I know this will turn into a Chevy vs Ford type of debate.
I am looking for a compact tractor in the 25-30 HP range, 4wd. Things to get now are a loader and a mower (I am leaning towards a belly mower). Future implements to be added would be an auger and maybe a box blade. Ability to run a wood splitter would be an added bonus. I know the dealership plays a big part in the decision process. I am not a brand loyalty kind of guy
What brand does everyone use, and what features do you like about it?
I have looked at
John Deere (I love the drive on mower deck, and it clicks in place). I believe only Deere Parts work on a Deere, but unsure
Kubota
Kioti
Mahindra (this one is a little harder to find in SW MO)
Massey Ferguson
New Holland (probably rule this one out) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Comanche:
The same could be said for all major brands. JD certainly isn't made as strong/reliable as in the past. Do you even own a New Holland?
I don't own either a Case or NH. But my position wasn't that I did, only that they are a long way away from the ford tractors that their grandpas had or whatever.
And my point was also partially that all the major brands have similar type problems. If there was far and away a better brand, it wouldn't take long for dudes to switch in giant numbers. There is way too much money on the table to mess around with an inferior product.
And I have to take a little issue with them not being as reliable. On the whole, you're right. But it's mostly electrical and CANBUS problems. In terms of engine/transmission/drivetrain they're better machines than the 80s/90s ones we had when I was a kid. These motors will run solid for 10,000 hours (with exceptions for lemons of course - but those existed then too) which the old ones wouldn't do without an overhaul.
I mean, I feel you, and I bitch about Deere more than anyone here. I promise, but to say they are an inferior quality, especially mechanically, is just not being objective.
But yeah, your main point is sound. Dad has an old 7100 planter that we plant like 200 feet of sweet corn a year with and I can get it hooked up and ready to roll in an Hour. The planter we use the most has a damned PTO generator, a mountain of hydraulic outlets and we have to spend longer than that flushing air from the system. Downtime is more because it has a million sensors for seeding rate, real time active hydraulic downpressure, seed spacing, variable vacuum, CCS fans and probably a bunch of other crap I probably don't even know about to manage.
But man, this new planter will do so much more than the old 8 row. LOL.
So yeah, they're down more, but they're also trying to do much more than mechanical everything. With that comes complication, with that comes more things to fail. But it's not like they're even remotely the same kind of products to compare. [Reply]
Have you considered a used one? If you're not going to farm on a large scale and just looking for something to do projects with, why pay for a new one? Most dealers will have some used stock. [Reply]
Ranking after shopping this weekend. I know I can eliminate sub compacts. They look like toys and easy to tip. Limited implement uses. Staying in the compact range
JD 3025. Unbelievable how JD pricing blows everyone away. Service was very good. They will give me a loaner to try if I want. Warranty is longer than other guys. I am guessing they make their money back on service agreements
MF 1734e. They are phasing out the 1725e which is the size I wanted. Very good sale as and service. Free delivery same as JD. This has a mower deck available unlike JD. Going to shoot me a number tomorrow
NH workhorse 25. Had everything I wanted just a much higher price tag than the others
Kioti. Just a drop off from NH but not bad
Kubota. Salesman didn’t want to talk even though I made an appointment. Just gave me catalogs to look at. They charge $3.50 per loaded mile to deliver and service. Not impressed but the tractor got high ratings
Mihandra. Not one salesman had a good thing to say about them. Most said they lose up to 50% value once you buy
Off brand. May be cheap but can’t find parts to fix them [Reply]
Originally Posted by Renegade:
I know this will turn into a Chevy vs Ford type of debate.
I am looking for a compact tractor in the 25-30 HP range, 4wd. Things to get now are a loader and a mower (I am leaning towards a belly mower). Future implements to be added would be an auger and maybe a box blade. Ability to run a wood splitter would be an added bonus. I know the dealership plays a big part in the decision process. I am not a brand loyalty kind of guy
What brand does everyone use, and what features do you like about it?
I have looked at
John Deere (I love the drive on mower deck, and it clicks in place). I believe only Deere Parts work on a Deere, but unsure
Kubota
Kioti
Mahindra (this one is a little harder to find in SW MO)
Massey Ferguson
New Holland (probably rule this one out)
WHICH EVER ONE HAS THE BEST WARRANTY--BUY THIS ONE.
Originally Posted by Renegade:
Ranking after shopping this weekend. I know I can eliminate sub compacts. They look like toys and easy to tip. Limited implement uses. Staying in the compact range
JD 3025. Unbelievable how JD pricing blows everyone away. Service was very good. They will give me a loaner to try if I want. Warranty is longer than other guys. I am guessing they make their money back on service agreements
MF 1734e. They are phasing out the 1725e which is the size I wanted. Very good sale as and service. Free delivery same as JD. This has a mower deck available unlike JD. Going to shoot me a number tomorrow
NH workhorse 25. Had everything I wanted just a much higher price tag than the others
Kioti. Just a drop off from NH but not bad
Kubota. Salesman didn’t want to talk even though I made an appointment. Just gave me catalogs to look at. They charge $3.50 per loaded mile to deliver and service. Not impressed but the tractor got high ratings
Mihandra. Not one salesman had a good thing to say about them. Most said they lose up to 50% value once you buy
Off brand. May be cheap but can’t find parts to fix them
This seems surprising to me. Mahindra is like the number one selling tractor worldwide.
I'll re-state what I mentioned earlier. Mahindras don't have Diesel Particulate Filters to worry about and if i'm not mistaken the other brands do. DPF filters are costly to replace down the road when they wear out plus the annoyances you have to deal with DPFs. Having to keep the tractor outside when it goes through its cycle because of the high heat it produces. I just park mine in the barn and forget about it. [Reply]
Just pulled the trigger on the MF GC 1715. I wasn't wanting a subcompact, but that was what I kept coming back to. I had it down to the MF and JD. The dealership (and no sales tax) is what made me pull the trigger. The compact was bigger than I needed for the space that I have. I also wanted the mower deck, as I didn't want another piece of machinery. So if it takes me longer to mow, so be it. More time on a tractor can't be that bad.
I got the loader with quick attach, 60" mower deck, and box blade for a shade under
$16K with only 3 hours on the tractor.