Tractor Buying Decision

[jschilli]

I am in the process of upgrading from my old Jubilee to a new 4WD Deisel tractor. I mow a little over 5 ac and plan to do some loader work. I am also working on buying a small (30 ac) farm and building a new house in the next few years.

I am looking for a 25 to 30 Hp tractor. I am looking at the following tractors w/ FEL - not hydrostatic and can't decide what to buy.

JD 790 - 15,400
Kubota L2800 - 16,300
NH TC30 - 14,200
Farmtrac 320DTC - 14,900
Mahindra 2615 - 13,900
TAFE 2800 CE - ?????

Looking at the spec's and price, I'm leaning towards the Mahindra. My Mahindra dealer is looking at picking up the TAFE line also, but does not yet have any of their tractors or firm pricing. I have been told that TAFE makes a lot of the smaller MF tractors. The TAFE spec's look really good, but I do not know much about them.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'll plead ignorance on the Mahindra. I've looked at some of them and the ones I've seen look impressive, all were larger than the 2615. I've not played with any. A local garden center is now selling them, I'm not impressed with the dealer, but the tractors look pretty nice.

Based on your list, however, the choice for me would be the TC30. Its a tried and true design that is easy to get parts for (even at NAPA) and has been around for a long time and will likely be popular for a long time to come. I like the operator's platform better than the JD790 and the fact that you get a bit more HP doesn't hurt either. The Kubota L2800 does not in any way impress me as being a good tractor other than it has a Kubota engine. Kubota makes the smoothest running sweetest sounding engines I've ever run. However the L2800, in my mind is a fairly crude tractor by any standards I can apply, its price is also high for that model based on what I just see.

TAFE . . . is that brand made by the company formerly called LG and now called LS and then sold as TAFE? Honestly I don't know, but I thought I read somewhere that TAFE's tractors, or at least some of them were made by LG.

 

[Varmintmist]

I looked at the first three you listed and went with the Mahindra 3510 for about the same money. I really liked the Kubota, but for what I do it was felt light. If you are thinking serious loader work you might want to think the 10 series Mahindra. I have run the JD 950 a lot (same as 790, older) with a loader and there is no comparison. The red one has it outclassed. The 3510 is a lot more than you want to use for mowing though, sooo......

For me it would be between the Kub and the Mahindra. I dont know the 15 series but I do like the 10 seires.

The TC30 is nice, it just fits like a Ford /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif meaning it isnt comfortable to me.

The 790 is a fine machine, it is small for the money IMHO. It will do everything you want to do.

 

[Maka]

Welcome to TBN. What area are you in? Pricing can be affected by region and it would help to know where you are to get an idea on the prices you have been quoted.

The prices on the JD790 (manufactured by Yanmar I believe), NH(manufactured by Shibaura I believe) and Kubota seem consistent with the Pacific Northwest. We don't have any Farmtrac dealers here in the Northwest but that tractor (320DTC) is manufactured by LG/LS Cable and is the same as the Montana 3240.

The 15 series Mahindras are manufactured by Mitsubishi for Mahindra. I believe that it is 100% Mitsu and is a pretty good tractor by all accounts.

I don't know about that TAFE model but Glenn from Coastal maybe can shed some light on it. I know that with the LG/LS & Mitsubishi manufactured tractors you get very very good tractors with many more standard features than the JD, NH and Kubota in this price range.

The Montana line is also completely made of of LG/LS manufactured tractors and are extremely nice tractors with more standard features than any of the others mentioned so I can speak a bit of the LG/LS line with confidence as to quality of build, reliability, parts supply and affordability.

So, having said all of this I would suggest you drive each tractor and see what is most comfortable, user friendly, dealer comfort level & cost effective.

If you are looking at buying a larger property you also may want to look at a tractor a little bigger as well. If you have a total of 35 acres then these smaller tractors may not be quit enough to grow with. Just a thought.

Best of luck.

Maka

 

[Keith_B_]

jschilli, you may want to consider the 2810 as a Mahindra option in that same size range.

 

[jschilli]

I am in Ohio.

My local dealer is supposed to be getting a 2810 for me to look at.

I just went and drove the NH TC30. I was not impressed. The Mahindra is a much more comfortable tractor. The Mahindra "feels" like a much stouter tractor.

I believe that I've eliminated the NH despite the dealer telling me that "it is an insult to compare the NH to any of them cheap Chinese and Korean tractors"

 

[Keith_B_]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am in Ohio.

My local dealer is supposed to be getting a 2810 for me to look at.

I just went and drove the NH TC30. I was not impressed. The Mahindra is a much more comfortable tractor. The Mahindra "feels" like a much stouter tractor.

I believe that I've eliminated the NH despite the dealer telling me that "it is an insult to compare the NH to any of them cheap Chinese and Korean tractors")</font>

I noticed the same thing when comparing the NH TC40 and the Mahindra 4110. While the TC40 felt heavier than most of the other 40hp CUTs I drove it isn't nearly as heavy as the 4110, and you can tell it when you are on the seat.

The Korean tractors are not in the same league as the Chinese tractors. The fit, finish and reliability levels of the Korean tractors is very good to excellent. The Chinese tractors are lacking in these areas.

 

[Maka]

I would drive all of the tractors if possible. See what fits and does not. The Farmtrac will be nice and if you have a Montana dealer near drive one and check out all of the standard items.

Mahindra has a good name customers seem to speak highly of them.

Sounds like that NH dealer is pretty darn proud. I see it all to much where "big 3" dealers name call and bash and it only hurts them as most customers don't appreciate it. Keep us updated and good luck with whatever you decide will be your new tractor.

Maka

 

[KiotiJohn]

After reading some of Maka's posts, I've looked a little closer at the LG Montanas and find them to be a pretty good value for all they offer. I'm still not sure I LIKE them that much, but they seem well built and do offer more standard features than many others.
The Mahindras are well built, generally heavily made, but I've never been a fan of Mitsubishi gas or diesel engines, a personal thought. I also couldn't get past the crappy dealer when I saw the Mahindras.
I don't care at all for the Kubota 2800 or the NH TC30. They just seem old and tired and uninspired by design. If I were going NH, I would certainly buy one with a sloped hood for the better visibility. I bought Kioti with that as one of the features I liked.
I think all of these are seriously well made tractors, but with my dislikes for the ones mentioned, I'd have to go with Farmtrac (montana), Tafe, Mahindra, JD, NH, Kubota, probably in that order. Now, some other models in the same brands, would be a different story.
John

 

[Soundguy]

While I don't dislike mahindra.. it is only 300 bucks cheaper than the cheaper of the BIG 3 models listed. O fthe JD, kubota, and the NH.. the NH islooking like best hp/dollar ratio. And at only 300$ difference between them.. I'd opt for the major brand, of course, depending on things like dealer attitude..etc.. freebies.. etc.

I've had lots of luck with ford and NH, though any of the brands you list should do fine.

One thing though.. i think you will be disapointed if you buy a diesel that is less HP than your old ford NAA. it eeks in at 32hp, probably more like 29-30 by now.

Also.. 30 ac is a decent spread. i think the 2X hp range should be out of consideration for that size land.

Soundguy