Buying Advice 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

[TSO]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

Many thanks to all the TBNers who have passed on their insights! It has been VERY helpful, nothing beats the voices of experience. Wish I had started roaming this site a couple years ago...

Based on all the feedback I am regrouping some on my buying strategy. Here is my rev1 plan now:
*I won't be running out and buying a NH Workmaster 55 until I comparative shop some more. The HST vs shuttle shift geared comments have made me look longer term than just what I want to tackle this winter/spring. Yep my knees seem OK now but who knows if I can say the same 3-5 years out. Running my little 24HP Husqvarna HST riding mower sure is easy when I want to back up and cut at the same time, I am getting convinced I might feel the same way with a tractor rotary cutter after a couple hours of back and forth. I have not 100% given up on the idea of a shuttle shift but it is in my best interest to look hard at HST vehicles before laying down my money.
*I will give a look at LS and Kioti dealers. I never really looked into Kioti tractors before roaming TBN, my 1st thought was Oh, they must be some off-brand Chinese models. But I see they are Korean and have been in US market a number of years, many TBN users have them (mainly with HSTs) and they get pretty high marks overall. Same to a degree with LS. Months ago when I was considering 35-40 HP tractors, I learned LS made New Hollands smaller Workmasters and their Boomers, but I never looked closely at LS because I convinced myself to go bigger, and the WM 55 really caught my eye.
*I will spend a little more time at Kubota dealers also, as initially their 45-55 HP shuttle shift prices put me off (never really looked at their HSTs).
*Dealer support will be important to me, mainly because of the potential for early warranty issues. This hopefully will never happen but it is a form of insurance to me and will make me 'feel better'. NH and Kubota have an edge here because a lot more dealers in a 50 mile radius, but if I do trip the trigger on an HST then NH is pretty much out as I think I can probably get a comparable machine to their Boomer 50 at a better price (we will see). I will have to visit LS and Kioti dealers to get a feel for their market presence in my area. There is an LS dealer within 30 miles. Kioti, I need to check on. There are dealers within 50 miles that say they carry the Kioti line but I have not visited any.
*I am a function-over-form person (that is what appealed to me with the WM 55, simple operation and minimal electronics). But I did test-sit a few difference tractors, and my impression every time regards the controls and ergonomics was Oh, that is different, but I could get used to that. That is a function of me never having operated a tractor before, but I still believe that if I get the basics right (HP, chassis size, TRANSMISSION, 3ph, position control) then I will be OK.
*I will probably have to be a little more flexible on considering new Tier 4 machines, given current new in-stock inventory levels of 50 HP range CUTs (especially with HST and no cab). Have done a little checking since last night, and pretty thin. But as long as price is not a killer then I can bite my tongue if I decide I love a particular model.
*I like k0ua's comment on getting a metal canopy. I have always planned on getting a canopy, but because I am frugal (cheap) I had earlier priced plastic ones. But he is right, the woods work might tear up a plastic cover but not so much a metal one. I have a plastic canopy on my Mule and it has suffered some abuse just cruising around under my landscaping trees. As we used to say when I was working for a living, At the end of the day, it only costs a little more to go with the LOW bid...
*I like erictheoracle's comment on considering a skid pan. The one on my Mule gets used (unfortunately), and I also put one on my motorbike that also came in handy a time or 2.

I will let you know how this plays out for me. FYI, below is a pic of my pride and joy property, click to enlarge (hopefully I did the 'attach image' correctly).

View attachment 408718

Regarding your above comment about warranty repairs ...

From my personal ownership experience (between my tractors from LS, Kioti, Massey), my close friends ownership experience (Kubota), and a family members experience (with a small JD CUT) ... Massey CUT's are the most reliable. I have put 400+ hard hours on mine in the last 11 months, and it's never skipped a beat. You also practically hear of NO issues reported here on the forum regarding the Massey CUT's. These are built by Iseki in Japan and are seemingly bulletproof.

All of the new compacts right now are pretty good tractors. For the most part, they will have very few problems. For the most part, they will all be very close in specs. If you want one at the lowest pricing and bang-for-buck, look to LS, then TYM, Kioti, then probably Mahindra, then NH, Kubota, Case, Massey, JD (probably in that order too... for comparing pricing on apples-to-apples units). But again, your budget of $30k will allow you to get pretty much any CUT under 50hp, so go play with them all and see which one you feel is the best for YOU.

And no offense against the poster suggesting an L3800 ... but that is not the tractor I'd go with. It's nice enough, but if you're getting ONE tractor, get the one that will handle all of your needs without pushing it's limits. The loader on the L3800 is a far-cry from most of the loaders in the near-50hp range.

