I was also watching and hoping for cheap equipment deals. About the only equipment that I have seen for sale at a deep discount yet is the Boeing 737max but I don't like buying if the MFR is going out of business, too difficult to get warranty and parts.
Unless you plan on working on hard pack and will be using your tractor for plotting, etc. I'd personally go with the ag tires. We have a 55hp kubota 4x4 with R4 tires and a 48 hp john deere 2wd with R1 tires. The john deere pulls a disk better than the kubota in 2wd. Also the john deere will go places only the kubota can go in 4wd. I also noticed the kubota's tires have a hard time shedding the type of mud we have. Once the tread gets packed it's over. If these tires ever wear out we will be replacing them with ag tires no doubt.
I'm surprised that the dealer wasn't able to come up with R1's for you. Most dealers will find a way to accommodate a new equipment buyer if the model is available in the brochure. For that big of a tractor doing field work, the R4 tires would be a deal breaker for me. I could just see myself a year down the road scouring craigslist for used ag tires to swap out.
They are switching the R4's for the R1's for me luckily. They had to order the wheels and tires and then they'll be swapping them over when the tractor comes in.
I grew up on a farm and even though I'm a carpenter I've driven ag tractors all my life, up to 200 hp with power shift, and I'm thinking that you will never regret that decision. For a 50-60 hp tractor used primarily for field work like mowing R1's make the machine feel like a lot more tractor.
Cab or open station?
Had to go with a cab because of my 2 young boys that always need to go with me. I figured that would be worth every penny because I worry about them getting stung by ground bees or falling off when they’re with me on one of the open station tractors we have. Plus, the older I get the less I like the sun and the heat. The A/C is going to be nice for sure.
You won’t regret the cab....
A cab is so civilized. It seems whenever I have the time to work with my tractor it's either freezing or sizzling, and the cab makes both of those extremes a lot more bearable. My new holland tractor also has a second seat, which is worth a lot when taking a youngster along.
I like the smell of new upholstery. You are going to get a lot of years of service out of that thing. Did you take the boys for a ride yet?My tractor came in today but they haven't got the R1 tires yet to swap out with yet.
No, I haven’t yet. It’s still at the dealership until the tires come in.
