25 HP, TYM/Cabela vs Branson

[barko1]

Edit, I added a Kioti CK2510 to the list of possibilities. Brand new to tractoring so have been lurking and researching but still with much ignorance but I do know I need some muscle to get work do on my 10+ acres. What I imagine I will be doing is maintaining my 1/3 mile driveway that has some hills, infrequent cutting of grass/weeds that covers a couple acres, helping me haul wood from the few trees I will cut back to the barn for splitting and burning, and general miscellaneous work/a bit of trail mowing.

So far what I have computed that I need is something around 25 HP with a loaded and a rotary cutter and scrape box. I realize I can add attachments anytime so my focus is on buying the tractor with a loader. I would like to find a nice clean used one but haven't seen much and of course new has its advantages. Looked at several dealers and have figures out that subcompacts with the smaller wheels and ground clearance probably won't work for me. I have to get the machine in and out of the small fields and may need to get through a ditch or over a lip to get there plus I think some of what I will need to mow (property is new to me) is a bit rough under what is growing there now and the trails have roots and bumps. So seems like Kubota BX machine with around 7" of clearance wouldn't do. I have looked at the Cabelas 25 hp which has 9.5" of clearance and that is better but the similarly priced Branson 25H has 13" of clearance. The Branson also weighs a couple hundred #s more.

So tell me about ground clearance, how big an issue, and weight, is more better? I also looked at the 30+ hp models, quite a bit more $$ of course and close to a foot wider so getting into tight spots would be more of a challenge. Of course I don't want to get more tractor than my limited use will demand but I don't want to come up way short. I'm just too old to be doing some of this work with my limited muscle power alone so help me buy a tractor!

 

[antlers125]

None of the above. Take a look a LS XJ2025. LS makes tractors for New Holland boomer series. Started selling under their own name in 2009. The 2025 has capabilities close to the 30hp category compared to the competition but, in a smaller frame. Also has a lot more features at significantly cheaper.

 

[joeyd]

TYM makes a fine tractor and the make tractors for many other makers too. I would go as heavy as you can afford taking the size of the tractor into consideration if the width is going to be an issue. Dealer access and support is also a big consideration, you will have to visit them and get a feel for that. There is a TYM section in this forum and many comments on the size range you are looking at. Read up on them and you can always post your questions there. Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[barko1]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I did look at the LS today and the price was higher and I wasn't real impressed with the dealer. The Kioti is the heaviest and has the highest capacity hydraulics. Appreciate any feedback.

 

[varmint]

With the give-a-way deals we're reading about here for Cabela's tractors, I am surprised one of their smaller machines isn't high on your list? Too low? Whatever, you likely will want filled rears, R-4 tires, and hopefully a SSQA loader bucket. A BX would be too small, I'd think, but a used Kubota L2800 or L3400 should be a perfect tool. Have you contacted Barlow's in KY? I know they have a fine reputation, and delivery to GA should be simple. Kioti's get good press here, as well.

 

[barko1]

I've been talking with and looking at Cabelas and price wise they are just a bit less but the axle clearance is about 5" less and the service department is quite a bit further away. I've been listening to some comments on the forum about selecting the dealer as much as the brand and so far Kioti is doing well on that account, Cabela less, Branson not sure I trust them. The 1st thing I looked at was a BX and the salesperson seemed to want to sell me that but the more I've researched it the more I realize that a BX wouldn't do, too low and light. The L looks good but I can buy a new 25 hp for they cost of a 10 year old L. I wish there was a nice one nearby, I'll look at the place in KY. Thanks

 

[Texasmark]

"25 HP, TYM/Cabela vs Branson?"

I just commented on this a few days ago. I went to one of 4 Branson dealers about a month ago to buy a Branson 2400 (24hp). When I got there and started looking around I realized that I was standing behind a 2400 Branson with FEL and BH and a TYM adjacent to it (dealer sold both), in the same hp range...I forget the model #. I got on the Branson and had started it up when the salesman came up to me. I told him I wanted one of these without the BH. He said that it was sold and was the only one he had and more would arrive in a couple of days. I said ok and decided to go and get on the TYM and check it out. It took all of 2 minutes for me to tell him forget the TYM. Call me when the Branson arrives.

You get a lot of flappers on here flapping about something they know not about nor own. Branson gets a lot of whacks. Be of your own mind. Test them for yourself. Just because somebody raves or poo poos something doesn't mean that the person is correct in his assessment as far as you are concerned. Different folks have different situations and have different reasons for their reply......just like me.

So for me, my money is where my mouth is. I bought my 6530C new in Sept. of 2007. That spring I shopped all the colors in the N. Dallas area and didn't find what I wanted so I quit looking. By accident I passed a Branson dealer one day and as a result I bought. Last month I wanted a small tractor for odd jobs around the place and the first place I went to look was Branson and I bought. So apparently I am happy with the badge and I am an owner/operator. So you can put my comments on the other side of the scale from the boo birds.

Good hunting,
Mark

 

[airbiscuit]

I think a 25hp small frame CUT would work for you, but a 30hp medium frame would work even better. More weight and taller tires make a very big difference in traction. That said, it's easier to spend other people's money, and you would still have a big smile using a 25hp small frame CUT. Of everything discussed above, I like the Kioti option the best. They seem to give the most bang for the buck, and are likely to still be around in 10 years.

I think a sub-compact would just be too small, and you would be disappointed. On the other hand, even they can get a lot of work done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzD4XQAPECs

 

[Sawyer Rob]

"25 HP, TYM/Cabela vs Branson?"

