Loyalty and Farmin'
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: northwest florida
I think that when it comes to loyalty to farm equipment manufacturers a lot has to do with local dealers as many have said before and also the long heritage that farm equipment manufacturers have, especially Deere. They are proficient at marketing the long history and heritage of the company and the fact that they are still the original company and haven't been through mergers and buyouts. For instance, how many times have you seen Case New Holland mention the fact that they are owned by Fiat of Italy! I have gone through the Deere Pavilion in Moline,Illinois and the Deere tractor assembly plant and Engine assembly plant in Waterloo,Iowa and the heritage and history is emphasized very often. Also from what I have read Deere has contributed much to the state and people of Iowa over the years,especially the farming community. I don't think that car manufactuers have this kind of kinship with customers like the farm equipment people do.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
Well, we aren't really loyal to any manufacturer
We had a Deutz Fahr, a Steinger, a Fiat and a Lamborghini when we had the Cattle Station.
We have also had Massey's, Deeres and IH's. None of them were all that great, however my dad was a IH man, kind of, but got burnt with the last 2 he had, so lost his loyalty. The Deere was the worst tractors we ever owned, not to mention expensive. The Massey's were ok.
Funny, my father worked for Ford briefly, and have always had Ford cars - but never a Ford tractor...
We still have the Fiat... darn thing won't stop running, has 13,000hrs on the clock, and has seen conditions which no tractor should see (It pulled the Steinger out of 2 foot deep mud, and towed a broken down road train - when you consider its only 65hp...).
Definately my favorite of the lot (the Deutz was a good unit as well).
To us (unlike a lot of other farmers) it not only is the dealership. We used to be around 500miles from the closest place to get any form of genuine parts (and they weren't a dealer).
If the tractor broke down, and we couldn't fix it ourselves... It would take around a week to get any form of mechanic out there, and a lot longer if it took specialist parts.
Choosing a reliable tractor was paramount, otherwise the productivity lost was beyond comprehension.
We had a Deutz Fahr, a Steinger, a Fiat and a Lamborghini when we had the Cattle Station.
We have also had Massey's, Deeres and IH's. None of them were all that great, however my dad was a IH man, kind of, but got burnt with the last 2 he had, so lost his loyalty. The Deere was the worst tractors we ever owned, not to mention expensive. The Massey's were ok.
Funny, my father worked for Ford briefly, and have always had Ford cars - but never a Ford tractor...
We still have the Fiat... darn thing won't stop running, has 13,000hrs on the clock, and has seen conditions which no tractor should see (It pulled the Steinger out of 2 foot deep mud, and towed a broken down road train - when you consider its only 65hp...).
Definately my favorite of the lot (the Deutz was a good unit as well).
To us (unlike a lot of other farmers) it not only is the dealership. We used to be around 500miles from the closest place to get any form of genuine parts (and they weren't a dealer).
If the tractor broke down, and we couldn't fix it ourselves... It would take around a week to get any form of mechanic out there, and a lot longer if it took specialist parts.
Choosing a reliable tractor was paramount, otherwise the productivity lost was beyond comprehension.
Last edited by BigF350; Feb 12, 2006 at 06:09 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Central Kansas
I know in the county I live in there is only one implement dealer (John Deere), so most of the farms run Deeres. There is a Chevy, GMC, and Dodge dealer. If you want a Ford, you have to go to another county.The farm I work on use Deere tractors and Ford & chevy trucks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
id beg to differ... our tr-98 is over 10 yrs old and it will run more corn through it in one day then any john deer. this thing loves corn. it impresses me
Matt
Matt
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by SLE
How many of your have driven a CLASS Combine or Field Chooper (aka. CAT LEXION)? Once you've driven one its hard to argue that there a better machine made.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
the biggest thing ive found about deere vs the other breeds we run is parts avaibility, theres no longer a local ford or oliver/white dealer and some parts just aint avaible for them, have to get used salvage parts for. you can get nearly anything for deere, the nearest dealer aint too far away, and they seem to have more resale value for replacement/upgrade time. i wanted to restore the '64 ford 4000 but i couldnt find any used sheetmetal, the old "A" could be completely restored, but theres so many out there, who hasnt owned one? (John Deere) would have been neat to have displayed a rarer tractor that not everyone has seen.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,461
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From: Abilene Kansas
Now a few other posters here may brag about the IH combine, but I believe it's made at the same factory as the NH.......
