Buying Advice Cabela's Tractor Help PLEASE

[2ndhalf]

After having read all the posts from beginning to this point, I'm struck by a couple of things:

1. The OP states in the 1st post that he is a complete newbie to tractors and then is looking at a 55 hp tractor . . . . Yet the balance of the posts are about warranty and resale price. "Complete newbie" . . . And 55 hp . . . "Having a bunch of dirt work" requires 55 hp????

2. Many mentions of j.d. and kubota tractors . . . Even a few on kioti and mahindra . . . but not a single mention of Massey Ferguson or Yanmar ????

2

Probably due to the fact that the OP stated he liked Kubota and Deere for parts and service but was also considering the TYM. I think the thread also got derailed a bit though. I agree with you if in fact there are dealers for the other tractors nearby I think he should certainly consider all of the above since they are also great tractors.

When I say nearby I mean within 45 minutes to an hour (Nearest MF dealer is about an hour away from me). I feel like if you buy a quality tractor the likelihood of needing the dealer is slim. I would drive an hour on the rare occasion.

 

[Jim Timber]

1. The OP states in the 1st post that he is a complete newbie to tractors and then is looking at a 55 hp tractor . . . . Yet the balance of the posts are about warranty and resale price. "Complete newbie" . . . And 55 hp . . . "Having a bunch of dirt work" requires 55 hp????

Why would getting 55hp be in question?

I'm a first tractor owner, and I went with 65hp. I use my tractor to move dirt, run a stump grinder, root grapple, skidding winch, and will be adding a tiller at some point in the future.

Was I suppose to buy a smaller machine that wouldn't do my work first to then outgrow within the first 3 hours of use and regret, then trade up losing a couple thousand dollars to get into something capable of serving my needs?

As a new owner who did a ton of research before buying a full size utility tractor, my advice is buy enough machine from day 1!

Here's what that day looked like: 10 yards of stone at a time...

 

[Handloader109]

Can't comment on the Ops really use, but unless he trucks in a bunch of rock, he won't have any. Now that area does have some clay, so if you are digging any, you need a bit more than my 25hp
I did move my load of 16yds of dirt in about 3hours of machine time. And half of that was without rear weights making it small loads. (first time with fel still learning). After adding about 300pounds of cobbled together weights, I did not lift rear at all. Now to make it a permanent weight and easy to add/remove.

Back on topic, I've given him my biased perspective. And would say if anyone is interested in new tractor, they won't do any better. Especially if they are looking at anything other than orange. Any of the smaller brands can be eliminated at some point in time.

 

[JMER817]

+2 and 3 While out looking at new tractors with a friend this week ( he is looking at new cabbed tractors) I decided to price a couple myself and get some possible pricing and that means with and without the trade in of My 2 year old Kioti. What I find funny is that many people advised me that It would be a loss going with it if I wanted to trade it in or resell it a couple years because resale value would suck compared to JD or Kubota. Problem is THEY WERE VERY WRONG! I have now been offered by 3 different dealerships very similar amounts and all 3 offers have been better than any trade offer I ever had for any of my JD of Kubota tractors. The only time I can say I did better was when I traded my old New Holland and got more than I paid for it but that was more so due to the compact tractor market taking off and prices going up across the board for anything.

Is yours the pre tier IV? That could explain the higher offer.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Why would getting 55hp be in question?

I'm a first tractor owner, and I went with 65hp. I use my tractor to move dirt, run a stump grinder, root grapple, skidding winch, and will be adding a tiller at some point in the future.

Was I suppose to buy a smaller machine that wouldn't do my work first to then outgrow within the first 3 hours of use and regret, then trade up losing a couple thousand dollars to get into something capable of serving my needs?

As a new owner who did a ton of research before buying a full size utility tractor, my advice is buy enough machine from day 1!

I agree 100%... LOT'S of folks on this site are trading up, but not many are trading down...

I believe in buying the RIGHT tool in the first place and then KEEP it because it's doing the tough jobs long term...

