Tractor Shopping

[Blee25]

Hello, I have been doing some tractor shopping recently and figured I would share some thoughts and get some of your thoughts. I am not a complete newbie. I currently have a JD 3320 and grew up around and operated ag tractors. I am looking to purchess a small ag utility tractor for light hay work and moving/stacking round bales. (I won't be round baling myself) I am looking for something around 40 pto/hp with fwa and loader. Would like the loader to be parkable and have a quick attach sytem to go between bale spear and bucket. Here are the models I am currently considering and my thoughts on why.

1. John Deere 5103-I think the 5000 pound weight is about right for what I want to do and I like the 9/3 syncshuttle transmission. Seems to be about the best price at around $23,000 with loader.
2. CaseIH JX60-More tractor then the 5103 with more features. Bigger then I need and may be a little bulky and heavy. Price is a good bit more then then the 5103(it's more tractor, I just don't need it.
3. Kubota M5040-Seems to be a right frame size. Nice features and transmission options and orange is my favorite color . It's over a 1000 pounds lighter then the 5103. Why? Makes me wounder about how it would hold up long term in ag applications. Cost a good bit more then the 5103.
4. Massey Ferguson 2615- Looks like a nice tractor from the lit. Dealer doesn't have any and says he can't get any till about June. Platform looks a little cluttered. I am 6'6'' and my long legs might get in the way. Never got an actual qoute but dealer said about $21,000 with out loader so I am guession about $25-26000 with loader which seems high for this tractor.
5. New Holland TT60A- Nice price but the 8x2 collar shift trans puts it at the bottom of the list. Also the TT50a is more what I would want but it doesn't come in fwa.

Let me know if there is anything I am over looking or any recommendations. Any Massey guys know anthing about the 2615? It is the tractor I am lest knowledgeable about.

Thanks blee

 

[greggh]

I bought the JD 5203 for about that price and it has the 522 loader plus a few more HP. That being said, I think you are on track for your needs.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Blee,
Give Mahindra tractors a look. A Mahindra 4530 weighs 5750 pounds, and 34 pto HP you could save a couple grand, or the 5530 at 6083 lbs and 44 pto HP. at similar money. Both have shuttle shift, tough loaders and skidsteer compatable buckets. It can't hurt to look.

 

[art]

I don't know about the pricing but I like being able to place the weight where I like it and need it, not to be to heavy to begin with. You are buyung a tractor to use and it's just as imortant for fuel milage with your car as it is for your tractor.

You can always make them heavier.

 

[Renovator]

Look at the CIH Farmall 45 or New Holland equivalent. It has a shuttle shift. I like the manuverability.
Renovator

 

[Blee25]

Thanks for the idea's guys. I thought about Mahindra but am not really considering them for one reason and that is dealers, the closest dealer is a good ways away and if he were to drop the line then who knows where I would get parts and service.

I looked hard at the farmall 45 and almost baught one but I feel it is to small and light for doing hay work and stacking round bales.

 

[mojoinco]

I settled (used) on the NH TN55 (one class up from the JX60 I think). I also considered the Kubota and Deere you are looking at. I wanted an outright shuttle and clutchless if possible. Sounds like you want to do a fair amount of loader like work? You might want the HST then. Kubota sure has a good reputation, light weight or not. And everything in this class seems to be a bit light when you are talking round bales. Meaning weight has to be added somewhere. I notice that in all the manufacturers ads that you may see them moving round bales with the loader, but the rear end is usually cut out. Look real close and you often see some sort of weight added -- often another bale -- on back.

Also, good pricing on the Deere if you can use the 1/4 horse association discount.

 

[machmeter62]

Hello, I have been doing some tractor shopping recently and figured I would share some thoughts and get some of your thoughts. I am not a complete newbie. I currently have a JD 3320 and grew up around and operated ag tractors. I am looking to purchess a small ag utility tractor for light hay work and moving/stacking round bales. (I won't be round baling myself) I am looking for something around 40 pto/hp with fwa and loader. Would like the loader to be parkable and have a quick attach sytem to go between bale spear and bucket. Here are the models I am currently considering and my thoughts on why.

1. John Deere 5103-I think the 5000 pound weight is about right for what I want to do and I like the 9/3 syncshuttle transmission. Seems to be about the best price at around $23,000 with loader.
2. CaseIH JX60-More tractor then the 5103 with more features. Bigger then I need and may be a little bulky and heavy. Price is a good bit more then then the 5103(it's more tractor, I just don't need it.
3. Kubota M5040-Seems to be a right frame size. Nice features and transmission options and orange is my favorite color . It's over a 1000 pounds lighter then the 5103. Why? Makes me wounder about how it would hold up long term in ag applications. Cost a good bit more then the 5103.
4. Massey Ferguson 2615- Looks like a nice tractor from the lit. Dealer doesn't have any and says he can't get any till about June. Platform looks a little cluttered. I am 6'6'' and my long legs might get in the way. Never got an actual qoute but dealer said about $21,000 with out loader so I am guession about $25-26000 with loader which seems high for this tractor.
5. New Holland TT60A- Nice price but the 8x2 collar shift trans puts it at the bottom of the list. Also the TT50a is more what I would want but it doesn't come in fwa.

