In the market for a compact tractor, looking for recommendations

[rScotty]

"Round bales" and "new" @ $25,000 is unrealistic.

But "Round Bales" and half that price is reasonable for an older Ag tractor with some implements, loader, and in good condition. It just won't be a sexy new 4wd.....just a solid worker.
rScotty

 

[SCWOOD]

You need to see Dickson tractor in Westminster S.C. They loaded the rear tires, put flat preventive in front tires ,put AGM battery in tractor.Had a couple of warranty issues that they handled very quickly.The dealer is as important as the tractor! They have been in business for 40yrs and have been selling Kioti for 20yrs.

 

[rScotty]

You need to see Dickson tractor in Westminster S.C. They loaded the rear tires, put flat preventive in front tires ,put AGM battery in tractor.Had a couple of warranty issues that they handled very quickly.The dealer is as important as the tractor! They have been in business for 40yrs and have been selling Kioti for 20yrs.

I don't think that the dealer is all that important to lots of owners. For example, the OP here says he and his wife both grew up on a farm. Once the initial warranty problems are sorted out, where is the advantage? At that point the importance of a dealer depends on whether an owner prefers to to do his own maintenance work or would rather pay to have it done.

 

[Jgage916]

But "Round Bales" and half that price is reasonable for an older Ag tractor with some implements, loader, and in good condition. It just won't be a sexy new 4wd.....just a solid worker.
rScotty

Saving money on an older unit sounds great. The problem being I don't have 10 grand laying around. Since I will be financing it I think I will end up with a better monthly payment buying new. And I think I already mentioned it but I'll be using a 3 point hitch hay spear, well within the capability of what I'm looking at.

You need to see Dickson tractor in Westminster S.C. They loaded the rear tires, put flat preventive in front tires ,put AGM battery in tractor.Had a couple of warranty issues that they handled very quickly.The dealer is as important as the tractor! They have been in business for 40yrs and have been selling Kioti for 20yrs.

I went by there a few months ago, but we were in the middle of buying our house so I wasn't really looking yet. It will be a few months, honestly it will probably be after Christmas before I buy anything. I'm in research mode. I'll probably change my mind a dozen times between now and then. But I will probably go by again one day this week. In work In Westminster so it makes that easy

 

[nybirdman]

Good luck in your search;one thing I read all the time;Grand-Pa always had Deere,New Holland,Ford,International or what-ever on the farm;today's compact versions of these brands(and others) are only in name a version of the old line tractors.

 

[BMan2005]

If you're ok with the standard old 8x2 transmission maybe look into a Mahindra 4540 or 4550. Alot of tractor for the money and right where you're looking to spend.

You can also get a Massey 2700e series in that price range.

Since you have horses and will be handling hay buy as much tractor as you can the first time. If you can swing the money for the bigger tractor it's great being able to move and stack round bales with a FEL. The 3pt way works done it for years, but having a tractor capable of using the fel comes in handy often with moving hay around.

If needing a small tractor for yard work sorry if I missed that.

 

[Jgage916]

Thank you everyone for the opinons and info. I'm a few months away from a purchase, probably after Christmas so I will be shopping around and researching for a while. This gives me some pointers and things to consider. I might go used, might go new. Depends on financing. Whatever I get I will post pictures when it happens. ��