SR

 

[Jim Timber]

I did move my load of 16yds of dirt in about 3hours of machine time.

Good lord, that's slow! I did 25 yards in 2 hours which included moving it 200' per 3/4 yard bucket full. The point is that each of us has different needs and acceptable work capacity. That I can't tow my tractor with anything short of a 3/4T truck is a deal breaker for some folks.

Is yours the pre tier IV? That could explain the higher offer.

I looked at the tier 2 (they went from 2 to 4) 5 series like mine on Tractor House the other day and they're listing for $5K more than I paid for mine with twice the hours on them than I have. If they're getting it? I can't say. But I can say they're asking for what a new one with similar options sells for off the order list.

 

[s219]

Really, it should come down to the size of implements you need to run and the amount of lift capacity needed on the front loader and/or 3-pt. I moved/spread many 16-ton truckloads of rock, dirt, and gravel with my previous smaller tractor and my current slightly larger tractor, and they performed about the same. Until you get into serious dirt work or excavation, size isn't a big factor other than time/speed. The bigger tractor can do it with fewer buckets, but the small tractor was equally capable at knocking down a pile.

 

[2ndhalf]

+2 and 3

While out looking at new tractors with a friend this week ( he is looking at new cabbed tractors) I decided to price a couple myself and get some possible pricing and that means with and without the trade in of My 2 year old Kioti. What I find funny is that many people advised me that It would be a loss going with it if I wanted to trade it in or resell it a couple years because resale value would suck compared to JD or Kubota. Problem is THEY WERE VERY WRONG! I have now been offered by 3 different dealerships very similar amounts and all 3 offers have been better than any trade offer I ever had for any of my JD of Kubota tractors. The only time I can say I did better was when I traded my old New Holland and got more than I paid for it but that was more so due to the compact tractor market taking off and prices going up across the board for anything.

Yeh, but your talking about a Kioti. The Kioti has been popular in the tractor circle for a long time and are starting to get a lot of brand recognition and dealerships. I could see them retaining their resale very well. Those dealers that are offering you a lot for your Kioti know that there are a lot of tractor guys out there who know about the Kioti.

I would like to hear from a TYM guy who has traded recently... did you get a good price for your trade? I will then gladly state that I was wrong... not problem at all doing that.

 

[k0ua]

Was I suppose to buy a smaller machine that wouldn't do my work first to then outgrow within the first 3 hours of use and regret, then trade up losing a couple thousand dollars to get into something capable of serving my needs?

Yes! you are supposed to buy a too small tractor first like most of us! While there is such a thing as too large of a tractor that won't fit where we need to go, most of us really appreciate your 2nd or 3rd tractor that is usually larger than our first tractors.

 

[Jim Timber]

Yes! you are supposed to buy a too small tractor first like most of us! While there is such a thing as too large of a tractor that won't fit where we need to go, most of us really appreciate your 2nd or 3rd tractor that is usually larger than our first tractors.

My second tractor will probably be smaller than your first one. If the stump grinding thing works out, I'll get a SCUT that can fit in a backyard to run another grinder. Or maybe I'll just build a self-propelled grinder next.

 

[jibe717]

Honestly picking the right size tractor can be a balancing act. I started out with my WD 45 AC. I bought it to maintain my driveway summer and winter and it brought back child hood memories. But when my needs changed I had little use for it. It's now borrowed out to someone who has no tractor. Then in Dec of 11 I bought my Kubota L3800. For 3 years I had no need of any other size tractor. At that time I pretty much had what I needed. But I wouldn't have wanted a smaller one. But once again in the last year and a half with the buying of 40 acres and renting of 25-30 more my needs changed. So bye bye Kubota and hello MF 4610 and 2615. But with nothing staying the same this year and into the future I will be needing a small tractor to mow with so in comes the 1726E. In this case the Kubota would have been too big for the mowing that I will be doing and too small for the other work. In most cases I am a prime proponent of buying a size bigger than you are looking at or thinking you will need. I know myself when I bought my L3800 had I bought a b2620 for instance I would have had a lot of regret. When I bought my new 1726E I was very interested in the GC1705, mostly it was to save 3k. But in the end I wanted that step up in size for weight and power and my situation should have no problem in allowing me that extra 4" that the bigger tractor takes up.

