My head is spinning! NH vs Chinese?

[VaTractorGirl]

I have spent it seems like the last month doing nothing but "book work" on these things on the web, my head is spinning and now I can't keep anything straight. At one point in fact just a few days ago, I had to decided to just go with one of those cheapo chinese jobs (I can't really find anything that bad about them on the site) the price is so much cheaper and for what I need it for I think they might do the job if I could just get over the looks (rough casting etc.) I know it is a big step from the New Holland but so is the price. So any thoughts could the cheaper one do it? Just to remind everyone I have 5 acres open slightly rolling my main concern at this point is major box grading, I have serious issues that need to be resolved, the house is sitting in a hole and even though grading was once done, the grass didn't establish quick enough and so silt just washed down and messed up the grade. Thanks for any input

 

[Tractors4u]

There is no question about it. Get the New Holland. You say you can't find anything wrong with them on the site. Which site? Take a look at this site: Tractor Survey. It is a survey that is on a Pro-Chinese tractor website. Owners post any problems they have had with their tractors and what they think of them. It is unbelievable at the problems that people have with them from the beginning. What is more unbelievable is that most of the people are satisfied with that! There are some problems with the domestic models, I will admit that. I have a new John Deere with only 30 hours and it had to go to the shop last week. I got it fixed and back with no problems. There is a lot better service network for the domestic tractors than for these Chinese tractors. Be careful.

 

[SteveH_CT]

I don't have advice on which unit to get - But if you're tractor decision is confused around 1 large job, and the rest of your work would be much easier - I think I'd either rent, or pay someone for the one large job and get something that will do the other 99 out of 100 jobs you want done. Have you looked at Kioti? They aren't a lot cheaper per se, but I found when I was shopping that you could get a larger unit for roughly the same $$ as a "major" brand. I quoted major, because I think Kioti is darn near the level of major player at this point. Their dealer network around me is not good ... yet.

Everyone seems to ask roughly the same questions when shopping, and I think you'll find mostly the same answer... regardless of what brand or brands you shop just be sure you like the dealer, and make sure they have a good rep for service. Good Luck with your search! You won't go wrong with any of the big 3 or (4) just see what moves you the most. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree with Brent. Get a tractor that you are going to have dealer support for. Good luck getting that chinese tractor fixed or getting parts for it. A good dealer will have you up and going the same day. You get what you pay for. There's a reason that the chinese tractors are less money and it's not because they are better than New Holland.

 

[johnsonauto]

I would recomend the NH over the china tractor any day. If your looking to save, have you looked at the non big 3 tractors?
Mahindra, Kioti, Century and Branson? You will save some over the big 3 and still get a quality tractor. Plus warranty and finance options.

Scott
www.NewEnglandTractor.com

 

[herdfan]

I went through the same process and bought a Century 3045. I liked the price of the Chinese tractors, but not their reputation. I really liked the Deere and Kubota tractors as far as fit/finish and dealer support, but couldn't justify the extra cost to get what I wanted (uh - needed). I have seen reports of folks waiting 6 weeks for parts for some of the Chinese tractors! I don't know about you, but if I need to use my tractor and it's being serviced, I want it back ASAP.
As others have said, look at the other "non-major" lines again. The couple of thousand you save now by going Chinese may simply be paid back in spades over time.
Just my opinion - /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Richard]

I dont have a CUT, so my comment is coming more from "life" than tractors.

You acknowledge the "rough castings" for example...

IF you can reasonably equate the grade of the castings with general differences in quality, then when was the last time you regretted buying "quality"??

I toss that to my wife all the time when she's looking at that fancy 3 gajillion piece wrench/socket set at walmart for $19.99. Sometimes in the long run it can save you money to spend MORE money upfront.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Joe1]

There is a reason the Chineese tractors are cheap. Quality control is just not there, and that goes for the implements you would buy as well. While they look to be heavilly built, I also question the quality of the steel, other metals and the rubber.

The problem with buying a cheap Chineese tractor is when you go to sell it. Since they are so cheap new, there is no resale value to speak of on a used unit. Not so on John Deere, Kubota or New Holland or some of the other better known brands. What you would lose in relative resale value on a Chineese tractor would more than pay for the difference in price on a major brand tractor.

That doesn't take into account the frustration and lost time waiting for hard to get parts and the very limited dealer support. If you had a chance to read the forum you were referred to, you'll see that the owners were replacing Chinese stuff with American parts when they could. The major tractor dealers have an excellent supply of quality factory parts.