 

[TJP89]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

Not a whole lot to add to this. Just keep in mind the NH workmaster, while a good tractor, is the basic line. It is a no frills tractor for a low price, but without the niceties of a more deluxe tractor. Some people like it this way, but if you're going to have it for a while, you might want something that's not the bare-bones model. This is comparable to the Kubota LXX00 series, the JD E series, and the Kioti DS series, to name a few. Shop around, your budget is plenty for a decent tractor with some frills and attachments. There is a member here who got his Kioti NX6010, which an eHST loaded tractor in 60HP, with loader and rotary cutter for about what you want to spend. If you have never operated a tractor before, I would recommend getting HST if you can. It doesn't take that much power away, and it is much easier to use at first. My first tractor was an 1950s Farmall H with a 5 speed tranny and a transmission PTO. I ran over quite a few things before I learned the trick to clutching and changing gears. Any new tractor will be better, but still with a significantly steeper learning curve than an HST. Last, take your time and explore all your options, I had to take a good second look before I found my Kioti.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

Not a whole lot to add to this. Just keep in mind the NH workmaster, while a good tractor, is the basic line. It is a no frills tractor for a low price, but without the niceties of a more deluxe tractor. Some people like it this way, but if you're going to have it for a while, you might want something that's not the bare-bones model. This is comparable to the Kubota LXX00 series, the JD E series, and the Kioti DS series, to name a few. Shop around, your budget is plenty for a decent tractor with some frills and attachments. There is a member here who got his Kioti NX6010, which an eHST loaded tractor in 60HP, with loader and rotary cutter for about what you want to spend. If you have never operated a tractor before, I would recommend getting HST if you can. It doesn't take that much power away, and it is much easier to use at first. My first tractor was an 1950s Farmall H with a 5 speed tranny and a transmission PTO. I ran over quite a few things before I learned the trick to clutching and changing gears. Any new tractor will be better, but still with a significantly steeper learning curve than an HST. Last, take your time and explore all your options, I had to take a good second look before I found my Kioti.

That NX6010 HST with cab and loader was me for $33900. I got that price because I walked in wagging a cash sale and the dealer was aware that I had shopped Deere, Massey, Kubota and Mahindra. I added another 3,400 getting every option available. The rotary cutter was extra and came from another dealer as did the grapple, snow plow, and some other stuff.

But yeah, $33,900 for the basic HST tractor with all of its heated and air-conditioned goodness.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

To the OP, I know where you can get a new Mahindra 5010 with cab and full warranty for around $26k - $27k. (I think the dealer told me $26,500, but not sure.) I have no affiliation with the tractor or the dealer. I was in there looking at a ZTR this weekend and he mentioned that he had one 5010 left with a special price on it. Those are tier 3 too.

PM me if you're interested.

Oh, and whatever tractor you buy, be sure and have them install at least 2 sets of rear hydraulic remotes. 3 sets would be better, but 2 at a minimum. You can thank me later when you figure out how useful they will be. The dealer may act like you're crazy for wanting more than one set. Ignore them.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

Eric, your orange colors are clashing.

That's ok, mine do too.

 

[TSO]

To the OP, I know where you can get a new Mahindra 5010 with cab and full warranty for around $26k - $27k. (I think the dealer told me $26,500, but not sure.) I have no affiliation with the tractor or the dealer. I was in there looking at a ZTR this weekend and he mentioned that he had one 5010 left with a special price on it. Those are tier 3 too.

PM me if you're interested.

Oh, and whatever tractor you buy, be sure and have them install at least 2 sets of rear hydraulic remotes. 3 sets would be better, but 2 at a minimum. You can thank me later when you figure out how useful they will be. The dealer may act like you're crazy for wanting more than one set. Ignore them.

That Mahindra 5010/6010 comes with the strongest loader in the CUT class! It was almost enough to sway me!

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

That Mahindra 5010/6010 comes with the strongest loader in the CUT class! It was almost enough to sway me!

Why they left the extendable lower lift arm ends off the 5010/6010 is a mystery to me. The TYM version of it has them.

 

[TSO]

Why they left the extendable lower lift arm ends off the 5010/6010 is a mystery to me. The TYM version of it has them.

Yeah exactly. And the Mahindra dealer that I was talking with (closest one is about 50 mins away) couldn't even give me an answer in whether or not they could swap some on. Their only suggestion was a quick hitch.

However, I've heard that the Mahindra 5035 (nice tractor) is now gonna be offered with a cab in tier 4... Renamed the 3550. That might be a strong contender for people, depending on the price.

 

[motownbrowne]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

You've gotten good advice so far. I just want to throw my vote in on the hst vs gears conversation. This is your first tractor. Unless you have lots of experience, i.e. grew up operating, a geared machine, get the hydro. Geared machines go until you hit the clutch or shuttle lever, even if you hit the brakes. Hydro's stop unless you tell them to go. The safety implications for beginning users should be obvious.

Good luck shopping and enjoy the new machine!

 

[k0ua]

Re: 1st Time "Hobby Farm" Tractor Buyer/User - What do experienced users advise?

You've gotten good advice so far. I just want to throw my vote in on the hst vs gears conversation. This is your first tractor. Unless you have lots of experience, i.e. grew up operating, a geared machine, get the hydro. Geared machines go until you hit the clutch or shuttle lever, even if you hit the brakes. Hydro's stop unless you tell them to go. The safety implications for beginning users should be obvious.

Good luck shopping and enjoy the new machine!

That's a good point. I have seen people panic and forget to push in the clutch. The resulting damage is not always pretty.