Advice/Opinions on a Tractor
Wondering if anyone out there has experience with Branson Tractors in the 35-37HP range?
Pro's/Con's?
Thanks
Pro's/Con's?
Thanks
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Mine is a 2013 40HP. A little over 200 hours and so far I'm happy with it.
Aren't these the tractors Cabelas was labeling and selling? If so, a friend has one and loves it.
I have a Kubota but regardless of the brand, my advice is get a front end loader, HST, and 4WD. I would never consider one without these 3 things. You will be amazed how handy that bucket is.
I have a Kubota but regardless of the brand, my advice is get a front end loader, HST, and 4WD. I would never consider one without these 3 things. You will be amazed how handy that bucket is.
Good advise here. I could (and do) deal without the hydrostat, as long as it’s a shuttle shift, but whatever size you think you need, go one size bigger and you should be happy. Proximity to a dealer for you should be a consideration, it’s not if you need parts, but when and how quickly.
I have found that you can get a larger Ag tractor, that you may have to shift, with a bucket and other amenities for the money you have to spend extra for hydro stat. Had my JD 5210 for almost 20 years and ZERO problems.
X2 - Same with my JD-5400. Mine is 20 years old but I've only owned it for 10. 3,900 hours and she keeps right on ticking...
I know I have said this same thing before on here somewhere, but the JD 5000 series is one of the best overall food plot tractors for the habitat guru!!!
The whole utility tractor thing has never made sense to me. Tractors are to slow for efficient use of a FEL... 4x4 wouldn't be needed with a decent rear tire. I've owned a couple utility tractors just because I found deals I knew I could turn and burn on to make a little cash.
For food plot work my favorite is a old ford work master jubilee. I've got a lx885 60h.p skid steer for bucket work. A case 530 back hoe for the occasional digging. I've got less than 15k in those 3 tools and can do everything faster than a more expensive utility tractor.
So why spend more money on a a jack of all trades-master of none? Spend less and get a master of each?
For food plot work my favorite is a old ford work master jubilee. I've got a lx885 60h.p skid steer for bucket work. A case 530 back hoe for the occasional digging. I've got less than 15k in those 3 tools and can do everything faster than a more expensive utility tractor.
So why spend more money on a a jack of all trades-master of none? Spend less and get a master of each?
I love this Cabelas LM35...
Cabelas are a hybrid of tym..
For the record I'll never by another tractor without a FEL or 4 wheel drive...Those two features are worth their weight in gold on my farm....Used both more times that I can count in the last 3 yrs.
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I still think Kubota is the best all around but the other tractors will be just fine.
I bought a Branson a few year ago at Hodges Farm Equipment in Fenton. Looked at Kubota and JD, but had a hard time dropping the money (never realized how much we actually spent on habitat work!) Picked up the 5220 (55hp) with a cab, tiller and bucket. Have used it to push snow, brush hog, plant my food plots, etc. Nice little tractor, no complaints to far. Busted the antenna off in a thicker area and they were able to get me a replacement within a week. It is a shuttle shift which has it's pros and cons depending on who you ask.
Would surely consider a look at the Mahindra's only because of the 7 yr warranty if you purchase new.
Partial to the kubota's only because I own one. Would never consider buying one with out 4 wheel drive, just seems to double it's power and pretty much go through anything, also has to have a front bucket, can use just for about everything, and hydro stat a must for me, surely makes maneuvering a whole lot faster and easier.. seems to hold their value as long as taken care of.
Partial to the kubota's only because I own one. Would never consider buying one with out 4 wheel drive, just seems to double it's power and pretty much go through anything, also has to have a front bucket, can use just for about everything, and hydro stat a must for me, surely makes maneuvering a whole lot faster and easier.. seems to hold their value as long as taken care of.
Having never owned a tractor or really used one for much, what will 37-40 horse do? I would not buy a tractor without a front bucket and honestly, a rear hoe is high on the wish list. What size plow or disc can a person get away with if they have 37-40 horse?
Would think with the h.p. your asking would pull a two bottom plow with ease, I run a 5' county line tiller with no issue's.
My next one will be 50-55hp min.
Amen Brutha!
