What would you do...

[thatguy]

I need some unbiased advise or opinions..

The FACTS

My wife and I just built a house (http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...y_Brian_House/) and we have a MUCH larger yard than we used to have.. Before it took about 45 minutes to mow, now it is taking over 3 hours with our same push mower..

My dad and I co-own a JD 790 that I get to use when I need it and he isnt using it, but we have to borrow someones questionable (home made with mobile home axles, pretty worn out tires, no state inspection [no hope of ever passing either], brakes that appear to work) trailer. My dad is also 75 and uses the tractor quite a bit cutting part of his 20 acres, plowing gardens etc.. It is about a 3 hour (including loading time) round trip to his house to pick up the tractor.

For years now I have been wanting land (we have 7 acres) so I could get my own tractor. My wife agreed that once I got my truck paid off I could get a tractor, which is in May. I went from wanting a JD 2210 to a 2305 to finalizing on a 2320 with MMM, FEL, rough cut mower, rear blade.. Cost is around $18k

She was thinking everything would be around $15k (which she was OK with), I knew moving up to a 2320 would push it to about 17k and explained to why i wanted to move up months ago...

She is now having second thoughts on me buying this tractor.. It also changes from day to day on what she wants to do.. two days ago it was "its a lot of money, but I know you will use it, buy what you want - we can afford it" until last nite as she was getting emotional as we were talking in bed "we have a nice house with a redneck driveway. It looks so horrible to have weeds growing up along the edges of the driveway" (sniffle sniffle) and you dont want to spend money on what I think is important to pave the driveway"

We have also have about 3 acres of field that we will be keeping pretty short so our puppy has room to run. My thoughts were mow around the house and rough cut the 3 acres of field..

Her reasons for not buying are

1) We have a nice house with a 'redneck' (gravel) driveway that she feels is very important to pave and the $6k we were going to put down on the tractor would about pay for this.

2) I have use of the 790 and I will get it when he passes away.


Her thoughts.

1) buy a nice lawn/garden tractor to mow the yard and field with - mow the yard and 3 acres of field.
2) use the 790 as needed to keep the rest of the land mowed
3) pave the driveway so we dont look like rednecks LOL (she is a city girl and does not understand why everyone cant pave their driveway - she just doesnt get that the cost is out of reach by some ppl)

My thoughts

1) Obviously I think you know what I want to do.. I have been dreaming, planning, obsessing my own tractor for years.. I also dont feel safe hauling the tractor with the trailer we have access to..

Thoughts, suggestions, compromises eagerly anticipated...

Brian

[Jstpssng]

Of course we know what you want, i'd feel the same way.
However you can buy a new, reliable trailer for $3000, then pave the driveway to keep peace in the family.

Or perhaps find a smaller tractor for less money.

[jbrumberg]

thatguy:

You should not talk tractor talk in bed with your wife . Jay

[shvl73]

Jstpssng's advice sure is practical. Paving the driveway won't really help with weeds at the edges, a string trimmer will. Think of how long it takes to spread sealer on a paved driveway vs. how much fun it would be to grade a gravel drive with your own tractor. No comparison.

[Thomas]

I'll take the 5th on this one.

[RoyJackson]

I see the 790 has MFWD, a loader and a cutter. Do you and Dad have a finishing mower too?
Were you planning on using this machine to finish mow your yard?

Since you're co-owner (50-50?), do you have access to it when ever you need it?
How much lawn (not including the field) do you have to finish mow?

I'd go for buying a decent trailer (used, if necessary) and a used lawn tractor for the finished lawn. You'd probably not mow the field more then twice an month (more frequently initially, perhaps, but once it's cleaned up, once or twice a month should be adequate).

I think the drive will be a nagging issue. If it's got any length to it, I wouldn't be surprised to see the cost go considerably higher then $6000 (assuming it's more then 100' in length and you'd put a concrete base under the asphalt). You've also got a very nice, new home. I'm pretty sure you'll be putting more money into the homestead on goodies.

Since you've already put at least $4500-$5000 into a tractor (½ price of the 790, assuming it's a 2WD model), do you really want to add another $15000 (or more) to a machine that will most likely set 80% of the time? BTW, how much of the time does your Dad use this tractor? Would it be possible for him to limit his usage to weekdays, so you'd have steady access to it on weekends?

Good luck to you and your wife on this one!


NICE house! I looked at the 114 pictures. I love wrap around porches! And, a 33 x 39 GAME room!!! Very impressive!

This post was heavily edited after viewing the pics (I'd had several questions about the 790 which were answered by the pics).

[CDsdad]

I wish I knew how to help you buddy. Better you than me, I'd probably be on the couch.

[StevenPaul]

my nickels worth, if you let me spend the money....

buy an older, yet in pretty decent condition, tractor (we found an old JD 2010 and got it for just under $1300 and a Bush Hog brand brush cutter. It ran fairly well when we bought it but we to had put an ignition switch on it, give it a tune up, and fix a PTO problem which was only a pin that is known for wearing out. Getting to that pin is a different story.)

The reason I say get an older one is because the experience I've gained from working on it and just plain "tinkering" with it is so cool and you can also use it for all those ideas that come up here in TBN land. Plus little kids just love getting their picture taken on an old tractor.

Then at a later date when you get the one you want (we came across a JD 4500 with almost all the bells and whistles plus a W.R. Long grapple bucket) you now have "tinkering" experience from the use of the older one.

With the money you save on an older one, you would be able to pave the drive, get a new trailer, and possibly have some money left over for some more implements. Plus if your wife is like a lot of wives, once she gets on one and sees how much fun and theraputic (sp?) tractors are, you'll be needing two of them.

And then there's the future possibilty of getting the 790, WOW! 3 tractors, I'm already jealous

Steve

[Farmwithjunk]

Several options (besides divorce....10 new tractors won't cost that much )

One would be to find a nice USED tractor for the interim. There are a few bargains to be had now and then. You could pick up a nice used one in the under $10,000 range, pave the driveway, then someday bring the Deere to your place permanently.

OR...buy a new TRAILER, pave the drive, and spend too much time/gas/effort hauling back and forth.

OR...flip a couple wrecked cars over in the front yard. The wife will stop her harping on the "redneck driveway" then. (in favor of having you commited)

OR... get used to sleeping alone.

Marriage is a great institution.....for those who want to be institutionalized.

[hudlow]

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