You get a lot of flappers on here flapping about something they know not about nor own.

Mark

So, are you saying the Branson owners on here with all the broken spindles and the owners with broken bell housings are all liars?? Must be a conspiracy!

SR

 

[oldpilgrim]

Check out the Mahindras max28 or the 1526. The 1526 is more of a compact tractor, wider, higher and with larger tires.

 

[747driver]

I bought a used 2012 Kioti CK27 HST last year with only 195 hrs. Since we live in a national forest size mattered. Needed something to get in and around all the trees and tight areas around the home and barn. Kioti makes a very good tractor as you have researched in terms of weight and hyd. capacity. Just remember to buy as much tractor as you can as it will never be enough ! Weight is a big factor when wanting to put a box blade on. If you are looking at hydro transmissions then to also remember that you lose hp at the pto shaft from what the engine is rated at. My 28 hp engine goes down to 24 hp at the pto shaft. Good luck in your search !

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I bought a used 2012 Kioti CK27 HST last year with only 195 hrs. . My 28 hp engine goes down to 24 hp at the pto shaft. Good luck in your search !

I think the hystat model goes down to just over 20 at the pto...

That's about a normal amount of loss for a hystat...

SR

 

[Handloader109]

The 25hp Tym/cabelas is a small tractor. Bigger than the small Kubota, can't tell you about comparison to the Branson as I haven't been on one. There is plenty of clearance from my point of view under the tym. But add the rails for a belly mower and it gets low. So don't do that. The cabelas fel is quite a bit better than the tym, woods makes a much better loader..... I'd look for the 35hp cabelas if you can find one. About $19k plus tax and any delivery with fel maybe less now.. Some in South Louisiana store maybe the north AL store.... Good luck

 

[pete-mi]

You could also look at the TYM T234 model as this tractor is very close to what the T293 was. The T234 is a little larger in size than what the T254 is plus it has the skid loader type quick attach bucket. I really like that as I change from the bucket to pallet forks several times through out the year.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings Barko1,

Brands and models in those brands are a-plenty . . .just like different opinions. But there are a couple things to recognize about all the brands:

1. Do you have significant sidehills or steeper slopes? If you do . . A taller ground clearance but narrow width will be less stable.

2. If you'll be using your tractor to cut lawn areas . . Turf tires and less weight are your friend.


You might want to look at Yanmar (an ex3200 or 424) to consider. Also Massey offers a 1700 series line of cut units that includes a regular grouping and also an economy series (like a 1726e or others). I personally have the Massey GC series (gc1715) and I like it better than the Cabelas lm25 I looked at . . And I work on lawns and hills and steep slopes and pasture type rougher land.

 

[barko1]

i went ahead and joined the world of tractors. My Kioti 2510 will be here by the end of the week. Getting a tooth bar for the FEL, tires are being loaded, and I'm still shopping for a box scrape, a rake and a rotary mower. Will try to get those through a farm auction or Craigslist. What sold me on the Kioti was ground clearance, good overall specs and weight, and a dealer who appears good to work with and not BS spewing as a few of the others were. I was told TYM was going out of business, that LS has nothing to do with New Holland, that this brand and the other are junk made from Chinese parts. Be nice if they could sell on the basis of what they have and not what is wrong with the others. I know there have to be some good used machines out there but all in all, given what I need, prices new and used, and my being a tractor virgin this seemed to be a good way to go. I won't put tons of hours on it so it should be in the family a long time. Hey 747driver I'm not all that far from you in N. GA

 

[joeyd]

Congratulations on your new purchase! The important thing is you are happy with your dealer that makes a big difference. You must post pictures when you take delivery!

 

[oldpilgrim]

that this brand and the other are junk made from Chinese parts.

that's what the JD dealer told me too.

Congrats, you'll be very happy with your purchase.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

that's what the JD dealer told me too.

Congrats, you'll be very happy with your purchase.

What's humorous about that is, LOT'S of deere stuff IS made in china! lol

SR

 

[pete-mi]

i went ahead and joined the world of tractors. My Kioti 2510 will be here by the end of the week. I was told TYM was going out of business, that LS has nothing to do with New Holland, that this brand and the other are junk made from Chinese parts. Be nice if they could sell on the basis of what they have and not what is wrong with the others.

It looks like your Kioti man gave you a big line of B.S. To start with LS does make some tractors for New Holland. Models like the Boomer 30,35,40, and 50. Plus more models. You can check it out by going to a New Holland dealer and looking at the serial number tag on the tractor. The tags are required to list the manufacturer and the country or origin. LS is a supplier to New Holland and Case-IH just like Kioti was to Bobcat a few years ago.
Then TYM is not going out of business today or anytime soon. They are much bigger than what most people know and the tractor part is only one division. Here is a link to the companies main website ???? . With all their divisions I would guess them to be a larger company than what Kioti is. I was told several years ago that Kioti got their start making parts and components for Kubota and that was from a Kioti dealer. Cabelas is quitting getting tractors from TYM and what I have heard the most was because they were not selling tractors as fast as they thought they might have. Cabelas likes to have the better products and they chose the TYM's. I would not have purchased my 2nd TYM tractor is I had any doubts.
As for any brand that could be seeing changes is Branson as their parent company is for sale. No news on a new buyer so its business as usual. I doubt if they would go out of business it would likely just be a new owner. But that could bring some changes.
The china made tractors are the low quality ones. Tractors made in South Korea and Japan are all good tractors but some are better than others.