Was ready to buy

freewookie · Sep 16, 2013

vtsnowedin said:
This is a pretty interesting thread. I have had similar bad experiences at car dealerships in my area, The local Chevy dealer only employs lying crack weasels for salesman as far as I can see. But when shopping for tractors I found none of that. Every salesroom of every brand was staffed with polite, attentive and for the most part knowledgeable people who had time to work with me. The tractors themselves made my decision for me and the dealer that knew how to hook up and deliver a third function loader without Goggling it got the nod over the other dealers of the same brand.
As to your choices I have to ask how much more would a 5045E be over the 5045D you have looked at? I can't imagine a 5045E with a 553 loader not being completely satisfactory for your needs and be worth almost as much when you are done with it as you paid for it.

Looking at the MSRP it's about a $6k difference between the D and E. Only difference I see is 2wd vs 4wd. I don't think I need 4wd so I think I may give the D another look.

vtsnowedin · Sep 16, 2013

freewookie said:
Looking at the MSRP it's about a $6k difference between the D and E. Only difference I see is 2wd vs 4wd. I don't think I need 4wd so I think I may give the D another look.

That is a huge difference to me but I work mine on timber covered hills and plow snow off ice covered roads with fifteen percent grades. On the other hand being in OK you have differnt requirements. The only time you might miss 4WD is digging into a pile with the loader. It's nice having the front tires help push the blade into a bucket full and to then back up out of a slippery pit.
Best of luck in your search, looking forward to the pics of your delivered final choice.

Guesseral · Sep 16, 2013

freewookie said:
Looking at the MSRP it's about a $6k difference between the D and E. Only difference I see is 2wd vs 4wd. I don't think I need 4wd so I think I may give the D another look.

Oh really. You never need 4wd till you need it. This isn't meant as a smart a** comment just opinion. I never thought I needed 4wd either till I had it now I don't know what I would do without it! In any event if you do go with a 2wd unit it should have R1's especially if you have a loader, like I said this is just an opinion.

aczlan · Sep 16, 2013

Guesseral said:
Oh really. You never need 4wd till you need it. This isn't meant as a smart a** comment just opinion. I never thought I needed 4wd either till I had it now I don't know what I would do without it! In any event if you do go with a 2wd unit it should have R1's especially if you have a loader, like I said this is just an opinion.

Yep. 4wd would also make it much easier to sell down the road if you need to do that.

Aaron Z

Bluegill2 · Sep 16, 2013

I'd go 2wd only if it was a heavy tractor and I was going to use it only for mowing.

FEL is not so great on a 2wd tractor. Yes, I've owned one and it was useful, but very limited!

4WD was by far the best thing to ever happen to the small tractor market...

k0ua · Sep 16, 2013

Bluegill2 said:
I'd go 2wd only if it was a heavy tractor and I was going to use it only for mowing.

FEL is not so great on a 2wd tractor. Yes, I've owned one and it was useful, but very limited!

4WD was by far the best thing to ever happen to the small tractor market...

I would agree with this, As my first tractor was a larger Utility tractor in 2wd with a loader. I would recommend you have loaded tires, good ballast on the rear, AG (R1) tires and stay on flat ground

Large 2WD tractors with loaders are useful, but sure as heck not as useful as the same tractor with 4WD. Pushing into the pile is never as good as with a 4WD tractor as you start to "unload" the rear tires with lifting the bucket, just at the exact time you need the traction of the rear tires the most. In other words the bigger/better "bite" you get, the worse off you are going to be. So bottom line, yep 2WD, doable, but you will kick your own rear every time you get stuck.

James K0UA

Dr_Zinj · Sep 16, 2013

John Deere dealers are like Harley Davidson dealers. And HD is short for, hundred dollars.
If you don't walk in waving a lot of green, the Green ain't gonna pay no attention to you.

freewookie · Sep 16, 2013

k0ua said:
I would agree with this, As my first tractor was a larger Utility tractor in 2wd with a loader. I would recommend you have loaded tires, good ballast on the rear, AG (R1) tires and stay on flat ground Large 2WD tractors with loaders are useful, but sure as heck not as useful as the same tractor with 4WD. Pushing into the pile is never as good as with a 4WD tractor as you start to "unload" the rear tires with lifting the bucket, just at the exact time you need the traction of the rear tires the most. In other words the bigger/better "bite" you get, the worse off you are going to be. So bottom line, yep 2WD, doable, but you will kick your own rear every time you get stuck.

