Go BottomShopping for first tractor TC29 vs TC30
 | LapinFarmer
Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 22 Kenmore WA 
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2004-06-20 88962
Do any of you Blue fans want to offer comments on the TC29 vs the TC30, assuming both have FEL and hydro? Also any comments on the new TC29s vs last years models and FELs?
I'm shopping for a first tractor and I've now test driven a TC30 (manual) and a TC29D (hydro). The TC30 is available with hydro but none were on the lot to test out. I've also looked at Kubota B7800 and JD-4210, and found at least one local dealer that I like for each brand.
My use is for a horse property with 4 acres of often hilly pasture and 2-3 more acres that could be cleared later. I also have to maintain 1/2 mile of gravel road and driveway, install fence posts etc. Additional acreage is wetlands and buffer zones.
Last year I rented a Cub Cadet (25-30 hp model, don't remember which) to plow and seed the pastures with some help from a Cat D3B dozer, so I have some experience with tractors on my particular property. Some of the steep slopes are really steep and we have some odd corners, so I care about stability and maneuvering. Bad knees dictate hydro over a clutch, and being 5'5" makes cockpit layout important.
My opinion so far is JD is the most expensive and has the largest turning radius, as well as cool features due to the e-Hydro that I may or may not really need. Ergonomically I like the TC30 seat but the TC-29 has an adjustable steering wheel. My dealer offered to swap the TC30 seat into a TC29 for me, and that might be the best solution but I have not actually tried it yet. The Kubota cockpit seemed to fit me the best and the frame is lower to the ground so I presume it is more stable on slopes.
The B7800 and TC30 prices are very close, the TC29 was a bit more, the JD a bit more.
My NH dealer also has some slightly used TC30s (50-100 hours) that are 20-30% less expensive than a new one, but alas none with hydro.
Help!
Neal
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| rjones
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 24 sc
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2004-06-21 89067
hello prospective tractor buyer,
what an exciting time for you. i faced the same decision last year.
my choices boiled down to the tc29d or tc33d. the 30 was ruled out after 5 minutes. it was a personal thing, i just didn't think it was a much machine as the other two.
i ended up getting a tc33d (last years's model, naturally)w/FEL, hydro, ss, & backhoe. i figured since they both weighed the same, it'd be worth the xtra $$ for the xtra horses.
super steer was kind of a "semi-accident", but i'm Very glad i got it & the hydro. it handles like a dream. when i take the backhoe off & put the boxblade on, it'll go in places you never would have believed.
i've never had it back in for service, but, if i ever do, i'll have the fel checked - lift capacity seems kinda "wimpy".
i bought a nh because the local jd dealer really "screwed me over" on a couple of gators i bought from him, but the nh is really a pretty neat machine.
have fun ....
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| stevenc
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 190 North Carolina
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2004-06-26 89412
there are a lot of differences in the TC30 and the TC29,,call Brandon at Tarheel Tractor in Lenoir,NC,,he can fill you in,,the TC30 is a "price fighter,value priced" tractor,,the TC29 has a lot of bells and whistles,, ....
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 | davcon
Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5 Northern Nevada
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2004-06-27 89428
I had the same decision to make. Our company has a 30 and I ended up buying the 29. The 30 is a good tractor but the 29 was a better fit for me. Good Luck ....
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| 5picker
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 39 PA
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2004-06-28 89492
Neal, we've all been faced with the "which one's best" question but in the end it's a question only you can answer.
If budget is the primary consideration, then you have to find the best bang for your bucks and that might be the TC30. If operation/looks and bells & whistles are a consideration then look at the TC29. Keep in mind the TC33 is on the same platform as the 29 so for a few extra bucks you can go there as well.
If you are still not sure, test drive each one and compare. I was going crazy with all the different specs and brochures whizzing around in my head but it was the test drive that put it all into prospective. You wouldn't buy a new car without doing it. Any dealer worth his salt will allow you to spend some time with each machine whether it be at his lot or at your home. It was during this process that I found out how much nicer the the options on the 29/33 were compared to the "price fighter" 30. The adjustable 3PH arms are worth the price difference alone. Throw in the tilt/tele steering, nicer seat/platform area, cruise as a standard option instead of a dealer add on, and along with several other 'goodies,' the 29/33 looked awfully good IMHO.
Good luck on your process!
Tim ....
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| tygr12b
Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4 Loudoun County, VA
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2004-06-28 89497
Neal,
I just got my TC33 over a week ago now and I'm feeling better and better about the decision. I looked at the Kubota's and the JD's. My thought was the B7800 platform was smaller than the NH but the move up to the L3130 was too much tractor for the HP range ie the HP to size/weight ratio would have been too much. The JD's were just too pricey for the what they were offering IMHO.
So after those considerations I decided on the TC33 for the extra HP. I purposefully didn't want the SS option because the dealer said that you could get into trouble if you were doing alot of FEL work with it. Meaning the sharper turn radius with a heavy and elevated load could flip the tractor. I'm also going to be doing bush-hogging and not mowing so the sharper turning radius didn't factor in as greatly. Not sure how accurate that is but I didn't feel that SS was buying me much. I think the turn radius on the HST is pretty darn good by itself. So you can save some $$ by leaving SS off. Maybe that will make the TC33 more affordable.
Now that it's done and the decision making stress is over I can enjoy it and I feel that for me it was the correct decision. Good luck...
-Frank ....
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 | oneace
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1490 south central pa 
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2004-07-04 90051
The TC29 Now has the 14LA loader and a stonger front axle. this loader is capable of lifting more than the old 7308 on the tc30. Goood luck ....
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