This is my story and I'm sticking to it though it probably does little to help the OP

 

[Jim Timber]

Honestly picking the right size tractor can be a balancing act.

This is my story and I'm sticking to it though it probably does little to help the OP

There's a lot of truth in this.

I'd love a backhoe, but how much would I really use it? For the cost of buying one, I can get a lot of rental hours of a mini-ex and no maintenance expenses.

Buy for the 90% of your tasks, rent for the other 10%.

 

[paulfun9]

Is yours the pre tier IV? That could explain the higher offer.

If that's the explanation then explain (+3) for me as that was added for my friend who has been down right insulted 4 times now with the offers they made him on his JD trade in.

 

[AxleHub]

Why would getting 55hp be in question?

I'm a first tractor owner, and I went with 65hp. I use my tractor to move dirt, run a stump grinder, root grapple, skidding winch, and will be adding a tiller at some point in the future.

Was I suppose to buy a smaller machine that wouldn't do my work first to then outgrow within the first 3 hours of use and regret, then trade up losing a couple thousand dollars to get into something capable of serving my needs?

As a new owner who did a ton of research before buying a full size utility tractor, my advice is buy enough machine from day 1!

Jim,

My point was that the OP was a self proclaimed "a total newbie " and that implies a lack of experience in what a 35 hp or 45 hp or 55 hp can do differently. It also does not show in his post if he's done little or lots or research (much less experience). And finally his description of tasks needed to be done was very vague in amount of work and timeframe to accomplish it. Yet posters weren't even attempting to question "why a 55 hp". I think that is odd because posters giving opinions on brands and not size doesn't seem logical.

Quite honestly . . Your post about choosing a 65 hp tractor as your 1st tractor seems to support my point . . Not weaken it. Your description of uses and purposes indicates size and indicates ongoing need . . . not upfront need. Even more importantly . . you indicate you did lots of research prior.

My point is not negative about the op . . my point is . . a whole series of posters just "assumed" that a 55 hp selection by a total newbie was reasonable and justified without knowing anything about that decision.

If some thread OP asked the exact same question in the same way as a total newbie on a Cabelas LM35 . . . wouldn't you imagine posters would have questioned need and purpose for that size . . . not just have assumed it was the right size? In addition, different brands have advantages in certain sizes . . Yet no one asked if the OP had actually tested any of them. For all we know the LM55 was chosen because it was the biggest discount, or the only tractor left at that Cabelas, or what an inexperienced salesman gave as an example to consider or commission to be made.

Again . . I'm not talking about the OP . . . I'm talking about the responding posters who are experienced yet didn't seem to do any fact gathering. In your specific case . . . you seemed to assume the OP did the same things you did before buying . . . and I don't see that shown, stated, or questioned.

I just think its hard to offer opinions without knowing anything about the questioner except they are a self proclaimed total newbie.

How manybtimes on TBN don't we see newbies start a thread talking about price or size . . and end up after the thread is finishing with interest in a different size (larger OR smaller) and a titally different brand or pruce range? It happens alot . . because posters fact gather a little and can give better opinions and viewpoints which broadens the newbie OP's perspective or knowledge in many cases.

 

[Jim Timber]

When I was lusting (years before being able to purchase), I looked at the offerings everyone had. I went to the dealers of the big 4 in my area. I never could rouse a NH salesman to talk to me, and when I went to the State Fair and ran into the Kubota salesman I'd spoken to at his shop he couldn't be bothered to look away from his phone and chat again. If you'll only give me the time of day when I say I want to look at $65K CTL's, then you blow me off when I want to develop a relationship, you sir can pucker up and smooch my white butt! Besides, I wasn't impressed with the offerings Kubota had in the larger than CUT line and their price was well over what buying the "expensive green paint" cost me in the end.

