Tractors!!

[Kias]

Any tractor people out there?

I just got done plowing my driveway with my 'ole Toro Wheelhorse. It's from the time when Toro had just purchased wheelhorse, so it's not a true wheelhorse, but it's not as bad as the newer ones.

I think it's time to step up to a sub-compact. The little 18hp lawn mower with a snow plow is getting ridiculous. Plus, boy could we use a real tractor around this property!

I'm kinda avoiding the tractor forums, cause wow, do those guys get all up in arms about tractors! The Kubota guys get very upset that Mahindra is marketing their "compact" tractor as a sub-compact tractor, though the bigger Mahindra costs about the same as the smaller Kubota. :congratulatory:

Anyway, I think I got it narrowed down to either the Mahindra Max 28XL or a Kubota B2620. Though I'm really leaning towards the Mahindra. I have to stay away from Deere, they're just crazy expensive for what you get.

Anybody have any civilized thoughts? If not, no biggy.

 

[Camera Fun]

There's also CaseIH & Ford/NewHolland companies. No matter what brand or size, I would recommend you consider front wheel assist. Beneficial additions could also include a loader, a rear blade, a mower (belly mounted or rear mounted), etc. If you won't have need for such things, you might want to consider a side-by-side ATV such as Polaris Ranger; you can get an enclosed cab with a heater and a snow plow/blade. The Ranger might also be helpful around your property. Don't forget to consider proximity to a reputable dealer for service; something cheaper up front may be more expensive later.

 

[Kias]

I've looked at CaseIH, and their tractors start at 55hp. WAY outta my price range.
I've ruled out the Boomer tractors for one reason or another.

I'll be outfitting the tractor with a FEL, belly mower, plow, tiller, and post hole digger to start. (Vineyard going in soon, need lots of holes!)
I've only needed to dig a hole once in my life, a simple rental unit got the job done. So no backhoe. If we're going to start having winters like we used to when I was a kid, I might think about a snow blower in the future too. So, 23 to 24k out the door should be doable.

I have a 700 foot driveway sitting on seven acres. A tractor is starting to be a must as I age. Things are just getting harder and harder to do manually. LOL

I'm smack dab in the middle of Deere country, I could probably go outside blindfolded and throw a rock in any direction and hit a Deere dealer! I'd only get a Deere if my income was dependent on the tractor. It's not, so I'm not. I've thought long and hard about the proximity to a good dealer. The GOOD Kubota dealer is 20 miles, and the GOOD Mahindra dealer is 49 miles. Both just a leisurely country drive. However, having counted how many times I've actually used a dealer for service in the past 30ahem some years for anything with a motor, I can come up with a grand total of zero times. I'm a certified aircraft mechanic, and I just don't let other people work on my stuff. If it has oil, it's my department. If it has blood, it's my wife's department. We're awesome together!

So, instead of close dealers, I've been looking at parts availability online. Cause seriously, if I don't mow my yard for a week, big deal... Both the Kubota and Mahindra have lots of parts I can get. Mahindra actually sells more tractors than anyone else, but they're not very well known in the USA yet as they just hit these shores a few years ago. So there's tons of parts for 'em!

Both tractors I'm looking at are 4WD. There's just little things on the Mahindra that I like better. It's probably time for me to go test drive, huh? That'll probably seal my fate.

 

[Kias]

I should probably get a box scraper for my driveway too...

 

[Kias]

OH, and I'd like to change my statement above. Things aren't getting harder to do, they're just taking MUCH longer than they used to.

 

[Jonathan]

OH, and I'd like to change my statement above. Things aren't getting harder to do, they're just taking MUCH longer than they used to.

Feels like this some days?

 

[Kias]

Oh yeah... That pretty much sums it up!

 

[nikonpup]

i would love to be a tractor person in my old age, social security would not cover the gas. i do love my jd riding mower with trailer, it is a great help. Yes jd think their equipment is made of gold and their farts do not stink.

