Off Brand

[BobG_in_VA]

I think it is kind of ironic that the brands that many people consider to be off brands have often manufactured tractors for companies that people consider not to be off brands.

Funny you should mention that....Undeniably (although I suppose there will be some on this forum that will vehemently disagree), one of the MOST RECOGNIZED icons in American history is the WWII Willys jeep.....yeah, built by Mahindra in India starting in 1946....'Nuff said,I'm outta here. BobG in VA

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My reply wasn't meant as an attack towards you. It was a question towards BobG and his mention about people talking about brands they know nothing about. I was just trying to figure out who he was talking about.

Everyone makes mistakes as I thought some of the original 5000 series tractors were originally made in Germany or somewhere in Europe. I can not find the information on them to verify it though

Some components of the 5000 series are still produced in Europe (Germany and France I believe) They're shipped to Augusta Georgia where they meet up with components produced in the US for final assembly. Odds are, there will never be a tractor produced with ALL components being manufactured in one country. No complaints on MY part though. Anyone who claims parts made elswhere are inferior or superior just because of point of origin is all wet. It's not about WHERE they're made, it's about HOW they're made.

Oddly enough, some of the strangest, and some of the most incorrect information being passed along on several brands, including Mahindras, come from "informed" owners. Being "uninformed" (read; I don't own a Mahindra) doesn't exclude me from knowing a partical bit about the subject. Maybe I haven't got that memo yet, but I'm fairly certain Mahindra ownership doesn't entitle anyone to membership in a secret society where us "outsiders" aren't allowed to speak.

I've been accused (in a personal email) by one Mahindra owner of having an agenda against the brand. Not so. Show me where I've said anything negative specifically about the tractor. I have issues with owning one IN MY SITUATION, because of NO DEALER/PARTS/SERVICE support in this immediate area. (Which, at this stage, seems to be a widespread issue) I don't see each and every model of Mahindra as "the perfect fit" foe each and every potential tractor buyer. I don't contend ANY brand has "the perfect tractor" for all situations. If YOUR Mahindra serves YOUR needs, and you have sufficient parts and service resourses, then go for it. To make a claim that they are perfect for everyone in all situations would be downright ridiculous. EVERY brand, EVERY color, EVERY model has to stand up to certain critisisms. If they can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

 

[HEC]

A few years ago I bought a zetor 5245 and it was well built , surely a very rugged tractor, and easy on fuel for a tractor of that size and weight.They were making a few units for john deere at the time and my dealer[a new dealership]had gone to their plant and was very impressed so I bought one. A few potato farmers up here in my area bought the larger zetors and were not impressed so the dealership went under leaving me with no service etc. . I had a few problems with the tractor , nothing real serious ,but it only had very few hours on it also.I could order parts by mail without a problem. I have posted before using the word [off brand]not picking out any tractor in general. What does this[off brand phrase] really mean to me.Like mentioned before dealer network means a great deal and so does service,I only have 2 long time well established dealers in my area so I only had two choices when picking a new tractor everything esle was an [off brand] to me,not that other tractors out there are not just as good or maybe even better I really had no other choice so I for one hope no one was offended when I used the phrase off brand.Only time will tell which brand of tractor or which dealership for that matter will make it in your area and which won't.I really don't care what the name is on the tractor as long as I can get parts ,good service and the tractor does what I want it to do with as few problems as possible.

 

[tydp]

Hey Junk, I know you don't need my support, BUT I agree that years of real world experience and hands on knowledge speaks volumes. I heartily agree with 99.9999% of what you say. Thanks for your opinions (from a current Ford, Kubota, and former John Deere owner). Amen brother.

 

[Cacinok]

I have issues with owning one IN MY SITUATION, because of NO DEALER/PARTS/SERVICE support in this immediate area. (Which, at this stage, seems to be a widespread issue) I don't see each and every model of Mahindra as "the perfect fit" foe each and every potential tractor buyer. I don't contend ANY brand has "the perfect tractor" for all situations. If YOUR Mahindra serves YOUR needs, and you have sufficient parts and service resourses, then go for it. To make a claim that they are perfect for everyone in all situations would be downright ridiculous. EVERY brand, EVERY color, EVERY model has to stand up to certain critisisms. If they can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

i think the above is the key to buying and owning a tractor of any size. first, you must have the dealer support available for the inevitable need of parts and second not every "brand" whether off or not can fill every niche. and i'd add in that ultimately the quality of the finished product, whether perfect out of the factory or polished up by the local assembler, is fundamental to a good tractor.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hey Junk, I know you don't need my support, BUT I agree that years of real world experience and hands on knowledge speaks volumes. I heartily agree with 99.9999% of what you say. Thanks for your opinions (from a current Ford, Kubota, and former John Deere owner). Amen brother.

Thanks.

