Ranking tractor brands from most reliable, to least, & ...

[attract her]

We all learn by mistake.
The more fortunate among us are able to benefit from the mistakes of others, so we don't have to repeat those mistakes ourselves.

Some brands have earned a reputation for excellent design, bullet-proof reliability, etc, while some other brands just seem to need constant $attention.

This cyber-community probably knows more about it than anywhere.

If you've logged 1,000 hours on ag tires, please share your wisdom.

I'm not macho enough to pass for a "gentleman farmer". But it's time for an upgrade. New York Winters are too rugged for me to continue to use this old & excellent work-horse, a Ford 1520.

I'm on a hilltop here, and we get over 100" of snow per year, we're on the lee of two Great Lakes, Erie & Ontario.

With the snowblower the snow blows back, & can leave me looking like a Michelin commercial.

So I'm shopping for a tractor with a fully enclosed, heated cab, bucket loader front, snowblower rear.

Several brands available within 50 miles, Kubota, New Holland, Kioti, John Deere, M. Ferguson, etc.

Which brands provide what we pay for? What brands are a headache on 4 wheels?

My thanks in advance for you sharing your expertise.

 

[PJSprog]

I'll put on the popcorn for this one. opcorntub: :laughing:

 

[Ortimber]

There will not be one clear winner here. Owners will only be able to offer opinions, good or bad, based on their particular experiences. I shop based on dealer support, as I think all brands are generally good but all are also a potential can of worms.

The best tractors we have ever owned from a reliability standpoint were New Holland’s made from the late 80’s thru mid 90’s.

 

[snymat68]

 

[Diggin It]

I'll put on the popcorn for this one. opcorntub: :laughing:

And crank up the Prog!!

I shop based on dealer support,

I shop for products hoping they'll never have to return to the store, dealer, etc. for any reason.

 

[deserteagle71]

What Ortimber said.

But from all the research I did when looking for another tractor I believe the Kubota has to rank near the top for reliability. Just like Apple and their computers, known for their reliability because Apple controls the whole manufacturing process, Kubota makes all their tractors - they are not rebranded models made who knows where.

 

[Diggin It]

makes all their tractors - they are not rebranded models made who knows where.

Which can also be said for LS who even makes some of their own engines as well as making machines for other brands.

 

[snymat68]

What Ortimber said.

But from all the research I did when looking for another tractor I believe the Kubota has to rank near the top for reliability. Just like Apple and their computers, known for their reliability because Apple controls the whole manufacturing process, Kubota makes all their tractors - they are not rebranded models made who knows where.

There's something to be said for this because they can't "blame the other guy". It also allows them to control every aspect of everything to better optimize things, both for the mfg and the consumer.

 

[coobie]

This should be fun,have my popcorn/beer ready....

 

[PJSprog]

And crank up the Prog!!

Listening to Morow.com right now. :thumbsup:

 

[fried1765]

There will not be one clear winner here. Owners will only be able to offer opinions, good or bad, based on their particular experiences. I shop based on dealer support, as I think all brands are generally good but all are also a potential can of worms.

The best tractors we have ever owned from a reliability standpoint were New Holland’s made from the late 80’s thru mid 90’s.

Yup....my little 1989 Ford 1920 FEL fits right in that group.

 

[RustyA]

Here is my experience over the last 30 years of tractor use...older equipment was cruder but built to be more durable. I bought a JD 1070 and used the heck out of it for 25 years, even ran a 9 ft haybine and a Vermeer Rebel 5400 round baler with it. Replaced one clutch due to overuse and one alternator and voltage regulator, and two batteries. It wasn't fancy but had great hydraulics and lots of torque at lower rpm. Newer tractors are a lot more comfortable with better steering systems and way smoother hydraulics. However they are saddled with much more complicated engine systems due to emission regulations that require higher rpms to keep the soot down. Therefore it take a bit more horsepower in the newer stuff to equal the torque of a similar non-emission tractor. Due to the complexities of the emission controls it is more than ever very important to pick a good dealer that is close with good service. Buy a little more tractor than what you need and research the dealer's reputation for service...to me that's been more important than the brand. The newer ones all will have emission bugs, check engine lights, software updates, etc. It's how the dealer handles this that makes the difference.

