quick tractor reviews please

[gwithrow]

first of all, we should have listened to those who advised us to buy a bigger tractor in the first place...that having been said, we are now looking at new ones...in the 50 hp range...

I would like feedback on: John Deere, Kioti, and Mahindra as those are the machines we are looking at, utility tractors....with loader and 4 wd as we have hills and lots of tedious spots that we will need to get out of...the getting in to those places never seems to be the issue ....(bush hog work and loader stuff ....drag harrow and seeding are our main uses....)

we like to have a bit more in the way of a loader than we will probably use....as that has been a problem with our smaller tractor...I think that it has sold and so we will need to make a decision soon....

we would consider a new one IF, it is in nearly new condition and has been well cared for...since we are not mechanics, we can only go by what the owners say and or how it looks.....not always reliable info there....

new at least has a warranty...thanks...

[DaleK]

What's your budget like? New ones are mostly in the $1000-1200 per hp range.

[davel745]

Hi
I have a John Deere 5075E with a loader, it will pick up about 4000 pounds, and I run a 7 foot brush hog. And I run a 14 inch to bottom plow, a set of harrows.

I find that the 75 hp tractor is just the right size for my homestead, I have a 10 acre woodlot and skid my own wood.

The difference in cost between a 5075E, and a 5055E was only $2500.
Once again I recommend that you get as much tractor is you can afford

[unregistered41671]

Consider what type dealers are in area. You will need parts and maybe service from time to time.

[davel745]

Originally Posted by Possum Belly

Consider what type dealers are in area. You will need parts and maybe service from time to time.

This is one of the most important things, is to have a dealer near you for parts and service. The brand doesn't matter much but a dealer is very important.

[LettucePatch]

I would suggest adding Kubota to the list. I bought a new Kubota 2 years ago based on much of the same criteria that you mention. I opted for the L5740HST (57 HP net, 50 PTO), FEL, no cab, R4 tires. $33K all shiny and new. As a utility tractor, it is a dream. It is like driving a large riding mower. I have been putting out hay with it all winter. No issues starting in single degree temps. My favorite feature about the FEL is that it is designed around the skid-loader market. You can buy all sorts of cool non-Kubota gadgets for it, and you can change them with your eyes practically closed.

I would have to say that my biggest complaint about it is that it is a poor pasture/field tractor. It is so stinking bouncy when not loaded that going back and forth in pasture is be very painful. I've been told that filling the back tires will cure that, but I haven't gotten around to it.

Buy as much as you can afford. I can guarantee you, that no matter what you get, you will find some task that it is not up for. The 50 HP Kubota is my *small* tractor. Once I got over the fear of fixing mechanical things, I bought bigger aged Ford 7710 that is big enough to pull a batwing mower. It is my baby and I love to hear it purrrr.

If you are searching for tractors, I am sure you have found this site: tractorbynet.com. If not, I suggest going there. It is a heavily trafficed forum site. The people there argue about things like which tires are better. And you will learn alot about tractor safety before you get yourself into a jam.

[mink]

id suggest a new holland mine is 12 years old and never been worked on

[Johnny Dolittle]

I tend to bleed green but Kubota is just as good ..... you never hear of Kubota's breaking down even old ones.... they are tough.

Mahindra is ok for the money and will be less expensive to buy ... I do not know about how resale value holds. The parts are held by a separate company in Texas. Separate from the importing company. Is Kioti even still around ?

[davel745]

I paid $22,000 for my 5075E plus $4000 for the loader.

[Darren]

Ditto the suggestion to go to www.tractorbynet.com.

[jwal10]

What do you have now. What are you doing that makes it too small. Can you add weight to the rear to counter ballance the bale or will the loader not lift it? Tractors need ballast with a loader. Many older tractors do not work for loader tractors, not enough hyds to operate. Loaders need to be fit to a tractor, not just any loader made to fit. Loader may be too heavy. I suggest buying the loader designed for the tractor. Any newer tractor and loader will work, some better than others but you get what you pay for. Grey market or overseas imported tractors without local dealer parts support would not be on my list. I use a 1050 John Deere 4WD, 30 hp tractor, older machine but it does what I need. I have dug foundations for houses and heavy work. It is limited to the amount loader will lift but with ballast and counter weight it does the job. Not big enough for a large round bale though....James

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-trac...eere-1050.html

[salmonslayer]

Most of the tractors you mentioned have good reputations and put me in the camp that thinks its very important to have a dealer close by. Some preferences are regional as well, around here JD is king with Kubota a close second while to the East of us by 60 miles or so Mahindra and Kioti are big and thats mostly related to established dealers in the area.

I have found it to be very useful to have a couple of tractors. I use the small Kubota for homestead maintenance and getting into tight spots while I use my IH 424 for plowing, pulling other ground engagement implements, and brush hogging. Its nice to have two tractors with their varied implements ready to go.