 

[Kias]

There's a couple things I really need a tractor for. A couple years ago I knocked down the walls to our burn pit when I bumped it with the snow plow. It's two walls made out of railroad ties with a couple little bricks in between the ties. Stacked 4 ties high. The following spring, I went out to put the walls back together and quickly decided my back was worth more than the walls. They've been laying on the ground ever since. Those things are seriously heavy even though I know I've lifted railroad ties in the past! LOL

Also had a sinkhole appear way out back and after some investigation found that one of the drainage tile/pipe things that run everywhere in NW ohio broke, sucking all the dirt above it away with the water. I do go check it every few months and the water still runs fine, so just the top part of the pipe broke. I'd like to get that fixed too, but I'm sure not going to do it with a shovel and wheel barrow! It's about three feet deep and four or five feet wide at the top. That's a LOT of backfill!

 

[Camera Fun]

A good accesory for any front end loader is a set of forks for lifting things that won't fit correctly/securely in the bucket.

 

[Rick M]

Being a Ford guy, I'd go for New Holland. As far as JD, they really have over-priced themselves!

 

[Kias]

A good accesory for any front end loader is a set of forks for lifting things that won't fit correctly/securely in the bucket.

Yup, there's pallet forks in the future. I'll have lots of grapes that'll need to go from the vineyard to the winery!

 

[Kias]

Being a Ford guy, I'd go for New Holland. As far as JD, they really have over-priced themselves!

Let me think for a moment... There was something...

Oh yeah! The nearest GOOD New Holland Dealer is 120 miles away! If'n I ever truly need to go to a dealer for whatever reason, I really don't want to spend four hours in a vehicle. I'm truly in Deere Country. The nearest dealer is 4 miles. They have to have at least 300 million dollars worth of stock, and that's just what I can see from the road!

 

[Kias]

Ok, so I got bored and tried to find the annual revenue for the JD dealer up the road. All the "Estimates" I've found on the web are like 1 to 2 million a year. I'm gonna have to say that's way off though. I found list prices for 2012 JD combines and tractors. The combines range from 300 to 500 thousand bucks, the tractors are 41,000 to half a mil also! Heck a simple sprayer is 350 THOUSAND dollars! I'm so sticking with my 300 million dollar in stock estimate!

 

[Rick M]

Let me think for a moment... There was something...

Oh yeah! The nearest GOOD New Holland Dealer is 120 miles away! If'n I ever truly need to go to a dealer for whatever reason, I really don't want to spend four hours in a vehicle. I'm truly in Deere Country. The nearest dealer is 4 miles. They have to have at least 300 million dollars worth of stock, and that's just what I can see from the road!

Lol, good thing they are close by for repairs, is anything made in America anymore?

 

[snaphappy]

I hear yah on the new tractor. When hubby was buying ours 4yrs ago I refused to spend an extra $2000 for a green and yellow paint job with less features. We got 2ft of snow while hubby was out of town and I spent over 6hrs making a trail in our driveway!! We just have a 28h sears yard tractor with a snowblower on it. Stupid thing kept jamming up and I was having temper tantrums, hubby got a lot of terrible iPhone photos of his stupid tractor. It would be really nice to not have to move hay bales by hand and I would LOVE to dig a water line out to the barn because hauling 40-50 gallons of water everyday for half the year sucks! We have 6 tractor dealers within 10kms but unfortunately I have 2 expensive hobbies (cameras and critters) so no budget for a new tractor Good luck with your search for the right tractor Looking forward to seeing a shiny new tractor photo in your 365

 

[Camera Fun]

Another item to consider is that engine controls for new diesel tractors (at least larger models) are getting more computerized/complicated in order to meet enviromental guidelines. That means even less things that a person can consider repairing by themselves.
You might consider looking for a good used tractor but the price difference might not be that much less than a new one which would also come with a warranty. Could possible find a top-noth used one that came off of a lease.
Also for your accessories, you may need some rear wheel weights to provide balance/safety when using the loader.

 

[Sandpatch]

Found these three restored tractors at a county fair several weeks ago. Lovely work!