Looking for advice-buying first tractor

[GregginIowa]

Does anyone know anything about Tractor King tractors? I've been looking at them at an Iowa farm store chain (Theisen's) for a few years now, and I'm ready to buy my first tractor. They are not out on display right now, but if memory serves they are around 22 hp, 4 wd, and come with loader for about 10k. There is a slightly larger one (25 hp?) that runs about 12k with loader. I can't remember type of fuel or much else except I believe they are Chinese-made. Can anyone tell me anything about these in terms of relaibility, performance, repair availability, etc.?

I'm certainly not married to these things, I've just seen and admired them. I'm open to some sort of used tractor with loader (hopefully 2003 or later model) and don't want to spend more than about 13-14k. Any advice on my purchase as to brand, model, what to look for, etc would be greatly appreciated. I saw a real nice used Massey 2005 model, 28 horse with loader on Iron Search with only 147 hours for 13k. It's located only about 90 miles from me. Would I be better off with something like this? Any advice appreciated!!

 

[ChuckinNH]

Your budget will buy you a 21 hp Kubota 7510, and maybe a 24hp Kubota B7610, Kioti CK20, Mahindra 2015(with money left over), all with loaders. Frankly, I would prefer any of these to the tractor you are looking at. I think if the Massey looks good, that also is a better buy. All these tractors I suggested come with tractor dealership service, and that is quite important if you are new to tractors especially. Good luck in your search, and have fun! Let us know what you choose...

 

[Gittyup]

And there are really good buys right now on the TYM T233 and T273. The T273 is an awesome 27 hp tractor, I think being offered right now for $12K with a QA loader. IMHO it's the best buy of those mentioned so far.

I looked at a 28 hp MF (2815 I think) with loader and backhoe, 300 hours. Dealer was asking $14500 for it. Based on that, $13K for one without a backhoe is a bit high, I think. It is a good tractor though.

 

[mcrame01]

Gregg,

I got the following prices for new Kubotas. It is a new model that is just coming out and info is somewhat hard to come by.

B2320 (23 HP Hydro)
Loader
Mid Mount Mower

Total - $14,400 without tax


B2520 (25 HP Hydro)
Loader
MMM

Total - $15,300 without tax


If you dropped the mower ( around $2,100) I think you would be about in your price range. I have also looked at the JD 2320 and 2520 and really liked them.

JD 2320 (23 HP hydro)
Loader
Mid Mount mower

Total - $16,900 without tax

I think that the mower was about $2,600, so this could also be around your price range.

I really liked the Kubotas and the JD and will probably get a Kubota B2320. All were nice but the Kubota B2320 fits my needs pretty well and the price seems pretty fair. I'm going through about the same thing as you. My recommendation is to go to all or several of the dealers and talk with them. Spend some time driving the tractors. It is fun and you will find the infor very valuable in your decision Good luck and let us know what you choose.

 

[ScottK]

The John Deere 2305 with loader is about $12,500. It's 24hp with a limited cat 1 hitch - just means it only lifts about 650 lbs on the rear - loader lifts 1100. The 2320 is about 15K -same engine and a bit larger with full cat 1 and more ground clearance. You can get backhoes, mid-mount mowers, snow blowers, etc for both of them. Of course you'll want to load the rear tires for loader work on any compact tractor and carry some additional rear weight like a box scraper or weights (more money). These Deere's are built in the Augusta, GA if that matters to you. Note that the smaller Kubotas have lighter loader capacities of around 600-800 lbs, which is one of the reasons I didn't get one. If you're going to move dirt and gravel, get more loader capacity. Some of the Chinese tractors have it at around 1000 lbs - depends on the loader they put on them though.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm not going to knock the chinese tractors.. after all.. they are cheaper than domestics .. and with that cost savings comes a few issues.. like dealer and aprts support, warranty, and perhaps having to do some wrench turning yourself... kinda like owning an antique tractor.. etc..

If you can get a low hour new-ish domestic for near same $$.. go for it.

soundguy

Does anyone know anything about Tractor King tractors? I've been looking at them at an Iowa farm store chain (Theisen's) for a few years now, and I'm ready to buy my first tractor. They are not out on display right now, but if memory serves they are around 22 hp, 4 wd, and come with loader for about 10k. There is a slightly larger one (25 hp?) that runs about 12k with loader. I can't remember type of fuel or much else except I believe they are Chinese-made. Can anyone tell me anything about these in terms of relaibility, performance, repair availability, etc.?

I'm certainly not married to these things, I've just seen and admired them. I'm open to some sort of used tractor with loader (hopefully 2003 or later model) and don't want to spend more than about 13-14k. Any advice on my purchase as to brand, model, what to look for, etc would be greatly appreciated. I saw a real nice used Massey 2005 model, 28 horse with loader on Iron Search with only 147 hours for 13k. It's located only about 90 miles from me. Would I be better off with something like this? Any advice appreciated!!

 

[ChuckinNH]

I certainly wouldn't knock those tractors either, or less popular brands in general if they truly cost less. I've been looking for a while too, and since I'm retired, I don't want to spend a lot of extra money. The problem that I have found is that
A: The prices really aren't that much less
B: Often the dedicated implements are more costly, making the package more expensive than a Kubota, or Deere for example.
C: If you sell it at some point, the real cost of ownership is going to be more.

In my looking, I keep coming back to the same total package price, or so close that it doesn't really matter. Often, one implement will cost much more than the difference in cost between brands.... even Chinese.

 

[kozak]

Any advice appreciated!!

GregginIowa,

Welcome to TBN.

What tasks will you be using your new tractor for ??


Vic

 

[shvl73]

If you have a Mahindra dealer near, they have a 2525 model coming out.
Chinese made in a plant they purchased. From what we've heard, they spent alot of time and money bringing up to par and is supposedly selling near the $ you are seeing.

 

[greggh]

Does anyone know anything about Tractor King tractors? I've been looking at them at an Iowa farm store chain (Theisen's) for a few years now, and I'm ready to buy my first tractor. They are not out on display right now, but if memory serves they are around 22 hp, 4 wd, and come with loader for about 10k. There is a slightly larger one (25 hp?) that runs about 12k with loader. I can't remember type of fuel or much else except I believe they are Chinese-made. Can anyone tell me anything about these in terms of relaibility, performance, repair availability, etc.?

I'm certainly not married to these things, I've just seen and admired them. I'm open to some sort of used tractor with loader (hopefully 2003 or later model) and don't want to spend more than about 13-14k. Any advice on my purchase as to brand, model, what to look for, etc would be greatly appreciated. I saw a real nice used Massey 2005 model, 28 horse with loader on Iron Search with only 147 hours for 13k. It's located only about 90 miles from me. Would I be better off with something like this? Any advice appreciated!!

Welcome to TBN. There is a lot of good advice here, but it would be better if we had a little more information on what size of property and your uses for the tractor. I hope you get the answers you need and are looking for.

 

[GregginIowa]

greggh and kozak-

First of all thanks to all for the advice. So far I have looked at Kubota and they seem very suited to what I'm looking for. I think I have convinced myself to avoid the Chinese farm store tractor I mentioned, primarily due to questionalble ease and availability of service. I want to look at JD next, no shortage of their dealers here in Iowa. To answer greggh and kozak, I have an acreage (4 ac. to be exact) with sloping terrain. The primary uses for the tractor would be firewood management, moving around a little dirt, rock, and gravel here and there, general cleanup (downed branches, etc), and driveway maintenance including snow plowing or blowing and smoothing off the crown from time to time (drive is about 350' long and gravel). I do not need the mower as I have lots of obstacles (primarily trees) and my lawn tractor works well for that. I mow probably 2 acres, the rest of the property is wooded. Thanks again to all for your answers, very interesting to read and I'm starting to get excited for snow melting and warmer weather!!

