Help! Down to 4 compact tractors

[GGFL]

This is my first post. I have been spending at least 2 hours for the last 3 days reading everything I can in this site. WOW this is great!
Ok now down to business.
I'm buying a compact tractor and my final choice will be 1 of these 4. MF 1547, NH TC45D, Branson 4720i, or a Cub Cadet 8454. I've been reading ,visiting dealers and pricing for 2 weeks. The JD & Kubota prices are more than I have budgeted so they are out. I will be removing some small trees on my 10 acres and will be maintaining it with my final choice. Price of course is a major factor but not the only one. I am also concerned with reliability, service and since I will be using a number of implements, PTO HP is a big consideration.
The Branson & MF dealers are the closest to my home. They are within 7 miles but I don't know how much this should weigh on my final decision.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated even if it includes another choice I should consider.

Thank you................

 

[thcri]

Your down to one final decision then. What dealer is going to give you the best support after the sale. That is what it boils down to. Then look at comfort and how close the dealers are. If you have one within 7 miles I would not throw the others out unless they were more than 20 miles out. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the choices. You may also look at the tasks your going to doing and then figure out which tractor fits the bill the best also.

murph

 

[DavesTractor]

The good news is that not one of those tractors will dissapoint you! All good machines. I'd certainly consider the quality and integrity of the dealer, as best you can determine.

 

[Glen_Ippolito]

would agree all are great tractors. You should be happy with them all. I would look at the warranties maybe that will help you make a decision. I know TYM or something like that has a 5 year plan and Kioti has a 4 year plan. I don't know if that helps.

 

[smokedtires]

Along with warranty, I'd check the financing deals they may have if that is the route you'll be taking. Also see about spending some seat time on each one to check out the comfort level to you.

 

[Kiohio]

The Cub 8454 is the same tractor as the old Kioti DK45. The only difference is the Kioti is available with a higher lift loader and self-leveling too.
The same loader Cub puts on is available on the DK45 also it is the KL1470.

The DK45S is newer with an even larger weight capacity loader.

KO

 

[SWB]

Sit on them and drive them. Ergonomics is very important. Some of those may fit you and some may not.

 

[jinman]

It sounds like you have some very nice tractors on your list. I believe that you are only considering gear-drive tractors. That means the NH should be a TC45A instead of the TC45D (or TC45DA). The "D" models are all hydrostatic transmissions.

I think you can be confident with any of the tractors you mentioned. I'm sure you've searched and read these forums. I'd pick the dealer you feel most confident with and sit down for some "pencil sharpening" to come up with final numbers. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Stimw]

A friend was pricing a MF, I think he said warranty was 1 year/300 hours. My Branson 3510 (bought last May) came with 3 year/1000 hour warranty. Any more questions?

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> A friend was pricing a MF, I think he said warranty was 1 year/300 hours. My Branson 3510 (bought last May) came with 3 year/1000 hour warranty. Any more questions? </font>

Your friend is way off unless things have changed in the last few months with the Massey Ferguson warrantees. They are as follows on tractors. The tractor as a whole has a full 2-year warranty or ? hours. ( I can’t remember the hours on that one.) The engine is covered for 5 years or 3000 hours for 25-50 HP tractors. If the engine is below 25 HP or less the warranty is 2 years or 1500 hours.

 

[4sarge]

I have been researching tractors for the past several months visited a couple of tractor dealers, watched EBay, went to the Indiana Farm Show and then to the National Farm machinery Show in Louisville last month and was able to compare them all side by side.

I was thinking Branson 4720, Cub Cadet 8454, Mahindra 4110, NH 35 or 45, Kubota MX5000, but after seeing the Kioti DK45s couldn't consider anything else. Ended up buying from a TBN dealer who offered me a deal that I couldn't refuse. Many fine dealers here who can probably help you. Even with the cost of transportation, I was able to commit funds for the tractor and implements that was a better deal than my closest tractor dealers.

The Kioti now has a 4 year warranty along with so many standard features that are options on other tractors.

Good Luck

 

[Theowegian]

Have you decided yet?

The NH TC45D is a nice tractor. I would start looking serious at that one first then work down your list. Include resale values in your review.

How 'bout contacting the various dealers and asking them who bought tractors locally and phoning those customers, asking them if they would buy from the same dealer again? I used that approach and found out some relevant info that way - enough to sway my decision.

Also, you might want to consider the operator controls and the layout as a serious issue. Tractor specs are useful to study, but seat time is really important. Sit in each, trust your instincts and just buy it.

 

[GGFL]

Oh how things change.

Local Kubota dealers came down in price to be competitive on an L4330 GST. A tractor I really liked.

Upon pitting 4 dealers in the area against each other I decided on one. The problem was that this particular dealer didn't have any currently in stock so they offered me an L4630 HST for $400.00 more.

I took the deal and so far am very happy with this tractor.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Big_Cajun]

That's a great tractor. I hope you enjoy it and congratulations! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BC