Which Tractor

[scudbait]

I am currently looking for a 40 to 60 HP independent pto tractor. I plan to use it for brush hogging, land clearing and general farm use on a 50 acre farm. I have been told that a 4WD tractor will allow me to do 30% more work and have been wondering if I really need 4WD. Additionally I've been told that a compact tractor will be too small and to stick with one of the big 3 (JD, KB, NH). I have been looking and comparing pricing on the the following;

KB-M4900/M5700/MX5000
JD-5103/5205
NH-TN55/TN65/3010s
MF-451XE/251XE/235s
Long-FarmTrac 80

I plan to purchase one in the next 2-6 months. I would honestly like to get the best tractor for my money. Could someone please give me a professional unbiased opinion that will help me to make up my mind.

 

[rtimgray]

You came to the right place to get opinions, the wrong place if you want unbiased. There will be many responses asking for more information about what you want to do, then they will recommend getting 4wd and a loader and at least a few will try to get you to get a hydrostatic transmission. Then we will get into which brand you should get, and everybody will recommend which tractor they own and how they got a good deal on it and it was cheaper than anything else. They will also tell you to be sure to go with the dealer that you feel most comfortable with because you will certainly need dealer support.

There will also be those folks like me that will recommend looking in the Kioti and Mahindra lines, particularly the Kioti DK 45, 50, 55 and 65 and the Mahindra line from the 4500 up (I think they go up to 6500 at least, maybe larger coming soon). If I hadn't bought a Kioti, I would have bought a Mahindra.

One thing I'm not sure about is the Long Farm Trac 80. Is this one of the ones that are like the Ford/NH. I've hear that when Ford changed to New Holland they got rid of the factory that made several models of tractors and sold the factory/production rights to Long Agribusiness, so those tractors are essentially older Ford tractors, so that should be good. I have no idea if there is any truth to that and there are no Long dealers around here, so I haven't even seen them first hand, although I've seen some of the Long 45s around here.

By the way, from the size of tractor you're looking for, my personal recommendation would be to get a Kiot DK 45, 50, 55 or 65, but that is a decidedly biased opinion.

 

[leaddog]

I would suggest you look at the century or branson if you are looking for good value. I looked at all the brands you mentioned and after compareing them I felt my best value was the century 3045. It is 47hp 40-pto-hp with a yanmar 4-cyl. It has a 2-speed (540-1000) live pto that really works good for brush hogging. Also the thing that really sold me was that it is made very heavy and solid. It is 500# heavyer than the compatition and the castings are heavy. The c-50 fel is made with a Heavy frame running full lenght of the tractor so I don't think it would be possible to split this tractor doing fel work. I now have 50+ hrs on mine and have been very happy with it. I have an 80 acre farm and I have used it to plow and till up 5 acres in HEAVY clay, brush-hog 6-acres of grass. Bush-hog about 1-acre of tall willows and brush, haul firewood and move trees in the woods plus all the handy fel work around here. I just made a Stone bucket and have been cleaning out a stone pile (25ft-dia) with it. So you can see I want a working tractor and I am sold on this.
by the way, I grew up with jd and just sold a ford1910 and I still belive it was the best value
Oh did I mention that it was 2000 to 7000 dollars less for comparable tractors that you mentioned.
Leaddog

 

[Woodbeef]

Hey Scudbait,

Yup,I'd definately say stay with a mfd utility. Might also want to consider a Valtra A series or 100 series,and a CIH JX series.

I'd look at the Massey 471/481s myself.

Might also want to check out the Eicher Euro line.

As for the Farmtracs: Farmtrac was the Ford licenesee for India. Escorts bought Farmtrac,and now owns Long Agribusiness(they were 50% owners already) The smaller models are from the licensee days. The larger mfd ones have Perkins power,and Carraro trannies and axles.

 

[jinman]

<font color="green"> scudbait:</font> </font><font color="blue" class="small">( I plan to use it for brush hogging, land clearing and general farm use on a 50 acre farm. )</font>

<font color="green"> rtimgray:</font> </font><font color="blue" class="small">( There will be many responses asking for more information about what you want to do, then they will recommend getting 4wd and a loader and at least a few will try to get you to get a hydrostatic transmission. )</font>

As Rtimgray mentioned, it's hard to know the specifics of what you mean by "land clearing and general use." If by "land clearing" you mean clearing fence lines and underbrush, then any of the tractors you mentioned will do. If you mean pushing big trees, moving lots of dirt, and digging ponds, I think you should hire a dozer for that work. A tractor for "general use" that includes big hydraulic attachments such as post-drivers needs to be one with a hydraulic pump supplying at least 12 gpm. If you also mean plowing, planting, mowing, cutting, haying, etc., you may need something even bigger than what you listed. I tend to agree with the person who told you that a compact tractor is too small. I'd give John Deere, New Holland, and Massey Ferguson serious consideration because they are the more traditional farm tractors. I don't see many Kubotas being used for farming in my area. The Mahindra and Kioti lines may be fine, but you probably have to "muster up" a little courage to buy one of those because we don't have a long history of the support network for those machines. If you consider financing in the equation, I know that John Deere, Massey Ferguson, and New Holland can support you for a whole range of implement purchases. Perhaps other brands have competitive pricing and financing, but in my area, I think those three are the main ones I see.

So my recommendation is to stay with one of the big companies for support and financing and also get a tractor toward the high end of your horsepower range or above. I don't think you would regret having something in the 75 hp range for your "general use."

 

[JerryG]

When you are at the Massey Ferguson dealer, have him show you information on a MF 263 4wd. It is a strong heavy built tractor that has a low center of gravity.
The main thing to look for is a good dealer. The best tractor in the world is worthless without a good dealer.

 

[scudbait]

I looked at the Branson line and was told that the Branson/Century tractors were considered compact tractors and that they were just not big enough (weight wise) to do what I needed. They did look kind of small next to the Long tractors.

 

[scudbait]

As far as the Farmtracs are concerned, the Model 80 has a 4 cyl. Perkins Engine. Isn't that the same engine that the Massey Furguson uses. If a non-name brand tractor uses the same engine as a name brand tractor, is it functionally identically to the name brand in terms of reliability, parts and service.

Thanks

 

[stvman]

scudbait, I own none of the big three so I think I can give an opinion that is fairly unbiased. From my perspective Kubota is top in the mechanical refinement department followed by Deere then NH for the top three. If you like ergonmics and visibility then its NH, Deere,Kubota bang for the buck and durability I think all three have their good and bad points this is where it becomes much more subjective.

I think the Korean brands are really coming on strong and the huge markup big three dealers are going to see a change in the landscape (literally) very soon. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Just my opinion

 

[scudbait]

I looked at the Kabota and was very impressed, but their engines were indirect injection and the engines seemed smaller than the others. Addtionally, their 4WD seems a bit odd. By loooking at them they seem smaller than the others.