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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SLE" data-source="post: 339929" data-attributes="member: 3889">Deere has options but you'll pay $20k more for a new machine equally equipped. Kubota used to be the best when it came to value vs durability but they've raised prices enough so that they aren't that far from Deere. There a bunch of other brands, they are all nice however the thing to be aware of is parts availability and service as they are all made overseas. Bobcat is basically just a rebranded Kioti, LS makes the New-Holland boomers and I believe the Montona tractors, then there's TYM whose is tied in with Massey Ferguson, Mahindra to some extent. There's also Yanmar who used to build the smaller tractors for Deere back years ago. an the Branson which I believe is a standalone brand also made in South Korea.I have a Kioti built 2013 Bobcat CT445 with a full cab currently with 140 hours on it. Its a great machine however there are issues already trying to find certain parts kits. I wanted to add a second hydraulic aux kit to the rear this past year. You could buy all the parts individually but couldn't buy it as a kit any longer, end up sourcing a dual aux kit which basically came from an overstock warehouse from bobcat of non-current / made parts. So I now have a brand new full single remote kit laying on my work bench as all of the single remote parts were duplicates for that part of the kit (PM me if anyone needs one!). The good part of Bobcat, they have a good dealer network around ND that supports them so you do have a source for parts and service and most of the dealers have been around a long time and aren't going anywhere. I would be weary of buying from a dealer that only carry's Mahindra or any of these off brand tractors. To many times those dealers that try to do it stand alone with one of these overseas brands never last long and then there you sit with a tractor that might not have a dealer within a reasonable distance. Take Mr Bitz Tractor in Bismarck who used to sell Branson and is now no longer around.If you go with any of the off-brands, I'd suggest getting all of the accessory stuff you may ever want as they may be tough to come by down the road. things like auxillery hydraulics, Mid or Front PTO, rear window wiper kits, radio's, ect. in many cases they have this stuff and if push came to shove you could rig something up but it's never as nice as the integrated factory stuff. I would also suggest getting one that might be sized a little large than you think you need. Once you have a utility tractor (if you've never had one) you'll find a million uses and having extra hp or capacity is you friend.With all of that said, Deere and Kubota are simply better quality machines, parts are typically more readily available and available for many many years, and the little details and ergonomics are better thought out for the operator. If I had to run one every day and rely on it as a business or such, there would be no question it would be Orange or Green. These off brands can be great value for those that don't need them on a daily basis and if you have to wait a few weeks for parts in the event something happens where it's just not that big of a deal, they fit a nice economic spot in the industry. At the end of the day, they aren't that complicated of machines and most of the parts are relatively generic when it comes to maintenance items, engines, filters, and drive systems.Good Luck</blockquote>

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