Buying a John Deere 3033R or a TYM394,looking for advise

[sneakypete]

The first tractor I bought was too little,so I made up for that by buying one WAAAY too big the second time.

Now I am trying to make up for those two mistakes by buying one that is "just right".

I have it tentatively narrowed down to either a 31 HP JD 3033R with a cabin with ac and heat,or a 39 HP TYM394 with a cabin with ac and heat. Everybody knows what a JD is,but the TYM is made in South Korea by Korea's largest tractor company that has been in business for about 60 years. They have only been building tractors for export since about 2014 now,but prior to that they made a lot of "Badge" tractors for other companies as well as components.

Both the JD and the TYM use Japanese diesel engines and the same transmissions. Both are 4 wheel drive "Compact Utility Tractors",and my primary use for the one I get will be to cut  fire breaks in the fields around my house,and to strip cars,spread gravel around my house and outbuildings so fire can't reach them,and to move parts cars around the yard. I have 8 acres,but have no intention of keeping it all cut down short. Somebody sets fire to it every few years anyhow,so that's why I want/need to maintain a firebreak.  One house burning down is enough.

Based solely on price and power,the TYM 394 is the clear winner,being about 7 grand cheaper than the JD,as well as having better reviews. The only complaints I can find on the web about the TYM were about minor things like light switches failing,but having TYM mail them the parts under warranty.

The JD is made in Mexico,and it seems like it is,or was,plagued by poor or incorrect assembly to the point where it only got 3 out of 5 stars on the review boards. The last comment I could find was a couple of years old,so they may have corrected these problems by now. To counter this,I have a JD dealer only 40 miles away,and the closest TYM dealer is about 250 miles away. JD has an excellent service reputation,but the TYM dealer network in the US is so new not much is heard about it.

Both weigh between 3,000 and 3500 lbs.

I can get the TYM with the cab and loader for $22,900,and the JD is $29,500. Both are now offering zero percent financing for up to no money down for 48 months,or 60 months with 10 percent down,or 84 months with 20 percent down. The JD dealer has already told me he can get me 84 months with zero down,and I have no reason to think I can't get the same deal with the TYM dealer.

To sum it up,the TYM offers a sale price 7 grand cheaper than the JD dealer,but if the tractor needs any warranty work I am going to have to load it on my trailer and drive 250 miles to drop it off,and then make that 500 mile round trip again to bring it home  when it's fixed.

The JD dealer offers a superb established dealer and parts network for warranty work,and if it is something major and I have to take it to him,I am only looking at a 80 mile round trip

Anybody have any experience or knowledge of the reliability of the 2016-2017 JD 3033R tractor with the D160 loader?

How about any of the 2016-2017 TYM's?

BTW,if any of you are close to a Case dealer,visit his lot and view his compact utility tractors. They are pretty much identical to the TYM tractors of the same size,with the biggest difference seeming to be the decals. It even has a plaque riveted to the rear of the chassis that says "Made in South Korea".

[thackney]

No info on your specific question, but a bump to your thread.

Last year I bought the Kubota L3901 with loader.  I like it a lot and we are rough on it.

Hoping it will be okay after a couple feet of water.

We have maybe half a dozen dealers within ~50 miles.

[Bigun]

Whichever you choose, make sure it has HST.  I have a. 30 hp Kubota 4wd w/HST and will assure you that it will out pull any 50 up two wheel drive tractor on the market.

With the HST you won't wear yourself out shifting gears all day.  Well worth the extra cost over a conventional transmission.

[thackney]

Whichever you choose, make sure it has HST.  I have a. 30 hp Kubota 4wd w/HST and will assure you that it will out pull any 50 up two wheel drive tractor on the market.

With the HST you won't wear yourself out shifting gears all day.  Well worth the extra cost over a conventional transmission.

+1

The ability to slightly bump to align an attachment, slight change in foot pressure to lower speed without lowering RPMs when the brush hog bogs down, and when you want the kid or the wife to help you with something, they can without running you over.

[roamer_1]

I don't have the model at hand, but we have a 30hp JD midsize 4x4, and I will swear by it. it's around a decade old, and I can recall it going to the dealer but a couple of times.

Dunno TYM, but it looks like Yanmar, just to look at it... which I don't think is bad - You might want to see if Yanmar has a closer dealership I sure like their implement hookup and expansion systems for hydraulics I have run them a bit, and they seem to be hardy little tractors. One thing I really like about the Yanmar is the low fueling point - I can't tell you how nice it is to dump a 5 into that machine, right at waist height. Now that's a difference you will notice several times a week.

But, I would say JD. It is worth something that they have a network that includes a local dealer and that ought to be recognized. And 90% 0f what you need the dealer for would be nice to just walk in and buy, instead of waiting on the mail.

disclaimer: My opinion will not include anything to do with the closed cab - Our Deere is open w/ ROPS

[sneakypete]

No info on your specific question, but a bump to your thread.

Last year I bought the Kubota L3901 with loader.  I like it a lot and we are rough on it.

Hoping it will be okay after a couple feet of water.

We have maybe half a dozen dealers within ~50 miles.

@thackney

Was it new? Mind telling me what you paid for it?

How much HP? How high will the bucket lift,and how much will it lift that high?

As for the water,one thing you don't have to worry about with diesels is ignition problems. Had a hurricane come through a few years ago and my old 345D Ford loader was the only thing with enough ground clearance to let me get out to the paved road. Even then it was level with the floor in a couple of places. One of the local deputies spotted me driving it down the paved road and stopped me and asked me if I would use it to move a mobile home out of the way that had blown across the road to the west of me. Had the road blocked. That old loader sure came in handy for the next few days. I could drive it to a friends place and borrow his truck to go to the grocery store.

[sneakypete]

Whichever you choose, make sure it has HST.  I have a. 30 hp Kubota 4wd w/HST and will assure you that it will out pull any 50 up two wheel drive tractor on the market.

With the HST you won't wear yourself out shifting gears all day.  Well worth the extra cost over a conventional transmission.

@Bigun  It's hard to NOT buy one with the HST trans these days,but I'm just find with a standard transmission with shuttle for forward and reverse. I always drive in low gear on my property anyhow,so what difference does it make? I use the shuttle shift a lot when using the loader.

[sneakypete]

I don't have the model at hand, but we have a 30hp JD midsize 4x4, and I will swear by it. it's around a decade old, and I can recall it going to the dealer but a couple of times.

Sounds like the earlier series to the one I am considering. The one the dealer is trying to sell me is a 3033R. Has 31 HP.

Dunno TYM, but it looks like Yanmar, just to look at it... which I don't think is bad - You might want to see if Yanmar has a closer dealership I sure like their implement hookup and expansion systems for hydraulics I have run them a bit, and they seem to be hardy little tractors. One thing I really like about the Yanmar is the low fueling point - I can't tell you how nice it is to dump a 5 into that machine, right at waist height. Now that's a difference you will notice several times a week.

The 3 series,and probably the 2 series JD are made in Mexico,and they all use the Japanese Yanmar engine and transmission. So does Case,TYM,and Massey-Fergueson.

Not the same exact engine,though.IIRC,the JD requires the diesel additive to please the EPA,and the TYM doesn't. Which is one reason I am leaning towards the TYM. No turbo.  I've looked up the specs,and the bores and strokes are slightly different.

But, I would say JD. It is worth something that they have a network that includes a local dealer and that ought to be recognized. And 90% 0f what you need the dealer for would be nice to just walk in and buy, instead of waiting on the mail.

That,and the fact that when you go to sell a compact tractor to a "hobby horse farmer" nothing sells like a John Deere. Not that it will matter to me because my estate will be selling it,not me. The fact that the TYM also has the same driveline and almost certainly uses the same filters and common parts is a bonus.

disclaimer: My opinion will not include anything to do with the closed cab - Our Deere is open w/ ROPS

The JD and the TYM both have cabs with with ROPS.

[sneakypete]

http://tym-tractors.com/tractors/t394-hst/

BTW,here is the TYM I am considering getting. I might get the 354 instead,though. It has 35 hp and is 500 lbs lighter,plus about 4 grand cheaper.

