go to brands / brands to avoid

[crotalusco]

I am new to tractors and am looking to buy a new one and some attachments. Attachment prices seem to vary quite a bit by brands. How do i know what is good and what is crap? Example my dealer quoted me $750 for a tailor way box blade. But i can get a king kutter for $450. How do i know which is better? especially if i cant see them prior to purchase.

What are some brands that are good to go and which to avoid

looking for 60" box blade, rotary mower and landscape rake to start with.

Thanks
Dan

 

[sweettractors]

I am new to tractors and am looking to buy a new one and some attachments. Attachment prices seem to vary quite a bit by brands. How do i know what is good and what is crap? Example my dealer quoted me $750 for a tailor way box blade. But i can get a king kutter for $450. How do i know which is better? especially if i cant see them prior to purchase.

What are some brands that are good to go and which to avoid

looking for 60" box blade, rotary mower and landscape rake to start with.

Thanks
Dan

I can deliver to Theresa Wi, a new Tennessee River 5 ft rotary cutter, new Tennessee River 6 Ft Landscaper rake and a new Dirt Dog 5 ft box blade for $2500. Ken Sweet

 

[shui5612]

For things like blades you check the gauge of steel (like on mowers) they use and weight( for a box blade).. a heavier one is better (stronger, cuts into hardpack better, etc)..

 

[Z-Michigan]

Implements are mostly simple and weight plus appearance can tell you a lot.

In general you want a USA or Canadian made implement, or western Europe for certain specialties. Generally I would avoid Chinese products, but I have three Woodmaxx implements that are mostly made in China and have actually been quite good. So the general rules aren't always right.

There are lots of brands and they come and go. Most people have limited experience so you get snapshots that may or may not be representative. My personal snapshot is a terrible experience with Landpride and a mediocre one with Frontier (sold by Deere but made clear they don't stand behind it as their own). I like Woods (Oregon, Illinois) but my experience is limited there too. And I've even had a decent experience with TSC's "Farm Force by Tarter Gate" or whatever it was called. YMMV.

Best bet is to to research here for brands for the exact thing you want, like a light duty rotary cutter, then take that info and use your own judgment to evaluate in person or in calls with the company or distributors.

 

[sweettractors]

I am new to tractors and am looking to buy a new one and some attachments. Attachment prices seem to vary quite a bit by brands. How do i know what is good and what is crap? Example my dealer quoted me $750 for a tailor way box blade. But i can get a king kutter for $450. How do i know which is better? especially if i cant see them prior to purchase.

What are some brands that are good to go and which to avoid

looking for 60" box blade, rotary mower and landscape rake to start with.

Thanks
Dan

Dan, more weight is usually better, however, be aware of the 8N's capabilities on the 3 point lift. Ken Sweet

 

[Tractorable]

I am new to tractors and am looking to buy a new one and some attachments. Attachment prices seem to vary quite a bit by brands. How do i know what is good and what is crap? Example my dealer quoted me $750 for a tailor way box blade. But i can get a king kutter for $450. How do i know which is better? especially if i cant see them prior to purchase.

What are some brands that are good to go and which to avoid

looking for 60" box blade, rotary mower and landscape rake to start with.

Thanks
Dan

What do you plan to do with the box blade? Frequently, a land plane grader is a better choice.

Most of the major brands like Landpride, Woods, and Bush Hog build good implements. Everything Attachments builds great implements as well.

The Chinese made stuff at tractor supply and rural king that's inexpensive should be looked at with a keen eye to make sure it's good. Often times the paint will be peeling off when it's brand new. I've seen tweaked rear blades and rust already forming on new stuff sitting on the lot.

 

[Z-Michigan]

The Chinese made stuff at tractor supply and rural king that's inexpensive should be looked at with a keen eye to make sure it's good. Often times the paint will be peeling off when it's brand new. I've seen tweaked rear blades and rust already forming on new stuff sitting on the lot.

I've seen rust forming on brand-new Woods and Landpride implements sitting on dealer lots, FWIW. This is mostly a factor how well/poorly the implement has been handled in shipping, and how long it's been sitting on the lot.

You know which companies actually seem to care about getting stuff to you without damage? EA and Woodmaxx! Example one: I bought an EA post hole digger. Four major parts, four separate boxes sent UPS ground. All four are undamaged/unworn in shipping. The three US-made parts look factory new, while the Chinese-made gearbox has its paint falling off already.

Also, I don't know if TSC stuff is necessarily made in China. It should be labeled if it is. Most of the Chinese made stuff I've seen is clearly marketed and has prices to match.

 

[TheMan419]

It also depends on what you are going to do with it. Lots of the folks on this site use their tractor's commercially. There is a BIG difference in their needs for equipment and the homeowner who just has a hobby farm. I fall into that latter category. Frankly for my use the TSC implements I have purchased have been great.

I have a rotary mower. I mow horse pasture. So I do not need to mow down trees and huge weeds all the time. If I do I take it slow. That would not work for someone whose job is keeping a ROW in good shape for a living.

My point is that if you are just a hobby farmer your needs are different than someone using the stuff commercially. So yes a heavier implement is usually better. The question is if you need to pay the extra cost for that better equipment.

 

[mddorange]

I am new to tractors and am looking to buy a new one and some attachments. Attachment prices seem to vary quite a bit by brands. How do i know what is good and what is crap? Example my dealer quoted me $750 for a tailor way box blade. But i can get a king kutter for $450. How do i know which is better? especially if i cant see them prior to purchase.

What are some brands that are good to go and which to avoid

looking for 60" box blade, rotary mower and landscape rake to start with.

Thanks
Dan

I have a 60" King Kutter Box Blade and it has been great. Weighs about 400 pounds and will cut into the hard packed clay easily.

 

[rdl]

Keep this in mind, most dealerships have brands that everyone else also carries and they have exclusive brands with more limited distribution. Sometimes they recommend those exclusive brands over more reputable ones because they are less worried you are going to shop around the price. If the deal looks too good to be true it probably is. I worked for one of these manufacturers and it's hard to cut corners right now and produce the same quality implement.