need tractor decision help

   / need tractor decision help #1  

wvrider

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2004
Messages
18
Location
West Virginia
I started looking for a tractor to use around our 10 acre farmstead (mostly woods, 2 acres to mow, a small bank barn to clean out from the goats we keep, 500 ft drive to maintain, post holes to dig, dead trees to clear, etc.) and thought 20 hp would do so fell for the Kioti LB1914 (simplicity itself and a fine machine for the money). Now many folks are weighing in to buy bigger or regret it later. Money is an issue so the 'bigger" boy on the list is the Branson 2810 which is not all that much more (perhaps$2000) than the lil Kioti! Its a lot wider (62" or so compared to 47) and just appears considerably bigger than the 8 horsepower difference. You get a lot of tractor from Branson also. I know bigger may be better but can it be overkill? AAAAARRRGGGGh. too....many.......choices....brain.....starting.....to....swell.......

Phil
 
   / need tractor decision help #2  
Been there,had same headaches. I started 17 years ago with a Kubota L2250. Roughly 22hp. Had it for 15years,traded on a L2900. I wanted a flat platform. Hurt my back this year, L2900 seat didn't have enough suspension, sold it and bought a Case DX33. I have went from 22hp. to 33hp. I have 10 acres, 5 of it yard,4 of it field that I bush hog, 1 woods, and about 250' of driveway. I have used the same attachments on all three tractors. My 22 hp. unit handled them all almost as good as the 33 does. The Kioti will probably do what you want very well. The bigger one will probably do it a little better. Myself, I don't think I would get a tractor less than 22-25hp for 10 acres. That is my opinion, and may not reflect the views of the management.
 
   / need tractor decision help #3  
From the uses you list I would recommend the bigger machine. I would even recommend going another step up if funds permitted it.

Unless you have some really tight places to get into, going a bit bigger won't hurt you. You also mentioned moving dead trees, You will appreciate the larger unit when doing that and for FEL work.

Congratulations on whichever you decide. For as much as I enjoy spending your money, you're the one that has to live with it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / need tractor decision help #4  
I agree with the other two posters that you need a min. 22 - 25hp. Bigger is usually better ....unless you need to transport it to multiple locations.
It seems all the tractor dealers have a little more tractor for just 1 or 2 thousand more. Makes it hard to land on any one as the obvious choice ....cause with just a little more scratch you get more tractor. I started thinking the Kubota 2410 was the perfect machine for me. After looking more and priceing em out I could get a 2710 for just a few hundred more, but for just a little more I could get the 2910. Okay, its decided. I went to the dealer all set to buy the 2910. Ended up buying the 3010 ...for just a little more. Lots bigger tractor, and I don't regret the decsion one bit. Enjoy the hunt, it can be frustrating, but mostly its fun!
 
   / need tractor decision help #5  
I've got a Kubota B7300 (only about 16HP) and it is a great machine for my 10 acres. It does the job just fine...but if I had to do it all over again I'd go bigger. I hardly ever find that the smaller size is an advantage, and my advice is generally to go as big as you can afford. Get the bigger one now and you won't be wishing you had done so several years down the road.

Having said that, I can't justify the expense of upgrading to something bigger, because the tractor I have does everything I need it to do.
 
   / need tractor decision help #6  
Been there, done that, had the same questions. Looked at several brands and ended up at the Branson dealer - solid tractor, good service. Looked at the 2810, but a new 3510 was available for a "few dollars more". No real difference in the tractor except for the horses. Most of my work is in the woods (several acres), working around the house (landscaping, mulching) and keeping the road to my house and neighbors house in shape summer and winter. Depending on what you are doing, size does matter. However, the "bigger"size has not been an issue getting around tight spaces. But it sure helps with the FEL work and pulling the heavy loads up the slopes. If you are set on the Branson, and since you only have one (or maybe two) dealers in WV, it might be worth the trip to some of the other dealers in VA. I found prices varied from dealer to dealer even though there aren't a lot of them around.
 
   / need tractor decision help #7  
Phil, I looked at mahindra, century(branson) massey, kubota, kioti, die dong ?, jd, nh and branson. I decided on a 3520 branson. After shopping the size that I wanted, I found that the famous brands were just too much money for what I would consider as a debatable benefit in machinery. The others, I found, in my opinion, couldn't compare in the quality of the branson, for the same or more money. I was surprised to see almost identical specs in the jd backhoe, yet my package was $11 k plus less and came with shuttle shift at no extra charge. I started with the 3510 and on the advise of fellow posters, checked the larger frames and went with the 3520. I am not sorry that I went larger. Its certainly not a large piece of equipment, yet it is larger than 3 mules, and probably more maneuverability /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Its your decision, your money, have fun, Franz /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / need tractor decision help #8  
Phil,

If you are near Ripley, WV, the Kubota dealer there run a nice operation. He sells Kubota and MF, plus he usually has several used pieces on hand.

Also there is another Kubota dealer on Rt50 west of Salem,WV which has a huge inventory for being seemingly out in the country.

Good luck,

eric1951
Parkersburg,WV
 
   / need tractor decision help
  • Thread Starter
#9  
After much consideration I have decided on the Branson 2810. I started looking at a 20hp tractor but all advice was to buy bigger so I think the 28hp Branson will do my work admirably. Its a well put together machine and offers a lot of tractor for the money compared to NH, Kub, Deere, MF/Agco (although I did like the MF1428, 29 and 33 they were 1-3 thousand more for a similar tractor). One of my concerns was width of the tractor since my bank barn has poles about 74 inches apart I must squeeze through. This kept me wavering on smaller/narrower vs more hp for other use. After measuring, the Branson should make it.....carefully...I will rarely, but occasionally need to get in there anyway. Hopefully in a week or so I'll have it here to start learning how to use it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Phil
 
   / need tractor decision help #10  
Glad your going bigger. I first bought a 21 HP and then was sorry. A year later I traded up a class and even to 29 HP. Should have gotten the 33 HP in the same class. Anyway based on what you want to do with the tractor you will be happier with the larger. I have looked at the Century/Branson tractors and they are nice. You have yourself a good rig. Hey post some pictures when you get it.

murph
 

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