Why did you choose Branson?

[Kaizer Peas]

After having an overpriced under weight John Deere 770 I wanted a heavy well built tractor with a good reputation and a good warranty. I liked the Cummins collaboration in the diesel engine design. I sure like all the standard items you pay extra for with the big three. The fuel tank location is particularly appreciated.

The only other tractor with comparable weight and reputation was Kioti but with a single speed pto I was tempted but liked the design of the Branson.

I'm very happy with my choice and would do it again.

 

[52wej]

Weight, simple shuttle system,loader design, absence of bells and whistles, and fair price lead me to purchase a Century 2535 almost six years ago (same as Branson 3510). Now430+ hours later I am still very satisfied with the tractor. Dealers are not as convenient as some of the other brands. I had a 750 JD before and while it was ok it was not large enough for my needs. No regrets. willie jones

 

[Lunk]

My Branson 3510i purchase took about 2 1/2 years. Every time I found myself in the area of my dealer, I'd stop in and kick the tires, and hope that someday I'd have one like that.

After owning a couple older tractors with lousy hydraulics, and clumsy, flimsy loader set-ups, I finally took the dealers advice and actually started one up and played around in the gravel a bit. It was like night and day!

My grandfather spent most of his life dinking around with old iron, until one day he bought a new Kubota with all the bells and whistles. He put about 50 hours on it before Cancer eroded his quality of life to the point that he couldn't operate it any longer. I vowed that I'd get myself a useful tool of a tractor long before I reached that point, and enjoy it all the while.

The dealer is what sold me. I spent some time selling cars in a past life, and really appreciated his style. No pressure. Ready to answer questions. Not afraid to toss a price out there when asked to. After my first visit, he always opened with: "Are you ready to buy that 3510 yet?"

Why not a "big-three" brand??? Dealers didn't treat me as a "real" customer, weren't interested in my trade, wouldn't give me a firm price either way... and the Branson seemed to have everything I needed for what appeared to be 3-5k less money.

I've not looked back...

.02 as always...

Lunk

 

[polo1665]

Actually TBN played a pretty big role in my decision. I made the rounds of various dealers and had the same impression as Lunk. Most of my dealers were more "salesman" types, seemed like they would tell you what you wanted to hear for the most part. My local Kubota dealer was about the next best bet, but I couldn't get over the weight difference between the l3400 and the 3510h. There was also a big flap about the jerkiness of the three point lift on the l3400 at the time. I researched on this site and couldn't find a reason not to buy the 3510h.
Price really never came into play. If you are going to drop 20 to 25 grand on something that you want to keep the rest of your life, I can't see 2 to 3 grand swaying me too awful much.
I know now I made the right decision. This tractor is built like a tank, and has many of the "bells and whistles" that some of the major brands don't. Heck, I've even got an emergency brake indicator lamp that apparantly does not come on some other brands. Oh yeah, a horn too:laughing:

Mark

 

[Lunk]

Polo -

You mentioned TBN, and I forgot to mention it in mine. It was the information from TBN that ultimately led to me pulling the trigger.

As far as the price goes - It was important to me at the time because after being sold on Branson, I had to be sure I could "sell" the significant other...

I also bought into the "weight" issue. To me weight = work, and the ability to do it. I know I'll get arguments from some on this, but I already have a good lawnmower, and it weighs about 1k (Ferris Commercial Pro-Cut 20 ZTR).

The one other thing I didn't mention was the fact that I actually fit comfortably on the operators platform, and in the seat. I'm a big guy, and that was not the case with some of the other tractors I sat...

PS - Every time I read about some poor chap struggling to fill his fuel tank with 5 gal cans, and the struggle that ensues, I thank Branson for putting the tank, and the weight associated with it, where it should be - Down Low!

 

[52wej]

I have to say also that i spent a lot of time on TBN also reading and evaluating all of the major brands and travelled to many of the major dealers in the areaover a 1 year period before making the purchase. The folks here on TBN provide a lot of good insight into all aspects of equipment owning and operation. willie jones

 

[Ace Ford]

The truth is, "mostly because they had one at the Noonday auction and I could get a very good deal on it". Happily, I knew what was in the auction that day and was able to research it in advance--a lot of my research was done right here with all of the satisfied owners. :thumbsup:

 

[mattellis2]

i bought my 2910 mostly because i am a cheap bastage. i bought it in 2007 (it is a 2005) when it had 13 hours on it. i paid $8k for it.

i had advertised on a local forum looking for a tractor shortly after we bought our little piece of property. the previous owner replied, and we worked out the details, after i did some research. i was not aware of branson prior to then, but i am certainly glad i found them. the tractor has done every single reasonable thing i have expected out of it, and all i have done to it is change the oil and filters.

i am sitting on 110 hours now, and just installed a new bl25s loader on it. i can't believe i went three years w/o the loader, but i fear i have opened a can of worms. i find myself looking at markham's grapples and pallet forks with lust in my heart. a 'hoe would be nice too!

if i had it do over again, i would most definitely buy a branson. i think next time around, it is going to be a 4720, though.

-matt

 

[stoney2]

I own a 4720i and it's a great tractor with excellent power to weight performance. I had narrowed my buying choice to Bobcat, Branson and IH 50. The Case was almost 4k more....the Bobcat dealer jerked me around a little on price and a free FEL...the free FEL disappeared the following month. Anyway, I'm very happy with my Branson and my dealer support to date. I would definitely buy Branson again, without any hesitation. It's been a great tractor for me. I push it pretty hard at times, and it's never failed to respond to my task. I traded in a Massey 65, which I punished for 20 years. It was a great old tractor, but gas powered. Diesel engines are so much more powerful and efficient. Happy shopping.