Newbie with buying decision.

[BobTex]

OK, just found the forum and hopefully I can get some useful opinions.

I have a 2005 Farm Trac which I bought 02/06 w/ a FEL. 2WD. no cab, base tractor. I traded an old 1977 Ford Industrial 335 that had a 4 way blade on the front and was a war horse I used in cleaning this raw wooded land. It was getting quite tired through 2005 and when we suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Rita she just wasn't up to the task so I traded her in on the Farm Trac. All my neighbors have longs of varying ages and this was a product of Long Agribusiness so I felt comfortable with my purchase and the price was very good.

Well, obviously I got a tractor that suffered quality control issues. I had several failures (hydraulic seal on the axle assembly and the 3 pt hitch lift). Plus numerous other issues (power steering leak(s), starter failure, poor wiring(breakage), etc. Well, I am getting out from under this poor buy on my part. I have a buyer that I'll get about 20% equity out of the tractor. I want to get in a new 4WD and I want to make an informed decision. (Presently cleaning up from Hurricane Ike too). Thanks for listening to the vent.


Local dealer just picked up New Holland(12 miles). I think I want a Kubota (40 miles to the 3 nearest dealers). Other possibilities are Kioti which I know of no owners but have heard scant good things about them. MF dealer is 50+ miles away but is possible. JD dealers at 40 and 50 miles away. These are my "local" new dealers.

My work is mostly bushhogging/mowing (10 of my acres and on the deer lease to keep roads open), working a 1.5 acre garden (initial ground breakup), working on cleaning up the woodlot(s) on the place, some grader work on the road/drive in which is about 900', and some dirt moving with the bucket for small projects. Probably 50-75 hours a year. Budgeteer says keep the price under $25K.

How about it ... I gotta have a strong dependable tractor in the 45-50 HP (engine) range with a strong loader. My only life experience has been with Fords and the Farm Trac (grew up with a Ford 4000/gas w/ Allison tranny).


Thanks in advance!

Bob

 

[woodlandfarms]

You will hear this a thousand times. It is not about the tractor as much as it is about the dealer... Do more research on them and less on your tractor..

You know these things break, and they will. Kubota, Deer, NH, MF, Kioti, TYM... all great brands... 45 to 50 HP is putting yourself into a tractor that will make a bunch of people envious around here. You might be one of the rare and get a lemon. Again it happens. It will be about the dealer at that point and not the tractor.

As for the tractor. Get each one for a day... Dealers will usually do this. Drive it around and get a feel for how each one is. I never liked Kubota because of the treadle (forward and reverse control). That was just me as they are brilliant tractors. For whatever reason I could never felt comfortable on a Montana (too close to the wheel). TYM felt really nice, Deer was exceptional. I bought a Power Trac which lack completely in ergonomics and comfort, but is strong and super duper stable...

Good luck with the purchase and take pix.....

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Bob, a question that may help others to help you with your decision. Do you need to purchase implements for your new tractor? If so, do they need to be included in the 25K? I'm sure others will have other questions, and the more info that you can give, the better the answers that we can give.

Welcome to Tractor By Net, and I hope that some of us will be able to help you spend some of your $$$$$.

 

[BobTex]

Bob, a question that may help others to help you with your decision. Do you need to purchase implements for your new tractor? If so, do they need to be included in the 25K? I'm sure others will have other questions, and the more info that you can give, the better the answers that we can give.

Welcome to Tractor By Net, and I hope that some of us will be able to help you spend some of your $$$$$.

Really don't need any implements ... I have all that I need now. I just want a good bang for the buck on a machine. I maybe got burned not really doing my homework previously. The Farm Trac broke inordinately for the type and amount of work it did.

Tractor and FE loader is all I want. I want to know good and bad points, weaknesses and strengths. I will feel the dealers out and investigate them and anyone I feel will not back me up won't get my business. I have multiple choices on all but NH and MF.

Thanks again for the responses.

 

[flusher]

OK, just found the forum and hopefully I can get some useful opinions.

I have a 2005 Farm Trac which I bought 02/06 w/ a FEL. 2WD. no cab, base tractor. I traded an old 1977 Ford Industrial 335 that had a 4 way blade on the front and was a war horse I used in cleaning this raw wooded land. It was getting quite tired through 2005 and when we suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Rita she just wasn't up to the task so I traded her in on the Farm Trac. All my neighbors have longs of varying ages and this was a product of Long Agribusiness so I felt comfortable with my purchase and the price was very good.

