Choosing a Larger Compact Tractor

[Organic Cowgirl]

Hi all!
I'd love some input on the subject.

We have 18 acres of mostly cleared pasture and 2 acres of yard, all with scattered loblolly pines. We just bought in November, so mostly we're fixing up right now. We will be having 3 horses, one or two mini horses (we have one mini now), a small flock of chickens, about 5 steer/cows on the rear two pastures, and maybe a few goats. We are in an area that is very, very wet most of the winter and rock hard in the summer. All the locals say 4 wheel drive is a MUST-HAVE for this area.

We know we need a box blade, bush hog, disc and drag. (We have a big roping/riding arena. We will rent or buy the post hole digger and the backhoe. We may need a hay spear for 4x5 round bales for the cattle, but maybe we'd just use the truck or tractor with trailer for that, since it seems we'd need a much bigger (more $$$) tractor for hauling round bales.

We have a Steiner tractor for the yard portion, so no finish mowing necessary. (like this, but older.)

We've looked all around locally. It seems that we can get a better deal on a new tractor than a used one, because we will be financing it. We do NOT want hydrostatic, but would prefer a shuttle shift.

We've looked at:
Mahindra 4530
New Holland TC35A and T1520, TC30
Branson 2910, 3820 and 3510
Massey 1532 and 1529
John Deere 3203
Kubota L3400

Thoughts from those who've been around a while or have done lots of research is greatly appreciated. Our price range is about $19k-$23k, including attachments. Yes, the backhoe would be above and beyond that.

Financing offers vary greatly from the manufacturers. We still need to check out ag lines of credit and check with our usually competitive bank.

[Rockin'B]

I'm shopping for the same thing.Here is where I'm at so far:

Mahindra 4530....No hydro tranny available above 35 horse.
New Holland TC35A and T1520, TC30..... 3 thousand higher than the comparable Kubota
Branson 2910, 3820 and 3510......No dealer network around me so it's a non-starter
Massey 1532 and 1529...Haven't looked at yet
John Deere 3203.....Won't pay up for green paint
Kubota L3400....Clear winner so far

I'd also like to look at Kioti but there are no dealers near me.

There is a dealer in Kentucky that will ship new Kubota's and I have not found any prices that will come close to matching his. When I get home I'll dig up the link.

[Chas in Me]

We got a 3203 this past summer with the hydrostatic transmission. We use it for bucket work, plowing(3 bottom), tilling, and pulling a small harrow. I didn't think I would like the hydro, but it seems to be working our well. It does have some limitations, such as not being able to keep the tractor going and getting off it to do something. I have a small Kubota that is a gear tractor and I get off it to pick rocks while it is moving. I also use it to carry sand while I shovel it off to sand the driveway. It just follows me along as I am doing stuff. The John Deere has twice the horsepower and power steering. They are a pretty good combination and I can get a lot done with the pair. The Kuboa is 30 years old but continues to run well. I wonder what the Deere will be like in that amount of time.
So, to get back on track, we like our John Deere and get a lot of use from it. I think most of the names you listed will have supporters and detractors. Try them all and go with the best service department and the one that feels best.
Good luck,
Chas

[Rowdy]

Branson makes (well, sells) a pretty good machine. If I was going to buy a new tractor, I'd probably buy a branson. They are heavy for their size, all come with shuttle shift (that I have seen anyway) and have a decent price tag compared to deere, etc.
Dealer support could be an issue, depending on where you live, and if it matters to you (and on a new tractor, you should at least consider it.)
I'd check out tractorbynet.com for more opinions.

If I had to choose between the 2910 or the 3510, I'd go with the 3510 for more tractor for not that much more money.

All that being said, Kubota makes a good machine, though I have not been on the exact model you are looking at.

If I were looking at Deere, I would go back and look hard at the 790 or 990. Solid, basic tractors, though they are on their way out unfortantly.



As for the backhoe, unless you are just flush with cash, or have alot of backhoe projects planned you might consider just renting a hoe when you need it. They are quite pricy to buy, and you can usually rent a fullsized hoe for about $175-$230 a day. Then again, there is nothing like having all your tools/toys sitting right outside anytime you need them.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

It's not on your list but we're very happy with our JD 990. It does everything you need (plus a hydraulic post pounder which is awesome) and it handles 1000 lb round bales with ease. We just put a snow blower on it too. Thank goodness.

[CJ]

If you run 3 horses and 5 cows on that amount of land, will you have any pasture left? Seems to me they'd strip it in nothing flat.

Our tractor is a little larger than that, but we previously had a New Holland 45DA, (it was stolen) and currently have a John Deere 4320. I have to say I am liking the JD much better. Unlike most, I found them to be about the same price, in fact the JD was a bit less than the comparable NH.

It's smoother to operate. I don't have the seat time on it that I did the NH yet, but so far I am most pleased with it. And I really love the iMatch system! Anyway, being a female, the JD fits my size better and is just plain easier to operate. Test them all out if you're going to be operating them as well as your hubby.

[highlands]

We have a John Deere 4700 with backhoe, bucket loader, jaws, box scraper, rake and seeder. I've broken it in half twice in seven years - transmission case cracks. See:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2006/11...ls-rising.html

That part could be better reinforced. Other than that I've been pleased with it.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

[CGUARDSMAN]

we have a 30hp Kioti it has been great! easy to operate and when we compared next to the branson fit and finish and overall smoothness was much better. we also looked at NH at the time and it was more money with a lot of fees tacked on.

[LagoVistaFarm]

We have a TYM T400 with a 40 hp Kubota engine. 4wd. We have been very happy with it but it looks like our move is going to be delayed for a few years so we're going to sell it for a price within your budget. It has a loader, backhoe, post hole digger, scraper and fiberglass canopy. It still has about 2 1/2 years on the warranty.

[DaleK]

Walter judging by the picture your backhoe doesn't have a subframe? Or at least, not much of one. If not, broken transmission cases are actually a pretty common problem, no matter what brand the tractor is. People start using the backhoe for work that's a lot heavier than they're designed for and the stress all gets transferred onto the transmission casing, which is mostly what the tractors use as an integral part of their frame now. Some dealers now won't sell a backhoe for a compact without a subframe, with some companies using a backhoe without a frame voids the warranty.

Originally Posted by highlands

We have a John Deere 4700 with backhoe, bucket loader, jaws, box scraper, rake and seeder. I've broken it in half twice in seven years - transmission case cracks. See:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2006/11...ls-rising.html

That part could be better reinforced. Other than that I've been pleased with it.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

[Scrounger]

Of the ones you mentioned, the Mahindra is the best built one. Around here, I've found that the New Holland is cheaper then the Kubota. JD makes a good machine, but you pay for green paint. I have a Branson dealer 30 miles away and a Kioti dealer 30 miles away. I can't say I would buy EITHER. Others like the Kioti, but I cannot recomend them. Nobody I know (personally) has had luck with them. With a small operation, you might get by with them. Kubota also makes a good tractor.

Myself - if I we're buying new, I look at NH or Farmtrac.

[FordJunkie]

Just a thought here.....

You can usually buy a good lower houred used 60 to 80 HP tractor for way less money than you can buy a new anything.

I intend to go with a utility or larger sized tractor. I have a 32 HP old gas tractor now. If you actually run the bigger tractor then get on the compact you will realize the limits of the smaller tractor real fast.

For a new tractor I like the looks and feel of the Farmtrac, it is a simple not overly optioned tractor. I have had way too many problems out of newer electronic tractors on the dairy farms I've worked on including JD, IH and NH.

HTH,
Tony

[Up North Louie]

Farmtrac is no longer an option. They shut down all their operations on Wednesday. There's talk of them being absorbed, but nothing for sure.

Don

[FordJunkie]

thanks Don that is good info as some dealers will be looking to get rid of stock items cheaper for a reason. Oh well now I know for sure i'll be buying a older tractor.

I guess it was hard for them to compete with out the electronic interface the others had for the new electronic implements.

Tony

[Up North Louie]

Buying new will never be an option for me.

Even if I had the money, which I never will.

My notions of agriculture in the United States could almost be categorized as nativist-- I don't believe we can afford to export one thin agricultural investment dime. Food is our last economic bastion in this false "global economy."