 

[crfowler]

Hi Gregg,

Have you had a look ad the Cub Cadet/Yanmar EX3200. There is plenty of buzz in this and other forums. They're currently assembled over seas, but they are building a plant here in the US, for this model the EX2900 and the new SC2400 . FYI Yanmar was one of the first mass producers of the Diesel engine, they have been around for a long time. As for the Tractor, it's very similar to the JD790. And because they're trying to get into the market, they're also priced very competitively. Shop hard enough and you should be able to find one with a loader for around $15,500 (another $5 to $6 thousand for backhoe attachment).

I'll let you do you're own diligence, let me know what you think!

 

[toddler]

Hey GregginIowa,
When I read your initial post, I had the same questions as Kozak and Greggh. You see just stating what the HP of the TractorKing tractors doesn't tell me too much.

A 23 HP Kubota BX2350 is a LOT less tractor than a Kioti CK20S. The BX can do some things the CK can't, because it will fit in more places, and it does add a little hp at the PTO. But the CK is 900# bigger before you add the FEL. The bucket lifts much more, and so does the 3pt hitch, so given you already have a mower, and just between those two, I'd probably choose the Kioti if it were in your price range.

If you wanted to mow with this tractor, I'd say Kubota and JD in the under 15k price range are good tractors. Great quality, good power to weight . . . But since you aren't going to be mowing with it, I'd go look at other companies like Kioti and Mahindra, that sell you more tractor size for the money. And also watch the used tractor adds. My BIL got a super low hour B7800 with a FEL and R4's for under 9k on a repo deal. I wouldn't expect a deal like that, but every once in a while you get lucky on the used market. (OK, I don't, but some people do.)

Anyway, look around. Once you figure out what's available, and what size you think you'd like best, then you can compare apples to apples. And if this is your first tractor, buy a little bigger than you think you need, because they really do seem to shrink as you get used to them.

Todd

 

[bruski]

This may be heresy but I'm a believer in saving money by buying used. In the last year I bought an extremely clean low hour Kubota b7100 for $4,500, found it to be a little too small for my needs and wanted a FEL. Sold it for $4,500 and bought a 231 hour Kubota b2400 with FEL for $7,900. It's a keeper. Not as "pretty" as new, but that $5k+ in my pocket sure is pretty. There a a lot of nice low hour tractors out there.

Bruski

 

[Soundguy]

You got that right.. buying alittle bit used can save big $$$

I got my NH 7610s just about 20 months used.. and saved probably 8k$ off original purchase price. Had to put up with a crumpled fender and a couple scratches.. but the checkbook felt much better.. besides.. that discount got me into a size of a tractor i probably wouldn't have been able to shoot for otherwise..

soundguy

 

[GregginIowa]

Todd-

I would be happy to look at the Kioti...........if the nearest dealer wasn't 170 miles away.

We have a JD dealer about every mile around here and I have 3 Kubota dealers within 40 miles of my house, so I'm kinda focusing in those directions. I wish it were different, but I really want service close by if at all possible. All your advice about size, etc, much appreciated!

 

[toddler]

I agree, dealers are important.

Any Mahindra dealers around? Their 2415 might be in your price range, and it also looks like a LOT of tractor for the money. I the list on their 2415HST is 12,800. Don't know what it'd be with a FEL and attachments. Might be too much.
But with that many Kubota dealers around, make sure you watch Craigs List and any other local posting sites!

Regards,
Todd

 

[Gittyup]

If Branson is close by, I'd also look at them. I think they are about the heaviest of all, and the loader has an outstanding reputation too. They also are very wide and stable.

 

[WilliamBos]

You got that right.. buying alittle bit used can save big $$$

I got my NH 7610s just about 20 months used.. and saved probably 8k$ off original purchase price. Had to put up with a crumpled fender and a couple scratches.. but the checkbook felt much better.. besides.. that discount got me into a size of a tractor i probably wouldn't have been able to shoot for otherwise..

soundguy

And I am sure a new fender will not run $8K!! Easier to sleep at night with that kind of savings.

Good job.

 

[Soundguy]

In fact.. the old fender is still on there... i beat it out -mostly kinda straight-.. then tack welded it back on tot he fender frame.. and then rewired the headlamp to work ( headlamps in the fenderframes ).. loks.. ok.. but was cheap fix...

soundguy