Opinion needed on New Compact Tractors.

[kittyhawk]

Good evening everyone, let me tell you about my Place. I have 105 acers just outside Beautiful Buffalo Texas. Its 60 acers of cleared land and 45 acers of untouched woods. We don't live on it full time and probably won't for several years to come. I'm really luckily that I have my Land leased for cattle production and the man who leases it has some Big Nice equipment to do the big jobs and a smaller JD 5103 he lets me borrow when I need. A few years ago I bought a Used Ford Compact tractor for a certain job I need to do and it failed horribly, so off it went to a new home to torment someone else.
Well its now getting to the point time I find my self needing a smaller tractor with a loader more and more to take of the smaller everyday chores. I've put pen to paper and read articles and watched YouTube videos till I'm Blue in the Face. I think for me needs I'm going to stay in the 25HP compact range. A huge thing for me is having a Tractor with a Good warranty and I know that a good dealer makes a Huge difference when having work done or needing parts.
I've visited several local dealers to me, Bobcat, Kioti and Mahindra I've tested out and got cost break downs on new BC CT2025 HST with Loader, Kioti CK2610 HST Mahindra 1626 HST with Loader and thinking of driving up to my nearest Branson dealer to take a look at the newish 2515 HST and loader. I've already crossed JD and Kubota and NH off my list due to price and not happy with the selection in the size category. So far I'm really impressed with the Kioti and BC, the Mahindra was nice but didn't blow my Kilt up... I know all about the Kioti and BC being the same machine and all.
So now is where I need some Honest Advice before I take the time to drive to take a look the Branson. How dose the Kioti/BC 2610 HST compare to the Branson 2515 HST? I cant find a Head to Head comparison to one another. On paper they are close but maybe its just me but after watching some videos of the Branson it looks like the Rear end is kind of narrow compared to the Kioti/BC and looks like the rear tires are under sized.
Thanks in advance for any information I can get, I know this was kind of long but I'm defiantly OCD when it comes to decisions like this.
Have a Great evening everyone, Stay Safe and Healthy!!!!!

 

[Blue Mule]

How many acres will you be taking care of with the small tractor? What jobs will you do with it?

 

[kittyhawk]

How many acres will you be taking care of with the small tractor? What jobs will you do with it?

Mostly Ill be doing the smaller chores, Mowing fence lines, roads, moving dirt, hauling off brush, setting a few new corner posts and fixing hog damage. The man who leases the place has a several large JD 100HP + tractors, a batwing he mows several times a year with, a Large sprayer for spraying weeds and a 14' disc for really getting after the hog damage.

 

[fried1765]

Good evening everyone, let me tell you about my Place. I have 105 acers just outside Beautiful Buffalo Texas. Its 60 acers of cleared land and 45 acers of untouched woods. We don't live on it full time and probably won't for several years to come. I'm really luckily that I have my Land leased for cattle production and the man who leases it has some Big Nice equipment to do the big jobs and a smaller JD 5103 he lets me borrow when I need. A few years ago I bought a Used Ford Compact tractor for a certain job I need to do and it failed horribly, so off it went to a new home to torment someone else.
Well its now getting to the point time I find my self needing a smaller tractor with a loader more and more to take of the smaller everyday chores. I've put pen to paper and read articles and watched YouTube videos till I'm Blue in the Face. I think for me needs I'm going to stay in the 25HP compact range. A huge thing for me is having a Tractor with a Good warranty and I know that a good dealer makes a Huge difference when having work done or needing parts.
I've visited several local dealers to me, Bobcat, Kioti and Mahindra I've tested out and got cost break downs on new BC CT2025 HST with Loader, Kioti CK2610 HST Mahindra 1626 HST with Loader and thinking of driving up to my nearest Branson dealer to take a look at the newish 2515 HST and loader. I've already crossed JD and Kubota and NH off my list due to price and not happy with the selection in the size category. So far I'm really impressed with the Kioti and BC, the Mahindra was nice but didn't blow my Kilt up... I know all about the Kioti and BC being the same machine and all.
So now is where I need some Honest Advice before I take the time to drive to take a look the Branson. How dose the Kioti/BC 2610 HST compare to the Branson 2515 HST? I cant find a Head to Head comparison to one another. On paper they are close but maybe its just me but after watching some videos of the Branson it looks like the Rear end is kind of narrow compared to the Kioti/BC and looks like the rear tires are under sized.
Thanks in advance for any information I can get, I know this was kind of long but I'm defiantly OCD when it comes to decisions like this.
Have a Great evening everyone, Stay Safe and Healthy!!!!!

I know nothing..... at 80 I have all the tractors (3) I will ever need.
From my many observations here on TBN though, I suspect you would probably not go too far wrong with any of the brands you are considering.
Obviously Kubota, and Deere are the big boys in the compact tractor market, and those two will obviously hold their resale value best.
I have not looked at ANY of the brands you are considering!

That said: The brand, among those you are considering, that seems to have the most fervent followers, is Branson.
I am sure however, that someone on here will jump all over me for this comment!
I am only passing along MY interpretation of compact tractor information posted on TBN.
I KNOW nothing!

