Compact Tractor

[RUSSELL5000]

Being that it is winter where I am, my thoughts turn to future plans. I believe I will need a compact tractor going, and am trying to figure out the pros and cons.

My lot is stated at 4.1 acres; I'd say 2.5 acres is heavily wooded. The open area is next to the road, the wooded area is in back. The land slopes from back to front (from the wooded rear to the open front next to the road). I expect to retire this year, or semi-retire. I expect I am going to continue to work four to five months a year with my current employer. So, I will have time to do some work on my own.

I have decided that major work will be hired: clearing and levelling about a half acre are out of the wooded section, putting a road in. But, there will be ample use for a tractor on an ongoing basis. So, ...

(1) Buy new. Advantage would be to get exactly what I want. Disadvantage would be higher cost. Also, are new tractors all burdened with electronics and emissions systems?

(2) Buy used. Surprisingly, does not appear to be that big a savings from new, at least in what I am looking for. Also, need to hunt and find. Most concerning to me is that I am not knowledgeable, and so concerned I may not properly assess the condition of used equipment. How many hours is reasonable for a used compact tractor to have and still have adequate remaining life? Here is an example from web surfing:

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/200055805/2000-new-holland-2120

(3) Buy used, but refurbished. From web surfing, these tractors and refurbisher seem to have a good reputation. In addition, they are simpler mechanically. A disadvantage would be the need to custom fabricate a subframe if a backhoe is desired.

http://www.fredricksimporting.com/product

I like the YM3110D or the YM3810D.

As always, appreciate the input from those who have been down this road before.

 

[endoscott]

I got a 1978 Kubota B7100, bought it well used 20 years ago, now it's even more well used. I have never had to take it to the dealer for any kind of repair, easy to work on. But the only things I have ever done are recently replaced glo plugs and controller. Replaced fuel lines and filter canister. Replaced cooling hoses. That's about it. I don't even take good care of it. Change the oil every couple or 3 years. And I bet I could sell it for close to what I paid. Kubota quality is awesome. It's just a little small, and no backhoe. So about 10 years ago my son and I bought another well used Kubota, a 2001ish B21, with a backhoe. That thing is a beast. Little more complicated though. These new tractors might be made from Chinese metals, dunno. Maybe they are great. Maybe people who have them can comment. I am not denigrating them bc I really have no idea about quality, but I DO know Kubotas (at least older ones) are bulletproof.

 

[JR]

Tractors hold their value better than vehicles because they are built exponentially better than vehicles. That 40hp NH looks like a nice low hour rig. I'd be surprised if you could touch a new one for less than $40k and you are buying a lot of new tech that is exceedingly more difficult for the average Joe to wrench on.

And I completely agree on Kubota quality. I have an 83 L series that I call the anvil. Its a tough little cookie.

Whatever you decide on make sure you have good dealer support close by. They can make or break your experiences of owning and maintaining your rig.

 

[bcbender]

Bought my John Deere 2032 (32hp) with loader and subframe backhoe 2yrs ago (new) for only about 5k more than used ones with tons of hours on em. Shop around, but that little tractor is perfect on my 7ac, no complaints and at my local dealer I got a 10y powertrain warranty free (with annual check up). Like has been mentioned they do have DPF, etc... and electronics so there's that, but Im not too worried about it.. I now have 95h on it and dont get a shovel out unless I cant get in there .. If you get one with a loader, pallet forks are worth their weight in gold..

 

[DHayden]

I would suggest looking at Rural King. They come with a lot of extras standard that would be upgrades on other tractors. The price seems to be considerably cheaper also. From what I have seen they are basically a Mahindra rebranded. I think many would be surprised that a lot of different well know brands come off the same assembly line, most are actually made in India these days.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Rural King tractors are made by TYM in South Korea and assembled in the US.

https://www.rktractors.com/resource...actured in,ISO 9001 certified tractor factory.

 

[EDankievitch]

I stumbled on the Case/ Ingersoll product line and and ended up with a old 1977 446 and a 1991 3012. By far the best small tractors I have ever owned. The 446 has a Cummins/ Onan 16 hp engine. I just did rings in it. The 3012 has a Briggs vanguard 12 hp. Both are hydro drive. They are old but have quite the following. Parts are available through a few venders an eBay.

 

[DHayden]

Rural King tractors are made by TYM in South Korea and assembled in the US.

https://www.rktractors.com/resources-tractor-partners-rk-tractors.php#:~:text=RK Tractors are manufactured in,ISO 9001 certified tractor factory.

