Suppose you NEED a vehicle to commute to work, you can buy a 20 grand econobox or a 60 grand one ton 4X4 truck. If you don't actually need that 60 grand truck to commute 10 miles one way to work, you just WANT it. It's as simple as that...define your needs vs. your wants.
JD Green. That reminds me of my current situation, I drive a 2002 Ford Escape with 240,000 miles on it because I don't care about what I drive. I don't 'enjoy' driving a vehicle (aside from my motorcycles) and the old Escape is all I NEED to get around. I don't NEED a new or more powerful tractor, but I certainly WANT one :laughing:
You guys all have good points and some good advice for me, especially....
family and home first
toys and tools second
Don't sell your L4610 short.
Singlemalt,
I'll be putting the ole girl to the test in a couple weeks, I'll give her another chance to prove herself. Actually, aside from FEL lift capacity, it's never let me down. I've only maxed out the lift capacity because I've tried doing things that this tractor isn't meant for. Then again, I maxed out the lift capacity of my 410 on a good sized oak log as well, so like someone mentioned, I'll never have something that 'does it all'
how long do you plan to live on the property...
...Hopefully for the rest of our lives.
what do you plan to do once you are settled...
Good question... Haven't actually thought too far into that. Once we are moved in up there, I plan to slowly thin the forest and make some small fields, mow the fields, make small trails, snowblow my driveway, move/handle logs for my portable sawmill, gather firewood, and overall just "manage" the forest.
Everything I do with the tractor is purely hobby, sure it's a tool and I do use it that way, but my I certainly don't make a living with it.
can you actually work the cost of a new and bigger tractor into your finances...
Yes... but...
without screwing up your budget?
No :laughing: I don't want have a loan because I want my credit to stay as perfect as possible since I'll be applying for a construction loan and then a standard mortgage.
Piston - I have a score to settle with you. One thing lead to another and your grapple picture thread caused me to buy a brand new tractor. So, if I can get you to buy a cab tractor we'll be even.
:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
Rackluster,
I was laughing the whole time reading your response :laughing::laughing:
I'm just glad you bought the grapple before reading my thread :thumbsup:
Piston, Kubotas have great resale and you have made other improvements on the tractor. How much would it really cost you once you sold your current tractor? You don't have to go back with another Kubota.
Brian,
That's actually what got me thinking about this. I looked up some larger framed tractors on tractorhouse and they weren't nearly as much as I thought. I don't know what I could get for my tractor but I saw some Kubota M6800's on there for right around 20k. I know I can't get that for mine, but I would think I'd be less than 5k away from there.
I am not at all brand loyal to Kubota, I just happen to know them best because that is what I have. If I could get into a bigger tractor for similar money, then I would think more about it. The problem is, what I really WANT, and know I will eventually have (even if it's after the kids are through college :laughing
is a cab tractor. So I'm starting to think it's better to just wait and buy the one I want, rather than buy another one as a stepping stone. But I won't buy the big cab tractor I want now, not for a long time unfortunately.
I'm going to pay close attention over this coming year to see how many times my current tractor can't do what I ask of it. I'll revisit the idea of trading up as the months go by. As mentioned, I'll be putting it to the test in a couple weeks. I just found out I won't be able to truck the 410 up to my land this time so the 'Bota is all I'll have.
When I really think about it, my reason for upgrading is because I think of the implements I want to use, and a lot of the times my tractor is not rated for what I want to do with it. It's not that it doesn't do what it's designed for, it's that I try using it for more than a compact tractor is supposed to do.
You guys have all given me good advice and I like to see the different sides. It's nice to read other peoples opinion and it makes me think outside the box a little bit. :thumbsup: