What's the best Kubota equivalent to a NH TC35 OR

kemartin3 · Apr 25, 2003

Re: What\'s the best Kubota equivalent to a NH TC35 OR

You mention in your first post that "just don't like the local dealers much." I bought my first tractor about a year ago. If there is one thing that I, like most everyone else on this site, will say is "if you don't like the dealer, then don't buy something where you are going to have to deal with them." You will spend more time at the dealer than you think (implements, parts, supplies...).

I was waffling between the Kubota L3410, NH TC35, and Kioti DK35. The Kioti dropped out because there wasn't a dealer close enough that I thought would provide the support structure that I learned (from reading here) I would need. I liked the product just fine. At that point it was a tie between Kubota and NH. I ended up finding a clean used Kubota L3710 for a good price, so that ended the discussion. If you have a real strong preference for one brand over the other, then go with that. But if you don't, my vote is to go with the dealer that

- Looks you in the eye
- Talks straight
- Is going to spend the time after the sale (ask others in your area what happened AFTER they wrote the check and took delivery)
- Will deal on stuff (a dealer isn't going to last these days that will only sell at list)
- Has a clean shop (a good indicator of how they will value your expensive equipment).

Hope this helps,
Kevin

JATO_RaT · Apr 25, 2003

Re: What\'s the best Kubota equivalent to a NH TC35 OR

I suppose your right John, value will have different meanings to each. I was attempting to answer it with cost as the primary factor and most everything else secondly. If we stay more or less in the same category, that is 4WD, HP +/- say 5 HP, transmission choice, weight within 500 lbs, tire size, loader specs etc., we should expect to come up with a rough basis to compare. Whether your in New York or California, the retail sales price of Deere, Kubota and NH remain the same. From this we can get an idea of the most we should expect to pay and draw a conclusion what tractor models fall within our realm of afforability.

While Kubota does not post the retail sales price, TractorSmart and other sites do post Kubotas retail value. JD posts the most info about tractors, but in doing so, also open themselves up to the possiblity of making more errors. JD's website comparitor has figures that are either simple errors or intentionally misleading info about the specs on Kubotas. They use old data from previous models yet list it as the new models. They updated the model, but not the specs, ie., 4310 vs the 4330. The data they posted the last time I was there was very misleading, in JD's favor of course. I take it as a simple error that JD probably is no hurry to remedy, no problem, I know better. I had this discussion with RockyRidge awhile back. While I believe in buyer beware, I also think we have enough intelligence to see through the sales fluff and get into the meat of the matter. I find Kubotas info on the L30's informative, I find their comparison chart thrown together and pretty useless. On top of that, a lot of categories are just not important to me yet some folks will eat it right up as a make or break decision. Give me a great transmission, diesel engine, a great loader, good steering, and a few other items, and in my opinion, you have the makings of a good tractor. I believe all three brands address these areas fairly well.

I also think that anyone buying any of these three brands, is assured of having a good tractor if not a great tractor. The other brands like Iseki, Kioti etc., may also very easily be representative of the quality of the "Big Three", but in my search for the best tractor, I simply did not investigate them for several reasons, number one being no dealer near me, others being that I have no input other then TBN to get opinions from. To tell you the truth, I have yet to see someone with a NH Boomer in my area. Plenty of Kubotas and some Deeres though.

Lastly, we have an incredible number of used dealers poping up left and right. An old gas station is now selling Branson and Century as I recall as I sped past. Another up the road is selling some maroon colored tractors, another up in Grass Valley is selling rebuilt Yanmars (my neighbor bought one), another site near a basketball stadium near me (where the Sacramento Kings play) has easily over 150 used refurbished tractors like Iseki, Mitsubishi imported from Japan and about 15 years old but in remarkably good shape. One thing that appears to be quite common with all of these is no ROPS, I find it amazing that they could even be sold without one. I guess some folks find them to be quite the bargain, but if it rolls and crushes you, I gotta wonder if that may influence ones next purchase should that even be an option. Thanks, Rat... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Darren · Apr 25, 2003

Comment on tractor selection.

The first time I bought a tractor I was looking for MFWD and enough horsepower to do anything I wanted. I wasn't thinking about mowing a lawn but more along the lines of cutting hay and keeping brush down.

I looked long and hard at ordering a low profile JD 6000 series because I wanted the maximum hp I could get in a smaller tractor. I realize a bunch of folks' eyes are going to pop at my use of the term smaller. But compared to 100 to 200+hp ag tractors, a JD 6000 series isn't big. The $30 to 40K price was way more than I could convince myself to sink in a piece of iron.

I ended up finding a used Ford 5600 locally that met my expectations. I ran that tractor several years and finally came to the conclusion there was no perfect tractor for me. The 5600 isn't exactly a compact and it sits high off the ground which means the pucker factor kicks in early. Add to that its size which makes doing the do-si-do around trees with a trailer a very absorbing experience. I still use the 5600 regularly.

With that in mind, I did a much better job on my homework. I looked at attachments first. It turned out that some attachments were limited to 30 pto hp. That set the hp requirement. Because I wanted the option of running a MMM, that further limited my choices. I also wanted a small tractor for maneuverability with the seat reasonably close to the ground. From that point on the reliability issue was key because there's no dealer of any sort closer than at least an hour one way. I wasn't planning to ever take the tractor back to a dealer. In fact I bought the tractor 400 miles and three states removed from my location in an area where there are lots of competing dealers for that brand.

So what's the point? Don't get caught up in specifications. You can drive yourself nuts. Look at the work you'll be doing. Sort out the brands. That was my easiest choice. Then zero in on the model that will handle what you have planned.

When it comes to comparing different brand specifications, if you just have to do that, take a close look at the weight of the tractors you're considering, All the hp in the world won't do sh*t if you don't have the weight behind it. In my book, weight is a key point after selecting based on pto hp. I'll go for more weight and less hp over more hp and less weight.

Hoeman00 · May 3, 2003

Re: What\'s the best Kubota equivalent to a NH TC35 OR

<font color="blue"> what's the best Kubota equivalent?...

</font>

They don't have one!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just kidding, what u like and the dealer is the most important.

Anonymous Poster · May 6, 2003

Re: What\'s the best Kubota equivalent to a NH TC35 OR

I was in your spot this time last year. I really wanted the TC35D, but at the end of the day, I bought a Kubota L3410HST. I wouldn't change for a minute. I am continuously amazed at the power this little unit has. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I'm not saying the TC35D was not a good machine, however I found after driving the TC40D, I no longer wanted the 35. Both the 35 and 40 are big machines, and my concern was mowing near my house. I'd hate to have additional ground pressure cave in a foundation. Probably not an issue, but I found the Kubota lineup to be as powerful with a smaller stance - can get in tighter places.

Actually, in all honesty - As I am a bowtie guy, I couldn't buy a Ford even if it is labeled NewHolland.

Anonymous Poster · May 22, 2003

Re: What\'s the best Kubota equivalent to a NH TC35

Dazed, I actually did buy the TC35 on 5/5... sorry...been to busy playingg... (hmmmm, i mean working) to let you folks know... I'll be looking to get the pictures out here some time soon. I've been very pleased thus far. I do agree with some of what you stated however. When I had my 8n, maneuvering in those tight spots was easier... .the size of this beastie takes some getting used to /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif