I spent my childhood years on open station Farmalls. We bought the cabbed 5088 when I was 16. As a kid, I loved the cabbed tractor, I felt like one of those wealthy farmers, and listening to music was easier.
When I bought my own tractor, I chose an open station due to tree lines along my property lines and the desire to be able to jump on and off quickly during jobs. It’s also easier to communicate with my helper from the seat. I built my barn to accommodate a cabbed unit if that time comes, it just hasn’t yet.
I do at times get covered head to toe in dust when we are doing tillage and it’s dry. But I really do not mind. We don’t have a need for the tractor in the winter really.
I never really buy any durable good based on resale… because I don’t know when or if that day will come. I do consider opportunity cost however. Every $10k I sink into a piece of equipment costs me $1000 per year in lost opportunity for growth. So let’s say I pay $20k more for a tractor of another color. Each year, that unit costs me $2k in opportunity. Actually, it’s worse than that, because it compounds. Over 10 years it costs me $32000 in lost opportunity. I mean, in 10 years, opportunity cost alone, just paid for my new TYM in full. It’s like getting a free tractor at that point. So resale is moot. Math is fascinating.
Again, congrats on the 5520. The TYM 4820 compares to the Kubota L4760… except on price. Hydraulic flows, lift capacity, weight, etc. The only thing I changed was the rear work light. The L4760 doesn’t come with one standard anyway
In 10 years you can buy a new one with what you saved, and use the residual value to buy all new implements.
