Hard times for tractor dealers?

Kal130 · Jul 2, 2011

When I was looking to buy a tractor I decided the 1643 looked te best to me on paper. I drove almost 5 hours to another state just to sit on one. Paper didn't lie, sweet ride with the hydro. Trip was worth it to convince me it was just to big. ROPS is just over 8'. I saw a mess in my future if I bought it. Beautiful well thought out tractor though. I'm sure you would love it.

WayneJessie · Jul 4, 2011

I'd like to think that the Massey dealers here have sold tons of units but the JD dealer and the Kubota dealer here have both said it's been a very tough two years for them. Maybe it's just a regional thing. Some brands do better in some parts of the country than others.

supertuff · Jul 14, 2011

i agree - only one thing that concerns me - how long will fuel be available and affordable

the6shooter · Jul 16, 2011

You do know the rop's does fold down. I have to do this everytime I get done.
Fold down the rop's to put it in the shop.
the6shooter

WayneJessie · Jul 18, 2011

Is there anything about the unit that just does not seem right or that annoys anyone? Any unusual reported problems? I read of one guy whose clutch was shot prematurely but that could have been operator error.

cdaigle430 · Jul 18, 2011

WayneJessie said:
Is there anything about the unit that just does not seem right or that annoys anyone? Any unusual reported problems? I read of one guy whose clutch was shot prematurely but that could have been operator error.

The only thing that really annoys me is the cab I want (Curtiss) costs $3,600 dollars. The other thing is I keep forgetting to release the parking brake.

YanmarFever · Jul 19, 2011

houstonscott said:
My observation is that people are leaving the urban area's by the tens of thousands. Those that can are leaving. Whole families are making contingency plans on small acres all over rural America. Small acreages and small farms are growing and with the uncertain future of America and our way of life and the coming economy collapse people are bunkering in by the thousands, getting off the grid and becoming self sufficient for a whole bunch of reasons. All those small operations require a compact tractor and thy are selling like hotcakes, and it's going to continue. Any small tractor dealer that can't make it in this market is doing something wrong. For every property that is divided up that bought crop row tractors the dealer will now sell 25 compacts to the new small guys on the smaller acres.This is good times for tractor dealers, that's why there are so many choices and models to choose from.

HS

Good answer !
I have questioned a few of our tractor buyers in the past year.
The above is similar to what they answered.
People are hunkering down because they don't like what they see coming down the road.....

5030 · Jul 19, 2011

houstonscott said:
My observation is that people are leaving the urban area's by the tens of thousands. Those that can are leaving. Whole families are making contingency plans on small acres all over rural America. Small acreages and small farms are growing and with the uncertain future of America and our way of life and the coming economy collapse people are bunkering in by the thousands, getting off the grid and becoming self sufficient for a whole bunch of reasons. All those small operations require a compact tractor and thy are selling like hotcakes, and it's going to continue. Any small tractor dealer that can't make it in this market is doing something wrong. For every property that is divided up that bought crop row tractors the dealer will now sell 25 compacts to the new small guys on the smaller acres.This is good times for tractor dealers, that's why there are so many choices and models to choose from.

HS

Interesting observation. City folk buy some acreage and become wannabe farmers. Don't have a clue and that's fine with me. They get some stock, usually horses (absolutely the worst thing to have), buy an underpowered tractor and some auction implements (not that they have a clue how to use them in the first place) and I wind up running their hay or selling them hay for their hayburners. All good for me. Successful farming is a profession, not a hobby. It involves many aspects, from a herbicide/pesticide applicators license to knowledgable soil testing and practiced conservation methods and a substantial investment in equipment.

I would never dream of owning any tractor under 100 horsepower except for mowing lawns. I believe the cheapest implement I own is a Krone 2 rotor gyro rake and that was 15 grand.

I read many posts on this site (and others) and chuckle. I find it amazing just how screwed up an ill informed and naieve person can be, not only in terms of tractor/implement maintainence but just trying to 'attempt' to do the basic jobs with an ill used implement and an underpowered tractor.

I see most people buy smaller tractors with hydrostatic transmissions and that's all well and good for light duty chores like a back hoe or a lawnmower, but for serious work, you need serious horsepower and a real gear drive, multi range transmission. Automatics are fine in cars but for ground engagement, no.

