Newbie getting close to buying...

[crread]

OK, I've been lurking and have learned some things, but I'd like some input specific to our situation. Couldn't figure out how to update my profile, so here's what we're up to:

Have 22 acres in South Carolina - kind of sandy soil, mostly flat, but with some significant hills (20 degree). Only 4 acres in pasture, rest is wooded with trails and 3-4 acre farm pond. Hubby works alot, so it'll probably be me driving mostly - mostly for mowing the pasture and trails. Also, we've decided on new because even though he's quite handy, we don't want to spend time FIXING the tractor. We are looking at around 30hp, rotary mower with a slip-clutch, box blade and FEL (that will probably be a glorified wheelbarrow, as someone else said). Also, plan to have 4WD with turf tires. Also, we figure on being here about 7 more years. At that point, we could be looking at selling the tractor (I HOPE we don't have to and we can be rural again, but can't be sure of our situation), so resale value is also important to us.

There are 3 dealers close by, we haven't talked to the "orange" one yet (he's in opposite direction and tied into a car dealership, not open on weekends!). The two we like so far:

NH TC29D (last year's model), 9x3 transmission, 4WD, with Woods FEL (model 1008, I think) - priced at $14,300

Long/Landtrac 330 HST, 4WD, with their FEL (sorry, can't remember the model!) - as yet to get the price - will get next week

We do plan to go and look at the Kubotas on the lot tomorrow just to check out the ergonomics and see if we want to go further (which will require my hubby taking off from work - again).

Questions are: What are pros and cons of these brands? I'm mostly familiar with NH and Kubota (used to have a Kubota) and know they're both reputable brands. Never really heard of the Long brand before, but that's not surprising.

Is HST really worth $1500 more? Especially if I'm mostly just mowing. What other features should I be looking at. I really liked the way the 3ph on the NH worked - I think I could even hook up the bush hog by myself with that system. And I know from past experience, my back needs a really good "bouncy" seat for mowing (I suppose you can install a good seat on any tractor?).

I'm sure there are lots of other things I should be thinking of asking... Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Is HST really worth $1500 more? Especially if I'm mostly just mowing. </font>

You mentioned hills...hills are where the HST shines in my opinion. It is a long story, but if you are dealing with hills, the hst lets you go slow, stop, reverse, creep and when you get scared you lift you foot and the tractor stops...

Also don't forget to keep the tractor in 4x4 mode on the hills...especially if you have something in the loader...tractor brakes only work on the rear wheels. Without the 4x4 connection to the front wheels, if the back end gets light away you goooooooooooooo.....until you drop the loader...

You don't NEED HST. But it was worth whatever the extra cost was for me. And it would be again, if I were to buy a third tractor...both that I have are HST.

HST has its place though. For plowing type duty, gear is better.

For my personal needs, HST is the winner, but I don't plant crops and mostly do work on hills or loader work with the larger tractor, and grass mowing with the smaller one.

My guess is that if you spend the extra for the HST you will not regret it, and having HST may be a positive if you end up having to sell the tractor later.

A friend of mine and TBN member, Ed King, has a long tractor and seems very happy with it, by the way. It is a gear tractor which I think he bought before Long was making HSTs. At least I am pretty sure Long is selling hst tractors now.

 

[texbaylea]

If you have significant hills, turf tires are not going to be satisfactory even with 4wd. I have found that R4s are a good compromise. Lugs not as deep and footprint broader like turfs. I have a new Kubota L3130 with LA723 loader for my 20 acres and I find it great. I have sandy soil but no significant hills. Hooking up my Bush Hog rotary cutter is fairly easy. Turning the lower pins inward would make it easier. Good Luck

Vernon

 

[frank_f15]

my personal opinion? get the HST with at least R4 tires, on hill you can't beat it. we have a long FRARMTRAC, LANDTRAC dealer in town (3 mi) looked at them when i was buying but they did not have HST. he seems to be selling quite a few as i see them when driving around. they do seem to be a nice unit.

 

[readytogo]

Check out some of the owning/operating forums for the brands you are looking at. I found quite a bit of info on the new hollands there.
Bought a Kioti ck 30 today. They are worth a look.

 

[To20Chris]

From your post, I'm assuming "mowing" is going to be primarily brush-hogging? I would say that HST/gear will just be a personal preference for you.

Resale values 7yrs out will be hard to predict with any kind of confidence - people will quote today's relative resale values by brand and tell you the future will look just like the past. To be sure, if the company doesn't exist anymore, that really puts a damper on resale value, so from that perspective check out the "brand" and see what kind of relationship they have with the manufacturer. In general, I tend to put more emphasis on the quality of the unit and the health of the organization, and I think that resale values will follow a sucsessful brand.

I think 30hp is about right - you could go lower if mowing were not as high a priority. The box blade doesn't require 30hp, but it does require traction, and the FEL just requires a decent hydraulic system. The mower will use the most hp.

You may want to look into Kioti, they have several good tactors in that range. Good luck!

 

[Clarke]

Why don't you lurk a little on the Power-Trac Forum. Sounds like a PT425 or 1430 would be the cats meow for your situation..

sg

 

[crread]

Thanks for the info so far, guys. Don't know what possessed me to say turf tires - I meant to say we think we need industrial tires. I assume this is the same thing as R4.

Any comments on the price offered on the new NH? We aren't looking to get the rock-bottom, squeezed to the last drop price, just a very fair (but low!) price. Still waiting for pricing on the Long, and now have a used Kubota 3010 in the mix...

Cheers!

 

[mapleridge]

I went with a JD790, with the same requirments you have.

Great tractor. I went with the 790 because there are far fewer electical componts than on some of the other tractors.

Have you give Green a thought?

Well you have your needs now go and give them a try. Most dealers will bring one over to your place to give it a try. The biggest issue i've heard between the big three is the position of the loader joy stick..
The other most important it how you feel with your dealer - how there are going to service you!!

Good Luck!

 

[crread]

Thanks, everybody. We didn't look at green because there wasn't a dealer close by. We have two very small children (toddlers, even!) so travelling far is a royal PITA. Well, we decided to go with the NH. The Long tractor price came in quite good, too, but we decided overall we'd spend less money and the size was probably a little better for what we wanted to do. Now I'm sure we'll be lurking in the other forums as well...