Importance of dealer proximity

[oosik]

I'd like to tell you that I've found having a dealer close is important. Thirty eight plus years, two tractors, and only needed the dealer once. They came out to my place( 20 miles ) and installed a heavy step brace on my Kubota. Otherwise - I use Kubota filters and purchase oil/grease from the local O'Riley/NAPA stores.

 

[Wagtail]

My Dealer is 1.5 hours away (one way trip)... mind you, that applies to most colour tractor dealerships; the others are ever further away.

I've only had to use them once for a part. I called in the evening (during haying season) and they opened up early the next morning to provide the part. Other than that, both of my tractors have never been to the 'shop' and my dealership has mobile repair utes that can come to me if required.

Several times I've 'dropped in' for advice or a question, they've always either sent out a mechanic to discuss or provided the pertinent schematic/diagram required. In other words, I feel that they've 'got my back'. So, I'd say that a dealership's reputation is more important than proximity.

 

[rademamj1]

My Kioti dealer is just 2.5 miles (5 mins) from my ranch, and I have only used his service just once in 3 years of ownership. It was for a minor repair issue created by me, a newbie tractor owner. Most kioti repair parts i order online directly from MichiganIron. All OEM filters are ordered on eBay. All my hydraulic fluid is purchased from a nearby Kubota dealer or NAPA.

I found developing a relationship with my dealer was difficult, mainly due to high turnover in their sales and service staff. Everyone at my dealer when I first purchased the tractor, have now moved on, and the new staff show decreasing knowledge of the job, and no interest whether I purchased the tractor from them or another dealer.

All this dealer relationship requirement for tractors, becomes criticality more important, if I am running a 1200+ acre farm with annual crop harvests, and my average tractor costs over $100,000 and any equipment downtime hurts the profitability. In this case, I would need dealer mobile tractor services, where they directly repair equipment in the field and onsite.

Compact and subcompact tractors truly fit in another category, where need for a strong dealer relationship is decreased by high equipment reliability and owner maintenance.

 

[Diggin It]

80 miles or so. I've been there a few times to get filters and what-nots. He's also a hardware and farm supply store and there are several other places I stop into while in the area. I've got a rear axle leak that will need to get to the shop someday, but since I don't have a truck or trailer to haul it, I'll need to rent.

 

[dragoneggs]

1 close maybe 30 minutes away....
2 Maybe 1 time a year and sometimes not for a couple of years...
3 Kubota.....

Pretty much the same but I think it really depends on your tractor size and use (business) and also your mechanical skill and willingness to do maintenance/repair. Oh and tools.

 

[jeff9366]

From what I have read on this site, all of the brands I have mentioned offer quality products in recent years, with rare lemons. In that case, dealer proximity is not so important.

I am 73 years old. I no longer have the core strength nor hand strength to loosen tractor fittings. I fuel and grease my Kubota, the dealer performs all other service either in my driveway or in the Kubota shop.

It is expensive to transport a tractor, whether you transport it on a trailer or the dealer transports it. One round trip, two segments, to deliver the tractor for service, a second round trip, two segments, to pick up the tractor. If your dealer is two hours away, summed four segments is at least ten hours of someone's time, with tractor tie-down and a couple breaks. What is your time worth? What is a fair charge from a dealer for an entire day of mechanic's time behind the wheel of a HD truck pulling an HD trailer, paying for commercial insurance?

Repairs will be fairly proportional to engine hours. Tractors in residential use average sixty engine hours per year. I clock around 250 engine hours per year.

Most tractors require some adjustment after delivery. Often the seat lockout switches, which may have to be calibrated to operator's weight. Pretty tricky adjustments. Ask me how I know.

My excellent Kubota dealer is six miles from my property.




I calculate the full cost of running just my tractor-loader at $25/hour. A reasonable allowance for multiple implements adds $10 per hour. Tractor requires considerably more repairs in year seven of ownership @ 1,800 engine hours relative to year one ~ tires (2) , battery, loader hydraulic line replacements.

 

[MHarryE]

My Kubota/New Holland dealer is 150 miles away. Trucking a large tractor is $750 plus wait for full load. Case dealer 200 miles - have to leave at 3am to get parts to be in field by 1pm. JD dealer is 3 hours, $700 trucking, also wait for full load. Used to have closer dealers, all swallowed up and closed as majors get rid of small dealers. Solution is more tractors. My nephews count is now 17 - almost all antiques, but he is my source of backup if one of mine goes down. Out of 17 he has one with working A/C and cab with all doors and windows. But when dealer had mine last spring, one of nephews spares got my planting started - don’t use even number gears, wear a mask for fumes, noise canceling headphones, but got work done although at half speed. Close dealer important if need for tractor is vital.

 

[thclimer]

For "older" tractors that do not have the sophisticated electronic controls I'd venture to say most mechanically inclined people can and do maintain/fix most problems by purchasing parts online and with phone support from your dealer.

However, for some of the newer machines with computer controlled systems, emission and the like, you may encounter problems which only with a dealer with the appropriate software interfaces will be able to resolve. While these issues should be small in number to the vast majority of units sold, if you are the one having the issue it's impact will most likely be huge to you.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

My first LS tractor was purchased from a dealer 550 miles away from me. I rented a trailer and went and picked it up.... nice road trip. I had that one for just over 2 years, 220 hours, and it never saw the dealer. I purchased filters from them and they were shipped to my door. They sent a couple service bulletin items to me and I installed myself.

My second LS tractor was purchased at a different dealer, 650 miles away (I know... going the wrong direction). I had that one delivered, even though I now had a trailer.... the dealer split the delivery costs with me. The tractor has 185 hours on it in 1 1/2 years. No problems whatsoever, and it has not been to a dealer since I got it. They sent the first service filters with the original tractor shipment.

Oh, I did forget two things ... the left side floor board had a stress crack at a mounting point. The dealer sent me a new one under warranty and I installed it... not hard, about 8 bolts. The other thing was my fault... I pinched a BH hydraulic line, they sent me a new hose, had it in 4 days. I am still using the smooshed line, no leaks yet, but when it does, I have the replacement hose ready to go!

 

[ericm979]

My Branson dealer is 250 miles away. I have been there once since I bought the tractor, to pick up a used backhoe attachment. They ship parts (haven't needed any) and filters. I do all the regular maintenance.

When I had a Kubota I went to the local dealers a few times for parts.

One of the local Kubota dealers offers premium service where they pick up the tractor, service it and bring it back. I can see doing that if you're really busy or don't want to do the service, but I'm not that busy and I prefer to do my own maintenance.