If your buying a new bigger tractor you might consider a smaller used tractor at some point to round out your stable. I use my Kubota for fencing, landscaping, gardening chores in the truck garden, working in the orchard etc where the bigger tractor just doesnt fit well and its pretty indispensable.

Here is an example of how important dealer support is. Three years ago I bought an expensive garden tractor to mow what was at the time 3 acres (I've been whittling it down to about 2 acres now as the land gets put to better use) and I got a lemon. I ordered it long distance and had it shipped and I have had nothing but trouble with little recourse. I have now taken the terrible deck off of it and the Mrs just uses the very expensive rider for a yard mule and I am buying a JD because there is a local dealer. Expensive and frustrating lesson learned.

[Molly Mckee]

Nothing runs like a Deere! Kobota is great too, weight in the wheels makes a huge difference.

[Jolly]

Dealer. Dealer. Dealer.

Everything breaks, given time.

[Mike in Ohio]

We've had a Kioti DK50SE HST for a little over a year and are very pleased with it. We had been looking at NH Boomers but when you add in the extras that are standard on a Kioti (to make it apples to apples), the comparable Boomer is more than a bit pricier.

The other consideration is that Boomers are manufactured in Korea for NH and about 5-6 years ago (something like that) they switched manufacturers and apparently parts for the tractors manufactured by the previous supplier became an issue.

I went with hydrostatic because I knew DW wouldn't use a shuttle shift and I wanted her to have the opportunity to use if if she wanted to.

The loader is solid and I am pleased overall with Kioti.

Mike

[rambler]

In my opinion, JD, New Holland, Kubota, Case, Massey are all about equal, good quality.

Machines made in India or Korea with lesser names are a step down, but finre machines. they should cost less, with less dealers around, less general support, a bit less polish and finish on the machine, but generally still a good machine.

Stuff made in China with lesser names are just not up to snuff. They are cheaper, but for a reason. They have crossed into the poorly finished area, poorly designed.

Grey market tractors from Japan are well made machines with less safety features, well made, not as well supported in this country. They can be a real bargn if you understand the lack of safety features and can wait a while to source parts when it breaks.

Just a general rule, if you are capibible of finding your own parts and repairs, and ok with a wobbly hyd lever, then buy the machine that offers the best value as you see it.

Of your list, the JD is the better machine, and should cost more to reflect that.

Myself, buying a used tractor with less than 1000 hours on it is the best value, they generally come from people like you that bought the wrong machine the first time, took generally good care of it, and are simpley swapping out for the proper machine for them. Their loss is your gain.

As you yourself learned with the first tractor you bought.

--->Paul

[Johnny Dolittle]

The Chinese copy the designs of others because they have no ability to engineer.
The Japanese are some of the worlds best engineers.

BTW Yanmar is now making small compacts for Cub Cadet .... which probably is an improvement.

Five years ago I visited with the Mahindra district rep for NY/Pa and he said they had sent engineers to China to manufacture a cheaper sub-compact line for the homeowner.
Two years ago I was visiting with an Amish man who is a mechanic at our Mahindra dealer. He had a small Mahindra split to replace bent shifting forks .... and told me this was not the first machine to have this problem. FYI ..... Mahindra is I think the 4th largest tractor manufacturer in the world (hard to believe though)

[ArmyDoc]

Originally Posted by davel745

Hi
I have a John Deere 5075E with a loader, it will pick up about 4000 pounds, and I run a 7 foot brush hog. And I run a 14 inch to bottom plow, a set of harrows.

I find that the 75 hp tractor is just the right size for my homestead, I have a 10 acre woodlot and skid my own wood.

The difference in cost between a 5075E, and a 5055E was only $2500.
Once again I recommend that you get as much tractor is you can afford

I would like to second this. Having recently bought an old Massey Ferguson 245 (45hp), I find it strains at somethings, and while it can do them, it would do better if it had a bit more power.

If I buy a new one, I will look at another MF (listed first only because that's what I have and it I like it), Kubota or a Deere (listed last only because it is the most expensive). If I got a deal on the Deere I would snatch it up because the dealer is in town... but so is the Kubota.

I would get one with 4 wheel drive - tractors do get stuck, and I think if I had it on mine I wouldn't have... I would get a quick detatch front end loader. I might end up leaving it off most or all the time, but I would have the hydraulics there if I needed them for some implement (really want a post driver, but am limited due to lack of aux hydraulics in my old MF)

Best of luck to you.

[davel745]

Originally Posted by Molly Mckee

Nothing runs like a Deere! Kobota is great too, weight in the wheels makes a huge difference.

I agree weight in the wheels makes a huge difference my rear tires are loaded.

[TnAndy]

Originally Posted by DaleK

What's your budget like? New ones are mostly in the $1000-1200 per hp range.

Nah....about 1/2 that. I just bought a newYanmar 41hp 4x4 with loader/quick attach for 18k. Could have bought a New Holland for about the same money, but I like Yanmars.....real tough tractors.