Compact Tractor

[Pickering Snow]

A big question for everyone who might know iam pretty set on buying a compact tractor iam going sat to most likely put down money on a cub cadet 8454 45hp 4x4 with cab and heat and a 2100lbs loader and 72in bucket i figure i can use either a backhoe box plow or one for a skid steer this whole cub with all the acces is 23k which out of all the units i looked at seems to be my best bet for what we want it for any advice would be greatly acepted.

[Pickering Snow]

sorry for the double post mods this is the thread i would like to stay up sorry dang computer anyhow

[Bob Van]

I just went Friday to the NY State Farm Show to do some shopping for a small farm tractor. I was looking for 50-55 HP, Loader, Cab and 4x4.

After looking at Long, Case, Mahindra, Massey, Deere, New Holland and several others, I have to say Mahindra was the biggest bang for the buck, but no cab.

Kioti had a deal with everything I wanted and had a show special on the 40 something HP, for $ 24,500.

Have you checked with Kioti yet?
If I remember, They had real good financing.
Just a thought.

[Pelican]

Fred,

Check on parts availability for the Cub Cadet. They have just recently returned to the compact tractor market and may not have their parts network in place yet. There's also a chance they may not stay in the market if sales of the new tractors doesn't warrant it. IH was very restrictive to their dealers in how they must market the tractors, I'm not sure that has changed.

I can tell you in my area John Deere and Kubota are the biggest sellers with well established dealers and an established parts history. In fact, a friend is a dealer for a competing brand and recommends John Deere over his tractor, also fairly new to the market.

[cat320]

I agree with pelican parts and service is key Price is not always the best way to shop.

[Matthew Bowman]

Ditto what Pelican said. While the price may be attractive I'm not sure I'd trust some of the lower priced brands on the market. If price is that big of an issue (and it always is) I would consider looking for something that is a few years old.

Up until this past year I was involved in the family farm. As I'm sure you already know, things are extremely tight in that business, much tighter than snow. However with money so tight you don't see any farmers running any off brand equipment to save some $$$. It just doesn't pay in the long run. Anyway, good luck with your new toy.

Matt

[ZR2DK]

I would have to agree...how does that saying go? "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" Something like that. Spend the extra $$ and buy something that you know will last a long time and if by some chance it doesnt last, at least you know there will be availability for the parts that may break.

[T-Zab]

fred, is IH making this tractor again or is it made by others? I know the garden tractors were purchased by MTD, Not really a heavy-duty brand. Take a long hard look at Case, I know they are pricey but they are probally one of the most reputable manufacturers out there. My plumber friend just purchased a 35hp model and he is very pleased with it. He looked at Kubota too but said many parts on it were stamped steel not cast like the Case. The other benefit too the Case is resale, just look at there other tractors, loaders and compare too the other brands.
They allways hold there value.
Todd

[dynamike]

When I bought the land where I built my house I bought a Kubota 3600 with a loader, backhoe, Brush Hog and some other things. I used it on my own land and a little side work, I put around 750 hrs on it in three years and then sold it. I put an add in the truck trader and sold it the day the add went in for $1500.00 less than I paid for it. All I ever did was change the oil, grease, and fuel and that was it. Great machine and I loved it I would buy another one for sure if I was in the market.

[Pelican]

Nearly all of the compact tractors are rebadged imported units. John Deere is Yanmar, Case is Mitsubishi, etc. I've looked at the Cub Cadet, it's an imported unit too as is Cat's Challenger, but I don't know the manufacturers.

[cat320]

Boy nothing like thinking your buying american made and it's acutally comming from Japan and having USA slaped on it .Well If that is the case they should be a hell of alot cheaper than that 24K .

[MDsnowPRO]

Ive had great luck with Kubota compact stuff and for full size New Holland. THe kubotas are up there in price, but well worth it i feel.


-Nick

[Pickering Snow]

Thanks for the input guys Pelican your right the engine on the cub i recall the guy saying korea or china it does have a 3yr 2500 hr warr of course i relize that means nothing if service is not good or parts are not aval the guy asures me that parts are aval and i do know the place has good service.

I honestly had knew that most of the compacts were imports and i had looked at jima which is chinese built and honestly was about 13k with loader they build no cab that fits i really would like to have a JD or case but i feel they are not 100% american either

I priced a box plow for a compact today 1850.00 for a 9ft 2000.00 for a 10ft i will let everyone know what happens sat

[sdpsd99]

The Cat Challenger is actually a rebadged Massy Ferguson. A few years ago Cat bought AGRCO Massy Fegrusons parent company. Kioti I believe is owned by the same parent company as Kubota. There sheet metal is simalar to older Kubota's

Kubota has been a great machine for me. The top machines imo are Kubota, John Deere, & New Holland.

[Matthew Bowman]

The John Deere 4000series (20-40hp) have the Yanmar engines. If you jump up to the 5000 series(40-75hp) that is where the actual "John Deere" engines start.

In my opinion the John Deere engines are far superior to the rest. Even the smaller hp engines are wet sleeved. Every other brand has either dry sleeved or cast in block liners. Just one exmple of quality in comparison to the other brands.

You really get more bang for your buck with the 5000 series over the 4000 series deere's. The 4000's are more geared towards the home owner, and priced that way while the 5000 are more commercial grade, and are not that much more $$.

Green also holds it's value the best. Case on the other hand, compared to the other major manufactures usualy hold there value the worst.

Matt

[Randy Clarke]

I have a Kubota 22hp and love it ....

I actually worked for a number of years for a John Deere heavy equipment dealer. Do not fear anything with a Yanmar engine. They are the largest compact diesel engine manufacture in the Pacific rim and far east where they specialize in under 60hp for marine application

[jbeland]

I have a couple of questions for you guys.

First are there people using compact/utility tractors with pushers w/ good success? How do they compare to a skidsteer?

I kind of have been looking into a tractor instead of a skid for next year, however, I am concerned about the weight of a tractor vs. the skid. I know from experience a 4wd tractor is harder to get stuck than a skid, but it should be driving on plowed pavement pushing the snow, so getting stuck shouldn't be a problem.

A decent utility tractor weighs in about 5000lbs. while skids weigh 6000-8000 for a good sized one. Will this weight affect performance or will the way the power gets to the ground make a difference?

Just weighing the options, I have all summer and fall to decide.

Jeff