Harley Bontrager has always loved working on motors. Even as a child, tinkering with his dad’s various machines on the farm, he was intrigued and enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together.
He owned a construction company for more than 15 years but chose to shift gears, launching Bontrager Tractor in late 2023 with his brother and brother-in-law, Vernon and Devon.
Bontrager said that with their vast amount of knowledge and experience, they make a great team.
He’s currently a Yanmar dealer, featuring agricultural equipment, tractors and UTVs, and offers repair and maintenance services.
“Yanmar offers a 10-year warranty. It’s by far the best on the market. They have faith in their product, and we’ve had very good success with them,” Bontrager said. “We also offer zero percent financing with competitive rates and occasional discounts.”
In addition to anything from a 20-horsepower to a 75-horsepower tractor, they also carry UTVs and various attachments, including bush hogs, tillers, graders, grapples and more.
In the retail portion of the shop, customers can pick up batteries, belts, filters, oil and hydraulic hoses, among many other options.
They occasionally have some used tractors and other machinery as well.
For Bontrager, he doesn’t buy into pressure sales and gimmicks. He simply believes in the Yanmar product and the services they offer.
“I don’t ever want to be the reason someone buys a tractor. You’re not going to come in and I persuade you to buy something you don’t need. That makes an unhappy customer,” Bontrager said. “I feel like providing a good, solid piece of equipment and establishing a trusted relationship is most important. We want Bontrager to be a trusted name, and we’re promoting the quality and service we offer.”
As summer weather slowly approaches, Bontrager said regular maintenance will become even more important to make the large machinery last.
Similar to a vehicle, if you’re not checking the oil and the filters, it’s a safe bet the machine will begin to have issues.
“It’s not uncommon to have customers bring something in that has long been neglected, but the small stuff matters. What’s important for any motor — making sure all of your fluids are topped off, keeping it in good running condition — will help maintain the longevity of your engine,” Bontrager said. “Some of that can be done from home, but you’re welcome to have the service shop check it out, and it’s always a good idea to get an annual inspection.”
As a new business, Bontrager has plans for the future and hopes to expand the variety and services as they continue to grow.
“We’d eventually like to incorporate other things like skid loaders, forklifts, maybe an articulating tractor. Everything takes time, but our vision is to expand the heavy equipment lines,” Bontrager said.
Bontrager Tractor is located at 855 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana. For more information, call 260-336-5793.
