Comparison Standard vs premium tractors

[Steppenwolfe]

Tractors are like trucks. There's the base and there is the Platinum model. To each according to his needs...

 

[paulfun9]

For me its not about all the premium features but some sure are nice.

Stall guard, engine matched to the HSt.. that E-Hydro crap JD has, and all the like minded stuff is basically worthless to me. Extendable links, a comfortable seat, good position of controls, and power steering are what is important. I must admit that having the floor mat does help keep my legs from getting numb but that is something I could add myself to any tractor and probably for a lot less than the factory sells it for.

I would be just as happy adding power steering a floor mat and extendable links to an old tractor as I am with my newer stuff but a better seat is something I have put on almost every tractor I ever owned and most didn't need something super expensive to make them livable

 

[daugen]

Tractors are like trucks. There's the base and there is the Platinum model. To each according to his needs...

Agreed. Funny, we can get dozens of high end audio speakers in our cars and trucks today; the Alpine system in my Ram truck is remarkably good for oem, and what they give you in a tractor
is such junk to be appalling. No platinum audio systems. That one company that makes most of them is unimpressive. No Sirius XM. Now before you all remind me this is a tractor..., on those long mowing days, or particularly plowing snow which is pretty quiet work, in a cab which isn't too noisy, such that you don't have to wear ear protection, and would like something other than FM, you simply cannot buy a stereo upgrade. I replaced the tiny ceiling speakers with some Polk 4 inches and the vocals are better but bass of course is totally lacking.

Let's see. My Kubota has cruise control but it isn't adaptive. If I drive into my barn the barn will lose; no autobraking. My seat is neither ventilated nor heated. And frankly, four years ago, oem Kubota seats were pretty dismal. But spending over a grand to get a Grammer installed was silly for me due to low seat time. Though I know a few guys have installed them and love them. I use a fancy gel seat pad instead. Not the same though, you bounce on top instead of being supported all around like in a car. With a very bad back and arthritis all over, I look for some comfort when I can get it, and Kubota sure gave me none with that oem seat. And no optional seat.

Front and rear windshield wipers, just like my Outback. Heated rear window too. Heat, air, lots more ac ducts in tractor than car. Power steering, manual brakes, that's ok, hardly ever use them with a hydro and 4wd. Three speed tranny, just like my first 55 Chevy with a three on the tree, but shifting on the hydrostatic fly is very questionable and I sure wouldn't try it... Nice shiny hood in front of me with a hood ornament too. High beams, low beams, driving lights, turn signals same page on all that. I'd say my tractor was a Laramie or a Silverado, not a Platinum. Now if it were the platinum edition, I bet I would have gotten an all chrome SMV sign... And no chrome exhaust tips for my Kubota either. We all know they greatly improve engine performance. We learned that at age 16.

It's coming though. Our tractors will get fancier and fancier, and not just electronic farming, which has been here for decades on large ag tractors, but gizmos and luxury features inside the cab. Where's our Eddie Bauer editions? (maybe Cabella had one?)

One of things we like about tractors is, normally, how stone reliable they are. The more we add electronics, optional equipment, complexity, hard to imagine reliability overall not changing for the worse. When will be get an OBD port on our tractors? ( I'm sure the big electronic engines now have something like that)

I think what we all might like for some extra money is a little more hydraulic capacity or a little easier to use three point hitch. Kubota's extenda-arms are great. Without them, the Massey is a bear to hook up to. So some features, premium or not, well they might be considered mandatory optional extras.
It's a monkey see monkey do business so if JD comes up with something new, Kubota, CNH and others won't be far behind. One makes the cab bigger, then the next one does.
All good for us.

I'd like a premium tractor to come with a ten year 5000 hour warranty. Wonder what that would cost.
Longer warranties would always make me take a second look. Free maintenance for the first five years. oh boy, that would be pricey...

The tractor marketing folks still have a long way to come to keep up with the car guys.

 

[DieselBound]

Great post, daugen!

I've got the best of both worlds: I have an absolute bare bones B7800 (though it has HST) and now a cabbed Kioti NX5510. I will never part with my Kubota! (it can do things that very few other tractors can do) The Kioti was needed for more power; that, and as I get older, I need something that doesn't slam me around like the B7800 does. Having a cab has allowed me to install a monitor with cameras so I can look behind me without having to strain my neck (which has been horribly compromised from twisting around while backing up and slamming up and down in the seat). The cab added about $3k to the price. Doctors bills add up quicker...

 

[murphy1244]

Great post, daugen!

I've got the best of both worlds: I have an absolute bare bones B7800 (though it has HST) and now a cabbed Kioti NX5510. I will never part with my Kubota! (it can do things that very few other tractors can do) The Kioti was needed for more power; that, and as I get older, I need something that doesn't slam me around like the B7800 does. Having a cab has allowed me to install a monitor with cameras so I can look behind me without having to strain my neck (which has been horribly compromised from twisting around while backing up and slamming up and down in the seat). The cab added about $3k to the price. Doctors bills add up quicker...

Not knowing much about a B7800 but what can it do that others can't?

 

[daugen]

Not knowing much about a B7800 but what can it do that others can't?

