Buying Advice Which one to buy? How much is my used one worth?

[Stever996]

I 'need' a tractor. There is access to used 8Ns, etc, but I'm concerned that as a newbie whose entire used/new knowledge has just about been revealed ........
1) that repairs will be an issue as I'm not inclined to be patient with sorting out a problem machine...I like taking good care of my machines so as not to have to deal w/this kinda stuff.
2) that safety is not as good, i.e., no rollover(a. I have ambitions to get up a ridge for firewood/trail maintenance, and b. will make operating mistakes)

So, I need some advice.

Currently have a JD 445 with 54" MMM, grass catcher trailer, snow blower, 15 cu. ft utility trailer.....what is that worth on a trade?

The tasks I think I want to do are 1) maintaining a drive 300 yards total 2) brush hogging.... a. about 3 acres in 3 different spots....1 is sandy and somewhat hilly so the critters have dug it up. b. half mile or so of trails. 3)mow a couple acres around the house which is somewhat hilly and steep in areas around the drive. 4) firewood out of approx 55+ acres, 15 of which is flat and close. 5) maybe clean up the 1/2 mile of field edges for the farmer who rents 100 more acres from us. 'Real farming' is possible on a small scale, but not now.......

Dare I even consider an older used tractor?
What kind of size/make should I consider? JD, Bobcat, Kubota, NH may be the only close choices........
How much do I need to spend?
Keep the JD 445? (ZTR sounds tempting, but the steep parts around the drive probably mean some push mower cleanup that negates the improved productivity).
Other concerns I haven't thought of?

Thanks!

 

[sweettractors]

What kinda budget $$ are you working with? Ken Sweet

 

[Stever996]

I'm thinking $15,000-ish of new money tops.

BTW, the JD445 has about 600 hours; mighty clean/shiny.

 

[sweettractors]

I'm thinking $15,000-ish of new money tops.

BTW, the JD445 has about 600 hours; mighty clean/shiny.

With a budget of 15K, you may look for a slightly used JD or Kubota CUT with ROPS and A 5 or 6 ft RFMower, maybe a 5 ft Brush Hog and 5 or 6 ft box blade. If you can get a decent trade n allowance, you can probably go new 20-25 HP tractor. Ken Sweet

 

[TripleR]

I wouldn't hesitate a bit on buying a good used tractor, actually bought a used one for my last machine a 2003 Grand L5030HSTC with 735 hours.

 

[Stever996]

I wouldn't hesitate a bit on buying a good used tractor, actually bought a used one for my last machine a 2003 Grand L5030HSTC with 735 hours.

How do you feel about a 60 year old 8N? That would get me in real cheap.

Can ROPS be put on an old dog like this?

 

[Soundguy]

hilly and steep and trails.. i'm thinking scut or small cut, and 4wd with hst trans.. loader.. but only if quick detatch.. or else it will be bulky in the trails.

Ps.. there -are- rops retrofits for N series tractors.. fit from 1939+

soundguy

 

[sweettractors]

How do you feel about a 60 year old 8N? That would get me in real cheap.

Can ROPS be put on an old dog like this?

For a Noobie,I personally would not go that way because you just don't have enough gears to expand to roto tilling or snowblowing and for brushhogging and finish mowing, you really need a live PTO to operate safely and your retrofit roll bar is going to cost 1/2 as much as the tractor. Ken Sweet

 

[TripleR]

How do you feel about a 60 year old 8N? That would get me in real cheap.

Can ROPS be put on an old dog like this?

I actually farmed with an 8N in my youth and have to agree with Ken the drawbacks of the PTO. I still own an NAA and 1955 Ford 600 Series, but don't use them much. One complaint I have on the 8N and derivatives is the "kick back" from the steering in rough ground an dislocated my thumbs until I lerned to drive them with my thumbs outside. A neat thing about them is that you can essentially drive one with your feet while fighting off bugs and such by pushing on the linkage with your feet.

I like to look at "old iron", but have lost my enthusiasm for using them for work.

 

[Soundguy]

your retrofit roll bar is going to cost 1/2 as much as the tractor. Ken Sweet

digested male cow food!

So you know where a bunch of 950$ 8n's are? post those sites.. I know a bunch of guys that would love to get them!

rops for the early fords and fergies are -*QUITE*- available in the 4xx$ range ( before shipping ). I know of at least 3 companies making them.

soundguy