New Guy needs expert advise on tractors

[machmeter62]

I am color blind and own all three major brands; Kubota, John Deere, and New Holland. If I lived on an isolated island that required the use of only one tractor, it would be a Kubota. "THEY DON'T BREAK!!" If weight is at the top of your list, it could be the result of cheap castings with recycled metals.

 

[Soundguy]

Normally with a large acerage.. I suggest a large tractor.

Your 125 ac deffinately puts you up in the Utility area.. if not small AG.

However.. Do you have the room / clearance to get in and out of the woods like you want with a large tractor?

If not.. a 50hp unit may be a good compromise.. Large enough to pull an 8'-10' mower.. 3 bottoms of plows, and a good size disc... but not so huge to make getting into the woods a problem.

Lots of good info here.

Soundguy

I am new to this world and am going thru the tractor selection process. I have read as much as I can but haven't really found good comparisons on tractor brands. Here is my situation: 125 acres, 8 acre pond, have about 50 acres in pine (15 yrs old and up) and the rest natural forest and some semi-cleared area. I would like a tractor to clear/prep an area for a house, maintain roads, clear some areas, plant maybe 10-15 acre garden for personal use and sales, mow about 10-15 acres, maintain/work on pond, put up fence, other? I believe I need 4 WD tractor with a front end loader and forks, heavy duty box blade, bush hog/mower, post-hole digger, other (backhoe)? I have been told I need a 70 HP tractor and I have looked at some between 50 and 70 HP. I have no brand loyalty and am open to almost anything except Chinese (unless someone can convince me that these are reliable, maintainable, and have good dealerships--from what I have read this isn't the case). I have personally looked at Mahindra, Kubota, MF. From what I have read and seen, the Mahindra is heavier and can lift more both w/FEL and 3 pt (so far best price); Kubota is the lightest but by all accounts is a quality tractor; MF didn't impress me and the dealer was the most expensive by far. There are also Deere dealers close and probably others. It seems almost all if not all tractors are made overseas so buying American isn't an issue and that most folks are satisfied w/whatever tractor they have (except Chinese) which doesn't make selection process easy. I want quality, reliability, parts/service availability, and a good price. Ergonomics are important but being new I think I can adapt to most things. I don't want to pay for a name. There are numerous dealers in my area (Florida panhandle). Any good advice is greatly appreciated. If you believe one brand is better than another, please state why. Thanks for the help.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Probably not the suggestion you're looking for YET... (Just wait! It'll get a grip on you before long ) But you and your 125 acres are a prime candidate for 2 (or MANY more) tractors. One smaller to mid-sized utility (something in the 45 to 60 HP range) and a bigger (maybe 100+ HP) model. Anyones guess as to which would be the better loader tractor. I personally would prefer a loader on a bigger tractor, but the smaller one would lend itself to being "handy" with a loader. Big HP in the form of a used farm tractor can end up being as cheap, or even cheaper than a small tractor. It's nice to have 2 tractors at times so you can leave certain implements hooked up without the need to switch back and forth.

Don't you love the way we all spend your money?!?!?

 

[Blu 82]

Patrick G--I fully appreciate your pt--quality is important to me and I believe that there are tractors of varying quality. That is why I am asking the questions. Also, I agree that maintenance is important and parts avail. And weight just to have weight doesn't make me want to buy that brand. I guess what I need from the group is your expertise on these as far as some of the brands are concerned. I plan to stay away from the Chinese brands for the reasons u state but do those problems apply to Mahindra, MF, others? Have folks had quality, parts availability with the Mahindra or other brands? If so what brands.

If someone can tell me that the extra weight of the Mahindra is bad because the metal is of poor quality or that it isn't as strong as the Kubota which is much lighter or that the weight isn't necessary and will significantly hurt fuel economy, then that helps me w/my decision. If someone knows that the Mahindra's extra weight is better (same material as other tractors w/same strength) and those "beefier" parts are better to do the work, then that helps. I need folks expertise on these types of specifics. If Kubota is equal in quality to MF and they are both less expensive than Mahindra than that helps w/the process of elimination. But if Mahindra is as good in quality and I can get parts and it is less expensive, then that helps my decision. I haven't seen the other brands so that is why I haven't really mentioned them.

