Tractor Ratings

[JimWolf]

I have been thinking of replacing my main tractor and have been looking for ratings or tractors in the 30-40hp range - general work for a small farm, haying, backhoe, loader. The sites I have found seem mainly to be telling about features and how wonderful each tractor is. Others are reports by individuals on their experience with a particular tractor or brand - interesting but not that useful. I want something like a Consumer Reports of farm tractors. Let's hear the good but also the problems. Anyone got any suggestions for sites or other resources?

 

[KevT]

IMO you are here. You are asking to much with too many variables. From what I have read, it is more a Dealer Support issue than tractor quality. Meaning all tractors are pretty much equal when comparing weight ratio to HP. I know I went from a 26 HP JD to a 37HP Kubota and love it. I hated dealing with the JD dealer in the area so was willing to go with any brand other than them. Mine is a new "Tier4" which you will read people hating, I don't have a problem with it and any new tractor you get will have it.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have been thinking of replacing my main tractor and have been looking for ratings or tractors in the 30-40hp range - general work for a small farm, haying, backhoe, loader. The sites I have found seem mainly to be telling about features and how wonderful each tractor is. Others are reports by individuals on their experience with a particular tractor or brand - interesting but not that useful. I want something like a Consumer Reports of farm tractors. Let's hear the good but also the problems. Anyone got any suggestions for sites or other resources?

In short most of the new tractors are pretty good. If you can narrow down your choices to a few tractors you can then read up on the experiences people have with those models. There is no best tractor for everyone.

 

[jeff9366]

You are asking to much with too many variables.

It is more a Dealer Support issue than tractor quality. Meaning all tractors are pretty much equal when comparing weight ratio and HP.

Mine is a new "Tier4" which you will read people hating, I don't have a problem with it and any new tractor you get will have it.

I second KEVT's thoughts.

Let's hear the good but also the problems.

The main problems are NO MAINTENANCE and OPERATOR ERROR/ABUSE during operation. These are impossible to quantify as you desire.

80% of dealer performed repair revenue comes from 20% of operators.

There are more than 4,000,000 threads in the TBN archive. If you learn how to search the archive almost every imaginable tractor subject is thoroughly covered.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Very good advice was just given. There is no universal 1 through 10 scale on tractors. Best bet is to find the dealers closest, figure out what hp you need,then go sit on some machines. Also take into account any specific requirements that you have such as loader capacity or scv numbers.

 

[rmorey]

Very good advice was just given. There is no universal 1 through 10 scale on tractors. Best bet is to find the dealers closest, figure out what hp you need,then go sit on some machines. Also take into account any specific requirements that you have such as loader capacity or scv numbers.

I think that is good advice. Go sit on a few, drive a few and operate their attachments. One will jump out at you for ease of operation vs cost vs dealer support. :thumbsup:

It's probably going to boil down to "I like the seat on that one, or the loader joystick feels wrong on that one".

 

[AxleHub]

I have been thinking of replacing my main tractor and have been looking for ratings or tractors in the 30-40hp range - general work for a small farm, haying, backhoe, etc.
. . .
Others are reports by individuals on their experience with a particular tractor or brand - interesting but not that useful.
. . . .

Let's hear the good but also the problems.

I'll offer a bit different perspective. For 9 years I studied and planned on buying either a Kubota or a Yanmar because I saw them at big state fairs each year and liked their features. But my wife was shocked when after all this time and many brochures . . I ordered a Massey instead.

Quite frankly . . It wasn't because of a dealer or salesman . . In fact quite the opposite. Its because I kept reading the specs and general and specific threads on tbn and some others. Then I sat on them and visited 6 brands. And then I read some more to discover what salesmen either didn't tell me or they didn't know.

My point is . . see a couple brands . . Then start reading commentary on those brands and start threads like you did here in the brand areas. Ask questions . . knowing there is maybe some bias to the answers but also some good info and links.

If you depend on dealers and salespeople . . you won't find out things that make a fun and complete decision. In my personal situation . . I would never have known dozens of important things I needed to know from all the reviews and salespeople.

A seat sitting is not just a seat . . its the floor and pedals and controls and 20 other things. TBN and a few others can tell you about what brochures don't. And when you have it narrowed down to a
couple models . . then drive it a bit to confirm your thoughts.

Remember . . all of us have opinions . . what counts is after you get your choice . . what is your opinion of what you own

I started with Tractor Reviews, Videos, Pictures and Tractor Prices for some specific model reviews which then took me to others imbedded inthe reviews.

.

 

[GManBart]

I have been thinking of replacing my main tractor and have been looking for ratings or tractors in the 30-40hp range - general work for a small farm, haying, backhoe, loader. The sites I have found seem mainly to be telling about features and how wonderful each tractor is. Others are reports by individuals on their experience with a particular tractor or brand - interesting but not that useful. I want something like a Consumer Reports of farm tractors. Let's hear the good but also the problems. Anyone got any suggestions for sites or other resources?

Unfortunately, there really isn't anything like this available. Probably the best way to simulate it will be to narrow down your search to the brands/dealers that are within a distance acceptable to you (we all have different standards there). Once you've narrowed down the brands, sort out the models that fit your basic requirements. That will give you your likely candidates list. Do searches here on those models, and see what people have to say about them....you'll get the good and the bad. After that, go visit the dealers for some test drives. You will find that some things feel right, and some things are annoying....just the way it is. Something I don't even think about might really bother you, and vice-versa. It may take more than one trip to a dealer because a trip to a different dealer might make you think about something new....they understand that.

The good thing is that it's almost hard to pick a bad tractor in the 30-40hp range.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The only thing I would recommend is to stay away from anything built in China regardless of the brand. The quality is just not there yet. You can find out which models of any brand are made in China by searching TBN or by just looking at the data plates on the tractors.
I think the Korean made tractors are some of the better quality ones and they are mostly priced right. Kioti and LS are a couple of brands that many folks have. TYM is also made there but not too many TBN members seem to have them.
I think KAMA is Chinese made and also at least one model of John Deere is made in china which may be better than other brands but it is still Chinese made and contributing to the Chinese economy which we don't need any more of than absolutely necessary

 

[Creamer]

KevT is correct "you are here". This is the best on the web. As others have said there is no best for everyone. My little 1710 is 30+ years old and may be scoffed at by a lot on this board but it has served me very well for 22 years and I see no reason to change as I have gotten used to its quirks. You know what you are planning to use it for and when you get on one you will see how it will work for you. My only suggestion is find one that you think is just the right size and then buy 5-10 Hp more because when you get one you will find many more things to do with it.