Matt
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
yep, they are made in grand island ne. i went up there and toured there factory and it was pretty neat. where exactly do u live? im actually from plainville north of hays
Matt
Matt
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,947
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From: in the woods of MA
I'll throw my hat into the dealer/service ring. There's something to be said for all the major manufacturers, although I think that traditionally Deere's are made better - but you do pay for it. But the one thing that can be said for all of them them is they all break, and when they're broke down and you're lacking parts, they're all useless. So we tend to go with the guy that keeps our stuff running. Can you put in plugs here? If you can: Frost Farm Service, Greenville NH. You can show up there on a Sunday afternoon and if you can catch Ted there you'll get your parts... And that makes all the difference...
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 1
From: The Star-Club, Hamburg
I would say my loyalties lie with one tractor/implement line, and one truck manufacturer. International Harvester tractors, and Ford trucks. The closest IH dealer is one county over (there is a JD dealer in this county, about 10 miles away), and the closest Ford dealers are one county away as well. Growing up my family used these marques, so I was brought up with a predisposition to them, but I found out that they were both hardworking and reliable machines. I've had cars that were not Fords, and I've looked at other trucks and tractors, but tend to find myself returning to the red irons and blue ovals.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,947
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From: in the woods of MA
Actually, for a long time it made serious sense to be partial to John Deere and Ford - and I'm just talking tractors. The Fords were fine pieces of equipment, built to work, built to last. I'm not that familiar with the new Ford/NHs - I know they're pricey, but can't say if they're worth the $$ or not...
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: WI
I have two Oliver's (1800 and 1655) one Farmall H row crop, a White 2-105 and one ford 8n. They all run well and if it breaks I can fix it. However the deciding factor on getting every single one of these tractors was price and cost to fix. I have had some experience with John Deer tractors and while not a bad machine they ain't cheep to fix either when they do break. I have also noticed that the Deer's seem to need more specialty tools and odd ball fittings than the other brands.
I have more equipment than most people that have a small beef farm similar to mine (about 100 head right now) but when you are working 40-60 hours a week plus trying to get the hay in then you cant afford to loose time to break downs if it can be avoided. All three of my big tractors can pull my round baler, or haybine (the only piece of john deer equipment that I own) and I usually use the H for pulling the rake (odd I know but if the field is dry then all the front tires do is condition the hay a bit more). The 8n's primary purpose is for light loader work or back bladeing and the 2-105 is my big loader tractor for feeding round bales and rarely sees fieldwork unless one of my other tractors has a break down.
I have more equipment than most people that have a small beef farm similar to mine (about 100 head right now) but when you are working 40-60 hours a week plus trying to get the hay in then you cant afford to loose time to break downs if it can be avoided. All three of my big tractors can pull my round baler, or haybine (the only piece of john deer equipment that I own) and I usually use the H for pulling the rake (odd I know but if the field is dry then all the front tires do is condition the hay a bit more). The 8n's primary purpose is for light loader work or back bladeing and the 2-105 is my big loader tractor for feeding round bales and rarely sees fieldwork unless one of my other tractors has a break down.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
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From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by Hillbillywagon
I have had some experience with John Deer tractors and while not a bad machine they ain't cheep to fix either when they do break. I have also noticed that the Deer's seem to need more specialty tools and odd ball fittings than the other brands.
Last edited by Beast12; Feb 14, 2006 at 02:25 PM. Reason: fixed quote