Let me know if there is anything I am over looking or any recommendations. Any Massey guys know anthing about the 2615? It is the tractor I am lest knowledgeable about.

Thanks blee

Kubota builds a quality tractor with the final weight option being left to the new owner. The strenght of Kubota tractors comes from the quality of steel they use in the castings and frames; their philosophy: weight can be added, but not removed? You will find that same situation with the "B" series Kubotas, weighing less than others for lawn use, enabling one to use a bigger tractor for less damage to the lawns, but able to add weight if needed also?

 

[machmeter62]

Hello, I have been doing some tractor shopping recently and figured I would share some thoughts and get some of your thoughts. I am not a complete newbie. I currently have a JD 3320 and grew up around and operated ag tractors. I am looking to purchess a small ag utility tractor for light hay work and moving/stacking round bales. (I won't be round baling myself) I am looking for something around 40 pto/hp with fwa and loader. Would like the loader to be parkable and have a quick attach sytem to go between bale spear and bucket. Here are the models I am currently considering and my thoughts on why.

1. John Deere 5103-I think the 5000 pound weight is about right for what I want to do and I like the 9/3 syncshuttle transmission. Seems to be about the best price at around $23,000 with loader.
2. CaseIH JX60-More tractor then the 5103 with more features. Bigger then I need and may be a little bulky and heavy. Price is a good bit more then then the 5103(it's more tractor, I just don't need it.
3. Kubota M5040-Seems to be a right frame size. Nice features and transmission options and orange is my favorite color . It's over a 1000 pounds lighter then the 5103. Why? Makes me wounder about how it would hold up long term in ag applications. Cost a good bit more then the 5103.
4. Massey Ferguson 2615- Looks like a nice tractor from the lit. Dealer doesn't have any and says he can't get any till about June. Platform looks a little cluttered. I am 6'6'' and my long legs might get in the way. Never got an actual qoute but dealer said about $21,000 with out loader so I am guession about $25-26000 with loader which seems high for this tractor.
5. New Holland TT60A- Nice price but the 8x2 collar shift trans puts it at the bottom of the list. Also the TT50a is more what I would want but it doesn't come in fwa.

Let me know if there is anything I am over looking or any recommendations. Any Massey guys know anthing about the 2615? It is the tractor I am lest knowledgeable about.

Thanks blee

Kubota builds a quality tractor with the final weight option being left to the new owner. The strength of Kubota tractors comes from the quality of steel they use in the castings and frames; their philosophy: weight can be added, but not removed? You will find that same situation with the "B" series Kubotas, weighing less than others for lawn use, enabling one to use a bigger tractor for less damage to the lawns, but able to add weight if needed also?

 

[Blee25]

Kubota builds a quality tractor with the final weight option being left to the new owner. The strength of Kubota tractors comes from the quality of steel they use in the castings and frames; their philosophy: weight can be added, but not removed? You will find that same situation with the "B" series Kubotas, weighing less than others for lawn use, enabling one to use a bigger tractor for less damage to the lawns, but able to add weight if needed also?

I just want to clairify that I believe Kubota builds as good a product as anybody. I do think that the smaller m series tractors are built with the homerown in mind and not ag use. As you point out, weight can be added but not for free.

 

[Blee25]

Ended up buying a 5203 with 522 loader w/standard bucket and bale spear.
The price was right and the dealer gave me the best trade value on my 3320. Tractor is basic with no frills but still easy to use and functional.

 

[Nuru]

Ended up buying a 5203 with 522 loader w/standard bucket and bale spear.
The price was right and the dealer gave me the best trade value on my 3320. Tractor is basic with no frills but still easy to use and functional.

Good work and have fun with that new one. Please post pics!

 

[Blee25]

I will plently of pics as soon as I get the tractor. It is going to be a week or so before it is delievered.

 

[greggh]

Congratulations on your purchase. I bought one back in November and I am completely satisfied. Except here lately I haven't had enough seat time. My place has been too wet. I am only able to get to my place on weekends and it seems to rain either on the weekend or on Thursday or Friday before. Oh well, It won't be too long and I'll be praying for rain.

 

[LBrown59]

Kubota builds a quality tractor with the final weight option being left to the new owner. The strenght of Kubota tractors comes from the quality of steel they use in the castings and frames; their philosophy: weight can be added, but not removed? You will find that same situation with the "B" series Kubotas, weighing less than others for lawn use, enabling one to use a bigger tractor for less damage to the lawns, but able to add weight if needed also?

You can always ad weight but you can't always take it off.

 

[Blee25]

You can always ad weight but you can't always take it off.

Yes, but it cost about a dollar a pound to add wieght and in an agricultural application there is almost no reason to ever want a lighter tractor. Homeowners like lighter tractors because they don't want to leave marks in there yard and they like to trailer there tractor around. That is why in my opinion the kubota M series are often the right tractor for a homeowner with a good sized acreage that requires the horsepower for larger bush hogs and other implements but wants to be able to use it for chores around the house. On the other hand if someone is looking for a tractor to use in more ag specific ways like hay baling and handling they might want to look at a tractor that is built with more weight.

Thats why when I compared the John Deere 5203 and Kubota m5040 they both seemed to be a better at different things. Some people will find the 5203 a better fit and some will find the m5040 a better fit. Plus the 5203 was over 3k cheaper, which matters to me.