[thackney]

@thackney

Was it new? Mind telling me what you paid for it?

How much HP? How high will the bucket lift,and how much will it lift that high?

As for the water,one thing you don't have to worry about with diesels is ignition problems. Had a hurricane come through a few years ago and my old 345D Ford loader was the only thing with enough ground clearance to let me get out to the paved road. Even then it was level with the floor in a couple of places. One of the local deputies spotted me driving it down the paved road and stopped me and asked me if I would use it to move a mobile home out of the way that had blown across the road to the west of me. Had the road blocked. That old loader sure came in handy for the next few days. I could drive it to a friends place and borrow his truck to go to the grocery store.

~$25k last year.

Comparison specs between it, the JD and the Mahindra at:

http://www.kubota.com/assets/product/comps/L3301/L3901_Comps.pdf

[sneakypete]

~$25k last year.

Comparison specs between it, the JD and the Mahindra at:

http://www.kubota.com/assets/product/comps/L3301/L3901_Comps.pdf

@thackney

Thanks. Here is how they stack up to the non-cabin TYM 394 that sells for $17,999.

http://secure.tractor.com/specs/tym/utility/2016/t/394-hst/specs.html

[thackney]

@thackney

Thanks. Here is how they stack up to the non-cabin TYM 394 that sells for $17,999.

http://secure.tractor.com/specs/tym/utility/2016/t/394-hst/specs.html

I may have the price wrong.  I bought several pieces at the same time.  And the paper work isn't quite accessible at this time, if ever.

[sneakypete]

I may have the price wrong.  I bought several pieces at the same time.  And the paper work isn't quite accessible at this time, if ever.

@thackney

No,the price sounds about right from what I can remember of current Kubota pricing. The JD 3033R with loader I was considering actually retails for 31 grand. I got the dealer to knock a few grand off the price,but it's still more than 25k,and that is without a cab.

The TYM are severely discounted now because they are in a full-court press to bust into the US market. The dealer I am buying mine from sold 5 in one day last week,and told me he might not have one in stock when I get there.

IF I had any money to invest,I would be buying stock in TYM,America. They are serious about busting into this market,and they have the backing of the SK government to do it as well as a quality product. This won't quite be like buying Toyota USA stock in 1970 because there is obviously a much larger market for cars,but it's going to get big unless nukes start flying.

[thackney]

@thackney

No,the price sounds about right from what I can remember of current Kubota pricing. The JD 3033R with loader I was considering actually retails for 31 grand. I got the dealer to knock a few grand off the price,but it's still more than 25k,and that is without a cab.

The TYM are severely discounted now because they are in a full-court press to bust into the US market. The dealer I am buying mine from sold 5 in one day last week,and told me he might not have one in stock when I get there.

IF I had any money to invest,I would be buying stock in TYM,America. They are serious about busting into this market,and they have the backing of the SK government to do it as well as a quality product. This won't quite be like buying Toyota USA stock in 1970 because there is obviously a much larger market for cars,but it's going to get big unless nukes start flying.

I looked at the Mahindra's when I bought mine.  There are a couple dealers within decent distance.  My main reason for not going with it is the time I know friends have spent waiting for replacement parts.  Not stocked in the US for too many parts.

Just something else to keep in mind.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@thackney

No,the price sounds about right from what I can remember of current Kubota pricing. The JD 3033R with loader I was considering actually retails for 31 grand. I got the dealer to knock a few grand off the price,but it's still more than 25k,and that is without a cab.

The TYM are severely discounted now because they are in a full-court press to bust into the US market. The dealer I am buying mine from sold 5 in one day last week,and told me he might not have one in stock when I get there.

IF I had any money to invest,I would be buying stock in TYM,America. They are serious about busting into this market,and they have the backing of the SK government to do it as well as a quality product. This won't quite be like buying Toyota USA stock in 1970 because there is obviously a much larger market for cars,but it's going to get big unless nukes start flying.

Bought a 100 hp JD 5100 that pulls anything I need to pull a couple of years ago and have been so impressed I bought some John Deere stock a year ago. Both have proven to be solid investments.