From what I have read, it appears that Deere has quality but you are paying quite a bit for the name (when there is really just as good tractors elsewhere). From what I have heard it really isn't American made so that isn't an issue. Also, I have heard that JD parts are very expensive.

Kubota seems to be as good quality as Deere but I haven't really compared specs/prices yet. The quality of Japanese cars is a good example of their quality I would think.

MF (made in Brazil) seemed to be expensive at first glance and didn't seem to be better than the Kubota or Mahindra.

Also, can someone speak the ability of any/all brands to burn biodiesel?

Again, I don't have a brand preference and don't want to pay for a name. I am, probably like most nu folks looking for the best overall pkg for the price. Something that will do the work, not take all my money in initial cost/maintenance/parts and cost of parts/fuel and operating costs/etc. I have read a lot but unfortunately haven't really seen specifics that would put most of the brands significantly ahead of others (except for the Chinese/Eastern Bloc tractors). I am aggressively looking for those nuggets of info that will help with this very expensive investment and I know there are a lot of folks that have a lot of expertise. Also, if you respond and are in the tractor business please identify yourself as such so that can be weighed (ie Mahindra/Deere/Kubota dealer).

 

[redlevel]

I would say, like Soundguy, a minimum of 50hp. Probably 65-75hp would be better.

Are you dead set on a new tractor? I don't know exactly where Crestview is, but I bet there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of 50 to 90hp tractors for sale used within 100 miles of you. Over the last 35 years I have bought at least 30 used farm tractors, mostly in the 50-75hp range, and I have been burned exactly once. I knew better than to buy the one I got burned on. Most of the tractors were sold for as much as or more than I paid for them, several after 3 or 4 years of use. Most of these were Ford, New Holland, or Massey Ferguson tractors.

You say you "need" 4wd and a loader. They are both nice things to have, and if you ever figure to handle any hay, the loader is almost a must. I have seen several new tractor owners literally destroy a good tractor using a front loader to clear land. The tractors nor the loaders are meant for this kind of work. Hire somebody with a backhoe to come in and do it. I had a Kubota M6800 with 4wd and loader. I started trying to clear some light brush, privet and scrub oak mostly. After a couple of hours, I saw that I would be much better off to call my friend with his backhoe. Paid him about $1000 and figured I was much better off.

I realize loaders are very handy and are useful for much more than land clearing. I'll give you a little perspective on the weight issue and loaders. I owned both the Kubota M6800 4wd and a NH 6640 2wd with loader. I think the Kubota was rated at around 62-65 hp and the NH at about 75hp. I could pick up one of my 1200 lb bales on the loader with the NH, without a bale on the rear, and have no problems. If I tried to do that with the Kubota, the rear wheels (with water in them) would clear the ground if you hit a little bump. In fact, we quit trying to move two bales at the time with the Kubota, because it was downright frightening. The heavier NH, as well as another NH 6610, which is nearer the same hp rating as the Kubota, handled two of the bales with no adventures.

If I owned your farm I would be looking for a bargain on a used Ford/NH 3930 or larger. I have a 3930 now, and it is a heck of a lot of tractor for the $10K I paid for it with 800 hours. I could add a loader and still have less than $15K in it. Of course, it doesn't have a shuttle transmission or any of the other bells and whistles, and it is at the very low end of your hp requirements. It has draft control, so you can plow with it. It will handle a heavy duty 6ft. 3 pt hitch bushhog, or pull an 8-10 ft pull type mower. It will handle 3 bottom plows and pull an 8 ft. disc. It will maintain its resale value as well as any tractor on the market, especially in your area.

There are certainly other brands and models that you could say the same about, I'm just familar with NH. Of course, you can spend $30K for a new tractor.

 

[Blu 82]

Farmwithjunk/Redlevel--I haven't checked used. I don't feel like I have the expertise to tell a good deal from bad, poorly maintained unit from good, or a broken tractor from not broken. Because of that lack of expertise, I am planning on buying new--however plans can change. I guess if I knew exactly what brand/model of tractor (new or used) then I could seriously make a comparison of a used specific tractor to a new one.

