Northern Tractor comparison

[careyb]

Northern has a 20 hp 4wd tractor with FEL and box blade for $8999. Is this a chinese tractor? Would that be a fair price or should I keep looking? I've been looking for something like a kioti 1914 or kubota 7500 and thought this compared fairly well.
http://www.northerntractor.com/20pkg.html

I've also seen the Kubota 7500DT with LA272 FEL, Bush Hog SQ480 cutter, and Tufline 4' box blade for 11,950. It's here in TX so I'd get hit with sales tax (unless I come up a genuine agricultural use).
http://www.deenimplement.com/monthly_special.htm

A dealer in S. TX (Riveras) has the Kioti 1914 with FEL, 4' blade, 4' shredder and trailer for 12,995 + tax
http://www.riverasmachinery.com/kioti_20_30hp_package_specials.html

I would appreciate any guidance you might have. I've got 3 acres that is very rough but not hilly except for one area around the ponds. I need to rough cut about 2 1/4 acres, clean the ponds, and I want to excavate a trail about 4' wide and 2 - 3" deep around the entire property and fill it with mulch for a jogging/ walking path. I expect whatever I buy to be the last one I buy, but price is still a major constraint.

I've been lurking for awhile so I know you guys are very knowledgable and not shy about sharing. Lead me to the path of enlightment if you please. Thanks for your help.

 

[ByuBill]

If you are comparing the Koiti, Rivera's deal can be beat. Try, O'Bryan Implement Sales in Owensboro, Ky.'http://www.kioti.com/'

Kioti LB1914 Compact Tractor Package ... only $10,695
Kioti LB1914 (20.5 engine hp, 17.5 pto hp) 4WD Tractor with industrial tires
60" Finish Mower
48" Rotary Tiller
16' dual-axle trailer with brakes on one axle, treated wood floor, ramps, jack, turn signals and brake lights, used tires. I am sure that if you ask, you can get
the attachments that you desire. You may want to check out Carver Equipment 'http://www.carverequipment.com/ '
Good luck with your purchase.
Bill

 

[Tractor_Barn]

20HP tractor/fel/5'box blade...$7570.00.

 

[careyb]

Thanks Byubill, O'Bryans pkg doesn't include the FEL, Riveras does (also don't have to pay $200 extra to get new tires on the trailer as far as I know). I'll have to get them to price out the same equipment (- tiller, +FEL) - thanks for the tip, I haven't seen that site before. I guess I need to ask Riveras about their trailer also. It's good drive from my house to the southern tip of texas (560 mi) or to kentucky (775 mi)

As far as the jinma, is there a web site for that showing the equipment? Do they have sales tax up there? Is that trailer road worthy? That's a long haul also.

Thanks guys, the more info the better.

 

[Bird]

Carey, before you seriously consider buying a tractor from Northern Tool, you might want to talk to them about service, parts availability, manuals, etc. I'm not saying it isn't a good deal, but be cautious. (You must be visiting the store at I-30 and Beltline Road in Garland/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif). I've bought several things there myself.

 

[jasonf]

Be careful, I don't remember hearing any reports on the NORTRAC tractors. When I looked at the website, I found this: 6 month limited warranty on parts and labor. Consumer use 6 month limited warranty on parts and labor. I believe this means that If you have a problem, the warranty is only for 12 months, the first 6 they cover parts and labor, after that they will ship you the new replacement parts, but YOU have it install them for the next 6 months. This may or may not be ok for you depending on your mechanical skills. Also where do you go to have the labor covered in the first 6 months? WWW.CHINADIESEL.COM also has cheap tractors, they are HARDY tractors and have been around fo a while, but I'm not sure on the warranty, I think they send you the parts and you put them in for warranty work.

 

[careyb]

Yea, I've got to find out about the warranty site and details but I'm thinking that if the power & reliability are anywhere NEAR that of the kioti or kubota then I don't mind doing a fair amount of the labor myself if they'll ship me the parts. Definately need to do some research on that.

If I could avoid the sales tax and shipping then that $9,000 vs the $12k - $13k is a huge difference. Am I way off track here or am I comparing similar apples, um, I mean tractors? I checked CTOA and didn't see too much on the Northern Tractor, nothing really bad. Certainly nothing $3,000 bad.

I'd love to help keep a local dealer in business but I don't have that kind of excess funds. There is a used Kubota dealer near me and I'm going to try and see what he's got. Only problem is he's only open when I'm at work (I work a LOT!).

 

[PaulT]

I too, once had my eye on those Northern tractors (I bought a Kub). After looking at the and the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.chinadepot.com/wb274.html>terra cylcone, at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.chinadepot.com>www.chinadepot.com</A>, I would give these guys a hard look, too. Although they say some of the stuff is only available by the container load, if you look carefully, they also sell samples/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

 

[PitbullMidwest]

2thdoc posted his experience with Jinma awhile back, you might want to review it as you make your tractor decision. You can read it <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=genbuy&Number=113621&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post113621> here </A>.

