Smaller tractor brands

[myronman3]

Kinda chewing on getting a smaller sized tractor for the GF. Looking at brands like mahindra, LS, massey ferguson, etc. not a big fan of john deere-as the dealers here are fucking assholes and i think you pay a bunch just for the name.

Looking to see what the folks here have experienced. Looking to get one with a quick change bucket on the front, a three point hitch, and possibly a backhoe attachment.

What say you?

 

[Rthur]

What HP range?

R

 

[fdkay]

Kubota and Mahindra are pretty popular around here.
I know nothing about the things though

 

[EGwhisper]

Kubota or ~early 2000's New Holland

 

[Alphatreedog]

 

[bburnham]

Kinda chewing on getting a smaller sized tractor for the GF. Looking at brands like mahindra, LS, massey ferguson, etc. not a big fan of john deere-as the dealers here are fucking assholes and i think you pay a bunch just for the name.

Looking to see what the folks here have experienced. Looking to get one with a quick change bucket on the front, a three point hitch, and possibly a backhoe attachment.

What say you?

I have Kubota, an L2800 and an L4600. You are probably looking for something in the B Series size. I think Kubota is top of he heap.

 

[Slash0311]

I have a JD 1025R. 25 hp with 5 foot belly mower and front loader. I went that way because of price and brand. I considered Massey Ferguson and Kabota. My JD dealer is close and parts readily available.

A relative owns his own small excavation company (septic systems, reclamation and digging graves type work) He swears by Kabota. Tough as nails and built to last. I couldn't afford the price difference between what Id get with the JD over the Kabota. It was about $3000 more for basically the same HP and accessories. The power of the hydraulics on both Kabota and JD are powerful as hell.

Mahindra is starting to be bigger in my area but parts and service seem to be a problem here. MF has always been big here too but they seem to have slipped in quality and reliability in my opinion. Consider where you'll get parts or repair work done. If something breaks, waiting weeks for parts or if you can't find someone to fix it will cause other problems.

 

[Billdoe708]

Look at parts availability.

I'd go kobota here. Bunch of dealers within an hour of me. Tough as nails.

 

[A&8's]

I have a Kubota L43xxDT (can't remember exact model, but it's a 43 series) that gets used as a loader, mower, auger, rake, bale loader tractor. I bought it new in 2003 and haven't had a lick of trouble out of it. Even have used it to pull a 6' hay disc mower and 5' round baler, when my cab tractor went down or used in another field.

Side note: While hydro's are easier, they rob horsepower. Get a DT (direct transmission) if possible. IMO

 

[texag0842]

Kubota here

 

[roostercogburn98]

+1 on the JD 1025R. Good running and tough enough so far. My brother in law sells Mahindra and he swears by them. Guess they all have their own followings. The one thing about the 1025 is the motor is a Yanmar so your truly only paying for that JD color and name with it.

 

[DIBBS]

I have a 26-28 hp Kubota L 2650 series, 90 something vintage IIRC with bucket and mower. I bought it used, and have been VERY happy with the dependability, also extremely fuel efficient. The only thing I don't like is that it's fairly narrow wheelbase, so you need to be careful when working on terrain that isn't level. Has less than 1000 hours and going strong.

 

[Sgt47]

Kubota L39 for me, but I bought it for construction purposes. It's been tough and reliable and friends who have the smaller B series have also been happy.

 

[MtnCreek]

I have a 26-28 hp Kubota L 2650 series, 90 something vintage IIRC with bucket and mower. I bought it used, and have been VERY happy with the dependability, also extremely fuel efficient. The only thing I don't like is that it's fairly narrow wheelbase, so you need to be careful when working on terrain that isn't level. Has less than 1000 hours and going strong.

Width is adjustable. Are the wheels moved out all the way?

 

[Waorani]

On my second Kubota and no issues with either. Current is L4630 w/loader. Forks stay on it most of the time. Been reaching it's limits here recently so thinking about going up to 60ish HP.

 

[texas_vet00]

LS 4145 here... It’s been a great product and would buy it again certainly.

 

[DIBBS]

Width is adjustable. Are the wheels moved out all the way?

I was not aware of this @MtnCreek I will have to check. Thanks.

 

[79jeepcj5]

I've got a bx23 (2005 model I believe) with the backhoe attachment. It's been a good machine. Just don't make the mistake of thinking its a bulldozer. I ruined the hydrostat pump pushing dirt with mine at only about 750 hours. The pump cost $1800 by itself. Thankfully my oldest son is a heavy equipment mechanic and we were able to do the work ourselves.

 

[E. Bryant]

Look at parts availability.

I'd go kobota here. Bunch of dealers within an hour of me. Tough as nails.

This. Local parts support is key.

