Your advice...another tractor Noob

[JohnSinVA]

My advice would be to spend some time reading down in the Power-Trac forum. For the intended use you describe this machine might be just the ticket. The planter head drill and correctly sized auger will make much shorter work of digging holes for planting than a backhoe. Still want a backhoe? You have the option of a full sized rear mounted backhoe or a smaller sized front mounted hoe. Need to do a lot of trenching? They offer a ditch witch style trenching attachment. Plus the articulation of the machine would likely be more easily maneuverable in and around your garden. Mowing isn't a strong point of the PT, but you already have that covered.

KiotiJohn is right in that PT does sell direct from their factory, but the machines themselves are quite simple. Everything is driven hydraulically, the wheels are driven with pumps/motors in the same way ZTR mowers are driven. All attachments are driven via hydraulic motors as well.

 

[JohnSinVA]

My advice would be to spend some time reading down in the Power-Trac forum. For the intended use you describe this machine might be just the ticket. The planter head drill and correctly sized auger will make much shorter work of digging holes for planting than a backhoe. Still want a backhoe? You have the option of a full sized rear mounted backhoe or a smaller sized front mounted hoe. Need to do a lot of trenching? They offer a ditch witch style trenching attachment. Plus the articulation of the machine would likely be more easily maneuverable in and around your garden. Mowing isn't a strong point of the PT, but you already have that covered.

KiotiJohn is right in that PT does sell direct from their factory, but the machines themselves are quite simple. Everything is driven hydraulically, the wheels are driven with pumps/motors in the same way ZTR mowers are driven. All attachments are driven via hydraulic motors as well.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( After reading some other threads I realized how much is out there. )</font>

There is a lot of stuff 'out there' but how much of it is NEAR YOU? If you are new to all of this, I'd recommend you start by looking at the brands that are within 10, 20 or maybe 30 miles of where you are located. Any brand that has a small tractor will do the job you need. But do you want to drive 200 miles round trip for service or parts?

Find an established dealer in your area, one with a complete shop. Look at the shop, it is as important as the tractor. Make sure they have a few mechanics, make sure they can do hydraulic repairs, metal fabrication, and make sure their service guys are not just kids off the street. You want factory certified diesel mechanics working on your equipment. You want a shop that can do the work 'in-house' so that you don't have a repair delayed by them sending the work out to another shop (more common than you think). Also check out the parts department. It should be fully stocked. There should be at least 1 full time parts guys working there.

The logic for all of this is that you want a dealer that will back you up, it does not have to be a big dealer, but it has to be 'big enough' to take care of you, and 'big enough' to have experience to do the job right.

There is a new dealer near me, it is a lawnmower shop that just got into tractor. Been around for a long time. But its specialty is small gas engines, not diesel tractor.

Another brand is represented by a garden center. You can buy a tractor or a ZTR and a couple trays of petunias all at the same place. Who is making the repairs?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( After reading some other threads I realized how much is out there. )</font>

There is a lot of stuff 'out there' but how much of it is NEAR YOU? If you are new to all of this, I'd recommend you start by looking at the brands that are within 10, 20 or maybe 30 miles of where you are located. Any brand that has a small tractor will do the job you need. But do you want to drive 200 miles round trip for service or parts?

Find an established dealer in your area, one with a complete shop. Look at the shop, it is as important as the tractor. Make sure they have a few mechanics, make sure they can do hydraulic repairs, metal fabrication, and make sure their service guys are not just kids off the street. You want factory certified diesel mechanics working on your equipment. You want a shop that can do the work 'in-house' so that you don't have a repair delayed by them sending the work out to another shop (more common than you think). Also check out the parts department. It should be fully stocked. There should be at least 1 full time parts guys working there.

The logic for all of this is that you want a dealer that will back you up, it does not have to be a big dealer, but it has to be 'big enough' to take care of you, and 'big enough' to have experience to do the job right.

There is a new dealer near me, it is a lawnmower shop that just got into tractor. Been around for a long time. But its specialty is small gas engines, not diesel tractor.

Another brand is represented by a garden center. You can buy a tractor or a ZTR and a couple trays of petunias all at the same place. Who is making the repairs?

 

[MOPAULY]

I looked at the PT website this morning, but was kind of turned off by the equipment, and it's not cheap either. $2,000 differance between it and the BX24, and I can get the Kubota local.

All I've noticed around here is mainly Deere dealers, with a few Kubota peppered around. I called 2 dealers this morning and was quoted a best price of $15,700 for the BX24 with the loader and backhoe.

At this point it will most likely be until fall before we are ready to purchase something, so at least I have time to learn more...however as I'm finding, at least from what I see, Kubota seems to be a leader in this class with quite a few followers.

A few other brands I've looked at kind of look like cobbled together equipment, whereas the Kubota reminds me of a full size unit just shrunken down.

I'll have to do more reading here on the forums and more research, but I would have to say the orange machine is peaking my interest over others at the moment.

 

[MOPAULY]

I looked at the PT website this morning, but was kind of turned off by the equipment, and it's not cheap either. $2,000 differance between it and the BX24, and I can get the Kubota local.

All I've noticed around here is mainly Deere dealers, with a few Kubota peppered around. I called 2 dealers this morning and was quoted a best price of $15,700 for the BX24 with the loader and backhoe.

At this point it will most likely be until fall before we are ready to purchase something, so at least I have time to learn more...however as I'm finding, at least from what I see, Kubota seems to be a leader in this class with quite a few followers.

A few other brands I've looked at kind of look like cobbled together equipment, whereas the Kubota reminds me of a full size unit just shrunken down.

I'll have to do more reading here on the forums and more research, but I would have to say the orange machine is peaking my interest over others at the moment.

 

[MLinOleMiss]

Check out Mahindra if you have a local dealer, very good tractor at a great price in most cases.

 

[MLinOleMiss]

Check out Mahindra if you have a local dealer, very good tractor at a great price in most cases.