluff, so any options will need to come from somewhere else.

That's the guy. I think he's a RV dealer, that buys and sells them. He told me today he has a 50 and a 45 hp model coming in. $22K for the 50, I'm tempted.

 

[arnoldziffel]

Did you increase your budget?

 

[MoPops]

Nope.. I'm staying under $15K. I was temped for less than a minute. Ha
Just going thru the discontinued thread over in buying advice.
Lots of opinions floating around. Didn't see anything there that scared me away from buying the bobcat.
I did check out a LS yesterday, it was still $20,000. Seems like everything I looked at was at 20..
I think the CT225, was around there when it was introduced. If this CT225 wasn't out there at 14, I would have gone used.

 

[BuilderML]

I looked at the Bobcat CT225 when i was in the market. They had them for 14k in the spring as a special. Everything looked great on the tractor but and its a BIG but for me the paint was coming off and was already rusting sitting on the dealer lot. Don't know if that was limited to just one year of building the units but i couldn't get over that so i kept on shopping. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[arnoldziffel]

That paint matter may have been isolated to some of the early Bobcats CT's. (2008 - 2009?)

The Bobcats I've owned have had very good paint and one of the machines had spent its entire life outdoors.

MoPop, I think you are going to be very pleased with the capability of the CT225. It is a solid machine that will work hard for you.

If I lived close to the dealer you are working with I'd grab another one before they are all gone. (I'm addicted to tractors!)

 

[MoPops]

I'll be looking at them later today, so I'll see the paint. I haven't seen one yet, in person.
I'll be able to store it in the barn, so hopefully it'll stay nice. Running out of room in my small barn though.
The guy that has them said he still does have one with ag tires, so I have the choice between them and the industrial. Not 100% sure which way to go. I was going to try and pull a small disc, but now I'm not. (Found a guy that will plant the alfalfa, and just pay me cash rent on the acres.) I will still need to be using the loader in the woods a lot, mowing, and some road maintenance. If the industrial tires have a pretty deep tread, I may go that way..

 

[arnoldziffel]

Ag tires will give better traction in damp fields and some woodland environments. The industrial tires do not like mud but this can be improved with tire chains. The industrial tires are more forgiving of bumps and bruises -- more puncture resistant. This may be important given the significant debris removal you are going to tackle.

Either style tire will benefit from tire chains if snow removal is part of the plan.

 

[MoPops]

Ag tires will give better traction in damp fields and some woodland environments. The industrial tires do not like mud but this can be improved with tire chains. The industrial tires are more forgiving of bumps and bruises -- more puncture resistant. This may be important given the significant debris removal you are going to tackle.

Either style tire will benefit from tire chains if snow removal is part of the plan.

I may go with the industrial tires. It's actually more of a hobby for me than work. I'm thinking if it's too muddy out there, I just won't go out.. Ha

 

[k0ua]

If doing mostly loader work, with heavy loads, especially if puncture is a likelihood, you want the Industrials. But if you are going to do plowing, especially wet conditions you want AG's for best traction. It is all a trade off. Most people who buy CUTs buy industrials, but most farmers buy AG's. Industrials work great in ice and snow, as long as you have some good chains on them.

 

[MoPops]

If doing mostly loader work, with heavy loads, especially if puncture is a likelihood, you want the Industrials. But if you are going to do plowing, especially wet conditions you want AG's for best traction. It is all a trade off. Most people who buy CUTs buy industrials, but most farmers buy AG's. Industrials work great in ice and snow, as long as you have some good chains on them.

Now I really think I need industrials. This guy I'm buying it from, is going to know I don't know s#$% about tractors. I told him two days ago, I HAD to have ag tires..
Oh well. I'm learning as I go. Six months ago, I didn't own a farm either.. 60 yrs old, and I'm like a little kid.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I have R4s on my CT230. Not as much traction as I'd get with AGs but better than turf tires. On the other hand, they tear up the turf more than turf tires, and less than AGs, but as someone else said, they have better durability and puncture resistance and either AGs or turfs.

 

[TripleR]

MoPops if you have never been in that area, you are in for an experience, we lived and worked over there for a short time.

The Ag/Industrial thing has been debated countless times and for someone new to tractors can be a bit confusing, we use Ag, Industrial and turf. Some will tell you Industrial tires are worthless in mud, loose dirt or snow, but I used an L5030 with Industrials to muck out a pond. Monday, a RR truck retrieving old cross ties got stuck just down the road from me. I felt sorry for the guy and our M8540 was on another farm, so I took my L5740 with Industrial tires down. I hooked up to his truck and after spinning a bit eased him out to the road. I think we were both a bit surprised.

I view Industrial tires as a pretty good compromise. We avoid using any of our tractors in the mud as we don't make any money with them and our land erodes pretty bad, but sometimes it is unavoidable to get in just a bit occasionally.

 

[k0ua]

This is probably an oversimplification, but if you don't know what tire you need, then you need industrials. Because if you had the experience to know you need AG's or Turfs then you would know. Industrials are the compromise tire, not as hard on lawns as Ag's, but not as easy at turfs. Tougher and able to handle heavy loads a bit better than either Turfs or Ag's. Not as good as Ag's in mud or other slippery conditions, but "good enough" "most of the time". This is why you see the majority of CUT's with industrials.

 

[MoPops]

Industrials it is. Thanks for the input. In a week or two, when I get it to the farm, I'll post a pic or toe, to show you the situations I'm dealing with.
I put a winch on the Ranger to pull some stuff out of the ditches. (Stove, snowblower, etc.) I'm hoping that will keep from tearing up the ground around the ditches. It's all in the woods.

Interesting.. I went to edit this, because when I looked at the post it said a week or "toe" I thought I better fix it. When I hit the edit key, it shows me week or "two". No need to change??

 

[TripleR]

Good thing is, if you tear the ground up you can fix it with your tractor.:thumbsup:

 

[blake037374]

I have industrials on my ct440 and I am more than happy with them. Like tripleR said if you mess up the yard you can fix it. If I can make it through this louisiana "gumbo" mud you should be fine.

 

[MoPops]

Bought it yesterday. That guy in Neeleyville is a good guy. He held firm at $14K, which makes sense, because he's selling all he can get. He's got two left.
He also has a buddy that delivers.
He went thru the tractor and loader with me, scooped up some loose gravel etc.
I've got a lot to learn. One good thing, I'm 6'5" and with the seat back and adjusted for my weight it was comfortable and I had leg room. I think I will be helped by the HST also.
Well, next week I'll start working it. Maybe post a few pics.
Thanks everyone, for all the advice.

 

[arnoldziffel]

Hey MoPops,

May I be the first to congratulate you.

You are going to really like the tractor.

All the best.

PS. Which tires did you settle upon?

 

[lilranch2001]

I like industrials as well
Are they perfect for all conditions, no
Do they work well for me in snow, a lot better then the experience I had with landscape tires
I have not gotten stuck in the snow once that with little effort I could not get out of
Luckily most of my driveway if fairly flat, but it is still almost 1000 feet of north south driveway that loves to drift over

 

[MoPops]

Hey MoPops,

May I be the first to congratulate you.

You are going to really like the tractor.

All the best.

PS. Which tires did you settle upon?

Went with the industrials. He has one of each down there, so I did have a choice. When I ended up not needing to pull a disc, I was 100% on the industrial tire. Then someone mentioned less likely to puncture, and I thought about the junk I'm going to be hauling out..
Hopefully have it in use by the weekend.