Well, obviously I got a tractor that suffered quality control issues. I had several failures (hydraulic seal on the axle assembly and the 3 pt hitch lift). Plus numerous other issues (power steering leak(s), starter failure, poor wiring(breakage), etc. Well, I am getting out from under this poor buy on my part. I have a buyer that I'll get about 20% equity out of the tractor. I want to get in a new 4WD and I want to make an informed decision. (Presently cleaning up from Hurricane Ike too). Thanks for listening to the vent.


Local dealer just picked up New Holland(12 miles). I think I want a Kubota (40 miles to the 3 nearest dealers). Other possibilities are Kioti which I know of no owners but have heard scant good things about them. MF dealer is 50+ miles away but is possible. JD dealers at 40 and 50 miles away. These are my "local" new dealers.

My work is mostly bushhogging/mowing (10 of my acres and on the deer lease to keep roads open), working a 1.5 acre garden (initial ground breakup), working on cleaning up the woodlot(s) on the place, some grader work on the road/drive in which is about 900', and some dirt moving with the bucket for small projects. Probably 50-75 hours a year. Budgeteer says keep the price under $25K.

How about it ... I gotta have a strong dependable tractor in the 45-50 HP (engine) range with a strong loader. My only life experience has been with Fords and the Farm Trac (grew up with a Ford 4000/gas w/ Allison tranny).


Thanks in advance!

Bob

My 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, partial constant mesh tranny, power steering) with the ML250 FEL (6-ft bucket, 2960 lb lift at the pivots) might be a fit to your requirements. It's a $17K tractor with the FEL.

If you prefer 4WD and full syncromeshed shuttle shift tranny, the Mahindra 5500 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto) with FEL would be right at your $25K limit.

Farm tractors for Ag Farmers, Hobby Farmers - Sub Compact, Compact & Full Size 2WD & 4WD Utility Tractors

There should be a Mahindra dealer in your neighborhood. Go to the Mahindra website and type in your zip code to find the nearest dealer.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Bob, the best that I can do for you is to tell you to be sure that you sit in as many different brands that you can. Look at everything from 40hp and up. Anything that has a cat 1, 3 point hitch. Some makes will give you more bang for your buck, but may not have the dealer support that you want. Usually Kubota, John Deere, New Holland, and Massey would be considered the major brands with bigger dealers, while Kioti, Mahindra, Montana,TYM and the others are usually thought to have smaller not as developed dealerships. Some of these guys will have standard things, like skid steer attach, rear remotes, draft control, etc, while the others will have these items as options, and will charge you accordingly for each and every one that you choose to have. Typically I think that you will find that the minor brands will have some if not all of the extras included, while the major brands charge for each and every one of them. Then again, as you move up the scale with more deluxe models with all the goodies, they will come std with more of the options than the more bare bones type of machine.

I, have been looking for another tractor in the 35-49hp range for a while now. Some of them just do not sit well for me, they are uncomfortable to me and I can't see myself on some of them for any amount of time and still feel comfortable when I was done for the day. Some of the controls seem to be in the oddest locations, or move in an unnatural motion for me.

Because all tractors are not the same, if I were you, I would find the tractor that suited me the best first, then find a dealer you could be satisfied with, that can get you that tractor. If you can't find what you want for the price that you can afford, then you may need to have a second choice. Best of luck to you and I'm sure that others will give you their opinions as well. Two more things, get a good comfortable seat, and most all of the tractors today are pretty good, reliable machines. Every one of them produces a lemon every once in awhile and that should not stop you from getting any of them.

These are just my opinions as I see things from where I am at.

 

[Soundguy]

Will you look at older tractors as well?

Where's you get a 4000 with an allison tranny?

soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Will you look at older tractors as well?

Where's you get a 4000 with an allison tranny?

soundguy

I've heard many people refer to the Ford SelectOspeed as an "Allison Tranny". I'd bet that's the case. Lots of 4000's built with 'em .

 

[BobTex]

Will you look at older tractors as well?

Where's you get a 4000 with an allison tranny?

soundguy

Sorry ... I had brain flatulence with a late evening post.

It was a Sherman tranny I think. We regularly used a Marvel tree cutter with it and never had any drive train issues. Pretty good tractor considering the work we did with it. It had a very strong FEL.

 

[greggh]

Welcome to TBN. With the budget you supplied and not needing any implements just about any dealer will have what you need. The question becomes do you want a basic tractor or one with bells and whistles? They will all do the job, but the bells and whistles add to the cost. Sit down and go over the tasks that will be a day to day chore and see if the tractor you prefer will accomplish those tasks. Then see if those once in a while tasks will be covered as well. If not then you can always jump up in size or hire out the once in a while tasks.

