Fuel prices affecting tractor sales?

[MessickFarmEqu]

We don't notice much of anything changing in this business right now. Things seem pretty well just like they have over the last 5 years.

[Highbeam]

Originally Posted by john_bud

I know the used tractor prices are up up up up.

I also know that I will be parking a tractor on my timber land as trailering up is so spendy!

jb

You see the problem here, right? That tractor setting out there all alone in the woods is more attractive than ever to thiefs. I trailered my machine to my rural property and spent 30$ in transportation and 20$ in tractor fuel (today's diesel cost). I filled my diesel barrel last year for a price per gallon in the 2$ range.

[AndyinIowa]

CUT sales will nationally continue to decline short term. They are linked closer to the residential sector vs. the agricultural sector. If you disagree, consider the skid steer market, which is in strong decline. Also tied closely to the residential sector.

There are obviously pockets that oppose the trend, but the truth is that when housing starts are at their lowest in over 20 years, peripheral sales channels also decline.

Also, don't mistake increased sales $$ as increased unit sales. Companies are swapping out market share, and implementing price adjustments, etc... which can appear as an upward swing, when their assembly lines are actually reducing daily build rates across the board.

IowaAndy

[npaden]

I've been debating buying a 2nd machine to leave on my hunting property to save on towing costs. It wouldn't be a CUT though.

Right now it costs a little over $100 to tow my tractor to my property and back and I've been doing that about 4 or 5 times a year. An 1960 - 1970 vintage 60 - 70 hp tractor in decent shape can be had for under $5,000 all the time around here and that would pay off in about 10 years at the current prices. Of course that is if there are no major repairs needed on the old tractor. It would be very nice to have the tractor there all the time though as there are times when I don't have it that I wished that I did.

Oh well, I don't really see the drop in CUT sales anytime soon either.

[PaulChristenson]

Leaving a tractor unattended in the current economic environment is not real smart...unless you have it insured for more than it's worth...