I've owned a Kubota L3130 for the past 16 years and have been happy with it. Just got to understand its limitations.

 

[Alabusa]

Go with what has the best support in your area. Also, get more hp than you think you will ever need.

 

[jakelly]

Mahindra is pretty rough chicom stuff. Really cheap, but not inexpensive. What HP range?

 

[Yasherka]

Mahindra is pretty rough chicom stuff. Really cheap, but not inexpensive. What HP range?

Mahindra is Indian. Reliability is questionable though ... a friend had one and it gave him no end of problems. For your uses I'd echo those recommending Kubota: very reliable and great parts availability.

Personally I have a mid-70's vintage Deere 450C loader with a 4 in 1 and a backhoe. Probably heavier than I need but it gets the job done quickly

 

[jakelly]

Mahindra (China) Tractors Company Ltd. | World Bank Group Guarantees | MIGA

MIGA has issued a guarantee of $7.2 million to Mahindra Overseas Investment Company of Mauritius, covering its equity investment in Mahindra (China) Tractors Company Ltd. The guarantee covers Mahindra Mahindra (China) Tractors Company Ltd.

www.miga.org

Not sure where you heard that, everything I’ve found says Chyna. Mahindra is from Chyna. The same place the virus is from. Chyna.

 

[Fret]

Get a bigger tractor than what you think you will need. Nice to have extra power if you want to run the PTO and to have the ability to lift more weight with the loader.

A backhoe is a good attachment but it's kind of a pain to remove and reattach if you want to use the 3 point. I had a Kubota L3901 with a backhoe which was great for digging up stumps in my yard. Ended up giving it to my nephew since he needed a tractor for his yard.



Ended up getting a bigger Kubota MX5800 and a mini ex instead of a backhoe. It's also a good idea to get a top and tilt and extra hydraulic setup if you will use a lot of attachments for the 3point like a snowblower, land plane, wood chipper, etc. Also get a third function valve for the front if there's a chance you might get a grapple or front snow blade in the future.

 

[rjacobs]

how much property will you be taking care of?

Everybody says "buy bigger than you need" and is telling you about tractors that are way big for a residential setting IMO, unless you have 5-10+ acres. You dont need 30-40hp in a residential setting. Again if you are talking 10 acres, yea you want something bigger.

A 1023e/1025r or a BX might be enough or maybe you need something bigger.

Price wise they all damn near are at the same price point anymore due to the tariffs and what not.

I will say the JD stuff is heads and shoulders above the other brands as far as all the small things go. Quality wise its probably JD and Kubota neck and neck and the rest of the brands filter down from there. JD has a TON of odds and ends you can add on to their tractors that simply is NOT available for the other tractors, at least not in a clean factory type way.

Ive done A TON of research in the past few months for my 1 acre piece of property. I was SET on a 1025R, but the whole time I just couldnt bring myself to wanting a 1500lb tractor with a 250lb mower deck on it to mow with 98% of the time. Im going to get a JD X758.

 

[Waorani]

Also get a third function valve for the front if there's a chance you might get a grapple or front snow blade in the future.

Wish I'd gotten that. I know it can be added but if I upgrade, next one will have so I can use a grapple.

 

[myronman3]

What HP range?

R

we dont need too much.....it’s just 20 acres on a hobby farm. she has her 5 horses and a few pigs. it would be used to load the manure spreader and various odd jobs like spreading gravel or pulling the brush hog through the weed patches.

i dont get too hung up on the horsepower thing...the old alice chalmers and john deere’s didnt have all that much horsepower and look what those things did...and they’re still around.

 

[shoot4fun]

When I owned a tractor it was a Ford. IIRC, it was 25 hp and for the ten acres I owned it worked vey well. I ran a 4' bush hog, 4' tiller and a box blade with it easily. I had a lot of trees to maneuver around so the smaller size was indeed a plus. Even though it was a Ford it was made by New Holland. Manufactured offshore (can't remember where) but not China).
My son has a newer (maybe four years old) MF and it has been one gigantic pain in the ass. Many issues and took multiple tries and tech support to get it to a point of 85% reliable. At one point it sat in the dealer's service area for three months. Yup, he was pissed. Even now it is a crap shoot and the bad thing is he uses it in his landscape/excavation business.
Kubota is very close to JD in snobbery but I think the better of all smaller tractors.

 

[MtnCreek]

we dont need too much.....it’s just 20 acres on a hobby farm. she has her 5 horses and a few pigs. it would be used to load the manure spreader and various odd jobs like spreading gravel or pulling the brush hog through the weed patches.

i dont get too hung up on the horsepower thing...the old alice chalmers and john deere’s didnt have all that much horsepower and look what those things did...and they’re still around.