Keep your farm spending local. Even if it means buying a John Deere.

Don

[wogglebug]

Originally Posted by Chas in Me

I have a small Kubota that is a gear tractor and I get off it to pick rocks while it is moving. I also use it to carry sand while I shovel it off to sand the driveway. It just follows me along as I am doing stuff.

...posted by Chas, who hasn't been run over by his tractor yet.
But it's coming, just like the tractor. Someday he'll trip, and the tractor will keep right on rolling - right over him.
Please don't ever take those types of risks, people. Tractors are marvellously useful tools, but they kill more people on the land than anything else. Don't give them more chances by deliberately risky behaviour, please.

[highlands]

Originally Posted by DaleK

Walter judging by the picture your backhoe doesn't have a subframe? Or at least, not much of one. If not, broken transmission cases are actually a pretty common problem, no matter what brand the tractor is. People start using the backhoe for work that's a lot heavier than they're designed for and the stress all gets transferred onto the transmission casing, which is mostly what the tractors use as an integral part of their frame now. Some dealers now won't sell a backhoe for a compact without a subframe, with some companies using a backhoe without a frame voids the warranty.

Yes, no sub-frame. That is the problem - my analysis too.

The dealer sold it to me all equipped with the backhoe and bucket loader knowing exactly what I do which isn't particularly onerous work.

John Deere markets it for what I do. The dealer has said it is a design flaw at the very least. John Deere made repair under warrantee the first time. They accepted liability for the problem.

The second time happened many years later so no warrantee but the insurance covered it. That surprised me.

Frankly, I wish it had a sub-frame and am thinking about how to add that. Interesting to note is that John Deere is now offering basically the same tractor with a sub-frame and the dealer now recommends that. Wish they would offer a free upgrade.

[Organic Cowgirl]

Thanks for all this great info, folks. Reading and absorbing.

About the Deere, both DH and I are pretty adamant "buy local" folks, but none of the JDs in our price range are capable of doing what we need to accomplish. Paying the top of our budget and not being able to accomplish our tasks would be seriously counterproductive. (I feel like a hypocrite even saying that, with all my anti Wal-Mart rants.)

So far, financing is leaning towards a new tractor, but we still haven't checked out our bank or ag lines. Oddly, we've never bought a new car or other big purchase, but this time, it's leaning that way, at least at this point.

...about the critters v. acreage, we're going to feel it out as we go and need to read more, too. I was basing that on what we see around here, which is round bales for all critters and lots more animals than I mentioned on less acreage. (I'm not saying they're doing things right, that's just what I see.) Still learning, for sure.

[Rowdy]

Originally Posted by Organic Cowgirl

About the Deere, both DH and I are pretty adamant "buy local" folks, but none of the JDs in our price range are capable of doing what we need to accomplish. Paying the top of our budget and not being able to accomplish our tasks would be seriously counterproductive. (I feel like a hypocrite even saying that, with all my anti Wal-Mart rants.)

You said that you did not want hydrostatic, but I think that all that is offered in the 3203. The 990 with 4x4 is only about $1000 more than the 3203, is a collar shift, and has 8 more hp at both the engine and PTO. The 990 is also a more simple machine, with less to go wrong with/break on it. If do not buy a backhoe, or shop hard for your attachments, then that $1000 should be fairly easy to make up.

However, I would seriously look at buying a slightly older used machine and save quite a bit of money, depending on your bank. Or as someone else said, but an older utility tractor instead of a compact. They tend to be priced better, and if you shop around, you can find a good one for under $10,000, making the money issue a bit easier. In tractors old does not equal worn out.

[Organic Cowgirl]

I'm fine with older tractors and understand that they are NOT like cars. (While now a SAHM, my trade is a pilot and my equipment was often older than I am.) However, we simply don't have the cash to buy one outright, so we have to rely on what they will finance....maybe they'll finance an older tractor, but I don't know yet.

We looked at the 3203 while we were at the Massey/JD dealer. We thought it was okay, despite it's hydro, BUT.....it was more than we could afford. I realize I wasn't clear in my OP, but that 3203 was already out of the budget...even without the backhoe.

I am definitely going to look more into used, but am having trouble finding any 4WD ones.