You may want to keep the tractor "forever", but you might also want to trade it for a larger/smaller unit or just sell it outright.

Interest rates are good on the major tractors now.

Good used tractors from the big 3 are very hard to find and consequently they bring in a premium price. They are hard to find because they last a long time if given reasonable care, and because they last a long time, people tend to hang on to them.

Last May, I bought a 1998 John Deere 770 (gear tractor) 25 hp (20 PTO hp) with 239 hours on it. It had a FEL, box blade, discs and other miscellaenous things, including filled tires. The price was $11,250.00, not a lot more than a Chineese tractor, and since it had been kept in a garage, it looked almost new. Even that was a relatively high price, but here in California, everything costs more. If I had to do it over again, I'd still buy the same exact tractor in a hot second.

If budget is an issue (as I guess it is for everyone), I'd look for a clean, low hours used major brand tractor.

Some people may recommend gray market tractors. They are usually Japanese or Korean tractors built to their home country standards and lack essential things like ROPS (roll over protection systems). Dealers here are reluctant to provide service or support on those because the tractor cost them a sale. I personally didn't even consider one.

Good luck on your decision and when you do buy something, send some pictures.

Oh year, before I forget, I use rubbler gloves to change the oil and grease the machine.

 

[Soundguy]

Wow... I'm absolutely amazed at this thread.. might as well be in salem.. I hear they have good witch hunts... Either that or put up some burning crosses.

Again.. for a 'pro' tractor board... this is scarry.

The issues with the economy tractors are well known.. that is why they cost less... they are economy... they do fill a class of need in the market. They aren't what I would consider rugged or heavy duty.. and are not direct replacement quality for the big 3.. accordingly.. they cost about 1/3'rd of the big three.

I don't think I have ever heard so many negative comments towards a brand.. for someone who is looking to choose... Size and capability.. yes... guess times are changing..


Soundguy

 

[SPIKER]

hi Tgirl:

I would say it all depends.

I HAVE a china tractor. it is great a JINMA also rebadged in about 10 different names, such as FARM PRO, NORTRAC FARM BOSS and list goes on. anyhow as for rough castings, mine is not better but also not bad it is compairable to my boss's new JD. he paid nearly 22 grand for his where I have lots less in mine. for the extra 10 + grand you can get lots of goodies for on back of the tractor. and pay for any repairs you MAY end up needing.

So far I've only had a couple small items some were my fault and others were cause I did somethign that probably woudl have broken the boss's JD too. sauch as catching a solid concrete pier with the box blade while going about 6 MPH. ya stopped me dead in the tracks and pulled the front end up about 3 feet in the air! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I clutched it fast which let the front end drop fast to the ground, with the FEL on. no real damage other than I blew a radaitor bypass hose! (these were known to ROTT with glycohol antifreeze which I have in mine. and was basically dryrotted.) the OIL gauge did stop working, and i replaced it with a 9 buck aftermarket one which instead of being electrical it is a dirrect reading and in PSI rather than the odd graphical one.

the china tractors may not have a JD type dealer network but you can get most anything pretty fast. several bigger dealers are stocking everythign needed for them so getting parts is a non-issue.

RESALE! humm, problem is no one who is buying china tractors are RE-SELLING them! we buy them and keep them and use & abuse them... one reason for buying less expensive tractor if you plan on abusing the tractor then you probably won't get any warranty from the big 3 either.... one guy is re-selling his 2002 jinma with fel trailer and mower with parts, hs asking price is what you could buy similar stuff for new. he WILL sell it but it may take some one driving by the property and seeing it and grabbing it cause it is still only 9500 for all that! check out the CHINA forum below for more info on that and links to the NYCTOA site.

also the china sites are set up to help people fix problems, so what you see there is decieving several problems with lots of responces as to how to fix the problem... so everyone ****-U-MES that the china stuff is junk when in fact they are not JUNK but the forum set up makes it look like there are worlds of problems with them... well just not the case as people go there looking for fixes and all the good things are not posted cause WHO has time to brag who much work they can do and how much money they can save! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ok anyhow if you are somewhat mechanically inclined then the JINMA ort most china tractors are fine.... also what others said above is also true. if you only have 1 or 2 big jobs and rest are small let the small ones make you're final decision NOT the one or two big ones.

the big 3 are really great machines and fully capable, as are the other off or lower known brands such as koity centry ect.

anyhow bottom dollar is not always the best choice and in some respects you get what you pay for and if you pay too much will you get too much??? maybe so. remember all of us are not YOU and the final answer comes down to YOU and we can only let you know our limited knolage.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif