Trying to Make a Good Tractor Choice

DrewL · Jun 13, 2005

I'm going to give an example of one of the "big 3" and parts availability. I tried to purchase a complete tilt cylinder on a 67 loader from a John Deere 750 MFWD tractor. They sold millions of these tractor/loader combinations. I went to two dealers so it wasn't misinformation. Both parts guys told me "No longer available". I asked if I could buy the parts to assemble a complete cylinder. Any and all parts are "no longer available" You can't even buy a repacking kit for these cylinders and these were built from the late 70's through the 80's. The advice I got was to go to Northern Hydraulics and buy two complete cylinders to solve this problem Point of this story is to show that there is no guarantee about parts availability

fish_wisperer · Jun 13, 2005

i was in your shoes a few months ago,,, mahindra beat everyone hands down. i fully intended to buy something else but i wanted a heavy tractor. noone else came close.

Akebalan · Jun 13, 2005

I spoke with a Kioti dealer (Hardin County Tractor ) today. The dealership is over 50 miles away and the phone quote I received from him is $18,585 for the DK35 tactor w/loader and mower & approximately $1000 more for the DK40 configured the same way.

The quote I received on the Kubota L3130 and L3430 configured the same way from a dealer 20 miles away was $18,130 and $19,350 configured the same way.

One question I have for any one of you tractor owners who has owned a few tractors over the years, is can one really tell the differance between the 3 HP differance between the L3130 and L3430 or any other 2 tractors with a narrow HP differance through performance. At what point do you realize the HP differance.

Thanks

Bob_Skurka · Jun 13, 2005

You only realize the difference when you are running PTO powered equipment. If you are operating a piece of equipment at the upper limit of the tractors capacity, you will benifit from the next size up on the HP food chain. If most of your work is loader or blade oriented, you would likely not notice any difference, at least not 98% of the time.

rockyridgefarm · Jun 13, 2005

My take on the 3430/3130 (same holds true for the Deere 4410/4310) is that the bump in performance is there if you really need to squeeze everything you can out of the package, say in a commercial landscape operation. Time is money, and seconds shaved are dollars to you bottem line. It would take a stopwatch to find the incremental time savings that a 4410 would give me over my 4310. The same should hold true with the 3130 vs 3430. Check Kubota attachment specs, you probably won't see any difference...

RedRocker · Jun 13, 2005

( OFF TOPIC for Dargo & Red Rocker New Holland is the number 1 producer of "farm equipment" in the world. Now that said, I don't know if they are the number 1 producer of tractors since "farm equipment" would be a much broader term. I've never heard that it was Massey Ferguson who was the #1 producer in any category, but they might be?
)

I'm so confused, I said check out Kioti, didn't get involved in the "who's #1" debate. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bob_Skurka · Jun 13, 2005

Oops, it was Dargo & Red Dog. Not Red Rocker.

Dargo · Jun 13, 2005

Alright RedRocker, don't try to hide! We know you're guilty! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RedRocker · Jun 13, 2005

( Alright RedRocker, don't try to hide! We know you're guilty! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

You'd be right most of the time, I'm innocent this time I tell ya!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

pmoon · Jun 13, 2005

Not sure why you'd use a 5' cutter and not a 6' cutter behind a tractor that was about 6' wide?

Alan L. · Jun 14, 2005

I'm pretty sure MF is not the #1 selling brand in terms of compact tractors.

LBrown59 · Jun 14, 2005

I have narrowed my choices down to a Kubota L3130 / 3330 (4wd) and JD 5103 (2wd), both are within budget based on local dealer quotes. I guess I'm trying to decide which will better suit my long term needs.
==============
This is an apples to oranges comparison and tells you nothing while leading to confusion.

How much is the JD with 4 wheel drive compared to the Kubota?

http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&postid=410243#post410243

RedDog · Jun 14, 2005

I'm pretty sure MF is not the #1 selling brand in terms of compact tractors. 

I can agree with that. But I'm talking about total tractor sales world wide.

The orginal poster stated that MF was a 2nd tier brand. MF is far from being a 2nd tier brand.

In my book Kubota is 2nd tier to MF! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I still believe the orginal poster needs 4wd even if he goes with the bigger JD.

RedDog

Dargo · Jun 14, 2005

Although it is not easy, I've looked up the highest volume tractor manufacturers world wide on the internet. I did find some interesting tidbits of knowledge, such as the fact that Mahindra made the Willy's Jeep for the U.S. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Anyway, the best I can gather, separating the sales pitches from fact, here is how the tractor manufacturers rank in world wide sales:
#1 is Case New Holland
#2 is Kubota
#3 is John Deere
#4 is Mahindra
#5 is Valtra (surprise here!)
#6 is Punjab (another surprise)

From there there is gobs and gobs of companies that claim the number 7 through 10 positions. However, MF is not there in the world wide rankings since 1980.

Oh yeah, I forgot to add this, I found Mahindra's mission statement of sorts to be interesting. Their goal is to produce tractors with the most brute strength and weight. They are "slightly" interested in new designs and changes, but are more interested in pure strength and power. On the other hand, Kubota Corp. expressed an interest in utilizing technology in their tractors not only for creature comforts, but productivity, and stronger tractors through better metal alloys giving the individual owner the ability to decide if they need to add weight or not. Two different ideas on how to accomplish the same objective.

Bob_Skurka · Jun 14, 2005

Dargo,

Your top 4 world wide confirm the top 4 world wide that I have seen reported several times and confirm what I found.

Dargo · Jun 14, 2005

How about that #5 and #6!? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I've never heard of either. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Bob_Skurka · Jun 14, 2005

Valtra has been around for a long time, I've heard of them over the years, never seen one, I think from Eastern Europe/Baltics?

I only looked into the top 5. I think there is some question as to who is #5, but I won't argue it, it was last fall/early winter when I really dug into it. The rankings really do muddy up as you go down the food chain.

BarryinMN · Jun 14, 2005

I believe Valtra is Swedish, owned by AGCO. They go from 50-60 hp to over 200. My local dealer sells them along with Zetor. I still bought Zetor as it has more weight & lifting capabilities than comparable tractors.

www.wollerequipment.com

Akebalan · Jun 14, 2005

Guys

Though as always I appreciate the good information you are giving me, the purpose of my original message was not to cause a debate about who the largest tractor manufacturers are in the world. I simply wanted to obtain the owner'e opinion of two tractor's I'm considering. Plus some recommendations on some of the competitors to the ones I've been looking at. I know that all the companies you listed make excellent products worldwide.

I guess what it all boils down to is wether to purchase a 30 - 35 HP / 4WD tractor that will suit my mowing needs now and may marginally meet my round bale movement needs in the future or purchase a 50 HP /2WD tractor that will marginally meet me mowing needs now but will meet my round bale movement needs in the future, plus will meet my haying needs in the future if I should deside to under take that endevor.

Thanks

Dargo · Jun 14, 2005

Oh, but we are having fun! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif See, I actually learned something. I honestly would have never guessed that Mahindra made the venerable WWII era Willy's Jeep! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Sorry to have gotten off of your topic some, but most all threads seem to do that a bit. You know your particular needs better than us. We can only tell you what we know. Besides, who better knows how to spend your money than you. Do what honestly feels best for you. Good luck!