Keep moving th the sticks and keep calling. I have more than I can handle, but I'm greedy so I'll take on more. When I rool in with a mower and bailer that costs as much as their house (they always ask), they start to realize that farming is about professional equipment and professional methods.

It's almost impossible to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

cdaigle430 · Jul 19, 2011

5030 said:
Interesting observation. City folk buy some acreage and become wannabe farmers. Don't have a clue and that's fine with me. They get some stock, usually horses (absolutely the worst thing to have), buy an underpowered tractor and some auction implements (not that they have a clue how to use them in the first place) and I wind up running their hay or selling them hay for their hayburners. All good for me. Successful farming is a profession, not a hobby. It involves many aspects, from a herbicide/pesticide applicators license to knowledgable soil testing and practiced conservation methods and a substantial investment in equipment.

I would never dream of owning any tractor under 100 horsepower except for mowing lawns. I believe the cheapest implement I own is a Krone 2 rotor gyro rake and that was 15 grand.

I read many posts on this site (and others) and chuckle. I find it amazing just how screwed up an ill informed and naieve person can be, not only in terms of tractor/implement maintainence but just trying to 'attempt' to do the basic jobs with an ill used implement and an underpowered tractor.

I see most people buy smaller tractors with hydrostatic transmissions and that's all well and good for light duty chores like a back hoe or a lawnmower, but for serious work, you need serious horsepower and a real gear drive, multi range transmission. Automatics are fine in cars but for ground engagement, no.

Keep moving th the sticks and keep calling. I have more than I can handle, but I'm greedy so I'll take on more. When I rool in with a mower and bailer that costs as much as their house (they always ask), they start to realize that farming is about professional equipment and professional methods.

It's almost impossible to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

All I'm reading on your post is blah, blah, blah. I'd like to see you 100 hp tractor fit in my residential garage or take care of my 2 acre property. One of my neighbors has this very old CAT escavator, you could park a VW bug in the bucket of this thing. Anyway, not sure how he got it on his property but most likely it was broken down in pieces.

He used it to pull out thre tree stumps-because the bucket was so big he ended up using chains to pull them out instead of scooping. Took about 1 hour to pull the stumps but now he has about 10 hours of cleaning up the mess the tracks made in his lawn. Then he has to perform maintenance in this baheamoth not just talking about the fuel it cost him. So yes-you can have too much.

Stop being old fashion, automatic is here to stay regardless of the size. And while your left behind playing with your sticks the rest of us will be focusing on making the tractor work for us and not the other way around.

From what I just read-you sir, are no farmer. A real farmer is more than willing to help a neighbor-not mock them. Keeping mocking and keep on being greedy-karma can be a real *****. Oh and yes, I grew up on a farm.....

Duffster · Jul 19, 2011

5030 said:
Interesting observation. City folk buy some acreage and become wannabe farmers. Don't have a clue and that's fine with me. They get some stock, usually horses (absolutely the worst thing to have), buy an underpowered tractor and some auction implements (not that they have a clue how to use them in the first place) and I wind up running their hay or selling them hay for their hayburners. All good for me. Successful farming is a profession, not a hobby. It involves many aspects, from a herbicide/pesticide applicators license to knowledgable soil testing and practiced conservation methods and a substantial investment in equipment.

I would never dream of owning any tractor under 100 horsepower except for mowing lawns. I believe the cheapest implement I own is a Krone 2 rotor gyro rake and that was 15 grand.

I read many posts on this site (and others) and chuckle. I find it amazing just how screwed up an ill informed and naieve person can be, not only in terms of tractor/implement maintainence but just trying to 'attempt' to do the basic jobs with an ill used implement and an underpowered tractor.

I see most people buy smaller tractors with hydrostatic transmissions and that's all well and good for light duty chores like a back hoe or a lawnmower, but for serious work, you need serious horsepower and a real gear drive, multi range transmission. Automatics are fine in cars but for ground engagement, no.

Keep moving th the sticks and keep calling. I have more than I can handle, but I'm greedy so I'll take on more. When I rool in with a mower and bailer that costs as much as their house (they always ask), they start to realize that farming is about professional equipment and professional methods.

It's almost impossible to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.