35hp hydro has worked great for me. I've used it to run a 5ft brush hog, 60 gallon boom sprayer 3pt, 3pt auger and also dragged a county no till drill . It's tough to beat a hydro for food plot use and bucket work. I'd probably stick with a hydro in the 50-55 HP range. My honest opinion of food plots is just spray then drag the dirt then seed and pack. As far as planting corn and beans it's all roundup ready so really if the plot is more than a 1/2 acre just find a farmer to drill the seed in and I will spray the roundup from that point on.
It all depends on the property you have, and what you will be using it for.
I currently am using a 1952 8N (the one in my pic). Bought it when I was 21 (9 years ago) for $1500. At our home, I brushhog around a 4 acre pond, a 2 acre pond, and a road that connects them. There is about 20-30 ft of grass around the ponds and road. I have a 1/2 acre plot, and 3-4 small micro plots (1/10ish acre). The 8n works awesome for all of the above. A bigger tractor with a bucket would not be able to maneuver the microplots because of the trees and shapes of the plots. I don't think I could even turn around in most of them. We also have a 650ft driveway that I plow with the 8n and backblade. Works flawlessly. The driveway is even somewhat elevated, and I have not had a problem with the 2wd going uphill with a load of snow on the back. The 8n is very light too. I can drive it around the yard and it doesn't sink in or tear the yard up. Since there is no power steering, the sharp turns are obsolete, so the front tires don't tear things up plus you get quite an upper body workout haha. Pulls the trailer with firewood, deer, ect with ease. For our house it works perfectly.
On the flipside, my dad had 80 acres up in Cheboygan that had a 10 acre field in the middle, and a lot of 1/2-1/4 acre foodplots. I originally bought the 8n for the property, but was very limited on how much we could do. Only had weekends in the summer to do plots, and its hard to do 8-10 acres total of plots with just an 8n. My dad eventually bought a 52 horse Kubota and a big disc, and the 8n was basically used to cut the roads.
I currently am using a 1952 8N (the one in my pic). Bought it when I was 21 (9 years ago) for $1500. At our home, I brushhog around a 4 acre pond, a 2 acre pond, and a road that connects them. There is about 20-30 ft of grass around the ponds and road. I have a 1/2 acre plot, and 3-4 small micro plots (1/10ish acre). The 8n works awesome for all of the above. A bigger tractor with a bucket would not be able to maneuver the microplots because of the trees and shapes of the plots. I don't think I could even turn around in most of them. We also have a 650ft driveway that I plow with the 8n and backblade. Works flawlessly. The driveway is even somewhat elevated, and I have not had a problem with the 2wd going uphill with a load of snow on the back. The 8n is very light too. I can drive it around the yard and it doesn't sink in or tear the yard up. Since there is no power steering, the sharp turns are obsolete, so the front tires don't tear things up plus you get quite an upper body workout haha. Pulls the trailer with firewood, deer, ect with ease. For our house it works perfectly.
On the flipside, my dad had 80 acres up in Cheboygan that had a 10 acre field in the middle, and a lot of 1/2-1/4 acre foodplots. I originally bought the 8n for the property, but was very limited on how much we could do. Only had weekends in the summer to do plots, and its hard to do 8-10 acres total of plots with just an 8n. My dad eventually bought a 52 horse Kubota and a big disc, and the 8n was basically used to cut the roads.
It's definitely good to outline your plans for use before you buy so you get the proper size tractor for your needs. Although, I digress, you never really realize the potential and usefulness of these tractors until you have one at your disposal.
I prefer a hydrostat and would not consider a shift of any type. This is because I do a lot of bucket work, forward/ backward, a lot of work on uneven ground, a lot of "short trips" work, and if I am working on mowing or food plots, they are generally in tight areas that require a lot of turning and forward/backward (again).
In a perfect world, I would have 2 tractors, something in a 24 hp with a front/mid PTO option for a snowblower or mid-mount finish mower. I gave up these amenities to move to a larger tractor. A cab would be a nice feature, especially during the winter, but I don't think I'd like it in the summer unless it had AC. This time around, I got the detachable bucket and bought an aftermarket plow which has worked out well. I also have loaded rear tires; bought a ballast box with my first tractor and that just sits in the barn. Also, it only costs a few more dollars for the dealership to add chain hooks to your bucket.
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