Tractor Decision Process

[scouter16]

Hi all,

I am in the process of looking buying a new tractor or a few (waiting for some owed money to be settled). First ill give you some background information. We have a small haying operation in NH producing 10,000 small square bales a year. Most of the work done is one the side by myself and father, the last thing we want to do is fight with equipment. We are looking to get 1 tractor for the main grunt work, tillage, mowing and baling. We currently run a John Deere 5320 open station tractor as our main machine that does all the work, and its a bit small for what we do, we also run an Oliver 1555, Oliver 1950 GM and International 574. We currently do not have a mower conditioner but it is a thing to come. Saying that i could say we are looking for a tractor with a min of 70-80 pto horse power. We would like to have a cab tractor as my father is getting older now. Our biggest notable implements as of right now would be 12' Deere Disks, NH 570 with kicker and towing 18x9 kicker wagons, 1 Ton spreader, looking to purchase a Krone or Kuhn mower conditioner in the future and would like to build the longevity into the new tractor.

We have narrowed down our options to Deere and Kubota due to dealer network.
Right now we are looking towards: (rough pricing)
John Deere 5100E ~58K
John Deere 6105D ~ 68K
Kubota M9960 ~ 52
Kubota M108S ~59k
Kubota M100 ~65k

I know there's weight differences and class differences. I would like to hear your input on the models, and reviews if you own one. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. I don't want to spend the extra money if i don't need to. I rather spend money on buying 3 new tractors than 2 but i don't want to buy cheap either. I will be trading in the 1950 and 574 in.

I am looking into buying a cab 4wd tractor for rake tedding and around the farm work around 40-60 hp, and one 2wd for raking and tedding, but that is dependent on the big boy purchase. I need at least 3 good tractors to continue.

Thanks for your help
Ryan

 

[DarkBlack]

Massey has a decent foothold in NH, did you already rule them out?

 

[coolnature]

I was also looking hard at the 9960 and 5100E but it looks like I will be turning blue, NH T4.105.

 

[bigbull338]

for the money id go with the 108s kubota.i bleed kubota orange.but we also have a cabed 4x4 6105d jd.its only job is pulling the round baler.

 

[Navasot]

What part of NH?

 

[scouter16]

I have ruled out Massey, as i have not been impressed with what i hear and know about them. The dealership that used to be big around here went out due to poor service. My neighbor bought a new 85hp Massey with the bigger loader and the lift cylinders bent picking up a 1 ton fertilizer bag. I also drive his tractor on occasion and i just dont like where levers and what not are located, plus the transmission has a lag from forward to reverse.

As for NH i haven't been too into there tractors lately, i'm not sure really. I would consider them as we run NH balers and have a good relationship with the dealer. I know i was in the cab of a Lean and Mean series tractor they produced a while back and they had the left hand shifter next to the seat which i didn't like. I haven't had the opportunity to be in the seat of anything else sense then. They have a cheaper feel to them is what my original opinon was. I unfortunitly did not get out to empire farm days this year and did not get a chance to look things over, as a lot of manufactures did some updating.

We are located in the seacoast area of NH near Maine, Dover, Rochester NH area.

 

[scouter16]

I was also looking hard at the 9960 and 5100E but it looks like I will be turning blue, NH T4.105.

How do you like the NH T4.105?
Any disappointments? issues? etc.

 

[scouter16]

for the money id go with the 108s kubota.i bleed kubota orange.but we also have a cabed 4x4 6105d jd.its only job is pulling the round baler.

Bigbull do you have a M108S? How do you like it compared to the Deere? if you don't have one how do you like the Deere?

 

[Navasot]

Have you gave Mahindra a look? Some don't realize they are in the 100hp class these days. Its called the Mforce 100S and P both are in the price range your looking for. Out of the ones you listed id go with the JD 5100E.

 

[coolnature]

How do you like the NH T4.105?
Any disappointments? issues? etc.

It's not mine yet but I am about ready to pull the trigger. I like the cab and control layout on the blue better than the orange and green. The T4 series weight is right there with the 5100E and a lot heavier than the 9960. 2 other things I really don't like about the 9960: exhaust stack is right in the line of sight and the front axle has very little structural bracing. The hood on the 5100E is too high and does not slope much; harder for me to see loader down low. Mr. Deere also charges extra for the right side door, corner exhaust, quick adjust rear stabilizers, exterior mirrors, etc. The 3PH capacity of the Deere is much less than the orange and blue. Another thing I like about the NH is the gauge cluster tilts with the steering wheel and it has the sun roof so you can see the raised loader really well. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion and I know that both Kubota and JD make excellent tractors.