 

[attract her]

"The best tractors we have ever owned from a reliability standpoint were New Holland’s made from the late 80’s thru mid 90’s." f1

Do you believe their reliability has back-slid since then? My Ford 1520 compact is ~30 years old, thus pre-exhaust stack fancy. I've read in these fora horror stories about the device clogging up, and shutting down, requiring a ??? guy to put the thing on it, and trick it into entering a re-gen cycle, or what.

I like new. Both my car and motorcycle were straight from the showroom floor. Neither of them has to go into re-gen every 10 hours.

My 30 year old Ford is fine. Problem is, it's not enclosed. So when I blow snow with it, UGH !! I don't want to have to spend $35 $G's only to swap problems, instead of solving problems.

My New Holland dealer has a used New Holland Boomer 37, enclosed. But he wants $27K. I wonder if I should just buy a new one.

Bonus question:
Is it true the new model Kioti's don't do re-gen cycles?

 

[attract her]

PS RA #12
Looks like you compressed about 3 chapters worth of material into one tidy paragraph. Thanks. I don't have 30 years of tractor experience. But due to your #12, I've got benefit of it. Thanks.

 

[Wagtail]

View attachment 610370

I am blatantly stealing that cartoon.

Oh, and "Green!"

 

[Wagtail]

Well, the only problem that I've ever had (touch wood) with my 4105 was due to a 'human error' = water in the diesel tank which led to a biological growth and subsequent starting issues.

My tractor is pre-Tier 4, HST and 'bare bones' when it comes to electronic tech. It's done everything I've asked of it and never been back to the shop.

What more could I ask? A solid, reliable machine and I have the added bonus of a first rate Dealership that has always 'had my back'. YMMV.

 

[Jstpssng]

Regen isn't as scary as it's made out to be; I generally don't know that it's doing it until I see the light come on. The only time that it's been a pain was when I started it up in near-zero weather and it had to warm up before going through the process; the computer kept telling me to increase the RPM's but I don't like to work any machine hard in cold weather until it gets a chance to loosen up. If you get a machine that's under 25HP you won't need to worry about it anyways. Based on comments I've read here I believe that a tractor bigger than that which doesn't regen runs at hotter temps, so you choose your poison as they say.

I've only had mine for a couple of years but like Wagtail, the only problem I've had is water in the fuel. I suspect that might be why the original owner traded. I had problems almost from day one but it took a year and about 180 hours for it to get so bad that I knew what was going on.

It sounds like you like your Ford and it already has everything you are looking for except the cab and heat. Have you looked into the cost of those for what you already have? I know that my father had a Curtis for his first or second Kubota which he could take off in summer and put on in winter; hard top and windshield, soft curtains on side and back. (His 4400 also has the same but I've already claimed it, you can't have it. )

 

[Granthol]

If you like your Ford why don’t you add a cab?
Ford 132, 152, 162 Tractor Cabs and Cab Enclosures - Sims Cab Depot

 

[finn1]

What Ortimber said.

But from all the research I did when looking for another tractor I believe the Kubota has to rank near the top for reliability. Just like Apple and their computers, known for their reliability because Apple controls the whole manufacturing process, Kubota makes all their tractors - they are not rebranded models made who knows where.

Kioti makes their own tractors, and their own engines, as well.

Asking who makes the best tractor is a useless endeavor, in my opinion. The answer will turn into a simple popularity and anecdote banter session as a forum of this sort is incapable of turning random opinions into useful facts.

Who has the lowest R/100? Or Lowest cost of ownership?

No way to get that type of information from a group of random consumers.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have only had 4 tractors with a total of 3 brands. The old John Deere was reliable but very crude. My New Holland was also reliable. My Bobcat was less reliable but was worked much much harder. I have a Kioti now and we will see.