What would you do...

[heymack]

First of all, that's sure a nice house you just built.

Here's what I'd do. Since you only have 7 acres to maintain, I'd get a $1500 lawn tractor to maintain the yard area around the house, buy a $1000 dependable/safe trailer and "borrow" dad's machine when needed. Don't make the 3-hr. round trip to use it for an hour, rather make sure you have a lot to do. Now, to keep mama happy, I'd pave the drive (if you're sure it's only going to be $6k or thereabouts....my drive would cost well over $100k to pave so it ain't happening any time soon). All told, you've spent less than $10k and you can have and keep your place looking wonderful. I realize this doesn't help you with your tractor fix (we've all been there), but I think it's a good compromise for all interested parties.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

[hudlow]

Originally Posted by Podunkadunk

Also, I have a partial gravel driveway, am I a redneck?

hybrid

[EddieWalker]

It sounds like you really want a tractor, but from what you've said, I don't know what you'll really need it for. Mowing isn't very fast on a tractor, even with a 6 foot mower. If you had enough HP to run a batwing, then you could speed things up, but otherwise, it's still gonna take you a few hours to mow your grass with the tractor.

Buying a good trailer makes allot of sense. It's money well spent that you can always get back if you decide to sell the trailer. I don't know anybody who has a trailer that would sell it, unless they are upgrading to a bigger one.

Paving the driveway will add some financial return to your investment of the home and land, but probably not allot. It will add tremendous value to your mariage, and that's priceless. Especially if you're going to end up paving it anyway. It won't get any cheaper, so now is the best time for something like that.

To mow your lawn faster, you should really be looking at a better lawn mower. Some of them can do it extremly quickly for a quarter of what you will pay for a tractor.

There's no reason you can't have the best of everything here. A good trailer for using the tractor when you really need it. A paved driveway to make your home even nicer and your wife happy, and a new Z turn mower to get your lawns done in under an hour.

Good luck,
Eddie

[coasterez]

Eddie has it right! Do as advised. Then, in a very few short years down the road, you can get your tractor craving filled. It will be very gratifying, especially since your wife will be smiling and you'll still have a separate lawn mower.

[RoyJackson]

Brian (thatguy), you don't have your profile filled out, but I believe I saw in a thread or on one of the pictures of the homestead that you are in Virginia.

As a few posters did suggest going used (I bought both my machines used), it would be to your advantage to look on MachineFinder.com (Used Farm Equipment & Agricultural Equipment - John Deere MachineFinder.com.

FYI, My 790 came from VA. (I'm in southern PA). It was purchased from the JAMES RIVER COMPANIES LLC


Anyway, take a look at the 755's, 855's and 955 (for Hydros). For gear machines, the 670's and 770's. Also look at Kubota BX2200's and 7500's. You may find a tractor that would do tha majority of your work for well under $10K. That would leave you enough to do the drive (unless you're really good at concrete and asphalt, best leave that job to a professional). Although I have a 790, I do think the 855 would be a great fit for your property. FYI, the 670 and 770 are the same as the 790 except for engine and tire sizes (some sheet metal, but when you look at them, you'll see the similarities. Since you're experienced operating a CUT, you should have no trouble selecting a good machine. I wouldn't be too concerned about hours if the machines pull well (refering more to the Deere's since I don't know a heck of a lot about Kubotas). Personally, I'd go for a used Deere before a new Chinese tractor for the same price. I know the Deere will still have dealer support in a year or two. BTW, my first tractor, a Deere 670, had 600 hours on it when I bought it. It had about 800 on it when I traded it on the 790

I still think that drive will cost more then $6K, so I'd get a few estimates on that first...that would give you a better idea of how much you could spend on a used machine.

[escavader]

FUNNY,I HAD the same dilema,hot top drive or tractor,guess who won.I told her we could save thousands of dollars,if i had a tractor to do the prep work,and a hoe to dig the ditches.I convinced her.Give that line a try .Drive is still not paved.Tractor looks good though
ALAN

[InlineDieselFan]

Better you than me!!!

Keep the wife happy, if she is happy you can at least be okay.

If she is not happy you will be miserable.

It does not sound as if you NEED a tractor, you just really WANT a tractor. You could buy a nice trailer and use the left over money to pavethe driveway. You could even buy a nice dump trailer that could still haul the tractor.

I know around my houe when the boss lady is happy I am happy. She said buy what ever tractor we NEEDED to get the job done. I explained all of the advantages and dis-advantages of each model tractor and HP rating. Ultimatly we got the 3430, because of a last year model same price as a new year model 3130. As the dealer said a 5030 is what we need these first few years but after that a 3130 would be plenty. So far he was right and I am happy, she is happy, which is making me even happier.

Bottom line keep the wife happy.

steve

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by hudlow

I have a "redneck" driveway....?

No offense meant... My wife is a very intelligent and smart women.. BUT her statement of the 'redneck driveway' has to be the stupidest thing she has ever said..

She just doesnt understand why everyone doesnt have a paved driveway - We make good money, so we can afford 'extras' like a paved driveway, but she doesnt understand for some its not high on the priorities list..

BUT - I called her this afternoon and she was like "i just dont understand why i was so mean to you last night and why i got so upset over the driveway" I do think she (and a lot of you) have a valid point about looking for a alternative to the new tractor, but what is killing me is one day is "buy what you want" the next is "you dont love me because you think we need a tractor over paving the driveway" (joking - but it was probably close to being that ridiculous.. LOL)

ill keep you informed of what the final decision is.. Once she makes it.. LOL

thanks

Brian

[shvl73]

Give it a week and refine your sales pitch on how valuable a tractor can be to both of you.

[jbrumberg]

thatguy:

I have been "working" with people in the human services and lived with the same woman (a saint) for over 30 years- a good marital relationship is not based on logic . "Balance" and compromise is the key. I would recommend that you "fine tune" your pouting, grovelling, and kowtowing as well as get used to getting your elbows and knees a little worn . "Strike when the iron is hot"- whenever my wife gives me the "go-a-head" for a tractor type aquisition I move quicker than "deer guts sliding off a doorknob". I will move on this type of aquisition in a matter of hours/days when I will usually take a year or two or three or four.... I do have a question about your "redneck" driveway- what do your neighbors have? It took me around 13 years to get around to redoing my driveway and regravelling it the right way and my neighbors were keeping to the same timeframes (lucky for me). Last fall I finally did something about my driveway and my neighbors (like 2) did likeways. Like everyone else says you got to keep wifey happy or you won't be. You could "downgrade" your property, leave driveway as is, and "hide" a brand new tractor out back . Best of luck to you and the Lady. Jay