John Deere is hard to beat.

[thackney]

[sneakypete]

@thackney

I've seen my yard look like that. Had a hurricane dump a ton of rain,and the wind push in more several years ago,and the only way I could get off the island I live on was in the cab of my old Ford 345D loader. Even then the water in the road was washing over the cab floor going out the road. I'd drive my loader to a friends house and borrow his truck to go get groceries,and then drive them back home in the loader. Not much danger of overloading it. The bucket will pick up 3500 lbs 10 feet off the ground.

The first time I drove it off the island after the storm I was stopped by a local deputy that asked me to drive in a couple of miles up the road to move a house trailer out of the road that the wind had blown there. Had the whole damn road blocked. It had been sitting right out in the open right up on a high bank right at the edge of the water,and there was nothing stopping the full force of the wind from hitting it broadside. It had sat there for maybe 20 years and survived other storms,but I guess the combination of high sustained winds and the rust on the 20 year old tie-down straps were more than it could deal with.

[sneakypete]

@ thackney   @Bigun  @roamer_1  @IsailedawayfromFR

Ok,boys,girls,and undecideds,I pulled the trigger on the TYM 39 HP 4x4 tractor with a 6 foot bushhog,quick detach bucket,cab,ac,heat,radio,power steering,hydro trans,and box blade for right at 26k. It comes with a 6  year warranty,and uses the same drivetrain as similar sized New Holland,John Deere,etc,etc,etc tractors. It's supposed to be delivered either Friday or Monday.

I thank you all for your advise,but in the end I just had to go with the tractor 5 grand or more cheaper than any of the comparable tractors that size.

[Bigun]

@ thackney   @Bigun  @roamer_1  @IsailedawayfromFR

Ok,boys,girls,and undecideds,I pulled the trigger on the TYM 39 HP 4x4 tractor with a 6 foot bushhog,quick detach bucket,cab,ac,heat,radio,power steering,hydro trans,and box blade for right at 26k. It comes with a 6  year warranty,and uses the same drivetrain as similar sized New Holland,John Deere,etc,etc,etc tractors. It's supposed to be delivered either Friday or Monday.

I thank you all for your advise,but in the end I just had to go with the tractor 5 grand or more cheaper than any of the comparable tractors that size.

Congratulations!   Hope it serves you well for many years!

[roamer_1]

Congratulations!   Hope it serves you well for many years!

@sneakypete
Dittos!

[sneakypete]

Congratulations!   Hope it serves you well for many years!

@roamer_1

Thanks,I hope so,too. The 6 year factory warranty and two dealerships with service depts just a few hours drive away,combined with the price made it seem like the one to buy. To me,5 grand is real money.

[Bigun]

@roamer_1

Thanks,I hope so,too. The 6 year factory warranty and two dealerships with service depts just a few hours drive away,combined with the price made it seem like the one to buy. To me,5 grand is real money.

As my granny used to say,  "dang right!"

[thackney]

Good deal.

Post pics as you get some work done with it.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

@ thackney   @Bigun  @roamer_1  @IsailedawayfromFR

Ok,boys,girls,and undecideds,I pulled the trigger on the TYM 39 HP 4x4 tractor with a 6 foot bushhog,quick detach bucket,cab,ac,heat,radio,power steering,hydro trans,and box blade for right at 26k. It comes with a 6  year warranty,and uses the same drivetrain as similar sized New Holland,John Deere,etc,etc,etc tractors. It's supposed to be delivered either Friday or Monday.

I thank you all for your advise,but in the end I just had to go with the tractor 5 grand or more cheaper than any of the comparable tractors that size.

Smart to get 4x4.  It will serve you well.  I find it particularly good at getting a load into the front end loader at low gear.  Keeps the clutch from wearing out.

[sneakypete]

Smart to get 4x4.  It will serve you well.  I find it particularly good at getting a load into the front end loader at low gear.  Keeps the clutch from wearing out.

@IsailedawayfromFR

I still have both used 2wd tractors I bought,and just wasn't going to buy one this time that wasn't 4wd. It let's you go slow while cutting tall grass,and takes most of the worry out about getting stuck.