LS Tractors and others

[LawnSpecialties]

I did a search of this forum and no posts or titles with LS show up. That really surprises me.

I have a New Holland T2220. Had a TC33-DA before that. Both have been great but its getting almost time to buy the "last tractor I'll probably ever buy". I'm 51 and within 8-9 years, I'll be selling off my landscape business and retiring. So I hope to buy my last tractor within the next year or so. It will serve me in my business but I will keep it when I sell the business.

I want to bump up into the mid-40 hp (minimum) range this time. I do a lot of grooming mowing, bush hog mowing, tilling, and the front end loader gets used quite a bit hauling firewood, mulch, and moving earth from time to time. I am researching more New Hollands, Kubota, Kioti, Mahindra, and LS. From what I'm gathering, LS makes a lot of New Holland. At least that's what I'm hearing. We have a dealer near here who sells Yanmar and they look sharp but the dealer here is one most professionals would rather not do business with. I may be wrong but I feel Deere is just too much for what you get.

Every manufacturer has plusses and minuses. Price too high, warranty sucks, hard to get parts, etc.

So, I'm open for feedback. Really surprised LS doesn't appear on these forums much but it could be I just don't see the posts. An LS XR4046H looks like right up my alley but I don't want to save expenses at the sake of quality.

 

[jaydee325]

LawnSpecialties, have you looked at the LS forum on this site? Lots of happy owners there (and a few not so, but that is the case with all manufactures!)

I bought my LS R3039H in 2013 and am very happy with it. I'm maintaining 5 acres, with most of the use being the loader (get a ratchet rake, it clears brush like crazy!). The other use is using my 6' rotary cutter to maintain the fields that I don't keep as lawn. I've got a very good dealer 22 miles away, so that helps too.

 

[George2615]

I have the XR3037HC with Shibaura engine. LS tractors (the XR series) come with more options as standard equipment that other brands charge extra for. LS does build some NH tractors as well as some MF. My neighbor has a MF1734E which is pretty much the same as mine but no cab.

If you use the google search at the top of the page you should find many posts on LS tractors. Let us know exactly what concerns you may have about an LS tractor or browse the LS forums directly. All brands will have a glitch or two but most problems are usually solved by the dealers. Since LS has been building tractors for many other brands I had no problem buying one. In early 2014 I compared all brands and prices at the local farm show and LS had the best price and most options.

The XR4046H you mention also has a Shibaura engine, it's a 4 cyl instead of 3 that I have. The newer LS 3100 and 4100 series tractors have an LS built engine. Older models previous to mine used the Mitsubishi engine. All are good engines.

 

[LawnSpecialties]

Thanks guys. That's good to hear and I did not know about the LS forum here. If you notice, I have been a member here since 2005 and I think this may be my 5th post.

I love the idea of continuing with the Shibaura engine. Both my New Hollands had the Shibaura and they were always fantastic. I have pushed snow in 5 degree weather all night and also bush hogged in 100 degree fields all day and they've never skipped a beat.