AGCO's MF was a strong contender up until the end when I just liked the JD better. JD's local dealer even ticked me off when I was in the final stages of getting a machine from them, but I still went with green because as had been determined well in advance - I have LOTS of dealers to choose from. I don't have to go back to the place that didn't respect my business. Actually, their salesman was inept and tried getting the wrong loader for the tractor I was buying, and it ended up pushing me to get a different one with better included accessories from out of state. He did me a favor but I'm not ready to tell him that yet. Their inept service manager who lied to me has since moved on to another business, so that's not an issue going forward.

The Kioti dealer closest to me has since proven to be inept as well. They attempted to charge me double on a power beyond valve plug for a Walvoil hydraulic valve I got from Surplus Center only to find out I couldn't get the right plug through the local Walvoil dealer (wouldn't return my call on a $28 sale). I found out Kioti uses the same valve in their machines and told the dealer to order one in on their next order - that I didn't need it for a couple months, NO RUSH, and I wasn't going to pay for additional shipping. Gave them my CC# and told them to call me when it was in and I'd grab it when I was in the area. After three weeks, they still hadn't gotten enough need to fill the minimum order, ended up ordering my part, then charged my CC another $30 over what I'd agreed to pay, and didn't disclose that to me prior to running the charge. They didn't even tell me on the phone when leaving a message that it had come in. I found out by looking at my bank account and seeing that my $28 part was now $63! So I called them up and told them I wasn't coming in to get it, and that I wasn't buying it from them at all! They proceeded to charge me a $15 restocking fee, and I in turn initiated a chargeback through my bank to reverse it; which I won! They lost a customer over a $28 part.

So this is part of what I'm coming from when I try to explain my decision process. I like contingency plans, and I like options. It's like in computer data: 2 is 1 and 1 is 0. If your data only exists in one place, it doesn't exist. When that drive fails it's gone!

 

[paulfun9]

Now I cant and wont speak about other areas but around here I would most likely have to travel farther to get away from the business owner who controls all the JD dealerships than I would to find a different dealer for any of the off brands so if I was to purchase any brand and not like the dealership for some reason after the sale my travel time and distance would be the same. You see if the business doesn't treat me right I don't go to the next town and support you at your other location because when push comes to shove your policy will treat me wrong there too!

 

[Jim Timber]

We have 2 kioti dealers in the State. The other one is a lot farther than the next different owner JD dealer. If money had been different in 2012, I would probably have a Bobcat colored doggie instead of the deere I've got.

I was also interested in the bigger Cub Cadet Yanmar's until they parted ways. That dealer was closer than anyone to my property, and as of last year he retired, closed shop, and sold all the contents to another outfit who now sells Mahindra's. They're not a real service shop though. I'd be fine going there for a lawn mower carb kit, but ordering anything they don't stock is anything but a pleasant experience. Might as well just buy it online and have it mailed.

 

[katetx]

Hi, OP here. I meant to give an update but got sidetracked. I had said that we were not going to do the Cabela's but my husband said that at the end of the day it was worth the risk. We got an incredible deal on a 55 HP with Cab. We also got quite a few implements (around 6) and a trailer.Out the door we were at $38,000. We were looking at a 4 series Deere and kubota (and L Series). At the end of the day we probobly saved around $13K. Cabelas has been wonderful to deal with. I do have to say that the local Deere dealer was very very helpful as well. I will say that their Woods implements were flying out the door. I am also getting the beet juice (sorry don't know correct name) put into the rear tires for added weight.
I thank everyone for their imput and the fact that you took the time to give me your .02. I am very grateful and thank you again!

P.S. Local TYM dealer could not beat the Cabela's price. All in all not really a fair thing to compare as price was due to deep discounts to get rid of inventory.

 

[Jim Timber]

Out the door we were at $38,000.

:thumbsup: What implements did you get with that?

 

[Handloader109]

Yes, what? And decent discounts on them too I hope? Got to go one more time and see what I can get a tiller for...... That is if there is one left.