The adventures of a Newbie shopping for a tractor.

[texasjohn]

I'd recommend going with a used Kubota that has all the features ..FEL, 4WD, ETC.... I'm seeing quite a few decent tractors on Craig's list for the Austin area... try looking in your area.

I purchased used, never regretted it. I recommend a 50hp tractor for moving large round bales... smaller and it gets dicey.... either with a FEL spike or a 3ph fork. Weight counterbalance is critical to safety. The only safe way to move large bales with a smaller tractor is with a bale trailer... the kind that attaches to the draw bar and has a scheme for picking up the bale and two wheels for transport. This way, weight is on the wheels. Disadvantage is only moving one bale at a time, maneuvering range is much larger than if bale is on a tractor implement.

 

[shakin]

after reading all of this do not rule out montana they are not going anywhere and even with the merger they will still be marketing very well built machines. have you also looked at tym they have made lots of tractor most of them for other brands. now lets talk about some of the other things saying a hst is a must i dont think so i will never own anything again with hst do not like pushing down on the pedal for hours, not a fan of cruise either. pick a gear set throttle and hang on. as far as 4wd if the need is not there don't get it. i'm glad i have it it has gotten me through stuff but i shouldn't have been there. a fel if most likely the best attatchment on the tractor you will never stop finding uses for it. i would not categorize montana and tym with alot of the chinese units though they are inexpensive they have their place. the branson thing seems to be up in the air as they now have a distribution company selling their stuff, do they need to sell their own? who nows probably they dont either.

 

[donawilcox]

Kipper

Well update on my end. The title co had a screw up on my end. I hope these mistakes are due to the issue that they grew and opened branches all over then last fall they were closing them and laying off a lot. Then first of the year they got covered up with refinances and then sales picked up with tax credit so they were back to higher levels of business with half the people but still no excuse.

The title co had called me yesterday with a person that showed up on a title which was deceased. So they were tring to tract dow where he died to see if that county had more info so they could give me clear title. I finally had time to look at the documents and the legal showed 43.26 acres. I am under contract for 36.95. The entire 43.26 acres had been purchased in 1978 by the seller I am buying it from. Then in 1993 they apparently gave back 3 acres to a daughter of the original owner using a partion deed. She actually signed the document back in 1978. Any way long story short it took me about 15 minutes to find the orignal deed the title company did not find which cleared up the issue. so once survey is done we close would expect it to be next week. Meeting the surveyors tomorrow. Exited to find two of the corner. We can not figure out where the back of the 3 acres that was pulled out.

I was also approved for zero down so I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Mahindra 3535. The mahindra 4035 does not have much more capacity than the the 35 but about 2k more. The only thing is they do not have any and will not till mid next month. They have 3 of the 4035 so may see if they will deal on one of those units.



How is your deal coming.

 

[texasjohn]

I can only reinforce what others have said regarding title companies.

They take a lot of your $ and IMHO do little to no work for it...and problems, if even uncovered when they exist, end up being YOUR problem to resolve properly.

I have learned thru experience that I can trust NO ONE to do their task properly or professionally when dealing with real estate. I must VERIFY that they do their job, personally. Errors of substance and carelessness have been identified in EVERY real estate/title transaction I have ever done. And, I've only dealt with nationally known realtors and agents who have been in the business for years and title companies of good reputation in town.

None of them are on your side or your friend even tho they try to indicate they are working for you because you are paying them.

It's like nuclear arms... trust and VERIFY...which means you trust nothing and double check everything.

This is experience spread across the state..Houston, Corpus Christi, Austin area, both residential and farm properties, and a period of over 40 years. This can only have become exponentially worse given current real estate values, foreclosures, bank financing problems, etc.

OK... end of rant....I know this is off OP topic, but thread has previously moved in direction of relating personal real estate experiences.

 

[Cyclone Jake]

Too bad John Deere doesn't make the 790 or 990's anymore. They were great smaller tractors with geared transmissions and 4wd for a great price. Perfect for smaller properties, but heavy enough (990) for some loader work (round bales). If you could find a leftover model at a dealership or nice used one they should be at a good price.

They still do - just changed the model numbers. They are the 3005 and 4005.

 

[Kipper76]

Kipper

Well update on my end.


How is your deal coming.

Closed yesterday! Yay! Moving this weekend.... who likes moving????

I think I am going to have to settle for a "get by for now tractor." I just can't afford the payments at the moment.

Gotta love those Title companies. Do you need ANY training/education/license to do that stuff???

You'll have to post a pic of that 3535 so I can be jealous.

Good luck with your survey/purchase!

 

[Kipper76]

I can only reinforce what others have said regarding title companies.

OK... end of rant....I know this is off OP topic, but thread has previously moved in direction of relating personal real estate experiences.

No worries! That it has. I'm sure people stopped reading a page or two ago if they were looking for tractor info. LOL!

 

[donawilcox]

survey was started but more issues but none that can not be resolved. They could not find the pins and they did not bring out the better equipment so they took a lot of readings and had to go back to the computer to let it generate some measurements to finish up next week. The only reason I am getting a survey since the property lines are pretty well set was there was 3 acres that was pulled out on the front corner. that owner has no idea where the line is and she has a lot of junk including a couple dump trucks full of beer cans, cans and bottles, a late 40's Pontiac and a old tractor or at least part. not sure how much is on my land. I hope all so I can clean up with out asking her.

I agree with the issues in the real estate industry. I deal with it all the time. I would like them to add more qualification to get a real estate licenses. I have been licensed for 13 years and deal with other agents that do not know what they are doing all the time. But will say there are a lot of good ones out there. I also have a very good closer but her plant is the one that screwed up. I am very picky about who my clients use and if they go out side of those I watch them very carefully.

Glad you got it closed and good luck on the used tractor hunt if you go that way. I will have 300.00 tractor payment and that will or could be a stretch for me at times but did not want a 200 payment on a used one and then have it in the shop to eat up the rest. I think I am going to go with the Mahindra 4035. They have it in stock and it will only run about 20.00 more a month. I am afraid if I wait for the 3535 to come in something will come up and then it will be the end of september. Then the rain will start and will not get anything done. i have a fifth wheel in storage at 79.00 a month and do not want that with the tractor so need to get the property where i can get that back in the trees so we can camp out and not pay the storage.

I will keep you posted and let you know how the Mahidra does.

Later

 

[Kipper76]

Gotta bump the ol thread back up.

Still looking...

Was pretty close to going after the Branson 3510i until I called a Kioti dealer I had not talked with yet.

2008 models they are trying to clear out for new.

DK35se - $17,600
CK35HST - $17,249
CK30 - $15,495

vs

Branson 3510i - $16,900

The owner even called me from the Kioti dealer. He was 4 hours away at his other dealership and the salesman called him an told him I was on the fence. He said they put a 5th year onto the power train warranty on all their Kiotis he sells. "It will be in writing when you sign the paperwork." That impressed me.

How do these prices look?

How do the above Kiotis compare to the Branson.

Sat on and driven the Branson... Going to go check out the DK35 on Monday.

Thanks for the continued replies!

Edited to add:

Oh, a big difference is that Branson is 0 down 4.99 for 72 while Kioti is 10% down and 4.99 for 84. The Kioti payments end up cheaper, obviously!