Pick out the rotary cutter that you'll use before getting the tractor. That's what will require hp.

If she's going to be using a front bucket in tight spaces where she doesn't want anything hooked to the 3pt, get the tires loaded and wheel weights.

Assuming you're not looking at cab tractors, I'd be looking real hard at 80's Ford 3910. Much more of a solid tractor than anything you'll buy new today. JMHO.

 

[Yasherka]

Mahindra (China) Tractors Company Ltd. | World Bank Group Guarantees | MIGA

MIGA has issued a guarantee of $7.2 million to Mahindra Overseas Investment Company of Mauritius, covering its equity investment in Mahindra (China) Tractors Company Ltd. The guarantee covers Mahindra Mahindra (China) Tractors Company Ltd.

www.miga.org

Not sure where you heard that, everything I’ve found says Chyna. Mahindra is from Chyna. The same place the virus is from. Chyna.

Mahindra Group:

The Mahindra Group Official Website | Together We Rise

A technology & innovation-led, global, federation of companies, that provides a wide range of products, services & possibilities, enabling people to Rise

www.mahindra.com

Then:

Tractor: Buy Farm Tractor in India - Mahindra Tractors

Mahindra Tractors is India’s no. 1 tractor manufacturer, offering a wide range of farm tractor & agriculture equipment at best prices for all your farming needs.

www.mahindratractor.com

 

[Sean the Nailer]

I've got a couple Murray's here,,,, one 10 hp 36" and one 11 hp 38".... does that help/count?

 

[myronman3]

When I owned a tractor it was a Ford. IIRC, it was 25 hp and for the ten acres I owned it worked vey well. I ran a 4' bush hog, 4' tiller and a box blade with it easily. I had a lot of trees to maneuver around so the smaller size was indeed a plus. Even though it was a Ford it was made by New Holland. Manufactured offshore (can't remember where) but not China).
My son has a newer (maybe four years old) MF and it has been one gigantic pain in the ass. Many issues and took multiple tries and tech support to get it to a point of 85% reliable. At one point it sat in the dealer's service area for three months. Yup, he was pissed. Even now it is a crap shoot and the bad thing is he uses it in his landscape/excavation business.
Kubota is very close to JD in snobbery but I think the better of all smaller tractors.

When i was a kid, my farmer neighbor had a couple of fords. One was a bigger diesel, but the other one was a small gas tractor with a front loader. I ran that smaller one quite a bit and i always liked it. He mainly used it to rake hay.

 

[shoot4fun]

When i was a kid, my farmer neighbor had a couple of fords. One was a bigger diesel, but the other one was a small gas tractor with a front loader. I ran that smaller one quite a bit and i always liked it. He mainly used it to rake hay.

Ford tractors are what I grew up around too. Mostly the old 8N. Our deer camp tractor for 30 years was a 1972 MF gas burner. It was a great tractor. So was my smaller Ford. The honest truth is that likely 98% of all smaller tractors are built off shore. Even John Deere.

 

[Snipe260]

Kinda chewing on getting a smaller sized tractor for the GF. Looking at brands like mahindra, LS, massey ferguson, etc. not a big fan of john deere-as the dealers here are fucking assholes and i think you pay a bunch just for the name.

Looking to see what the folks here have experienced. Looking to get one with a quick change bucket on the front, a three point hitch, and possibly a backhoe attachment.

What say you?

Kubotas are very good! Been running one 15 yrs

 

[Sgt47]

I know this doesn't fit the OP's criteria but the PT425 has been the best equipment purchase I have made. https://power-trac.com/t8class.htm Being articulated, it doesn't tear up turf like a Bobcat. It will fit through a 4' gate. Except for powered attachments, you can change implements without leaving the seat. Everything mounts up front, so no stiff neck from looking over your shoulder. I have a 5' mower, large and small buckets, post hole auger, cement mixer, forks and a trencher. Made in VA, USA. I've had one for 20 years and just bought another. If I need to dig or lift over 800lbs, or do any serious digging, I have a Kubota L39 TLB.

 

[Jscb1b]

We sell and service mahindra. They are the worst pieces of shit ever made. Parts are hard to get and fucking expensive. $1200 for a starter that was 2 days out of warranty. Axle seals are horrible too. LS is Korean. They are the same plant that makes our small case nh tractors.

 

[Buckeye Chuck]

As said before most of the small CUT tractors are made off shore. I have a GC2300 from Massey on three and a half acres with a loader and belly mower it has been a back saver for me.

 

[packratt]

In a small tractor I would go Khabota or Deere. Amongst the tractors I've got I have 2 40hp MFs. One is a POS that MF only made for 2 years because it was such a POS. It came with a piece of property I bought. The other is a MF240, it has been a great tractor but the local dealership is worthless and it is a fine piece of British engineering. The pedals and shift rod positioning sucks. That said it turns tighter than any of our other tractors and is the best one we have for raking hay.

