JD or Kubota?

Kyle_in_Tex · Jan 7, 2005

Because I am in the manufacturing industry, I try to spend my dollars as best as possible towards goods "Made in America". Not trying to start a flame war, I know that most everything is globally sourced, but some are more than others. The underlying content and how much of it is what counts. I looked long and hard at orange too. In the end, my green dealer and "mostly" made in America is what swayed me...Kyle

rockyridgefarm · Jan 7, 2005

Great review, overall!

( JD - electronic everything, some of the load matching stuff sounds pretty nifty, but, electronics fail. I feel the Kubota and Kioti will be more reliable long term)

Huh?

You might feel that way, but in real life, they are almost bulletproof. I won't give mine up!

But not to degrade the orange machines, in any way, - all are fine machines.

btolle · Jan 7, 2005

( JD - electronic everything, some of the load matching stuff sounds pretty nifty, but, electronics fail. I feel the Kubota and Kioti will be more reliable long term)

Huh?

You might feel that way, but in real life, they are almost bulletproof. I won't give mine up!)

I am 59 and I realize that electronics have come a long way in the last few years but I am still leery of having too many of them on a tractor.

One thing I liked about the Kubota B7510 I just bought is it seems to be a model that has been around a while and has less electronics than the newer models. I am thinking this will be the last tractor I will own and I want it to hold up as long as I do.

We had a new central heat/A-C system installed about 18 months ago. The dealer made about 15 service calls replacing parts every time and the heater still would not run for more than 5 minutes without shutting off. They replaced just about every part in the heater including the main control board (a big printed circuit board) and nothing helped. 6 months ago they replaced the entire heating unit with a new one and no more problems. When electronics work they are great but if they fail you cannot fix them yourself and even the "experts" sometimes can't find the problem.

Be sure your dealer is ready to stand behind the tractor no matter what.

Bill Tolle

Varmintmist · Jan 7, 2005

I went through the same thing with a similar price cap and similar uses not long ago. I liked both the Deere and Kub, but I got more bang for the same buck buying Mahindra. More loader than the others, more weight for traction, manual trans with shuttle shift, 4wd and pwr steering, big open operating platform.

Just a thought. You might want to look at a red machine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif before you get to hung up on greene and orange.

Bob_Skurka · Jan 7, 2005

I think you might want to take a look at the Mahindra 3510 or the Kioti DK35, both are 35hp machines and will compare well to the Kubota 35hp L3400. Both are available as gear machines, which is what you are looking for. But the Mahindra has a HST option as well.

The previously mentioned Kioti CK30 is a nice machine and a great loader, but has less hp and based on your post, it seems like you are in need of a more capable machine than the CK30. I generally discount the resale value issue unless someone really has a reason to push it, you don't seem to so if you hold the tractor for many years I doubt you'd have any reason to worry, regardless of brand. My choice would be based on the dealership and support in my area as well as how my rear end fits in the seat. If I'm not comfortable with the controls then I'm not concentrating on the job that needs to be done. Make sure that no matter which brand you buy, you buy one that you like.

ByronBob · Jan 7, 2005

When I first read your comments I thought HST but the team beat me to it. At your age you deserve HST and color is a personel preference. The quality of all of them are good and buying new your going to get a good warranty anyway.

My tractor is much smaller than what you'd like but as many here have said before it's the service after the sale which really hits home.

rockyridgefarm · Jan 7, 2005

But i wasn't talking about air conditioners.

If someone doesnt want electronics, thats ok,

But to suggest Deere owners are having problems with them is incorrect. And they really are helpful, not just gimmicks.

btolle · Jan 7, 2005

( But i wasn't talking about air conditioners.

If someone doesnt want electronics, thats ok,

But to suggest Deere owners are having problems with them is incorrect. And they really are helpful, not just gimmicks. )

I did not mean to imply that JD owners were having problems with electronics and my reference to the heat/A-C unit was just an example of how electronics can go bad and when they do it can get very complicated to repair.

I just have preference for things I can repair myself without having to have special instruments and tools that can be extremely expensive.

Tractors get more vibration and abuse than most other equipment and that concerns me when it comes to electronics. Just write me off as being one of those old goats who takes a few years to get used to some of this new stuff.

Bill Tolle

jltrent · Jan 7, 2005

I have a JD 5210 and a Kubota M6800 and if I were buying another tractor it would be a Kubota, but both are probably the best makes you can buy.

cowboydoc · Jan 7, 2005

I think you've got it right going with JD or Kubota. Unless you are a good mechanic and can work on your own machine, I don't at my age and I'm sure you don't at your age, then a good dealer with factory trained mechanics, readily available parts, and great factory support would be a must in my book. You aren't going to get that with the off brands like you will with JD.

As far as price it depends on your dealer. I couldn't make a deal on a kubota at all. Deere dealers are way better priced in our area. Look at list price for both units and then see how good of a deal you are getting off of list for each one.