James K0UA

I'm still undecided on how much I'd really use a bucket however I think I would use a grapple a lot. Which brings me to this question. Can a JD 303x run a grapple well? I'm a little worried about it's lift capacity.

k0ua · Sep 16, 2013

freewookie said:
I'm still undecided on how much I'd really use a bucket however I think I would use a grapple a lot. Which brings me to this question. Can a JD 303x run a grapple well? I'm a little worried about it's lift capacity.

I would be capable of doing useful work with a lightweight grapple, like the one I have the EA wicked single lid grapple or something small like that. But I am no fan of the 3032 or 3038 tractors. At the risk of making one of those owners angry, which is certainly not my goal. I feel there are much more full featured tractors with better specs available for the same or less money. These tractors are made to a price point to compete with other brands, but I feel too many things have been left off or substituted on these models. You Mileage May Vary (YMMV)

James K0UA

Kenneth in Texas · Sep 18, 2013

always get the 4x4, you will never regret it.

XSKIER · Sep 18, 2013

Dr_Zinj said:
John Deere dealers are like Harley Davidson dealers. And HD is short for, hundred dollars.
If you don't walk in waving a lot of green, the Green ain't gonna pay no attention to you.

Huh, and here I thought most people took advantage of the low to no rate manufacturer financing? Like walk in with no money, and mail a check a month later. I guess you could walk in with your credit score wrote on your forehead.

Gator6x4 · Sep 18, 2013

I must have a salesman magnet on me somewhere. I can't so much as just stop and look at something new or strange looking on a Tractor Dealers lot without having a smiley face looking at me almost as soon as I step out of the truck.

arlen4720 · Sep 18, 2013

Gator6x4 said:
I must have a salesman magnet on me somewhere. I can't so much as just stop and look at something new or strange looking on a Tractor Dealers lot without having a smiley face looking at me almost as soon as I step out of the truck.

Did you have manure on your boots? That "triggers" them like chumming for sharks

freewookie · Sep 19, 2013

Had to go get parts for my GT235 at the closet JD dealer. Sat on a 3032e again and I think I've talked myself out of the 303x. Just didn't feel right.

I think I'm zeroing in on a L series Kubota but going to swing by LS dealer tomorrow for due diligence.

GManBart · Sep 19, 2013

freewookie said:
Had to go get parts for my GT235 at the closet JD dealer. Sat on a 3032e again and I think I've talked myself out of the 303x. Just didn't feel right.

I think I'm zeroing in on a L series Kubota but going to swing by LS dealer tomorrow for due diligence.

Don't do that...if you decide to buy an LS, these guys will probably blame me, and the $10K you have left over will give you all sorts of problems...it's madness man, madness!

eagle107 · Sep 19, 2013

The LS tractors are decent machines, but if your going to look at a LS, you should not stop there. I would also look at the Kioti, Yanmar and Mahindra. What pushed me away from the LS tractors were the "new" New Holland boomers. I have always had New Hollands since the 80s but the LS made Boomer models just did not have the ergonomics that old Shibaura made Boomer models had. I just felt the LS' operator's platform was a little too cramped for my legs, however, you should try it out and see if you like it.

blitzen · Sep 19, 2013

Hey, GManBart, you mentioned earlier in this thread that there is another LS dealer in mich. wondering if you could give up their contact info. Thanks in advance.

Dave

GManBart · Sep 19, 2013

blitzen said:
Hey, GManBart, you mentioned earlier in this thread that there is another LS dealer in mich. wondering if you could give up their contact info. Thanks in advance.

Dave

The two closest to me are Aeschliman's Equipment (www.aeschliman.com) in Whitmore Lake, and the new place is Al's Implements in Newport, MI, Al's Implement. Co,. Inc.

GManBart · Sep 19, 2013

blitzen said:
Hey, GManBart, you mentioned earlier in this thread that there is another LS dealer in mich. wondering if you could give up their contact info. Thanks in advance.

Dave

The two closest to me are Aeschliman's Equipment (www.aeschliman.com) in Whitmore Lake, and the new place is Al's Implements in Newport, MI, Al's Implement. Co,. Inc.

k0ua · Sep 19, 2013

freewookie said:
Had to go get parts for my GT235 at the closet JD dealer. Sat on a 3032e again and I think I've talked myself out of the 303x. Just didn't feel right.

I think I'm zeroing in on a L series Kubota but going to swing by LS dealer tomorrow for due diligence.

Smart move, keep on looking..:thumbsup: