About Bill's Tractor & Equipment

As we, at Bill's Tractor, look back and evaluate the prior 36 years, we are in awe of God's guidance, grace, and provision for our company. What began as a midlife move by Bill and Betsy Bailes in 1985 to embrace the unknown in an unlikely place and to start a tractor business in the middle of a drought was a miracle. Our family and friends did not expect us to succeed and thought us a bit crazy. Nevertheless, we worked hard and persevered, with God's help.

Bill started the business with one old 9N Ford tractor with implements that he sold at a prior automotive business. That one sale launched our name, Bill's Tractor, and took us into another business. The land we bought to start this enterprise was an old, abandoned farm in Southeast Bexar County outside of San Antonio, Texas. Unfortunately, the house that we remodeled, and the shop that we built could not be seen from the street. This made for many explanations on how to find us. Thanks to classified ads in the newspaper and monthly farm equipment auctions the business slowly grew.

In the early 1990's, we signed with Mahindra Tractors to sell their new tractors in the USA. Since we were one of their first dealers, we worked to establish the brand in our south Texas region. Starting with first year's sales of 36 tractors, sales over the next 15 years reached as high as 800 in 2007. Our 30-plus year relationship with Mahindra USA has grown as we continue to be one of their biggest dealers. In 1999 we moved to our US Highway 87 location.

Bill's vision and innovative thinking included:

• Understanding the existence and needs of the small property owner or "weekend warrior" that began in the 1980's and expanded the scope of the farm equipment business.
• Offering a "Package Deal" for his customers that included a tractor, implements and trailer, which were basic needs to maintain the land.
• Using TV as a marketing tool before anyone else thought of it.
• Setting up one of the first tractor dealer web sites and expanding it into a shopping cart for parts which has worldwide coverage today.
• Expanding into the lawn and garden market, being one of the first dealers to offer zero turn mowers.
• Making a personal commitment to caring for employees and customers.
• Participating in and giving back to the local community.

With the passing in 2019 of our founder, Bill, and my subsequent retirement, the leadership of the business has been handed over to our son, Rick, and daughter, Becky, in a family partnership. We miss his insight and quick wit and appreciate the firm foundation he left for us to build upon.

Our primary goal through the years has been to help people with small acreages find affordable equipment to maintain their land. That is still our main focus, but it has been vastly expanded over time to embrace anyone who cares for land - from someone with an acre lot to maintain to commercial landscapers.

Bill's Tractor now includes a recently expanded 5 -acre location on US Highway 87, an exceptionally large inventory of new tractors and zero turn lawn mowers, a well-equipped Parts Department selling worldwide and a certified Service Department for maintaining our customer's equipment.

As with any business there are years of gains and losses, rains and droughts, "feast and famine". The last few years have been challenging for everyone with the upheaval of sickness and changes in government. Since we were classified as an essential business, we were able to continue to help customers during COVID. Nevertheless, we were bombarded with many changes including: changing our web site in look and use; revising and updating our online parts store; reorganizing our different departments; hiring new employees; and switching our business software and phone system to help us to better serve our customers. These changes have been difficult for us and our customers, but we believe it will help us both in the future. As we enter 2023, we renew our pledge to continue Bill's vision and find new ways to support our community and meet the needs of our customers by giving them - "THE BEST PRODUCTS, AT THE BEST PRICES, WITH THE BEST SERVICE AVAILABLE."

We greatly appreciate our friends and customers in the community who have supported our business and helped us grow over these many years.

30+ YEARS AND STILL GOING!! THE ONLY TRACTOR DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE SAME NAME AND OWNER FOR 30 YEARS!

Contact Us

Call us today at (210) 649-1715 and find out how our team can help you find the Hustler, Mahindra, Stihl and more - view our inventory you've been looking for! We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.