TaterinTexas
Member
I am new to this site and I am hoping you can give me some advice.
I recently inherited the family farm which we have owned since the mid-1800s. It has 180 acres of cultivated land and 150 acres of pasture and wooded land. It is located in North Texas. I don't know what I'm doing but I am trying to learn as fast as I can.
Currently, I lease the cultivated land out to a guy, but he told me he is going to get out of the business in the next year or so, so I'm likely to be plowing and planting soon (Lord help me find someone with a combine). We generally grow wheat or grain sorghum on the cultivated land. The pasture land is planted with Coastal Bermuda, and needs to be mowed regularly. If I had the equipment, I could probably cut and bale it. There is always clean up work to do on the place, such as removing fallen trees, etc. So, I need a good utility tractor.
Now for the tractor part. I currently have a 1998 Case C80, 4WD, front end loader. No cab. This tractor is kicking my butt. I have always had problems getting it to start...I'll waste half my weekend day trying to get it to start sometimes. The hydraulics for the front end loader are leaking like crazy. And, candidly, mowing pastures in July in Texas without an air conditioned cab is whipping me.
So, I am in the market for a new or gently used tractor. I am not wed to Case, but I do not want to spend the $$$ for a JD. The prices on new tractors shocked me, so I am considering going to a tractor auction and trying my luck there. Here is where I need the advice...
What is considered "a lot " of hours for a used tractor? I understand that hours alone don't tell the full story, because just like with the car, how well-maintained the vehicle has been is important, whether the tractor has been kept under a roof or parked outside, what kind of work has it been used for, did the prior owner "baby" it or abuse it, etc.
Still, I don't know how many hours are expected in the "life" of a normal tractor. When I go to the auction, I will obviously inspect anything I intend to bid on very closely. Nevertheless, I would like to know your thoughts on how ours relate to how "used" a tractor is. I get that this is a very general question and has a lot of variables to consider, but any advice is appreciated.
I recently inherited the family farm which we have owned since the mid-1800s. It has 180 acres of cultivated land and 150 acres of pasture and wooded land. It is located in North Texas. I don't know what I'm doing but I am trying to learn as fast as I can.
Currently, I lease the cultivated land out to a guy, but he told me he is going to get out of the business in the next year or so, so I'm likely to be plowing and planting soon (Lord help me find someone with a combine). We generally grow wheat or grain sorghum on the cultivated land. The pasture land is planted with Coastal Bermuda, and needs to be mowed regularly. If I had the equipment, I could probably cut and bale it. There is always clean up work to do on the place, such as removing fallen trees, etc. So, I need a good utility tractor.
Now for the tractor part. I currently have a 1998 Case C80, 4WD, front end loader. No cab. This tractor is kicking my butt. I have always had problems getting it to start...I'll waste half my weekend day trying to get it to start sometimes. The hydraulics for the front end loader are leaking like crazy. And, candidly, mowing pastures in July in Texas without an air conditioned cab is whipping me.
So, I am in the market for a new or gently used tractor. I am not wed to Case, but I do not want to spend the $$$ for a JD. The prices on new tractors shocked me, so I am considering going to a tractor auction and trying my luck there. Here is where I need the advice...
What is considered "a lot " of hours for a used tractor? I understand that hours alone don't tell the full story, because just like with the car, how well-maintained the vehicle has been is important, whether the tractor has been kept under a roof or parked outside, what kind of work has it been used for, did the prior owner "baby" it or abuse it, etc.
Still, I don't know how many hours are expected in the "life" of a normal tractor. When I go to the auction, I will obviously inspect anything I intend to bid on very closely. Nevertheless, I would like to know your thoughts on how ours relate to how "used" a tractor is. I get that this is a very general question and has a lot of variables to consider, but any advice is appreciated.