Good luck and keep us informed, also once the decision is made, show us the pictures. We like pictures as much as spending other peoples money.

 

[Soundguy]

Sorry ... I had brain flatulence with a late evening post.

It was a Sherman tranny I think. We regularly used a Marvel tree cutter with it and never had any drive train issues. Pretty good tractor considering the work we did with it. It had a very strong FEL.

Ok.. The allison part thru me for a loop. Was guessing you meant a pre or post tranny like an everett, hupp, sherman or other style As FWJ mentioned.. it could have been the infamous SOS tranny too... I hadn't thought about that one.

soundguy

 

[Gary Fowler]

You may want to take a look at the Mahindras. Your dont see much about them on these forums, but a couple of my friends bought them and really like them. The only complaint I heard from one was he wished he had bought larger with a cab. These hot summer days can be a pleasure to work a tractor with an AC and cab.

 

[RWolf]

As posted earlier check out your dealers. Pretty much any main brand tractor will be of good quality. I also agree that about 50HP is in the range you probably will be happiest with as it shouldn't break the bank. For me my JD dealer was the closest and has been very helpful. Good luck.

 

[IslandTractor]

45hp and 25K to spend should give you a fair number of choices. If I were in your shoes I'd go visit the dealers of just about every decent brand and incorporate that dealer's reputation and how they were set up as a major part of my decision. The JD, NH and Kubota options will probably be pricier than the others but those brands tend to have the most established dealerships. Don't forget that if you are willing to turn a wrench yourself for basic maintenance that this era of UPS/FedEx and internet support allows one to have a remote dealer. My Kioti dealer is 300 miles away and I'm very happy with the support (amazing what a good dealer/mechanic can diagnose while you are talking to them by cell phone as you follow their directions).

 

[Bob_Young]

With the luck you had with Farmtrac, the last thing you need is to buy another problem. I think your best bet at this point is to stick with JD, Kubota, or NH. Another flyer on a "less well known" brand that develops problems could get your purchasing pass pulled by the budgeteer for a long time. But going Big Three for the price you mentioned shouldn't be hard.

If you can live with gear, you could go either JD5103 or Kubota MX5100 with FWD and FEL for the price mentioned; maybe even a JD5203 for a few dollars more (might be JD5104/5204 by now). Both are utility tractors, rather than CUTs, and probably better able to take a beating. The Deeres would be heavier and arguably a bit tougher; but the lighter Kubota might just be more trouble free in the long run. If you expect to trailer, the Kubota's light weight would be a plus and maybe easier on fuel. If you're scrabbling across hillsides pulling heavy implements, you'll need the weight of the Deeres. All would give you class I/II 3PH capability, which is nice.

For HST, you could look at the Kubota L4400HST, though it's a CUT and might be a little too light. Kubota's heavier & stronger HST CUTs are all Grand Ls and would probably break the budget. Dunno what the others offer with HST.

As to how it feels when you sit on it; I wouldn't make that the deciding factor. Unless it's something really weird, you'll get used to it over time.
FWIW
Bob

 

[SESS]

BobTex: Which model Farmtrac did you buy in 2006?

 

[pitt_md]

I think you have lots of good advice so far. One thing I wanted to add was that it seems like 45 - 50hp for 10 acres of brushhogging/mowing plowing roads is a little over kill. You might want to consider a tad smaller say 30 - 40 hp and add a cab with AC/heat, cupholders, HST, etc. Also a grapple is a heck of a useful tool.

MY slice of land is 30 acres and I have the Kubota MX5000 (50hp). Its a plane Jane work horse. A cab would be real nice when it's 30 below and I have to plow the road so we can get out to the main road....

 

[BobTex]

Bob Young ... thanks for the thoughtful response. I went back to my NH dealer today for a walk thru of their inventory. As I have to work the weekend it will be next week before I can see the Kubotas.

SESS ... My Farmtrac is a 555.

pitt-md ... thanks for your input. As I'm in SE Texas the cab would be nice in June, July, Aug, and Sept.. Winter is not an issue here. But because of my trees (low limbs) and brush I'm afraid the cab won't work. I'd rather trade the cost of the cab for more tractor. I regularly also have to move timber, sometimes large logs, and I admit I omitted that in my worklist/needs. Weight and HP will help. I don't want to end up not having enough tractor. I have borrowed a neighbor's 30hp Kubota and while really nice, I considered it not enough for some of my tasks.


Thanks for everyones' input. I'll keep y'all updated on my quest.