Greetings from Compact Wannabe

[hlpdobro]

New to the forum. Greetings!

I've been maintaining a 7 acre horse property for 22 years with vintage MF-65/MF-165. My primary tasks are gravel road maintenance (.5mi) brush cutting and snow removal.

I'm tiring of being a vintage tractor mechanic and have been lusting after modern technology in a 4wd compact 4 cyl diesel in the 30 hp range. I hope to sell/trade the Ferguson/implements for a suitable replacement w/fel. 60" dirt blade and 60 inch bush hog.

Located in Frederick Co MD, a major ag area with all major brands close at hand.

So..the search starts.

As an aside..."Montana Tractor" , A new Korean tractor has made its way to the region. They exhibited at the local ag fair last year with prices about 15% less then comparable NH spec'd compacts. I'm not the early adopter type. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with Montana? www.montanatractors.com

Thanks for the resource..been lurking for days.

HowardP.

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

I would encourage you to go sit on and drive a Montana 3040. It is a 30HP, 4 Cyl Mitsibushi. That is what I own and have enjoyed it. The machine is very capable of the 60" blade that you discussed, I use a 72" box blade with no problems at all. I do not know what tires you would want and I do not know about the AG tires but I know 60" will not cover the Industrials on my tractor. I know that some bigger guys have made comments that this tractor does not have a big operator station, it fits me well but I am only 5'6" and 125 pounds. I hear that the new series have a larger operator station.

Good Luck!

 

[coasterez]

There's a lot to choose from: JD, NH, Case, Kubota, Kioti, Mahindra, Branson, Montana, MF, TYM, and more. Try them all. Your experience will then make your selection an easy one.

 

[Dodgeram]

Howard,
I can't help you with the 4 cyl, but if you'd like to stop by some day, I'll let you try out my Kioti.
Tom

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN!

 

[aesanders]

You've got quite a selection of good dealers around this area. Just about everybrand imaginable has at least one dealer and companies like Deere, Kubota and Newholland, and Massey/Agco each have at least a half dozen dealers. Well known dealers like Stoneham John Deere and Messick's New Holland/Kubota are nearby.

I'm not sure where the Montana dealer is, but i think it is north of Westminster.

Antietem near Hagerstown generally has some great pricing on their Kubota's and New Hollands. I'd take coasterez advise and go try them all.

 

[hlpdobro]

Thanks,

Montana is in the Hagerstown area, NH is in Frederick and Hagerstown. Just about everyone is in the area.

I'm compiling my research and questions. I'll be ready in a few weeks to start the "interview" process.

Anyone in the area taking trades? I'm prepared to be pragmatic about my old Ferguson. every $$ helps.

thanks

HowardP

 

[daTeacha]

Spend a lot of time looking, driving, getting to know the people at the stores. Time is generally cheaper to spend than money when looking for a tractor. I looked for a long time and slowly became aware that I really preferred the Case DX 29/33 over everything else for a number of reasons. I'm 6'3", 215, long of leg and arm and the thing just fit me a whole lot better than the Kubotas I thought I wanted.

I found the Kioti seemed to make me think I was standing up rather than sitting, the Kubota seat seemed to be slanted forward, the NH dealer was a human hemorrhoid, the Agco/Massey had fragile parts hanging low where they would get torn up in my woods use, etc. etc. I wasn't clear at once on what I wanted, but someone here once said a lot of looking eventually leads to the point where you find yourself thinking about owning one particular machine more than the others. When that happens, you're ready to buy.

Collect and read all the brochures, talk to the sales guys, sit in the seats, etc. and most of all, have fun.

 

[CDsdad]

Time spent loooking at, sitting on, and driving different models and brands will be as well spent as the money you pay. Don't let anyone else bias you towards brands or specific models within a brand, especially a dealer. I was a big fan of one brand and wound up with another after climbing on them and driving them at the different dealers. You'll find one that fits and does what you want and will have fun while doing it. Good luck.

 

[Volfandt]

It's been a couple yrs removed now when I got out to pick a new machine to replace an oldie and checked out just about every tractor dealer & lot within 150 miles of my humble abode.
I still recall the experience fondly.
Some of the dealers I stopped in had been around forever and others were brand new. I checked out every model in the range I was looking at and even tried out the bigger boys should I ever need one. As beens said, you'll eventually find one that you'll be compareing all the others too and this'll be the one you pick.
No 2nd thoughts here....

Enjoy the process, I did

Volfandt