And I'm working on the other .00001%

 

[civesnedfield]

Not sure I should go here but what the heck. I want to see this go to 10 pages or more.

Lets talk dealer support. Unless you are a farmer or someone like Dougster who's livelyhood depends on the tractor running every minute it has too, not being able to walk into a dealership and get parts right now, is nothing more than a hassel. Personally if I have to wait a week or two to get parts it is not going to kill me, yea I am not going to be happy but I am a big boy and I will get over it.
I speak form experience here. I have owned 1 19xx Ford 3000 and a 1963 JD 1010RU. The Ford was ok. Never needed parts. Bought it, did nothing to it, and sold it a year and a half later for $900.00 more than I paid for it. What a great tractor that was. I figure if I kept it another year I could have milked another $500.00 out of it.
The 1010 was a different story though. First thing I did was put new rubber all the way around. After rubber came front end parts. Here's where the dealer support came in. Four tied rod ends, JD dealer price -- something like $200.00,(just using that figure not sure how accurate), thru the internet $100.00. Yea had to wait a week or two for them to arrive but worth the wait. An extra $100 or so is not my idea of good dealer support. For those who are thinking well you did not get original JD parts like your dealer would havegotten you, think again. The parts came from the same supplier that JD gets them from.
Next ddealer support item. Power steering cylinder develops a crack. Call up dealer. Sorry JD no longer makes or stocks that part, ie. you are on your own. So after three weeks sending e-mails and searching, I not the dealer find one. Takes an additional two weeks to get the part to the house.
I am not complaining here, just trying to make a point.
Dealer support all depends on the individual and his or her needs. If the tractor HAS to run when needed by all means Dealer support should be number one on the buying a new tractor checklist. If this is not the case dealer support can be kinda secondary. With today's technology, the internet, you can find and purchase just about anything you need. Lets say Mahindra, Zetor, Sato or any other company leaves your area, you can find and get parts. Lets face it you will also be able to find a mechanic to work on the thing if you do not orwill not turn a wrench. Me, when a man tells me that it is going to cost $250.00 to do a 50 hour service, the wrenches are alreday on the bench waithin for the proofmeter to turn 50.

Long story short, this is like all other recommendations for buying a tractor. Sit in it, try a bunch, buy the tractor that best fits your needs and the one that YOU like. Not the one that everyone elese says is the best. They are not sitting on it year in and year out, or making the payments. This is your decision and you should make the choice.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

So if you want to clear the snow with your compact and it breaks down you are fine with not being able to get the part to fix your tractor for a few weeks? What happens when the snow starts building up and you still don't have the part? Dealer support is important to the majority of tractor owners regardless of what they use them for.

 

[civesnedfield]

So if you want to clear the snow with your compact and it breaks down you are fine with not being able to get the part to fix your tractor for a few weeks? What happens when the snow starts building up and you still don't have the part? Dealer support is important to the majority of tractor owners regardless of what they use them for.

No you just go back to the old tried and true methods. Do you rember where you keep your snow shovel. When the Hyd cylinder on the JD went I was doing just what you suggested, clearing 14 inches of snow in the driveway. Solution get the snow shovels out of the shed and get the wife and kids out of the house. By the way even if the local dealer had the parts, and could do the work, how do you think you would get out of the driveway, Pray for a warm spell?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

A single isolated incident of difficulty involving aftermarket parts for a 45 year old model that wasn't exactly a huge seller in its day vs. difficulty even finding a dealer to order parts for a new or very near new tractor isn't exactly the same.

I own 2 John Deere's. But I'm not especially a "fan" of Deere. The 2 tractors I own were both the best fit for my needs at the time I bought them. All things being equal, I'd just as soon have a less expensive tractor. But as key parts to a farming operation at one point, and a mowing business now, I had to buy what I KNOW I can keep running without the risk of significant down-time. Where I'm going with this is, Deere Inc. takes a back seat to NO ONE when it comes to parts availability and speed of delivery. You pay and pay and pay for that luxery. But You don't WAIT for that luxery under anything but the oddest of circumstances. AGCO, NH and all their affiliates, and Kubota aren't far behind. Then there's everyone else off in the distance, TRYING hard, but not really threatening these "big guys" with parts infrastructure. That's just the way it is. This isn't to say "the next Kubota" can't make their way into the big league, but that takes time, established dealerships, diligent efforts over many years, and huge investments. Simply having a good product doesn't insure success. Just ask anyone who worked for, or owned products manufactured by, the "old" International Harvester.

Mahindra has just as good of a chance as anyone of reaching the next level in U.S. markets, but they aren't there yet. I'd say by their success in other parts of the world, they have the resourses and experience to get the job done. But until it's in the boat, it's just a fish story.

THEY NEED ESTABLISHED DEALERS in more areas of the country to compete at the next level. Time will tell if that happens.