Some folks I have talked to have said that used seemed to be expensive compared to buying new--however, several of those folks have just bought their first tractor. I do have a friend that recently bought a NH used for a good price but he just happened upon it and couldn't turn it down.

As for more than one tractor, well lets get the first one first. I am generally looking for a good all around tractor so that I won't need another any time soon.

And yes, I have had a dealer tell me that a tractor is not a bulldozer and that I shouldn't use it as such. I have to believe that a tractor can clear some brush, and dig small trees w/FEL though. I have talked to others that have done so (maybe wrongly).

Keep that advice coming and please be as specific as possible. thanks to all who have answered. I hope this thread will help more than me.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

The tractors you are looking at are larger than the tractors I play with, so I can't comment if your choices are "apples to apples" comparisions, but you should realize that many tractor brands have multiple lines that overlap in SOME capacities but may not be the ideal line to compare to another brand's machine that is in a different type of line. YOU need to ask a lot of questions of your dealers. YOU also need to make sure that the dealer tells you the truth!!! Many dealers don't understand their own specs, let alone the specs of the competition.

As for inferior metal versus superior metal, that is one issue that many people suspect may be the case with some brands, but nobody can actually answer that.

As for your comments about the Deere tractors not being made in the US, then you are probably wrong. Deere has been moving more and more of their tractor production to the US. It is true that Yanmar (an extremely high quality manufacturer) built many of the smaller and mid size CUTs (but JD is moving production of many smaller tractors back to the US), but in the size range you are looking at I think you may find that most of those are US origin.

As for capacities and raw weight, those are issues that are TASK dependant. If you are going to plow, you need traction and weight is the easy way to get it. If you are going to mow or till, you need PTO horsepower and weight may be a disadvantage or at least not an advantage.

If you want to lift things then you need balance and capacity. I can point out many light tractors that will lift more than heavy tractors. But don't get hung up on capacity, as long as it meets your needs then it is going to get your work done. What I didn't want to see you fall into the trap of is to think that your tractor will lift 2000# when you buy it because you have things that weigh 2000# but then you find out that the 2000# capacity was the pivot point capacity and you really only have about 1400# of in bucket capacity so you can't do what you really needed to do. Again, it is easy to get stuck on capacities, just make sure they meet your needs.

 

[jeffghs]

Blu 82,
Some other brands to look at would be Kioti, Farmtrac/Montana, and of course Case/New Holland. Another thing to consider with purchase is if you need to finance, buying new most brands offer 0%. If you are paying outright, you may be able to make a better deal on used. Another thing to consider would be going to the Sunbelt Ag Expo next month in Moultrie, GA. You will likely see just about every brand there, and maybe even find a deal as most manufacturers are represented there. It's about a 3 hour drive from where you are, so it could be doable as a day trip up. Also, the time is coming for a lot of fairs and festivals where you tend to see some displays and all, I know the fair in Mobile has a couple set up, the Pensacola fair may have some as well.

 

[otecotec111]

Hi people! Very many thanks for a good work on this forum. It is True Have a nice Day.
____________________
KanaomiS - Good luck everybody

 

[DavesTractor]

Blu82,
You're getting some good advice, but we don't want to lump the Mahindra in with the Belarus or similar tractors. Mahindras are heavy, they are stable and they do lift a lot. Bob Skurka brings up the issue of how specs are measured. To compare, you must make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Even so, a 7520 Mahindra rated at 3900 lbs at the pivot pins still lifts a bunch, but it does lift less at the bucket center. Traction is a huge thing for most tractor work, and weight is your friend. Mahindra's are built heavy by design and by intended usage...not because they can't make a light tractor. Compare the weight of a 75HP Mahindra to a 90HP Deere or Kubota. It's an interesting study.

The Big 3 make good tractors, but so does Mahindra, Branson and a few others. The dealer network is not yet as established, but it is growing quickly. Parts are very readily available. Don't shy away from a Mahindra if it fits your needs.