Ranking tractor brands from most reliable, to least, & ...

[dodge man]

My opinion would be Kubota and John Deere. Do they make the best? Probably not, there are lots of good tractor brands. In my area JD and Kubota have the strongest dealer network.

 

[shooterdon]

I believe Kubota has about 50% of the CUT and SCUT market and there are very few horror stories about them. In my little pea brain, that suggests they have very good machines.

But there is a price to pay. I really wanted a Kubota when I purchased my tractor this year but could not justify the premium price to get the features and load capacities I wanted. I also factored in the reality of my age (late 60's) and my expected use (100 hours a year). Did I really need the most reliable machine out there????

BTW, like you, snow removal is the most important task for my machine. We get about 150" of snow a year and I am in a remote area. I estimated about 30-40 hours a year on that duty.

If money is not a huge concern, the Kubota is a good choice. I saved over $10k with the LS. In the end, you need to factor in your circumstances and finances. I would add that dealer support was important to me as I do not want to wrench on a tractor when I need to move 12" of snow.

 

[ovrszd]

The only way that **** is not going to bite you in the *** eventually is to get one without it..all I am going to say.

And the only way an automatic transmission in your car isn't going to bite you is get one without it!!!

 

[tradosaurus]

I believe Kubota has about 50% of the CUT and SCUT market and there are very few horror stories about them. In my little pea brain, that suggests they have very good machines.

But there is a price to pay. I really wanted a Kubota when I purchased my tractor this year but could not justify the premium price to get the features and load capacities I wanted. I also factored in the reality of my age (late 60's) and my expected use (100 hours a year). Did I really need the most reliable machine out there????

BTW, like you, snow removal is the most important task for my machine. We get about 150" of snow a year and I am in a remote area. I estimated about 30-40 hours a year on that duty.

If money is not a huge concern, the Kubota is a good choice. I saved over $10k with the LS. In the end, you need to factor in your circumstances and finances. I would add that dealer support was important to me as I do not want to wrench on a tractor when I need to move 12" of snow.

I bought my first tractor in my 54 yrs of life on this planet and after much research I didn't find that price played that much of a factor in buying my Kubota. But I guess it depends upon how you define "premium". Since the nearest dealers were JD, Kubota, Mahindra, and New Holland there wasn't much of a difference.

 

[tradosaurus]

We all learn by mistake.
The more fortunate among us are able to benefit from the mistakes of others, so we don't have to repeat those mistakes ourselves.

Some brands have earned a reputation for excellent design, bullet-proof reliability, etc, while some other brands just seem to need constant $attention.

I'm on a hilltop here, and we get over 100" of snow per year, we're on the lee of two Great Lakes, Erie & Ontario.

With the snowblower the snow blows back, & can leave me looking like a Michelin commercial.

So I'm shopping for a tractor with a fully enclosed, heated cab, bucket loader front, snowblower rear.

Several brands available within 50 miles, Kubota, New Holland, Kioti, John Deere, M. Ferguson, etc.

Which brands provide what we pay for? What brands are a headache on 4 wheels?

My thanks in advance for you sharing your expertise.

I would suggest that once you narrowed down your choice to a few brands and size of tractor that it would be beneficial to go sit on each brand of tractor, start it up, rev it up high, and drive it around on the lot. Are the controls where you want them? Vibration too much at high rev's?

If you are going to finance there are a few brands offering 0% for up to 5 yrs. That would include any implements you want to get with the tractor at the time of purchase. That might sway your purchase price.

Finally dealer support. How were you treated during your shopping? What do Google reviews say about that dealership? I wouldn't use dealer support as the #1 consideration as a problematic tractor will still leave you without a tractor regardless of service.

The hardest part for me was figuring how the size of tractor that would work for my situation. I wanted the biggest and baddest available but weight was a consideration. I also went with R1 (ag) tires since I will most likely never drive on paved roads and I need the traction. So far my choice of size has been correct.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't think most TBNers, with the possible exception of farmers, would have enough experience with a variety of tractor makes/models to really answer this question.

That said, I've had four Deere tractors over the last 20 years...all compacts. Three of the four were Yanmar built or powered. All have been extremely reliable...all were used when I bought them

 

[MechanicalGuy]

What Ortimber said.

But from all the research I did when looking for another tractor I believe the Kubota has to rank near the top for reliability. Just like Apple and their computers, known for their reliability because Apple controls the whole manufacturing process, Kubota makes all their tractors - they are not rebranded models made who knows where.

Apple isn't known for being some kind of reliability Juggernaut, their computers are known for smooth operating systems and the ability to handle pictures and video very well.

 

[nbking]

My grandfather worked a tobacco farm his whole life, had a big Massey Ferguson, a big Case, and a little Case, never had any problems. My dad had a Ford tractor that he mowed and Bush hogged with for over 40 years, and the only problem was the transmission started slipping, sold it for $2000 and now has a little John Deere.

 

[attract her]

MechanicalGuy
MechanicalGuy
New Member

Join Date
Jun 2019
Posts
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Welcome TBN MG.
Visit often.
Post a lot.

 

[Turbys_1700]

We ran Allis Chalmers and old Farmalls years ago. Never had any issues. I've owned a Yanmar, Ford, and New Hollands the last 30 years with few issues. All brands are good. The best and most reliable? Get what you like and have convenient dealer support for. That's worth a lot IMHO.