Neophyte buying a tractor needs help.

jd2210 · Aug 16, 2004

If you are looking at a Jinma I strongly recommend doing as much homework as possible on their shortcomings. I'm NOT saying to not get one, I'm just saying look into them so you know what you are getting. Often times dealers try to sell them against new green, blue and orange which is wrong. They should presented as what they are, a viable competitor to a used compact tractor. They have the same technology as a 15 year old JD or Kubota, which is not a bad thing (in a way good becasue of ease of repairs). But do not convince yourself that they are a new compact substitute and that a head to head comparison of them can be made by placing the specs sheets beside each other.
Also look at other factors like "will my Jinma dealers be a Jinma dealer in 10 years?" And "what will my Jinma be worth in 10 years versus the others?"
This is not intended as shot to the product but make sure you are comfortable with your decision before you buy. Everything is easy buy, some things are hard to sell.

froggy · Aug 16, 2004

Geoff,

This is another site where you can see retail pricing on various tractors and might be helpful:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/equipment/contracts/

Where exactly are you located in SE AZ? Would you be closer to Las Cruces than Tucson? If I remember right, there are Kubota, New Holland and John Deere dealers there. Don't know anything about them other than seeing them.

Doyle

at_obuk · Aug 16, 2004

Don't forget the insurance side of owning for business. Your home owners will not cover for commercial use. Better check your insurance for what you carry on your trailer.
Just adding some of the hidden costs to be considered.
Good luck on what ever your choice.
Going to Sedona soon for vacation, love those red rocks!!

Eric P.

MicroPilot · Aug 16, 2004

( HI :

Not sure if I can help much but thought I'd add my two cents worth too:

you may as well take a good look at the century (JINMA brands= farmpro, nortrac et all look under links in the china forum for John S's web site he has large dealer links page.).....)

HUH??

Century has nothing to do with Jinma. Century (and Branson) tractors are manufactured by Kukje in South Korea.

Libertine · Aug 17, 2004

Desertdog:

 . . . desperate need of someone that can grade a few driveways (particulary after the monsoons), dig a few trenches, move some dirt and gravel, grub a few mesquites, grade future homesites, landscape, install drip irrigation, plant a few trees, dig footers (I build stone homes/walls), etc. I can get a about $50/hr to do this work. 

If you are serious about going into business, as opposed to picking up an odd job here and there, respectfully suggest you contemplate the following:

1) Forget your $17k budget - $25k/$30k more like it at a minimum.
2) At $50 hr., one extra day waiting on parts from an off brand will cost you $400. Stick with NH, JD or KUB. Cheaper in the long run.
3) Get quick detach (skid steer compatable) on FEL arms - allows use of pallet forks (handy for moving rocks, tree trunks, etc that won't fit in the loader bucket) & many, many skid steer implements and only takes seconds to change front implements.
4) Go with rollover box blade - costs 3 times as much but allows much more flexibility - ripping/grading/dozing separate and can switch from one to other with one pull of a lever.
5) Forget a subCUT or even a smaller CUT. For what you say you want to do, go with a larger frame size (NH TC35 & up, KUB 38xx & up, etc.).
6) Hydraulic pump drives FEL & BH. 10 GPM and up reasonable.
7) Remember, "rated" capacity (lift, etc.) in theory (on paper) is accurate, but "working" may be less.

Good luck.

JEH

jd2210 · Aug 17, 2004

Bang on Libertine, I applaud you.

JayC · Aug 17, 2004

I'll have to agree with Libertine's suggestions. They make a lot of sense. Also, I would suggest something like a John Deere 110 or Kubota L48. These are much more rugged than a typical CUT. The backhoes are removable so you can use a 3PH for other purposes. The FELs, however, are not removable. One thing I like about the 110 is the "creep-to-reposition" feature. If you are digging a trench or the like, you can move the machine from the backhoe station. I'm not sure about the Kubota models, but the JD can have a hydraulic thumb for the hoe which would be good for grabbing rocks. Backhoe buckets come in pin-on and quick couple (quick couple required for thumb). It has an anti-spill mechanism. You can also get an 84" heavy-duty hydraulic boxblade. Top & Tilt would would be handy for that. I only elaborate on the 110 because I have the brochure sitting right here. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

John Deere 110TLB

Kubota L48

Good luck in your search! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dave___in___CT · Aug 17, 2004

Original poster say...

"I will compete/help out 2 large backhoe operators that are too busy to be concerned with customer relations and leave too large a footprint to do some of the more delicate work. "

...too large a footprint...

Bigger is not necessarily better...
A CUT can do nitch jobs the commercial backhoes can not do... and some they also can do... but at a slower pace...

Example...
A guy who owns an excavating business hired me & my Deere 750 CUT to dig trenches in dirt basement of an already framed home(his home in fact)...
The 750 was small enough to fit thru the double-door walkout... and could operate the backhoe even with the 1st floor done...

Dave...

SPIKER · Aug 17, 2004

Micropilot"

sorry the typing didn't transferfrom brain to paper to well there, yes, centery and branson are not jinmas, I meant to check on all of them, as an alternative to what people are offering, they are saying he can't get what he wants for 17K that is absolutly wrong, others are saying that the jinmas and or other "lower cost imports" are old tech, actually they have cutting edge tech in them, with dirrect injection diesles, which should run for 10,000 hrs. if maintained. sure they have some rougher castings & gear drive straight cut gears, so do all those old fords ! most of them are still going strong,

, but that does not mater to me or to anyone who will routinly drive their machine through a rock garden... the JINMAS have higher ground clearance than most CUTs. not sure about the centurys/bransons ect/ et all: As for that you have to spend 25~35K and then you won't have to wait for parts, hell for that much you can buy 2 JINMAs and if one breaks you have a spare! you can but enough spare parts to totally rebuild the thing from ground up for about 2K with the tractor purchace! and never have to worry then... as for them having problems, true, you do usually have to do you're own maintenance, but the gentelman already stated he has no dealers with in 100 or so miles, that means he probably would have ot fix things him self regardless, so some OLD easy to work on tech would be better than a NEW greene one which will require dealer servicing or else void the warrenty... sometimes you just have to get dirty.

anyhow I just wanted to offer him other options which would meet his criteria...

mark m /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Libertine · Aug 18, 2004

JayC:

I would suggest something like a John Deere 110 or Kubota L48. 

I was going to suggest those too, but that puts him WAY over his "budget." The KUB L35 might be an option though, but probably still over $30k. These are "pocket" BHs. Myself, don't like the lack of ability to remove FEL though.

JEH