Montana tractors

I am probably getting a Montana 4344 tractor with loader, backhoe, and trailer as part of a settlement. Does anyone have any experience or insight in these tractors?

Steve

Reply to
Steve B
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Interesting lineage, yours was built in South Korea by LS with a Mitsubishi diesel engine.

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TDD

Reply to
The Daring Dufas

I have been around these tractors for three years now. A friend of mine sells them. They have always been interesting, but I shied away from them, thinking that they would be hard to get parts or service. On reading about them last night, and reading forums of owners, there seems to be a precedence for people liking them vs. not liking them. Mitsubishi has been in business for quite a while, and I would say, should be for quite a while into the future.

Reply to
Steve B

On 1/5/2012 12:00 PM, Steve B wrote: ...

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As I commented in the thread over on rcm, from what I've seen of them there's nothing wrong with them as a general utility tractor.

What I don't/wouldn't like is that despite Mitsubishi being around, what you're hostage to is whether the US support distribution channel is going to be around long--they certainly didn't sell many of them and as I noted in the other response, I'm not sure there were any others imported or are otherwise parts-compatible for other areas as well as only the engine. There are significant differences between the US imports and the for local consumption in the engines so can't rely on them for certain; you really will need the current distribution chain to survive to have much luck I think. I don't think it's real promising that they've entirely given up selling new ones; that means there's no additional market for service/parts being built up which means only the existing units are the total product market base.

My personal opinion is the present value is worth $20k in comparison to what you can get from Kubota or others; that doesn't mean in a few years you would be able to get much for it if there is no US support.

Does your buddy have any data on how many were sold, total, in the US? I looked some but couldn't find any indications.

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Reply to
dpb

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I'd far prefer...

Don't have a clue where you're located so not any idea about whether utility tractors are rampant or rare as hen's teeth there, but as I think about how I'd feel at check-writing time for the green one, I get less and less enthralled, personally, simply owing to the uncertainty going forward. I'd plan on hanging onto something of that ilk for 20 yr or more unless actually using it commercially where could/would expense/depreciate it and expect to pay for it w/ revenue. I'm still reluctant even if were here on the farm to commit to something w/o full service.

It's a crapshoot; feel lucky and the urge, I don't think you'll be disappointed at least initially. All will depend on whether it does develop any problem and then what state the service business is in at the time...and who know on that one?

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Reply to
dpb

I get a 18' tandem trailer with this, and the guy just told me there's a 6 way front blade, scraper box, and post hole digger that goes with it. All for $20k.

I agree with you about future parts availability, but it looks very much like we will all be speaking either Spanish or Chinese here soon anyway.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

But will they ship the parts???? :)

I agree it's a lot of gear for the initial outlay; it's definitely a current value deal it would appear.

Is it a closed-cabbed version or open platform/ROPS/canopy?

Did/does your buddy have any idea on numbers sold overall before they pulled out? Or if there are any others importing under a different nameplate or did they quit building them entirely? The latter question I never did ascertain; I've not been by the local place here since they switcheroo...

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Reply to
dpb

"dpb" wrote

From what I understand, existing dealers of other brands have absorbed their warranty work, and the company itself has changed from manufacturing to just making and distributing parts.

It is open with a roll bar type overhead.

As I said, I believe that they quit manufacturing Montana all together, but now they are still made in similar styles, but by companies with other names.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

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