Correct, TYM makes the Rural Kings, some Mahindra's (Mahindra's are made in South Korea and India) used to make the Cabela tractors. They make a few of the other brands also depending on size. South Korea and India are the two main builder countries. I had found a thread a few years back where a guy high on the chain discussed all of the tractor manufactures and brands. Truly amazing, non of them are as far apart as you would think. LS tractors also makes New Holland and I think Kioti, but dont hold me to it.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

The problem with all those second tier brands is service and support. Around here, dealers of those brands seem to come and go like the weather.

Last fall I bought a John Deere 1025R sub-compact. I also considered a Kubota BX23S. Ended up going green because of the warranty (6 yrs/2000 hrs) and the 0% financing.

 

[JR]

Kubota has a strong base in the US. Most of their Compacts, loaders and backhoes are manufactured and assembled in Georgia and they recently performed a major expansion of their facitlies. Many of their implements and zero turns are also made there. NA engines are manufactured in Illinois. They also sell them to other manufacturers.

I am pretty sure mine was built in Japan. There are "characters" all over it. Fuel tank cap, radiator cap, engine oil cap, hydrualic cap, etc.
And the cylinders are assembled like none that I have ever seen....

 

[bcbender]

Last fall I bought a John Deere 1025R sub-compact. I also considered a Kubota BX23S. Ended up going green because of the warranty (6 yrs/2000 hrs) and the 0% financing.

Same here in 2018... 2032 w/backhoe and 0%.... ( I spent 2 months doing a DA of New Holland, Kubota, JD, Mahindra).. JD was best value

 

[BigPapa]

A good friend bought a JD that sounds about like what bcbender has. He uses it a lot and has had it @ three years. It’s been back to the dealer a few times, but right around Christmas it started throwing codes every time he pushed the clutch pedal. It’s been at two different dealerships ever since and they still don’t have it fixed. He was going to let me borrow it between Christmas and New Years. Glad I didn’t.

 

[DHayden]

I have read a lot of issues with the compact and especially sub compact Deere's. The ones that work seem to work well, the ones with issues have a lot of issues. The larger Deere's seem to be of higher quality. Deere does seem to have a very large support network, a quality shop that you develop a good relationship with seems to be key no matter which brand you go with.

 

[Wayne M.]

One house I didn’t get had a Bota BX23 as part of the deal. I was Gaga over that thing. Back hoe, bucket, mower deck and all.

 

[endoscott]

I had a terrible experience with a JD riding mower, early 90's. Just crap and they didn't stand behind it. Steering shaft failed, metal was soft as butter. Dealer made the crack to me "looks like you had a teenager driving it". Whatever, if a JD mower can't take a teenager driving it, you got quality problems. Drive belts broke yearly. I know their bigger tractors are solid, but after that experience I am sticking with Kubota. Like I said before, my 1977 Kubota has never once been to the shop and it was beat up pretty good when I bought it.

 

[EDankievitch]

The Toys they sell under the JD of Cub names at the big box stores are just that junk . Made to last a year or two. You get what you pay for...

 

[bcbender]

Big box stores are not JD.. just buy in stuff painted green and licensed.. Most riders at the big box stores are exactly the same under the plastic parts...

As far as dealers go, here in NC its mostly Quality Equip.. I bought mine in VA from James River, same price (lower sales tax ), but it was because of the dealer ship experience, service staff, etc...... I cannot stress, as has been said, how important it is to go to a good dealer and develop a good working relationship..., It is a big investment and I for one do not want to be left holding the bag should I draw the short straw and get one that has problems.... I will say the go thru sales guys like underwear....

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I have read a lot of issues with the compact and especially sub compact Deere's.

Like anything else, forums are full of problems and not many praises.

A great place for Deere tractors is www.greentractortalk.com. Reminds me of this place... some very knowledgeable and helpful folks.

In my opinion, the current Deere compact tractors (1-4 series) are very robust and not riddled with problems that aren't mostly user error. Are they perfect? No, but neither is any other make.

 

[endoscott]

Agreed for sure! That's why I said their actual tractors are a different animal. BUT, I did buy my JD from a dealer. I wasn't aware at the time that they went all Chinese on me. I had a very old JD111 rider that was bulletproof which is why I went JD again. Now I would know better, but at the time the Chinese stuff was just starting to come on strong.

 

[crispyboy]

Stay away from anything that doesn't have a local brick and mortar dealership where you can go purchase oem parts or possibly have it worked on by qualified mechanics. Tractors are typically made to last for years. We have had extremely good luck with JD farm tractors and riding mower. JD is very organized when it comes to parts and support. This is one factor why they have been so successful. I like the looks of the NH in the first post, it looks very substantial and parts should be readily available for it.