With Deere you have great parts availability when something breaks. Deere has some very good financing packages especially on the <40hp tractors.

 

[rjacobs]

we dont need too much.....it’s just 20 acres on a hobby farm. she has her 5 horses and a few pigs. it would be used to load the manure spreader and various odd jobs like spreading gravel or pulling the brush hog through the weed patches.

With 20 acres you are going to want more than a JD 1 series or Kubota BX. You are going to want to step to something in the CUT class like a JD 2032 or 2038 or a Kubota B or L series. The JD 2 series can run a MMM, I dont know that the bigger Kubotas have that option, if thats something you care about.

 

[Velocity Chad]

Mahindra is definitely not chinese, but they don't even make most of their smaller tractors. Mitsubishi and TYM make them depending on the series. I know a few guys with kioti that have been very happy with them and they are pretty nice machines for the money. My mom has a 45hp LS that has been great for 1200 hours so far. John deere is just an overpriced asian tractor painted green. I have a kubota mx5800 that's been fine, but it's basically new.

 

[Ruskin]

Kubota L4060 here, really nice machine. I also run and like a flail mower over a rotary

 

[myronman3]

thanks all. this is the kind of feedback i was hoping for. mahindra is off the list, as is the massey ferguson.

 

[nealm66]

I’ve got a new holland 33 work master with a wood backhoe and some other stuff. I was where you’re at a few years ago. I watched tractor house website and tried to learn what depreciated the most and went with new holland. Mine has the tier 4 motor and I’d rather have a tier 3 but haven’t had any issues. Mine fits barely in my 14’ dump bed so no bigger or can be a pain to travel

 

[forrestgump01]

You can't compare tractors by hp.
If you compare tractors that are rated at the same hp , the specs will be completely different.
Horsepower on a tractor really doesn't mean shit compared to the rest of the specs such as lift capacity , pump capacity (hydraulic flow rate ) , ect.
Do you plan on running hydraulic attachments. that's where scv valves and hyd pump matter.
hp is no good if the 3 point won't lift shit.
Also the transmission type will affect how much engine hp makes it to the pto.
Engine Hp and Pto Hp are 2 different things and need to be looked at in the specs.


Most important thing of all..........buy a 4 wheel drive.
If you ever have a 4 wheel drive tractor you will realize what a useless peice of shit a 2 wheel drive is.

Something else you got to watch out for some of the brand's have a single pedal brake ( no split brake) .
A tractor is not a tractor without a split brake.
You also need to look at pto. you need to know the difference between live pto, independent pto, electronic pto.


mahindra likes to be deceptive when they use comparisons with other tractors.

 

[Rthur]

In the small to mid hp kubota is solid.
In the 30-100hp area I've been around have been all solid equipment.

R

 

[forrestgump01]

Mahindra is definitely not chinese, but they don't even make most of their smaller tractors. Mitsubishi and TYM make them depending on the series. I know a few guys with kioti that have been very happy with them and they are pretty nice machines for the money. My mom has a 45hp LS that has been great for 1200 hours so far. John deere is just an overpriced asian tractor painted green. I have a kubota mx5800 that's been fine, but it's basically new.

If you really think a JD is an overpriced Asian tractor painted green you should do some research.
I will be glad to hook chains any time you want . I will even make it fair for you and take the wheels of my tractor !

 

[Jscb1b]

I would not get a hydrostat. If you can get a power shuttle instead of a mechanical shuttle do it. Saves trying to clutch it.

 

[JMGlasgow]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a hydrostat. I work on tractors for a living, specifically Kubota, and we sell more hydrostatic transmissions than anything else. In a compact or subcompact tractor, a hydrostat is better.

Kubota controls 51% of the compact tractor market. That should be a clue as to which brand you choose. They are also the largest non automotive diesel engine manufacturer in the world.

OP, feel free to ask me any question you may have about a specific Kubota model or what your planned use is. I'll answer the best I can.

 

[JMGlasgow]

John Deere compact tractors are complete shit. Yan Mar engine and lots of plastic where you don't want it. You're paying for a name, that is it.

Kioti, TYM, LS, New Holland, etc. are also complete shit.

 

[MotoFlier]

I settled on a Mahindra 5545 before all this Covid crap, The wife and I decided to hold off on large purchases for a few months. Which basically means more time to talk myself into the 7000 series hahaha. The people around me with Mahindra brand are happy the general thought around here is Kubota and JD you are paying a lot simply for a color. My current tractor is a MF-383 which I like but being 2wd I find myself limited and relying on neighbors for heavy work when the ground is anything but rock hard.