big and used or small and new

[denisd]

Been very happy with Kubota L3400 with a loader, on 21 steep wooded acres in WA. New 1.5 years ago, $0 down, 0% dealer financing, 2-year warranty, no regrets.

We skidded and decked 50+ tons of logs last summer, bladed roads, mowed shoulders, and various other things. Previous summer not quite as busy.

Story with photos and video here:

Small Forest Timber Owner Blog for WA: Kubota Tractor for our Logging Operation

 

[Punk]

I was looking to buy new, all the way. Maybe around 50 hp, without a cab. Then I went to a sell, and man was it ever cold that day. So I crawled up in the cab of a tractor that was sitting on the yard. It was a 90hp with about 800 hrs on it. It's now sitting in my barn.
It didn't occur to me that these bigger tractors were selling that cheap. I think the bigger, used tractors, are the better buy right now for the simple reason that most people are looking at new tractors because of 0% interest. Then you have the big farmers who usually trade when the warrenty runs out. That said, there doesn't seem to be many buyers for these tractors.
I got a 2006, 90 hp Kubota, inside your price range. Cab, air, heat, deluxe seat and radio. If you can buy used, I think you're better off going that route. Once interest rates start to rise the price on these bargains will rise with the rate.

 

[chrisdvorak]

like was said a friend of mine has only 6 acres but raises cows and he has a 70hp tractor for moving round bales, its all about what you are going to use the machine for and how fast you want to get things done

 

[radman1]

Your parameters is 7 acres, flat open ground and $20,000. I also farm and the bigger hp of 65-100 is probably way over the top for seven acres and I like the power of the bigger machines - I have 3 tractors over 125 hp. You live in TX and the cab would be nice. Getting a cab with a new CUT is not possible for 20K. Smallest cabbed CUT (Kubota) is near 30 hp but run up to 65hp for larger units. Getting a new, open station CUT with FEL will probably be a CUT of 30 hp or less. Used, cabbed CUT's have not been around that long and will still cost over 20K.

You should be able to find 15 year old utility tractors in the 20K range, 50-60 hp with cabs, MFWD and FEL. It will have the weight and power to keep you happy. I sold my open station, 1994 JD 5300, 50 hp, 2 years ago with MFWD, FEL, 2500 hours for $14,000 on trade in. Tractor was in very good condition but probably needed new front tires. Dealer sold it in 1 week for $16,000. Similar, cab version should be close to $18-20K. For seven acres, I doubt you will put on 75 hours per year. Used utility tractor with 2500-4000 hours, cab, 50 hp and not over 20 years old should be doable.

 

[D7E]

Beats me how you can justify spending 20k on a new tractor for only 7 acres when you can farm thousands of acres with tractors that cost the same or less and are 20 years old and do 5-600 hrs a year....?

 

[bdog]

Beats me how you can justify spending 20k on a new tractor for only 7 acres when you can farm thousands of acres with tractors that cost the same or less and are 20 years old and do 5-600 hrs a year....?

That does make me think. I guess the reasoning is I am not really looking at it from a purely economic standpoint. As stated above in another post the cheapest way would probably be to hire it out for the basic maintenece on the place.

The whole reason I am moving from town to the 7 AC is because I enjoy doing things with the land and tractors. There is the necessary part of it such as mowing, but the main part of it is I like doing projects, tinkering with planting crops, etc. It is more of a hobby than anything I guess. I do have a need to unload pallets from trucks from time to time that can be quite heavy ( 1500 - 2000 lb) so I I don't think a tiny tractor can do it.

20k is the budget I have to work with. I am just trying to decide what is the best within that budget.

 

[jenkinsph]

bdog,
One thing I can say about having a tractor laying around is that if you like them they are cheap entertainment. That is if you buy them right and use them without abuse you can get most of your money back when you sell them, can't say that about vehicles with tags and titles.

 

[bdog]

bdog,
One thing I can say about having a tractor laying around is that if you like them they are cheap entertainment. That is if you buy them right and use them without abuse you can get most of your money back when you sell them, can't say that about vehicles with tags and titles.

That is part of my thought of going used, big, and old. If I get a late 80's to early 90's tractor and buy it right, I should be able to get more or less what I paid for it 5 or 10 years from now if I decided to sell. On the other hand if I bought a new compact it would likely lose 25% or more of its value in 5 years.

 

[jenkinsph]

I struggled with all of that and went ahead and bought the new one as it is more useful to me in my close quarters. I might add though that tractors are long term purchases for me and I have no intentions of trading or selling for 20 years, so I tend to buy it loaded with the features I want for the long haul.

 

[jdbnh]

check out new hollands cab tractor in the 40-60 hp ranges. they have shuttle shift transmissions, or hydrostatic or for the even easier operation look at the new CVT option. it is like driving a car. New Holland has the biggest cab on their compacts as far as size and room on the inside. they are really comfortable and you have the best visisbilty out of them......

Compact-Tractors-and-Commercial-Mowers New Holland Boomer-Compact-Tractors - Models, technical data and characteristics

Compact-Tractors-and-Commercial-Mowers New Holland Boomer-Utility - Models, technical data and characteristics