:stirthepot::stirthepot:

 

[murphy1244]

:stirthepot::stirthepot:

No not at all.I don't know a thing about the kubota B 7800's

 

[DieselBound]

Not knowing much about a B7800 but what can it do that others can't?

Maneuverability (fit in really tight spots) combined with power. Small-framed and 30hp. A Mighty-Mouse of the tractor world.

 

[daugen]

No not at all.I don't know a thing about the kubota B 7800's

ok, but if your nose is growing longer, I called it...
you know way more about tractors than you let on.

 

[DieselBound]

Not knowing much about a B7800 but what can it do that others can't?

Using loader bucket to hold up roof section as I dismantled the shed:


Maneuverability (fit in really tight spots) combined with power. Small-framed and 30hp. A Mighty-Mouse of the tractor world.

 

[daugen]

View attachment 490602

Maneuverability (fit in really tight spots) combined with power. Small-framed and 30hp. A Mighty-Mouse of the tractor world.

Absolutely!
well said

 

[DieselBound]

Sorry for the double post (meant to edit to use a different picture and got messed up).

 

[murphy1244]

ok, but if your nose is growing longer, I called it...
you know way more about tractors than you let on.

Stop picking on my nose. Lots of brands make smaller machines. I thought it might do something really cool.

 

[DieselBound]

murphy, do you know of another small-framed 30hp machine? Just curious...

But, for a small fee I'd show you videos of the real tricks that it can do (I have to recoup my training expenses )

 

[murphy1244]

murphy, do you know of another small-framed 30hp machine? Just curious...

But, for a small fee I'd show you videos of the real tricks that it can do (I have to recoup my training expenses )

kioti ck series, bobcat 230,235,225. I am sure new holland and deere have something.How much for videos?

 

[daugen]

Doesn't Deere have a feature leg up with their AutoHitch arrangement?
Granted only on SCUT/CUT; always wondered how that pto shaft hookup arrangement worked.
reminded me of inflight fueling for aircraft. Wonder how it holds up to repeated near misses.
Now that to me is a very premium feature, particularly if no one else has it.

 

[DieselBound]

kioti ck series, bobcat 230,235,225. I am sure new holland and deere have something.How much for videos?

Bobcat 230 (I'm assuming the others are similarly spec'd) is wider (2 1/2") and doesn't have as much ground clearance (5 1/2"). And if you need less weight (such as driving into small buildings like I did)...

The Kioti CKs are close, but still just slightly bigger (and weigh more; note that I don't have anything against weight- adding ballast to the B7800's rears was a godsend). And now that I'm a Kioti snob D) I appreciate the CKs: I looked at one while hanging around the dealer's and was really impressed with it.

The ground clearance is a big deal here. I've four-wheeled the B7800 (literally climbing on top of all sorts of brush). Yeah, folks poo-poo such behaviors, but this machine has done a lot of it and I've had very few issues of problems stemming from doing it!

The B7800 was built to be beat. Targeted for the commercial/rental market (my understanding). If I could beat my new Kioti like I've done with my B7800 (and get away with it) I'd be in heaven!

How much?, you ask? If you have to ask then you can't afford it:laughing: (man, I've got pictures of stuff that I've done that I'd get in trouble for if I posted publicly! of course, the truly troubling ones would be the result of my activities with excavators )

 

[Texasmark]

It did seem odd that the Deere doesn't have split brakes or a loader that is removable. How much are steering brakes useful with four wheel drive and a loader? I am leaning orange because all the plastic on the JD seems crappy and the plastic hood on JD lawn tractor will not go the distance. And my Kubota dealer is better.

Don't knock the JD plastic. I have a 15 or so year old L110 hydro riding lawn mower that I use for my "gator". I attached an old freezer wire basket (a big one) on the hood and into that loaded all sorts of things, paying no attention to weight....if I could lift it to get it in the basket it went. I can supply a picture if it's all that big of a deal. Possibly in sub zero climates, the plastic may be brittle but I'm not in one of those so temp is not a consideration.

On which; your money, your application, your decision. I opted for the lower price range Branson as I like their product line and don't need the customer support others may require that would direct them toward the larger dealer establishments that can provide services like on site regular maintenance activities...oil and filter changes, etc.

Then I opted for the decked out version for my main work tractor and just recently bought the lowest size/amenities model for my around the farm chores which only require the basic functions. Again, my money, my application, my decision.

 

[mike69440]

murphy, do you know of another small-framed 30hp machine? Just curious...

But, for a small fee I'd show you videos of the real tricks that it can do (I have to recoup my training expenses )

It is not quite 30 HP but a Mahindra Max28 is stronger than a B7800, but the HST is only 2 speed. If HST I pick Kubota, for 3pt and FEL capacity Max28.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I reckon it depends primarily on your personal preference and for what application your doing. I didn't like the 3032 or 3038 for the reasons that the loader doesn't come off, there was no gear option, the aluminum rear end sounds scary, the differential lock built into the brake without individual wheel brakes and the rear wheels aren't adjustable. I have an older JD 4110 that I love and just got a Kubota L2501 that makes me happy. In the end, try what you think you like, do lots of research and buy whatever makes you happy.