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Not sure how far you are from Greenville or Spicewood Tx, but there is a great dealer in those locations, RCO tractor. They sell the LS tractors. When I was shopping, I looked at the same exact models/manufacturers as you did. I am extremely happy with my LS tractors, both of them.... a SCUT, and now the MT2 series compact. I have many good things to say about this dealer also, has gone above and beyond for me both before and after the sale.

My neighbor has also purchased a compact tractor from them last summer. We are around 600 miles away from this dealer, that in itself is saying how much confidence we have in them.

The LS tractors were $6K-8K less than the local Kubota, JD, and Mahindra dealers we have here, $2k less than the closest Branson dealer to us. They are worth a look and test drive for sure, at least.

Good luck in your search! (I forgot to mention: LS makes the NH tractors, they are re-branded for NH)

 

[Blue Mule]

I love my new New Holland Workmaster. Fantastic tractor and great value. The only thing I'd change is the engine. I got the 25 horse to avoid emissions. To do it over again I'd go 40 horses in the same size tractor. It's the perfect size for chores around home, just needs more horses.

 

[Nb707]

First I will answer your specific question. I do not own a Branson I own a brand new kioti DK 4710 se hst cab.
Kioti , bobcat, tym Branson Mahindra. Are all very similar my advice is to take a test drive on the Branson and the kioti
I do like the bobcat colors though but I believe theyæ±*e the same tractor as the kioti just a different color.

Personal observation and opinion. I too was looking at the 25 to 30 hp range originally without a cab. Like yourself I was trying to be price conscience. I started with the Kabota and the John Deere. After doing my research. I ended up going with a cab and 46 hp for many reasons and one of the big reasons was everybody that owns a cab tractor does not comment they wish they did not . And also not many people wish they had a smaller tractor . There was not much of a price difference going from 25 hp to 46 hp. When the manufacturers are offering 84 months at 0% interest. The difference of $ 50 to $ 70 month to me was a no brainer to go with the cab and the bigger horsepower model .

cheap money out there now with 0% interest up to 84 months You would be extremely happy with the model I just recommended dk 4710 se hst cab. If you pay cash for it you can get it for under $29000. If you finance it will cost around $ 32,000 .

I understand the models your looking at are probably without a cab in the $ 17000 to $20,000 range but if you take advantage of the 0% interest for 84 months $10,000 to 13000 more is peanuts
In the monthly payment . Plus you will not be be kicking yourself later saying I wish I went with the larger more powerful tractor and a cab

once you buy a tractor you want to keep them for a long time that way you get the best bang for the buck. So do it right the first time.

 

[nybirdman]

First I will answer your specific question. I do not own a Branson I own a brand new kioti DK 4710 se hst cab.
Kioti , bobcat, tym Branson Mahindra. Are all very similar my advice is to take a test drive on the Branson and the kioti
I do like the bobcat colors though but I believe theyæ±*e the same tractor as the kioti just a different color.

Personal observation and opinion. I too was looking at the 25 to 30 hp range originally without a cab. Like yourself I was trying to be price conscience. I started with the Kabota and the John Deere. After doing my research. I ended up going with a cab and 46 hp for many reasons and one of the big reasons was everybody that owns a cab tractor does not comment they wish they did not . And also not many people wish they had a smaller tractor . There was not much of a price difference going from 25 hp to 46 hp. When the manufacturers are offering 84 months at 0% interest. The difference of $ 50 to $ 70 month to me was a no brainer to go with the cab and the bigger horsepower model .

cheap money out there now with 0% interest up to 84 months You would be extremely happy with the model I just recommended dk 4710 se hst cab. If you pay cash for it you can get it for under $29000. If you finance it will cost around $ 32,000 .

I understand the models your looking at are probably without a cab in the $ 17000 to $20,000 range but if you take advantage of the 0% interest for 84 months $10,000 to 13000 more is peanuts
In the monthly payment . Plus you will not be be kicking yourself later saying I wish I went with the larger more powerful tractor and a cab

once you buy a tractor you want to keep them for a long time that way you get the best bang for the buck. So do it right the first time.

Very good advice :IMHO

 

[mred2]

I do not have a cab and do not want one. But! If you are not going to be working around a lot of trees/brush in the heat of Texas, you may well wish you had one. Shuttle or Hst, up to you. The more HP the better. I too would say look at LS, but my dealer sales both LS and Branson. And I think he is selling move small Branson and larger LS at this time. And that may be due to availability. I don't own a Branson, but I did look at them a lot before I got the LS. My dealer at that time did not sell the Branson. I think they are a really good tractor. I am just not sure about the future for parts.

 

[Cycledude]

There are plenty of reasons to go cab less and plenty of reasons to want a cab, living in Texas having a cab with air might be very appreciated.
I recommend finding a decent dealer reasonably close to where the tractor will be used so if you need simple parts or service it’s fairly easy.
I happen to be another very happy LS owner but almost any brand should be nice if you are lucky enough to have a decent dealer.