The Chinese tractors have a reputation as rugged, simple, get it done machines but they also have a "what's going to be wrong next time I try to start it" reputation. The guys on CTOA made no bones about this. After looking at these tractors for over 2 years, talking to everyone I could find that actually owned one I finally decided that they were not for me. The main reason is I would rather work with my tractor than work on my tractor. The money saved upfront will eventually catch up with you in downtime and labor (your's or someone else's). I've heard it over and over from owners, these Chinese tractors aren't for everyone.

 

[jasonf]

Check out these post on the other board about Nortrac Tractors. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://jplan.com/cgi-bin/tractor/fullThread.pl?parentnum=20984&catname=Size%20Tractor%20Needed&catcode=SZ#23421/>http://jplan.com/cgi-bin/tractor/fullThread.pl?parentnum=20984&catname=Size%20Tractor%20Needed&catcode=SZ#23421/</A>

 

[careyb]

Hmmm, here is what I got back from the people at China Depot. I hope this is not the same tractor as the Nortrac.

Hi Carey:
We have suspended selling Chinese tractors in the USA due to quality considerations and supplier problems.
Thanks,
Walter H. Barrett President,
www.chinadepot.com

 

[MikePA]

I'm impressed by his honesty. No beating around the bush, quality and supplier problems.

 

[JCooper]

I really don't think that is why he is not selling them. From what I've heard, a dealer of these Chinese tractors can only import 200 units per horsepower rating. Meaning, if you import 200 20 h.p. tractors, then that's all you're allowed. It has to do with EPA. But all aside, these are supposed to be pretty good tractors. I mean you get a WHOLE lot for the money. The Jinma brand is supposed to be China's best tractor. They are marketed under different names here in the U.S. A dealer can name a Jinma whatever he pleases. I'd like to have about 20 of them to sell and call them "studly" tractors. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[JerryG]

I really don’t think that is the reason that he quite them either. I don't think that there is a limit like that. My friends at Agracat import 100 tractors at a time. Some months they receive at least 200 per month. I think that within the next year or so the only new Jinma dealer in the states will be Agracat.

 

[SHIFTY]

CareyB
If you are interested in the Avenger tractors by DFAM,I have the 38 horsepower tractors in stock,8 speed trans,live pto,2 stage clutch,direct injection 3 cylinder diesel,wheel weights,rear work lights and a Koyker 160 loader,1500 lbs lift capasity,Rops,1 yr mfg parts warranty 11,900.00,yes you dont get the tilt wheel,drink holder and the labor warranty but you do get into a strong nofrills workhorse at a fair price

 

[frank_f15]

carey: can understand the need to conserve funds, but sometime less expensive, is not less expensive.u may be better off getting a used one(proven record). i bought mine used froman out of state dealer, saved the sales tax and got one heck of a machine.of course state line for me was only 70 mi. away, your case may be differnent. i found mine at
www.ironsolutions.com then click on used and type in what u think u are looking for. never know what will pop up. hope this helps.

 

[JCooper]

There's loopholes around just about anything. But in fact, there is a limit. I looked into importing these tractors to U.S. I have been on the phone with EPA officials. Have all of their faxes too. The limit is as said above. Now that's the legal way of doing it. Like I said, there are ways around it. Those Agracat's are the same as the ones at Northern Tool. Their both Jinma tractors. EPA came up with alot of jargon in 2000. So alot of dealers are importing new 2002 tractors with 1999 engine tags to bypass the EPA emissions standards

 

[dsulli]

The Northern Tractors are Jinma. I also looked at them. The price is good, but there are some bad stories about reliability. I would also ask you to think about the potential for resale before you buy. All of us tractor lovers know how well Kubota, Ford/New Holland and JD hold their resale value. If you ever try to sell the Chinese tractor, you may find that one of the big three might actually be cheaper to own in the long run.

 

[Buck]

but price is still a major constraint

You will pay more for Kubota, Deere or Holland, but if you finance, you'll pay much less per month!

Why can these companies do this?

It's because the resale is so good.

Bottom line: Your net worth is less affected. Now, which is more expensive?

Buck

 

[JohnS]

Careyb,

If you are looking for info on Jinma and Nortracs, please see my website: http://johnstractor.homestead.com/
Please check-out the survey results and the "General Jinma Info". I have not heard from any disatisfied Nortrac owners. 2thdocs issues were also discussed here: http://worldcrossing.com/WebX?14@222.aTIcdvrbgwj^2761@.ef183a8
His Jinma was sold by a chain outlet store. As already stated, they are not for everyone.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me.